Be

by A.C. Ping

Ten years ago A. C. Ping's life was sailing smoothly. He was married and looking to buy a home, his career was on the fast track, and he had plenty of friends and family to support him. Then, within three short years, his marriage fell apart, he quit his job, two people very close to him passed away, and everyone began to question where his life was headed. Instead of wallowing in self-doubt, he took a deep breath and a step back and learned to live all over again. Then he wrote Be — an illuminating book aimed at provoking the exploration of life's important questions: What is my purpose? What do I believe in? How can I transcend the self? and How can I be happy? Meditative and philosophical but adamantly non-preachy, Be is a little book with a big agenda (and a cut-to-the-chase voice) that prompts readers to search their souls and transform their lives from the inside out.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Philosophy, Business

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2004

About the author

A.C. Ping has traveled the World and lived in Australia, the UK, USA and Africa. He is the author of 8 books including the trilogy of personal development books BE, DO and FAITH that have been published internationally and translated into 11 different languages.

Now available in E book form is the second 'experiential' trilogy of books 'A Place Where You May Find Peace', 'Release Your Fear' and 'The Self Mastery Toolbox'.

"I've read all three of A. C. Ping's books in this "series": BE, DO, and FAITH. Now, I am going to re-read them all and try to put what I've learned into daily practice. Not that Ping is trying to give you 5 easy steps to enlightenment or anything like that... rather, he provides clarity and insight on many of the things that hold you back and drag you down, and points the way toward a healing, all-encompassing kind of faith--not limited to a particular religion or religion in particular.

What makes Ping's voice so unique: He walks a tightrope above New-Age, Pseudo-Science, and Religion... but walks the tightrope exceedingly well. He never falls into the safety net of what has already been said a million times in a million self-help books. His voice is fresh without being trendy or commercial. He spices things up with the occasional curse word or two.

He's down-to-earth, witty, and doesn't try to be your guru. He's more like a great friend who offers wonderful perspective and insight without coming across as a flawless, know-it-all. So rare!! I recommend these books highly! Start with BE, follow up with DO, and then feel the refreshing healing in FAITH. You won't regret it!"
Review on Amazon.com

For more information about A.C. Ping and the work he does with individuals and organizations, visit the website www.acping.net

Reviews

[Rocco Lombardo]

This book was a great book for self-reflection. It gives you many questions that you can ask yourself to help you learn about who you are. A.C. Ping seems to relate to reality well because of how he uses situations to get his point across. He had been through a rough time after losing his marriage and he looked to himself for the answers on how to get himself out of the hole he had fallen in to.
Throughout his book he asks the reader questions on fairly deeper levels and the questions are somewhat out of the ordinary. However that is an effective way because it helps you learn quite a bit about yourself. I learned because of how hard the questions made you think because there was a difference between answering the questions and answering them honestly. The honesty part made things very interesting as you were forced to be real with your self and not sugar coat anything. Once I was able to look and see myself in a non-biased way then I was able to adjust on who I was.
Overall it is a good book for self reflection. I will guarantee you that you will learn something about yourself. What it is will either be good or bad but no matter it will be valuable.

[Douglas Lord · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where Eckhardt Tolle crystallizes his message with mesmerizing brevity, Ping’s (Do, Marlowe & Company, September 2004) attempt at the same trick only blurs his points. This disjointed work is bereft of any unifying principle and introduces concepts only to be orphan them; reading quickly becomes a chore. Occasional messages surface (e.g., don’t be ruled by money, begin to improve yourself right now), but vagaries are more typical “get serious but be kind, pursue your goals but embrace unity and oneness.” Platitudes (e.g., “Reclaim your freedom. Pursue your dreams”) are incessant, and gratuitous profanity and unnecessary references to drinking and drugs distract. Even the thread of anti-capitalism running through the book feels watered down. This ultimately unhelpful self-help also lacks how-to; dust off Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow.
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be is very inspirational for me, a real eye opener to the world around me and even myself. This book talks about finding who you are in this society that tells us who we have to be. This book made me really think, and want to live in the present, to embrace and except what’s happening. Though to also live the life you want and desire to live. This book does not give you answers on how to live your life, but takes the fog away for you to really see your life as it is. The author just helps give you a small nudge to see what you really want out of life. Great book really made me think, I would suggest those who are in there twenties or early thirties to read this. Otherwise thank you A.C. Ping for a great eye opening book.

[Michael Joe Armijo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't know how I found myself buying this book but I'm glad I read it. It is the perfect book for "anyone". It examines the concept of living happily, realizing your passions and discovering your purpose in life. I liked it very much (4 stars). Some parts were 'ho-hum' for me but everyone will benefit from some portion of this book. It's more of a self-help handbook. Help yourself! Get a copy.

Here are quotes I liked from the book (that are from others--not the author) but there are more meaningful lines and quotes that I refuse to share as I don't want to spoil the new insights you will get by reading it. Here are the quotes that impacted me:

"What we do in LIFE, echoes in eternity." --Maximus, GLADIATOR movie.

"Where the spirit does NOT work with the hand, there is no ART." --Leonard Da Vinci

"It is nothing to die, it's an awful thing to never to have lived." --Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

"Happiness is when what you THINK, what you SAY, and what you DO are in harmony." --Mahatma Gandhi

"One cannot learn wisdom by sitting at another's feet. One must live one's own life, make one's own mistakes, feel one's own ecstasy to learn the true meaning of existence, for it is different in each individual. Fall down, get up, do it all over again in another context. Experience. And learn. That's the only way." --Eric Van Lustbader, THE NINJA

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling down but in rising each time we fall." --Nelson Mandela

"If you're selling water in the desert and it rains you stop selling water and start selling umbrellas." --Anonymous

"Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be." --Goethe

"We are all leaders. Each one of us is setting an example for someone else, and each one of us has responsibility to shape the future as we wish it to be." --Keshavan Nair

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is NOT an act but a habit. --Aristotle

[Diego Ferreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Em português o livro chama Não Viva Pela Metade. Autor inicia falando sobre o objetivo de vida de cada um e de como alcançar o propósito. Sempre atento na jornada e não no destino, a vida muda e temos que estar atentos as oportunidades para poder agarrá-las e talvez alternar o caminho. Pois a vida é uma só

[Kirsten Wilson-Evans · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book genuinely didn’t say anything. There was no point, just a heap of anecdotes and vague opinions

[Aaron Wolfson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brief, insightful book helped me better understand why it can be so difficult to find purpose in one's life, and laid out concrete steps to get there. One must create action and movement in order to fulfill a purpose, and one can (only?) find happiness in this process. It argues vehemently against chemical escape. One must be still and clear his or her mind in order to get in touch with the true "Self," discover core beliefs, and construct an ultimate vision for life. Finally, Ping teaches that things will inevitably go wrong, and that we must accept life as it is and realize that everyone is in it together. Rather than get stuck in a loop where past regrets inform present hesitations, it is better to use future hopes to inform present actions, as well as maintain a presence in the moment.

[Mare S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be of great use to me. it's definitelly not for everyone, but if you're in search of something and trying to figure out how to be happier with your lot in life, this isn't a bad place to start. It's one I'd actually recommend buying as there are exercises to complete. I found some of them helpful and some of them things I already knew.

But a few of the concepts I am trying to incorporate into my day-to-day life.

[Linda Rawlins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little trilogy to read - philosphical and inspirational in a light hearted manner. When you reach that point when you say - "Is that all there is to life?" Read over and over and define the new you!

[Meghann · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little soft cheese for the soul...

[Jyoti]

I'm loving this guy. Straight forward, not mystical or new agey. Great for anyone. Has qusetions to ask yourself, and little exercises periodically through the book.

[Josie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book, To help and guide you on self improvement and discovery.