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The Doubt Factor
“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” - René Descartes. Renée Paule took this advice to heart in The Doubt Factor - sowing seeds of doubt about a range of topics and giving them the benefit of her unique take on things. She encourages us to use our own powers of reasoning, rather than taking things at face value. Renée writes “Doubt feeds on the fear of imagined consequences, such as making a mistake we may later regret; doubt holds us in a state of indecision … it becomes our master.” She makes a good case that we need to “… learn to doubt intelligently.” - to wield doubt rather than to be wielded by it. There is much in this book to give us pause for thought - perhaps even enough to shake off complacency.
- GenresPhilosophy
123 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2019
About the author
Renée Paule
9 books265 followers'Self-reflection', 'Know Thyself' and 'Semi-autobiography'
'Top of the morning' from Ireland.
Many years ago I wrote my autobiography - probably more as therapy than anything else - but life continued happening to me and I got to thinking, what good will this story do, isn’t there enough misery in the world without me adding to it? I subsequently burnt the manuscript. It was around that time that I began searching for meaning in my life and had a profound experience - a realisation that we’re all connected; we’re One. In my books, I take an honest look at our quirky and often bizarre behaviour in society and challenge the status-quo we accept as unchangeable - questioning and pushing the boundaries we set ourselves, and those that have been set for us. I’m convinced that if we want to change our lives and change our world then we must first change ourselves. I invite you to join me on my journey, questioning the society we call ours and the role we play within it.
My Reviews
I rate/review books that have given me pause for thought. 5 stars = something resonated with me.
Author Interviews, Articles and Questionnaires are at:
Pebble in the Still Waters
Smashwords
Two Girls and a Blog
Read, Rant and Rock and Roll - Just Around the Bend
Books, Teacup and Reviews
BookWorks
Read, Rant and Rock and Roll - The Frightened Little Flower Bud
Show good will to each other - every day.
'Top of the morning' from Ireland.
Many years ago I wrote my autobiography - probably more as therapy than anything else - but life continued happening to me and I got to thinking, what good will this story do, isn’t there enough misery in the world without me adding to it? I subsequently burnt the manuscript. It was around that time that I began searching for meaning in my life and had a profound experience - a realisation that we’re all connected; we’re One. In my books, I take an honest look at our quirky and often bizarre behaviour in society and challenge the status-quo we accept as unchangeable - questioning and pushing the boundaries we set ourselves, and those that have been set for us. I’m convinced that if we want to change our lives and change our world then we must first change ourselves. I invite you to join me on my journey, questioning the society we call ours and the role we play within it.
My Reviews
I rate/review books that have given me pause for thought. 5 stars = something resonated with me.
Author Interviews, Articles and Questionnaires are at:
Pebble in the Still Waters
Smashwords
Two Girls and a Blog
Read, Rant and Rock and Roll - Just Around the Bend
Books, Teacup and Reviews
BookWorks
Read, Rant and Rock and Roll - The Frightened Little Flower Bud
Show good will to each other - every day.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 29, 2019
I've enjoyed all of Renée Paule's books, but The Doubt Factor has become my favorite this far.
Having an analytical mind, I always tend to question and find myself in deep thought often. It's probably true that anyone can benefit from deep thought in one way or another. I personally believe that it can better lives, but the challenge for me has always been acting on it. Perhaps this is what draws me back to Renee's books: she always has a way of directing my mind toward profound thoughts because it's easy to resonate with her, yet I still remain a seeker.
In The Doubt Factor, Renée Paule includes essays on habits, boredom, diet, escape, authority, and other subjects on human nature. It's a fairly short book, but overflows with some thought-provoking ideas and, dare I say it, harsh realities that many of us probably won't feel comfortable admitting to.
What are rights? If they belong to any one of us, then they belong to each and every one of us - no one human being has the right to cause the suffering of another. To cause the suffering of another human being is a terrible thing that reduces us to a state of barbarian, and we do cause the suffering of others - sometimes deliberately and sometimes inadvertently - to such a large extent that I often feel ashamed to be a member of the human race. To spend small fortunes on for example, going into outer space, when we haven't ensured the right of every human being to have adequate food, water and shelter saddens me beyond the realms of grief. If we can't live intelligently on our own planet, what atrocities are we destined to commit on others? We speak of ourselves as 'advancing' but when we look at this objectively, it couldn't be further from the truth - technology is advancing, yes sure, but humanity is in rapid decline; what's the good of the one without the other, and to whom?
While reading the book, my husband and I had some interesting conversations, which is always a fun experience. I especially enjoyed the chapters on habits, and being bored; however, my absolute favorite slap-in-the-face chapters were "Rights and Predjudice" and "Don't Get Me Started."
I just loved all the illustrations. The Doubt Factor is excellent, kept me absorbed, and like all of Renée Paule's books, will stay with me. Highly recommend!
5*****
Having an analytical mind, I always tend to question and find myself in deep thought often. It's probably true that anyone can benefit from deep thought in one way or another. I personally believe that it can better lives, but the challenge for me has always been acting on it. Perhaps this is what draws me back to Renee's books: she always has a way of directing my mind toward profound thoughts because it's easy to resonate with her, yet I still remain a seeker.
In The Doubt Factor, Renée Paule includes essays on habits, boredom, diet, escape, authority, and other subjects on human nature. It's a fairly short book, but overflows with some thought-provoking ideas and, dare I say it, harsh realities that many of us probably won't feel comfortable admitting to.
What are rights? If they belong to any one of us, then they belong to each and every one of us - no one human being has the right to cause the suffering of another. To cause the suffering of another human being is a terrible thing that reduces us to a state of barbarian, and we do cause the suffering of others - sometimes deliberately and sometimes inadvertently - to such a large extent that I often feel ashamed to be a member of the human race. To spend small fortunes on for example, going into outer space, when we haven't ensured the right of every human being to have adequate food, water and shelter saddens me beyond the realms of grief. If we can't live intelligently on our own planet, what atrocities are we destined to commit on others? We speak of ourselves as 'advancing' but when we look at this objectively, it couldn't be further from the truth - technology is advancing, yes sure, but humanity is in rapid decline; what's the good of the one without the other, and to whom?
While reading the book, my husband and I had some interesting conversations, which is always a fun experience. I especially enjoyed the chapters on habits, and being bored; however, my absolute favorite slap-in-the-face chapters were "Rights and Predjudice" and "Don't Get Me Started."
I just loved all the illustrations. The Doubt Factor is excellent, kept me absorbed, and like all of Renée Paule's books, will stay with me. Highly recommend!
5*****
October 2, 2019
It is so hard to look at 'big picture' questions and not go off track; so many detours that one can take as the years go by. Renée has that rare gift of 'isolating perception' and then looking at cause and effect - when you factor this book into your reading list I have no doubt about the simple yet profound lessons you will learn!
September 23, 2019
Renee Paule continues her exploration of what it means to be human, both individually and collectively, with this series of essays. As always, her thoughts on subjects such as Habits, Being Bored and Authority invite the reader to participate in open-minded self-reflection. So much of what we see, do and accept as an unchangeable part of daily life can be looked at anew once we open our eyes and minds. With modern society seemingly on a crash course towards armageddon, perhaps this small book is part of our much needed wake-up call.
September 19, 2019
Renée Paule continues her look at life in her own inimitable way that is sure to give you pause for thought - it did me; I shall never consider boredom in quite the same way after reading her chapter entitled On Being Bored. Renée Paule's books are always intriguing and thought-provoking and if that is your kind of read I recommend them.
Note: I edited this book at no cost to the author and have received no payment whatsoever for this review.
Note: I edited this book at no cost to the author and have received no payment whatsoever for this review.
December 7, 2019
You can read all my review on Blog - Books Teacup and Reviews
The Doubt Factor was non-fiction, self-help book in which author encourages to seek the truth by implanting the doubt on the age-old beliefs, mindsets, habits, authority, rights and prejudice, human nature, and even on the food, making you question everything and ponder over the true meaning of life.
All topics were insightful and motivational. They had so many things one can discuss over again and again and find something enlightening everytime. The more I read the more I reflected on what was said in the book and how I could reflect it with things around me and in myself. When I was reading this book I jotted down my thoughts, what I understood from it with my own experiences in my life. Shockingly, it was 4 pages long. I’m not going to bore you with that long review. Just one or two line on each essays. So here is what the book and each essay was about and what author portrayed through it.-
Habits– Here author doesn’t say about good vs bad habits and its pros and cons but how it affects our life and thinking. I loved this topic. It motivated me to start getting in routine of exercise that left during pregnancy. The core point of the topic was, sticking to bad habit is going to root us at one place in life while good one helps us grow mentally, physically and spiritually. Escape– How many of us seek escape when something bad happens? All of us, right? There was nothing new here that we don’t know. Escaping is not solution and even after escaping we don’t achieve peace and inner-happiness. So what was different here was examples author gave based on her own experience.
Next in Line– This was a hard truth we all don’t like, ‘we all are replaceable in life and even after death’. Somebody else gets what we wanted and we start throwing tantrums, plot revenge, think bad things about them and ultimately be unhappy about everything. What authors tells here is being selfless, do something in life that is not just good for us but for everybody, world and humanity, to leave something better for our next in line.
The Doubt Factor– In this title essay, author first tells about what doubt does to us. How it can make or break human. Mostly lot of harm comes with doubt but sometimes there is truth behind it as well that lead us to discovery. So doubt intelligently, not be blinded by misleading information, clear the confusion and so bad doubts making space for positive and wonderful things.
Rights and Prejudice– Now one can have endless discussion on this. Many times I encountered people who wrongly claimed rights on even smallest things and prejudiced people, gender, religion and so on. When I couldn’t bear it any more I tried to put forward points that might change their mind and thoughts but all in vein. When I read discussion in this book, I realized what I was doing wrong. I cannot change anybody’s mind. It’s not in my hand. Change should come from that person’s heart and it won’t happen by me telling them, they have to do it.
On Being Bored tells about retraining our mind and thoughts rather than being productively and constructively bored. Food for Thoughts was about strong mentality. What and how we are feeding our body and mind is important, it’s all about will and determination. We are the One was a topic that was discussed over and over in all previous books by author and this was a brush up on it. One can affect all and one can change all. We cannot turn away from society because we don’t like some people some age old rules or thoughts. We created such society and it’s up to us to change it. We are part of society and we will be no matter where we go. This was really insightful for me. Don’t get me started was kind of mixed topic but all it says is, change the education style, leave behind bloody history and war and instill wisdom and humanity. Worldly possessions are not going to stay all our life or follow us in our grave but love, compassion, self-reflection and wisdom will stay till and after death.
Authority– I loved concept in this. The true authority is control over our thoughts, action, and ourselves. It’s presence of good and absence of evil. Another favorite topic was mindset. I’m told person leaves his/her character in grave, it stays the same all their life, no one can change it. Whoever now is going to tell me this I’m going to slap this essay on their face. You must see some situation where we are told to just go along with how things are because we cannot change people and their mindset and it’s futile to even try, it’s like ‘let a bully, bully you’ situation. Mindsets can be changed, it takes time and maybe some miraculous experience for some but it’s not impossible.
In a nutshell, author talked about inner happiness, clearing the confusion by clearing the doubts, change of heart, self-reflection, strengthening the mind and will, seeking wisdom, a true authority on ourselves by being selfless and removing evil, negative thoughts, and doing right and good thing in life, be a kindred spirit and bring change in our life and so in society. It’s these things we are going to take with us after death not worldly possessions.
Overall, it was inspirational, motivational and very insightful collection of essays. I highly recommend this book if you’re into self-help books.
*** Note: I received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to author. ***
The Doubt Factor was non-fiction, self-help book in which author encourages to seek the truth by implanting the doubt on the age-old beliefs, mindsets, habits, authority, rights and prejudice, human nature, and even on the food, making you question everything and ponder over the true meaning of life.
All topics were insightful and motivational. They had so many things one can discuss over again and again and find something enlightening everytime. The more I read the more I reflected on what was said in the book and how I could reflect it with things around me and in myself. When I was reading this book I jotted down my thoughts, what I understood from it with my own experiences in my life. Shockingly, it was 4 pages long. I’m not going to bore you with that long review. Just one or two line on each essays. So here is what the book and each essay was about and what author portrayed through it.-
Habits– Here author doesn’t say about good vs bad habits and its pros and cons but how it affects our life and thinking. I loved this topic. It motivated me to start getting in routine of exercise that left during pregnancy. The core point of the topic was, sticking to bad habit is going to root us at one place in life while good one helps us grow mentally, physically and spiritually. Escape– How many of us seek escape when something bad happens? All of us, right? There was nothing new here that we don’t know. Escaping is not solution and even after escaping we don’t achieve peace and inner-happiness. So what was different here was examples author gave based on her own experience.
Next in Line– This was a hard truth we all don’t like, ‘we all are replaceable in life and even after death’. Somebody else gets what we wanted and we start throwing tantrums, plot revenge, think bad things about them and ultimately be unhappy about everything. What authors tells here is being selfless, do something in life that is not just good for us but for everybody, world and humanity, to leave something better for our next in line.
The Doubt Factor– In this title essay, author first tells about what doubt does to us. How it can make or break human. Mostly lot of harm comes with doubt but sometimes there is truth behind it as well that lead us to discovery. So doubt intelligently, not be blinded by misleading information, clear the confusion and so bad doubts making space for positive and wonderful things.
Rights and Prejudice– Now one can have endless discussion on this. Many times I encountered people who wrongly claimed rights on even smallest things and prejudiced people, gender, religion and so on. When I couldn’t bear it any more I tried to put forward points that might change their mind and thoughts but all in vein. When I read discussion in this book, I realized what I was doing wrong. I cannot change anybody’s mind. It’s not in my hand. Change should come from that person’s heart and it won’t happen by me telling them, they have to do it.
On Being Bored tells about retraining our mind and thoughts rather than being productively and constructively bored. Food for Thoughts was about strong mentality. What and how we are feeding our body and mind is important, it’s all about will and determination. We are the One was a topic that was discussed over and over in all previous books by author and this was a brush up on it. One can affect all and one can change all. We cannot turn away from society because we don’t like some people some age old rules or thoughts. We created such society and it’s up to us to change it. We are part of society and we will be no matter where we go. This was really insightful for me. Don’t get me started was kind of mixed topic but all it says is, change the education style, leave behind bloody history and war and instill wisdom and humanity. Worldly possessions are not going to stay all our life or follow us in our grave but love, compassion, self-reflection and wisdom will stay till and after death.
Authority– I loved concept in this. The true authority is control over our thoughts, action, and ourselves. It’s presence of good and absence of evil. Another favorite topic was mindset. I’m told person leaves his/her character in grave, it stays the same all their life, no one can change it. Whoever now is going to tell me this I’m going to slap this essay on their face. You must see some situation where we are told to just go along with how things are because we cannot change people and their mindset and it’s futile to even try, it’s like ‘let a bully, bully you’ situation. Mindsets can be changed, it takes time and maybe some miraculous experience for some but it’s not impossible.
In a nutshell, author talked about inner happiness, clearing the confusion by clearing the doubts, change of heart, self-reflection, strengthening the mind and will, seeking wisdom, a true authority on ourselves by being selfless and removing evil, negative thoughts, and doing right and good thing in life, be a kindred spirit and bring change in our life and so in society. It’s these things we are going to take with us after death not worldly possessions.
Overall, it was inspirational, motivational and very insightful collection of essays. I highly recommend this book if you’re into self-help books.
*** Note: I received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to author. ***
December 20, 2019
I loved this philosophical read by Renée Paule.
The Doubt Factor is kind of a brief insight into Renée’s philosophical journey through life and the quirky traits of humanity coalesced into a book from “the many notes and other scraps that found space on my desk”
Renée explores and challenges the habits we form, the prejudices we hold and the society whose beliefs we try to conform to, and of course the doubt and ultimately what lies at the end of all life’s journeys, death. ….
full review appears on Becoming The Muse- Doubt Factor
The Doubt Factor is kind of a brief insight into Renée’s philosophical journey through life and the quirky traits of humanity coalesced into a book from “the many notes and other scraps that found space on my desk”
Renée explores and challenges the habits we form, the prejudices we hold and the society whose beliefs we try to conform to, and of course the doubt and ultimately what lies at the end of all life’s journeys, death. ….
full review appears on Becoming The Muse- Doubt Factor
December 15, 2019
In this latest masterpiece, the author encourages us to question all of which we held to be true - and to deconstruct and start anew and use our powers of reasoning and discernment to find our own truth. We are taken on a journey on self discovery, beginning with habits (things which other people always have), to escape (from people and situations and ourselves), to questioning and doubting, and the kind of mindset we have. Throughout this journey we’re encouraged to explore the truth of ourselves which can at times be very difficult but the rewards are worth it.
November 3, 2019
RE new
In this book we are reminded that we must examine our thinking and understanding, even on beliefs we hold dear. Curiosity and doubt are all part of that, so don’t worry that you don’t know everything. That’s what makes life interesting!
Ultimately she reminds us of the importance of self observation and reflection on our lives and mindset, and that it is for each of us to change our own hearts.
This requires silence so begin to find the peace of allowing ourselves to be who we are.
The author’s philosophical approach makes you think deeply about life and living, and to challenge your own thinking even against what she writes or asserts - and that in itself makes it worth the read.
In this book we are reminded that we must examine our thinking and understanding, even on beliefs we hold dear. Curiosity and doubt are all part of that, so don’t worry that you don’t know everything. That’s what makes life interesting!
Ultimately she reminds us of the importance of self observation and reflection on our lives and mindset, and that it is for each of us to change our own hearts.
This requires silence so begin to find the peace of allowing ourselves to be who we are.
The author’s philosophical approach makes you think deeply about life and living, and to challenge your own thinking even against what she writes or asserts - and that in itself makes it worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews