Turtle Wisdom: Coming Home To Yourself

Donna DeNomme
Inlightened Source Publishing (2007)
ISBN 9781424324866
Reviewed by Susan Jensen for RebeccasReads (6/08)

You are a turtle.  Yes, you.  At least that's what "Spiritual Health Guru" Donna DeNomme proposes in her book, "Turtle Wisdom: Coming Home To Yourself.”  She says that, like turtles, we carry everything with us that we need for fulfillment.  "Within each of us," writes DeNomme, "there is a great deal of strength and wisdom, which can help us meet and master difficulties far beyond what we think we can handle." 

According to DeNomme, there is much we can learn from turtles.  The biggest lesson is this:  When the going gets tough, turtles keep plodding on.  Slow and steady wins the race and all that.  Furthermore, the animals are adaptable, diverse and self-sufficient.  It is the last trait that DeNomme stresses - she says if we carry our own strength with us, we will always have someone to rely on when others let us down. 

Unfortunately, this is the only unique idea in the book.  DeNomme fills the rest of the pages with vague platitudes like "Be Authentic," "Believe in Yourself," and "Nurture Your Potential."  While I agree that yes, we should do these things, I found myself wondering how exactly.  DeNomme offers positive energy, uplifting mantras and exercises to connect with the Earth, but she never really answered my question.  I wanted concrete steps to follow - DeNomme offers none.

'Turtle Wisdom: Coming Home To Yourself" offers a bright, (almost annoyingly) positive text.  It's a quick read that will give you a nice boost on a bad day.  Still, it lacks originality and direction.  To carry on DeNomme's analogy, it's a bit like shouting "You can do it" to a competing turtle, but neglecting to show him where the racetrack lies.  I don't know about you, but this turtle needs a little more direction than that.  So, while it's a nice, uplifting book, I found this self-help book lacking in the actual help department.