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As If Principle, The: The Radically New Approach To Changing Your Life (2014)

by Richard Wiseman(Favorite Author)

3.72 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1491574380 (ISBN13: 9781491574386)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Brilliance Audio

review 1: The 'as if' idea is interesting and somewhat useful, so what's the problem?1. It shouldn't be a book. There is enough substance for a short essay, so reading the whole book is a waste of time.2. As Albert Ellis points out, feeling good is not as valuable as being good (in a good place in your life). It is similar to the difference between empty self-esteem and pride in actual achievement. So I am not even sure that the 'as if' advice and exercises are valuable. And if they are, I haven't seen a serious discussion of the appropriate context.3. I wanted more from a book on the value of behavior and action. I wanted it to show how what you do becomes who you are, rather than what you just think, wish for or admire. Brene Brown talks about it when she explains the difference... more between 'practicing love' and just 'feeling love'. Unfortunately, there is practically no discussion of supporting empirical evidence in her book. I feel that her conclusions are based too much on emotion and are biased towards her personal views and beliefs. Albert Ellis points out that his Belief concept is also about emotion and action rather than just thought. He argues for action as the indicator of 'strong belief' rather than just insight that characterizes 'weak belief' and doesn't lead to the 'hard work' necessary for achievement. Ellis is great, but I feel that his approach overemphasizes the rational thought process. I picked Wiseman's book hoping for something between those two extremes with plenty of empirical evidence, and was disappointed. Maybe Timothy D. Wilson will elaborate on his short essay "We Are What We Do" (EDGE 2013, This Explains Everything).
review 2: When I taught second grade I had a positive action curriculum which was very powerful. The basic premise was that there is a cycle where positive thoughts lead to positive actions which lead to positive feelings which lead to positive thoughts which lead to positive actions which lead to positive feelings and so on. I have been a proponent of positive thinking for years and years. The book that changed my life on positive thinking was "What To Say When You Talk To Yourself" by Shad Helmstetter.Enter this very fine book (the "as if" principle) which emphasizes BEHAVIOR (or actions). Act "as if" (fill in the blank). When you change your behavior you become who you want to be (and you believe it!). I am so excited to find this book at this point in my life (middle age). I am doing what it proposes and I am already feeling positive impacts!! It is pretty cool that if you take ACTIONS toward your goal(s) you can actually change the way you view yourself and you will be more likely to complete whatever it is you need to do. less

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