Steering by Starlight

By: Martha Beck

Narrated by: Martha Beck

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

Described as one of the best-known life coaches in America, in media such as Psychology Today, O columnist Martha Beck has demonstrated a rare gift for helping people who have gone off course to find their way back to authentic, rewarding lives. Now, in Steering by Starlight, Dr. Beck describes the step-by-step process she uses with her private clients to help them find their way back to their "homing instincts" - their true destinies.

Bringing together cutting-edge research in psychiatry, neurology, and related fields in an accessible, substantive, original way, Beck offers powerful new methods for solving the problems that beset ordinary people. Using her trademark wisdom, empathy, and engaging style, she connects listeners with personal coping strategies that are not yet widely available as she helps them overcome the alienation that is causing them to lose sight of their own North Star.

Dr. Beck identifies three stages along the path to recapturing a satisfying life:

"The stargazer" helps listeners understand why it's so easy to lose themselves and offers strategies for sighting their North Star

"The mapmaker" uses this newly clarified perspective to evaluate one's situation and plot a course for the upcoming years

"The pathfinder" discusses the adventures that may be encountered as one travels along this new life course

Whether it's seeking better relationships, more focused career direction, the achievement of specific fitness goals, or a more harmonious lifestyle, Steering by Starlight's colorful anecdotes, case studies, and exercises will point the way.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2008 Martha Beck (P)2008 Simon and Schuster, Inc.

Excellent life coach

I have listened to A LOT of self-help (and now have a love/hate relationship w/ the genre). Do not be afraid, because Martha Beck is one of the best. When self-help is good, it's wise and inspiring, and this book is that...

12 of 13 people found this review helpful

This book is life-changing!

I never thought of myself as a self-help book kind of person. It's true I've bought my share of them, whether through various recommendations during my years of therapy, or out of some misguided hope that the answer to all my problems lay in one of them. If anything, I would have thought of myself as a jaded cynic. I frustrated my therapist with my resistance to "exercises". And then I came across Martha Beck.

I'm not a fan of Oprah. I derided friends of mine who dared recommend "The Secret" to me. I actually first came across an earlier book of Beck's, "Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live", while browsing the self-help/self-development/self-whatever section at Borders. The title of the book was exactly what I was looking for, but even better I was engross in it as soon as I started reading it in the bookstore.

This weekend I had a road trip to take, so I looked Beck up here on Audible and came across this book. I downloaded, and I actually was glad when I got stuck in traffic because I could listen to more of it. The book truly resonated with me, even though--from the new-agey sound of it, I wouldn't have guessed. It is well-grounded, backed by scientific research, skeptical, intuitive, and most importantly self-deprecatingly funny. In a way, the book is not ground-breaking; it sort of validates notions one has suspected all along. But perhaps in precisely that way, it is life-altering. It gives you concrete detailed advice about how to face the most difficult questions in your life, something I did not think possible, especially after digging the annals of philosophy and psychology for quite a few years now in vain.

I will recommend this book to 2 of my best friends, and I hope it will be as valuable to them as it was for me. And if I'd recommend it to some of the dearest people in my life, I'd certainly recommend it to you.

25 of 28 people found this review helpful

Life changing, and I'm not one to say that lightly

Would you listen to Steering by Starlight again? Why?

Yes. I have listened to it many times. The advice is encouraging and uplifting. I listen again when I need a boost.

Who was your favorite character and why?

NA: Nonfiction

What about Martha Beck’s performance did you like?

Her humor and authenticity.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The concept of "shackles on and shackles off" and the "inner lizard."

Any additional comments?

This book struck a cord with me. As a self-help book, it was just the right balance of practical and compassionate: Not too new-agey, but also not "how to succeed in business and get insanely rich". I felt compelled to write this review as I gave another of Dr. Beck's books a luke-warm review. I wanted to make sure that she got her proper due for this book and many of her other works. Thank you, Dr. Beck!!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Most Life-Changing Book I Have Read

I previously listened to Following Your North Star, by Martha Beck, and thought it was really good. I liked Martha's philosophy enough to seek out more of her writing, and came to this book next. I love this book! I can say without doubt that it has made me a much happier, calmer person, and a better person for other people to be around. It has set me on a path of seeking greater understanding and growth in myself. That is a big job, and I need reminding of how to keep moving forward and not stagnate. For that reason, I re-listen to this book now every 3 or 4 months. I find the spiritual component very inspiring, and relate to it more and more. I also want to say that while hers is not the best narrative voice I have listened to, it would not be the same without her reading her books. I really feel like this material needs to be read by Martha herself to impart its full meaning. If you are ensconced in a particular dogma, you may not enjoy this book, but if you are open-minded, come and get it!

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable book with lots of great tips

Great company on a daily commute or a regular walk, with lots of helpful insights and concrete suggestions for getting centered, taking stock and making changes.

It's not crammed with revolutionary ideas or new concepts, but I have very little patience for gurus who insist their audience throw away everything they know and buy completely into the "one true way according to so-and-so."

I much prefer Martha Beck's style of offering her own perspective on some common issues we all face, suggesting some steps that might help, and readily agreeing that you don't have to swallow everything she says.

A self-deprecating, honest book with a few profanities and a lot of helpful ideas.

15 of 17 people found this review helpful

Martha Beck Delivers Again

What did you love best about Steering by Starlight?

First I have to admit that I had to adjust to the author's narration. Having been delighted by Heather Henderson's exceptional delivery of Finding Your Way in this Wild, Wild World, I was taken aback by Martha's somewhat scratchy, somewhat uneven voice. BUT, this adjustment was brief because I soon came to find her voice endearing as she told story after story giving me so much entertainment with her comprehension and vision.

What does Martha Beck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She lives it! What an accomplished person, woman, mother, teacher, whose candor about her shortcomings is refreshing and reminds us that no matter what you achieve, no matter what you attain, you're human and you're going to win some and you're going to lose some. The message is to get out of fear-based thinking and into why not, mode? I adored it!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Not the best choice for commuting

I am really enjoying this book and think it will be helpful, however it has been hard for me to get through it due to all the necessary "assignments." I can't get through a single commute without being told to consult the PDF files and fill something out. In other words, this book doesn't lend itself well to the audiobook format.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Love this book!

Such wisdom and good energy!
Enjoy the self discovery and destiny path guide, thank you !!!
Will reread to keep in cooperating in daily life

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Love me some Martha Beck

Where does Steering by Starlight rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I tend to listen to Martha Beck's books over and over. I like them best when she reads them, though, they're great no matter what. Definitely get the companion ebook download to follow along.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Funny

She has an interesting voice and a good sense of humor. Important in an audio book.. You should try the down-loadable exercises too, so you don't feel left out, when she says "Now go to the PDF". I found her case studies/stories useful and not representative of any ego as another commenter complained.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful