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not conscious control. Does control also include getting others,
including family, gang, government, and God, to make things better
for you? Maybe. Finally, there is a lot we don't know about teaching
self-control: do different genders, ages, levels of ambition,
personalities, etc. need different control skills and types of instruction?
Also, if society helps people get more self-control and perhaps more
influence over others, do we also need to be concerned about their
values, i.e. how they use their power? Shapiro's book, this one, and
others will answer many questions about self-control but there is much
still to be explored in this neglected area of knowledge.
What will this book do for you?
This book reviews all aspects of self-improvement. It provides you
with a system for analyzing any problem into its manageable parts and
for planning self-change. It invites you to first carefully consider what
you value and want to accomplish in life. It summarizes science's best
explanations of most human problems. It lists the most promising
ways of treating a wide range of unwanted behaviors and emotions. It
describes in detail how to use about 100 self-help methods. In short,
this book gives you a sound, research-based fund of knowledge about
behavior; add to this your own coping experiences and you accumulate
a storehouse of general knowledge that will help you understand
yourself and gain more control over your life. That is offered;
absorbing and applying the knowledge is your job.
Just as experimental psychology has "Introductory Psychology"
textbooks, the science of personally useful psychology needs an
introductory text too, especially one that introduces you to other
practical and highly readable self-help books. No one book could tell
you all you need to know. In this book you will find summaries of
almost all the major self-help books and articles by scholars in the
field. In addition, about 1500 sources of information, mostly available
and easy-to-read books, are cited. You are urged to expand your
knowledge by reading more in areas that really concern you.
No learner knows his/her subject well enough. The best we can hope for is to
know enough to know when we need more information and to know where and
how to find the best available information. Think of reading as probing the best
minds at their best.
This book was designed to help the ordinary person live his/her life
better. But, more specifically, what should a reader expect from a
thorough, comprehensive, effective self-help book? This is what I
would expect, based on my experience with 3000 students. After
carefully reading this book and getting some practice at developing
