The Magic Formula

by Michael J. Roads

Book Overview

Michael J. Roads' The Magic Formula is an impressive novel imbued with a deeper meaning than is offered by most simple works of fictional storytelling. Indeed, The Magic Formula offers readers... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 097291451X
• ISBN13: 9780972914512
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: SilverRoads Publishing
• Length: 131 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.6" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

A profound moral parable of transformation

Michael J. Roads' The Magic Formula is an impressive novel imbued with a deeper meaning than is offered by most simple works of fictional storytelling. Indeed, The Magic Formula offers readers everywhere an illustrated and exampled means to deal with their own personal difficulties. Following a group of childhood friends who meet every ten years, and learn that their lives are distressingly bleak, The Magic Formula narrates transformation when a mystical teacher comes and offers a way each person in the circle can greatly change his or her life. A profound moral parable of transformation, written and shared as a gift to all who read it, The Magical Formula is original and highly recommended reading.

Watching others, helps yourself

In my opinion, most self-help books really don't work very well. They start out by telling you to love yourself as you are. Then, they switch up by saying "now let me help you change a few things." In order to reach happiness, many require reading a paragraph once a day for a certain time, or reciting a specific quotation every morning, or writing down your thoughts every evening. This works for a few months, then you start to slip back into your old habits. What do you do then? You probably buy another self-help book, and begin the process all over again."The Magic Formula" takes self-help from a different angle. No where in the book does it suggest that we have to change ourselves. In fact, the whole book revolves around the lives of men who appear to be strangers to us. Fresh out of high school, seven guys make a pact to meet at the same restaurant every ten years afterwards. With the accidental death of one, and the fatal heart attack of another, Gus, Steve, Mac and Pete began to talk about their problems at their third reunion. Their lives have changed, and Mike was the only one sincerely happy. An older gentleman, named Deliverance, sat tables away, and seemed to catch their attention. He approached their table, and offered his timely assistance. Deliverance begins with what he calls the unrecognized mission of human consciousness, "We should make ourselves more of what we are, and less of what we are not." This could not be explained in one night, so they met again for the next five nights, while Deliverance fed their bodies and their souls. Michael Roads drives the back roads to indirectly speak to the reader through the lives of these men. You see, the five friends are not strangers to us. Most people are traveling a route similar to one of them. Mr. Roads uses Deliverance to send the message of self-realization through the lives of these fictional characters. We can read the book, be amused, and never think about it again. Or, the insight that the men receive, subtly becomes your insight and you will want to incorporate their personal growth techniques into your life. I recommend this book to those who truly want to love themselves, and transform to recognize their beauty from within.