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Portia Nelson
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There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery Paperback – March 1, 1994

by Portia Nelson (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 283 ratings
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Insightful, humorous, touching, and inspiring are just a few words used to describe this well-loved collection of poems and truisms by the late Portia Nelson. Designed to inspire self discovery, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk includes stirring poems that gently lead readers to embrace a more authentic self.

Individuals, therapy groups, the self-help community, and twelve-step programs around the world have embraced this classic book. There’s a Hole My Sidewalk is the perfect motivational gift for yourself, your friends, or your family.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    144 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Atria Books/Beyond Words
  4. Publication date
    March 1, 1994
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.25 x 5.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0941831876
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0941831871
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Treat yourself to a special book by a special lady." —Carol Burnett

"There's a Hole in My Sidewalk explains in a simple and concise way how life works. It is full of practical wisdom that will allow you to embrace and change your life." —John Gray, Ph.D., author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

"It's like ten years of analysis in a single reading." —Rex Reed

About the Author

Portia Nelson was a renaissance woman: author, composer, lyricist, painter, photographer, and actress. She appeared in feature films such as The Sound of Music and was a long-time regular on All My Children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books/Beyond Words; 2nd edition (March 1, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0941831876
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0941831871
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.25 x 5.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 283 ratings

About the author

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Portia Nelson

Portia Nelson

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
283 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Pat
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the read if just for the title poem
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
If you're ADHD, the title poem is for you. Or if you have trouble doing the same wrong things over and over, the title poem is for you. Worth the read if only for the title poem.
One person found this helpful
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Kathleen A. Bielenberg
5.0 out of 5 stars My fault or not my fault?
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023
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A very thought provoking little book.
One person found this helpful
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Richard G. Evansii
4.0 out of 5 stars Title poem great
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2022
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The title poem is very thoughtful but so far the others are head scratchers.
One person found this helpful
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M. T. Crenshaw
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book but very short!
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2014
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There is a hole in my sidewalk is a mix of diary, "poemary", aphorisms and self-deprecating jokes about relationships of different sorts, with another person, your self, or an object. The book is perfect when you are going through a break-up, divorce or just having problems with your partner.I see it more about human relationships, but the book can be used for relationships with your addiction of choice.

The book is full of wisdom but very witty, VERY!, and you will find yourself laughing out loud at most sentences in it! You'll want to re-read it for sake of the wisdom, for the sake of the humour, for the sake of feeling yourself understood and less weird when your life is full of confusion.

As a female, I think the book captures what the female psyche perfectly. However, a male will probably think the same! That is so, because the book departs from universal human experiences and ways of relating that go way beyond gender and nationality.

The book is extremely short, and it will last you about two coffees. Less if you are a fast reader. Being so, the book is perfect to re/read on the bus, on the toilet, on a trip, on a coffee break, lunch break. Anytime you do, it will be wonderful.

I think that this being a classic old book, and a very short book indeed, the price should be more reasonable. Say about 3 bucks.
15 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Always replace the cracked sidewalk, repairs always require maintenance!
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2021
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Strangest book I ever read but hit the mark with the truth: help and love yourself. As Christ said in the New Covenant, love your neighbor as yourself. When we put others in front and self in the back, we open the gates of hell to all kinds of misery by suffering loss of identity, and setting into motion a myriad of setbacks. Additionally, we open the door wide open to people who play mind games, which causes shame, depression, anxiety, self hatred, etc. I could go on but I know those who have made this mistake already know the list of misery and suffering is extensive.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Condition, packed well.
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2023
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Book arrived in the condition promised and was packed in a way to that protected the book. Thank you.
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J. Hodgdon
3.0 out of 5 stars Keep what I love and leave the rest.
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2016
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I learned this "story" years ago and find great parable value in it. I was interested in the entire writing and found that I will remain connected with the Hole in my Sidewalk story; the rest of the work didn't call to me.
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Astute FL
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye Opeing
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2012
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As someone else said, this is a VERY simple book, but that is good. It's not a book in the sense that it's filled with a bunch of words, sentences, chapters,etc. No, it is a series of different poems that relate to each of the 5 main chapters of what they book is about...which is confidence/self-esteem. I read most of the poems as they applied to me, I could relate to almost all of them. When you read them, you think, that's pretty lame, that's so silly, then...you're like...man....that's ME!! I do that!!! It's not a book or poems that's going to fix you, or tell you what to do to fix yourself, but for me, it was an eye opener on what I am doing, and what i need to stop doing, stop worrying about. Anyway, I got a lot from it, I hope you do too.
15 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Crazy old gal
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read
Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2021
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This was recommended by my councillor. It’s a wonderful read! I highly recommend it
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Dr. Freddy Santermans
5.0 out of 5 stars Self-Discovery. A mirror is exposed and Realisation came while Reading more. Now I need to go my other way.
Reviewed in Germany on May 9, 2020
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Self-Discovery. A mirror is exposed and Realisation came while Reading more. Now I need to go my other way. Read it and you will feel it (of not).
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Narinder
3.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant in pieces !
Reviewed in India on November 25, 2017
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The book is brilliant in pieces and those pieces are quite few. The piece titled "Autobiography in five short chapters" still stands out.
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adam levine's number one fan
5.0 out of 5 stars There 's a hole in my sidewalk ..
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 16, 2014
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There's a Hole in my sidewalk - The Romance of Self discovery By Portia Nelson
I stumbled across the Poem that I saw on an office wall and was amazed by how well this poem sums everything up from the difficulties of being in love or infatuation or finding yourself in the same place and being stuck in a rut .
It offers words that are built with loving emotion for when you stumble to find the words for yourself to convey the feelings of being in love or infatuation or even if you are really inspired by your hero or that someone you look up to .
If there is any book that when you have purchased it and then you look at it read it you almost certainly suggest you had written it yourself ! because each poem beautifully and caringly gives meaning and emotion you can really relate to
wonderful if you are truly in love or in a relationship or not ..because what it does provide is a romance with yourself ..that self discovery and if read enough you start to tune into you to love you .
I don't think any other self help book out there can match up to this .a beautiful book ..go on treat yourself ! x
5 people found this helpful
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frangi - pannie
5.0 out of 5 stars chemical soup of love and relationship
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2016
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This book describes a journey of self reflection and relationship . We are all moved by moment's of the heart . Those moments expose our vulnerability and there is a call to surrender ,however another opportunity exists through both the , chemical soup of love and relationship . This opportunity is the opportunity to love and respect oneself , the opportunity question. In the fires of love we are changed to ironically know lo lonliness , Portia Nelson explains not by science and creation but by surrender to the pages of her whole self . Probably the best book of its type I have ever read and like all books I have read a timely and appropriate murmur from the void when I needed it . Buy this book read it a thousand times , live and die a thousand times
2 people found this helpful
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