There are three ways to perceive the author of Inner Coach: Outer Power: as a deeply spiritual person sharing his continual evolution to his highest self; as a person suffering from serious psychotic and/or delusional episodes; or as a charlatan out to make money from others’ desperate needs for help. All three possibilities cross one’s mind on every page. Ultimately, it’s up to the individual reader to decide.

This book should be labeled “autobiography” rather than “self help/inspirational”. Each chapter has an intriguing title such a “Hot Tubbing With Angels”, “Visiting the Folks in Hell”, or “Playing in Parallel Realities”. The contents of those chapters are personal anecdotes of spiritual experiences.

Unfortunately, that’s all there is. It is merely the tale of the experience. There’s no analysis or attempt to put it in the context of the rest of the life. And there is no guidance to apply his experience and what he’s learned from it to anyone else’s life. How is this guidance that of an inner coach? How do you find your inner coach? How do you work with these guides? What kind of “outer power” do you receive from such work? How does acknowledging this spiritual path enrich life on a practical, daily basis? These questions are left unanswered in the book, despite the title. Perhaps it’s all covered in one of Varnum’s workshops, as advertised in the book.

As autobiography, it’s interesting and raises unique spiritual options. As self-help, it’s not particularly helpful.