Critical Choices That Change Lives: How Heroes Turn Tragedy Into Triumph

I've read a number of self-help books, and this one really takes the cake. At a time when I was in need of inspiration, I'm so glad I found Dan Castro's book. It really uplifted me and helped me see my way through to renewed hope and inspiration. The way Dan interweaves his many examples and heart-felt, useful advice make the book easy to read and powerful. I had my highlighter handy, because there are so many great nuggets here that I wanted to remember. This is one of the top self-help books I've read, and I've read some of the big ones. This definitely ranks up there with the best. If you need some inspiration that will guide you to feel your inner strength and potential, purchase and read this book. I don't keep a lot of books around, but I think this one will be on my shelf to use as a reference in times when I need excellent advice and inspiration. A truly great book!

Reviewed by Kornelia Longoria for Reader Views (4/06) "What if you could go back in history and talk to anyone you wanted to about a struggle you were facing? Who would you talk to and why?" Life is full of choices. Every living person has to make them constantly throughout their lives. These choices sometime feel more difficult that we can handle. We then, tend to look at other people's lives and envy them, especially those of the famous ones because their lives seem so easy and effortless. Daniel R. Castro shows those people in a different light. He mentions people, who are considered heroes in some way - people we hear about every day and admire for their great achievement. All of them became famous and reached their goals. They did it, however, not without a fight and with a great deal of effort and many obstacles along the way. The book is a step-by-step guide to change our way of thinking about and seeing certain things, to become more successful and, in the end, to become like one of the heroes we admire. It's a book about the people that we can become and it tells us the easiest way to achieve that goal. The author repeats the main points throughout the book enabling the reader to clearly understand and remember them. Moreover he adds a lot of examples, adding to the believability and true to life nature of the stories. The author's style is clear and easy to read, and the use of numerous quotes makes the book very enjoyable. I would recommend "Critical Choices That Change Lives" to anyone who is interested in becoming a better, more successful person. It will help bring to light aspects in yourself that you haven't seen or were afraid to see. You will become sensitive to the most obvious things that you simply ignored because they were too obvious. Most of all it will make you stronger, showing that heroes are ordinary people too, facing the same everyday challenges.

This has been one of the most thought-provoking books I've read in a long time. I like books that remind me of things I already instinctively know. The more you read books like these, the better chance you have of living by the life-principles set forth in them. What makes "Critical Choices" unique is its combination of stories/anecdotes and principles. The stories Daniel tell have everything to do with the precepts throughout his book. They serve to reinforce the main points. The reader will find that the wisdom of the ages is evident in this book. One of the most encouraging themes is the fact when we make mistakes, we need to learn from them, and move on. We need to not allow temporary setbacks to keep us down. One of my favorite quotes from the book is on p. 158: "The true test of a person's characer is how he acts when he thinks no one is watching." Again, I've heard this before, but being reminded of it again in this book reinforces the truth and timelessness of this particular principle. This is a great read for yourself, and a great gift for a friend. I've bought a couple already!

CRITICAL CHOICES THAT CHANGE LIVES: HOW HEROES TURN TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH by Dan Castro is a life changing book that is a must read for every entrepreneur, family and educator. I have been able to slay several attorney's and the superintendent of my daughter's school this week because Dan inspired me to find my voice and stand up for what I believe in, in the face of opposition and authority. My voice was the correct voice and Dan's book gave me the power to see that sometimes everyday normal people know best. I am no different than Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King, as I too have a dream and my vision is to take back America from corporate greed, a failing educational and legal system, political division and corruption that have left the average citizen uninterested. Enough is enough and I am on a mission of my own to inspire others to read Dan's incredible book and say it's time for everyday people to step up to the plate and be fearless and demand a change. I believe and Dan's book agrees it only takes one person such as a Thomas Edison, Ben Franklin, Walt Disney or an Oprah to believe enough to change the world for the better....... so why not me!!!!

I've just finished reading this book, and I love it. Original work, clear thinking, well written. I want to share it with everyone I know, truly. From a very personal perspective, this book manages to capture much of the essence of my philosophy of Blind Spots, while reminding me of many things that I use to guide my clients, friends, and family. And that I sometimes forget for myself. Beautifully done, clearly written, and a delight to read. The cover led me to expect that it was going to be something like a collection of stories with some morals/points. It's not that at all. Castro uses real life stories to make points exceptionally well. This exemplifies the quote from Bill Gove: "make a point, tell a story." ( http://www.todayschiropractic.com/archives/sep_oct_02/so2002_speakingup.html ) Bravo!