I just finished this book. I understand all of the blowback from this book's critics. So much of the flowery rhetoric she uses to illustrate her points doesnt always seem fitting as this book (i gather) is meant to be a tool for overcoming adversity. I found the constant belly aching to be disruptive at times and for someone attempting to lift themselves from an emotional rut, potentially offputting. so often during the read I felt like I was drinking from a fire hydrant of bad news. BUT with that said, this book is a lifeline to anyone who has ever endured heartbreak, loss, or any sort of emotional distress. Sure, the writing can be critiqued and picked apart at infinitum but the biggest takeaway for me has been the light Vanzant has shone on inroads to her own inner peace. She is open, and vulnerable throughout this book and in turn invites the reader to do the same; which I found to be immensely useful.There are certainly some MISSES, but for the most part her words of guidance to those that need them find their mark. It amazes me how resilient the human spirit is especially when one is connected to that Great Spirit—I choose to call God. Iyanla Vanzant is truly her Father’s (God’s) daughter. He has gifted her beyond measure, with not only an ability to write, but an ability to share with the world her life lessons so that we can avoid and in some cases not avoid the pitfalls that she has dealt with for the majority of her life. This book chronicles her fall from fame and fortune after her relationship with Oprah came into question and after the show Barbara Walters courted her for folded. Stuck with an astronomical tax bill, a failing marriage, and a terminally ill daughter, Iyanla almost loses her mind and everything else that she held sacred on several occasions. But her deep rooted faith and cadre of family and friends, helps her hold on until she gets to the end of the tunnel where God’s Light lifts her to new and unexpected heights. Lesser beings would have given up the fight—but Iyanla fought on. I am inspired by her life and her spirit and have learned a great deal about the pathologies that we inherit in childhood and how they adversely affect our adult lives. I too was a victim of child abuse and like Iyanla, I felt I had to have been worthless because of all the horrors I had to endure. This worthlessness plagued me in my teens, twenties, and early thirties. But like Iyanla, I was finally able to break the cycle. If you’re tired of being tired, read this book. I believe it will help you break free from the generational maladies that may be hindering you from realizing your God-given potential.
What do You think about Peace From Broken Pieces (2000)?
Such a touching book about overcoming and moving forward. If she can mend herself then anyone can!
—emma
