Authors Eric Maisel and Ann Maisel.

Right away, the authors make a big promise. "If you take my suggestions and accept my challenges, you'll embark on a journey more amazing than any you could contrive by land, sea or air." Does the book deliver? I say yes. The book shows how using the power of "productive obsession" can overcome internal resistance and enable you to use the power of your brain to live more fully and do more.

Productive obsessions stir up the mind. You choose your PO to match your desires, dreams, goals and ambitions; one that taps into your natural abilities, interests and talents. And dream big, stretch your horizons and go all out by allowing your brain to explore the ideas and projects that have habitually been pushed aside. This will lead you to find fulfillment and purpose and thus experience a greater sense of well-being.

Chapters are short. The book is a quick read and organized to show how the PO process works while including real-life examples using testimonials from groups of participants who allowed their brains to following a nagging, recurring need. Overall, their end results trend toward fulfillment in the form of tangible results and increased happiness. The exercise of productive obsessing opened a new world of possibilities enabling participants to express their authentic selves.

If you can get past the initial chapters which delve into the study of psychology and give some context for the scientific basis of the book, then you'll be able to finish the book. If it weren't for this and the odd chapter criticizing public school education, I'd give the book five stars. I found them distracting and of little value to the overall theme and tone.

Bottom line: This book is about being authentic which leads to happiness. If you have a passion for cultivating daisies, cooking with red wine, publishing poetry, building a business, writing a thesis, then go ahead, allow your brain to get busy and get happy and go for big and bold expressions of your obsession!

I recommend the book to anyone who is curious about making more of their life. The authors have created a simple roadmap to guide the reader through this thought- and action-changing plan. Also consult this article in the June 2010 issue of Psychology Today for more insight.