Tapping the Power Within -
A Path to Self-Empowerment for Women
by Iyanla Vanzant; Reviewed by Nancy J. Reid

Iyanla Vanzant is the former host of the television talk show Iyanla and former co-host of the NBC daytime reality show Starting Over. She is also author of 13 titles of which 5 hit the New York times bestsellers list. She is the founder and executive director of the Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development. Iyanla looks at herself as a cultural custodian, being both African American and Native American. She has studied the Yoruba spiritual tradition and is an ordained Yoruba Priestess, but does not separate the culture of a people from the spirit of a people. She combines what she has learned from Yoruba and Native American spirituality with New Thought Christianity and makes sense of it all.

The 20th Anniversary Edition of Tapping the Power Within: A Path to Self-Empowerment for Women was released this fall and has been expanded to include Iyanla's "What I Know Now" commentaries as well as a CD that gives you seven tips for making change in your life.

Editors Nancy Reid and Lisa Smith, along with special Co-Host Carlisle Bergquist interviewed Iyanla on our online radio show, Ultimate Living, on October 31, 2008. To listen to the entire, unedited show, please click here. To listen to Iyanla's interview, please double click on the Play Button below.

Book Review by Nancy Reid: Tapping the Power Within is a major exploration/explanation of "Spirit" and "Spirituality"--what it means in our lives--and how we can experience peace of mind, joy and security. Iyanla shows the reader through anecdotes and stories, the power we have within that allows us to make the choices on how to handle everyday life situations. It is obvious that she has spent hundreds of hours thinking, observing, questioning and learning about the complexities of spirituality--but her unique talent is the ability to deliver an honest, well-written work that both explains and encourages while it examines cultural and spiritual concepts. Her courage in writing about her own journey of discovery leads the reader to a position of respect, both for the author and for ones own journey. It is a revelation--personal, convincing, uplifting and very liberating. It is a book I would recommend to anyone--whether male or female--that wishes to live a fuller life, handle life lessons in a better way, or re-connect with their inner core.

There are exercises in the book that will guide the reader through the process of self-evaluation right through to healing. It is one of the books you will want to keep handy and go back to time and time again. It provides insight, clarity, warmth, encouragement, and plenty of food for thought. You will like yourself more for the reading of it.