Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into when I requested this - I have not read The Tools. Given that, I still found this book to be incredibly fascinating, and it was the impetus for quite a bit of self-reflection, which I am always appreciative of. There really are some very valuable lessons to be found here.

I thought this was the most informative of the process of all of Stutz’s work. It brings together the ideas that are brought up in the previous books. I think it would be a great tool for people to read this one first, and understand the whole message of the work Stutz has brought to the world. It gives a truthful outlook of the world from the human vantage point. Stutz and Loehnen do a nice job of breaking down the parts of his philosophy into bite size pieces. You really get the message that they are trying to convey. When it comes down to True and False magic, they bring their truth to light, and let the reader know that the responsibility to access some of the concepts (higher forces, life force, magic etc.) is on the person practicing them.

Phil Stutz!!! This guys is an incredible therapist, and you can see that from his books! There are tools through this entire book to implement. The one that really struck me the most was string of pearls. I struggle with being a high achiever and that attaches to my identity. Here is a quote from the book

“ We need a functional definition of success in our culture, particularly because it’s so wrapped up with identity. You can’t structure your life around an identity where you win and you’re a big shot, or you lose and you’re nothing.”

This tool has helped me begin to put success into a different perspective. Changing my perception of success through life!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Random House, Netgallery, Phil Stutz, and Elise Loehnen for an ARC of True and False Magic: A Tools Workbook in exchange for my honest opinion.

I first became familiar with Phil Stutz thanks to the documentary (Stutz) on Netflix. I read the Tools immediately afterwards because his work spoke to me in a way that no other's had. While not absolutely necessary to be familiar with his work prior to reading this, I do think it helps set the stage for this brief but powerful workbook. In True and False Magic, Stutz and Loehnen outline that pain, need for constant work, and uncertainty are domains we face in our lives. Stutz reminds us that in accepting and facing these things in spite of fear, we are creating real magic (i.e., true magic).

What I liked: Reading this book is like putting the tools into practice. Through his words, Stutz shows us a reflection of all the truths we try to avoid/hide from; there is nowhere to hide. As a clinician, I appreciate Stutz's candor and reflection of wanting to share actual tools with clients. I also appreciate that this book is pretty free of psychobabble which makes it more accessible for readers. This workbook is not a typical workbook but rather a call to action and the steps to apply the concepts to your daily life.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who want to get out of their own way and step into their potential. 4/5 Stars

this was a great self help book! I thought that the tips and tools given were great with lots of good advice. I liked the way it was written, and how it was interesting too, not just informative

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!