Book Description

In this must-have resource, "two teachers from Minnesota" share their successful use of the simple concept of 5-point scales to help students understand and control their emotional reactions to everyday events that might otherwise set in emotion escalating reactions. Whether it is inappropriate touching, obsessions, yelling, hitting or making hurtful statements to classmates, this clearly illustrated book shows how to break down a given behavior and, with the student’s active participation, develop a unique scale that identifies the problem and, just as important, suggests alternative, positive behaviors at each level of the scale. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Mind in Society:The Development of Higher Psychological Proc
Although I just received the book today, I have scanned through it. The information will be beneficial to my study.
This book was ordered through Finest Books. They indicate in an enclosed letter that they are a new company. I am completely satified with the time frame in which the book was delivered, the packing, and the condition of the book. I feel completely confident that this company is not only reliable, but will benefit others with satisfaction guaranteed.
Thank you Finest Books.

Deborah K.

A MUST READ for parents, preschool through elem educators.
While the book is full of theory that might discourage someone from reading it, it has an absolutly fantastic practical implacation worth the effort! The second half of this book, "Educational Implications" discusses the Zone of Proximal Development. Learning about this "Zone" plus the discussion regarding how children learn to read and write, tells those of us who really want to help children learn, ways to set-up an environment and activities to do it!!
Don't let the theory scare you away, this is a MUST READ!

Socio-historical psychology
This is one of the earliest and still one of the best introductions to socio-historical psychology, the study of how individual human intelligence develops in interaction with people and the environment. In concert with many contemporary approaches in cognitive science today, Lev Vygotsky, A.R. Luria and A.N. Leontiev argued that human intelligence is characteristically mediated through objects and social activity. Humans think through tools. Talking to oneself, for example, is not an irrelevant activity. Putting one's actions into speech is a way of focusing one's consciousness on the problem. This kind of speech is not pointless, but rather a cognitive tool that gives one a greater awareness of one's own actions and makes it easier to modify these actions--a point that Vygotsky proved with research on how children solved problems. Much of human activity involves making use of tools, signs, and activities, the kinetic melodies of action and conceptualization that make us smart, and through which we are able to accomplish the uniquely human feats of complex intellectual action. This is an excellent place to begin studying Vygotsky and activity theory. If you like this you will also like A.R. Luria's *The Making of Mind*, and the classics *The Man With A Shattered World* and *The Mind of a Mnemonist*, the books that inspired Oliver Sacks' writing. ... Read more

Book Description

Why do trends in human society sometimes change so suddenly?

The past three years show how quickly cultural shifts can occur, which makes answering the question above all the more urgent. In 1999, we were celebrating our heroes, the stock market had reached unprecedented heights - and many people believed that peace in the Middle East was at hand.

Three years later, the economy is weak, corporate executives are being thrown in jail, bloodletting between Israelis and Palestinians is daily ritual, India is testing missiles, North Korea is threatening the U.S. with nuclear destruction, the U.S. is at war with Iraq, European allies are deserting the U.S., a senator is calling for the resignation of the chairman of the Federal Reserve, and Americans are stocking supplies for terrorist attacks.

What changed? And why?

Is it possible that all of these events flow from the same cause?

Best-selling author Robert Prechter’s new two-book set, Socionomics: The Science of History and Social Prediction, proposes a startlingly fresh answer.

In Socionomics: The Science of History and Social Prediction, Robert Prechter spells a historical correlation between patterned shifts in social mood and their most sensitive register, the stock market. He also presents engaging studies correlating social mood trends to music, sports, corporate culture, peace, war and macroeconomic trends.

The new science of socionomics takes hundreds of popular notions about mass psychology, culture and the stock market and stands them on their heads.

Socionomics: The Science of History and Social Prediction includes a 2nd edition of the book that started it all, The Wave Principle of Human Social Behavior and the New Science of Socionomics as well as his new title, Pioneering Studies in Socionomics, an accessible collection of the essays that founded a new basis for social science.

Together, these books can transform your understanding of how our society works. It will change the way you read the newspaper. It will even show you how to predict news trends months in advance. Learn for yourself the science of social prediction. Order Prechter’s two-book set today. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Only the beginning to a wonderful new science
The previous reviewer really says it all, but I felt I would add to the commentary by posting my own 5 star, because this new boxed set truly deserves it.
As a fellow "Elliottician" for a number of years now I can say with great confidence that (especially for the new reader) Prechter's new boxed set is simply the best study and most complete explanation to "how things really work" that is currently out there. (Until, of course, I publish *my* studies, ha ha, just kidding Bob)
As I've often noted in previous reviews on Elliott Wave, the biggest problem is...most people just don't "get it"... Elliott Wave and is SO MUCH MORE than the financial markets. The fundamental discoveries that govern the Wave Principle and thus the behavior of the financial markets are the very same fundamental forces at work throughout the entire universe! Who cares about making a few bucks in the stupid stock market when, if you have a deep understanding of the Wave Principle, Socionomics, and science in general, you can begin to see how everything around us all ties together to form this awesome grand scheme of life and existance. A deep understanding of Elliott Wave and Fibonacci is the key to opening a whole new world of knowledge, application, and the birth of a new science!
With the publishing of this boxed set, I hope more people can come to realize that the universe is indeed a truly beautiful place and man has a deep intimate connection with it.
This boxed set is only the beginning of the wealth of knowledge that can be mined in this area. You just have to know what to look for, and these books give you an excellent foundation.

Tomorrow's Headlines Today
It's been painfully obvious for over three years that the standard approach of economic forecasters, who examine every newly released government statistic to divine the next lurch of the stock market, has been less than stellar. Almost none of those who today talk about the "technology bubble" actually called for a top in 2000, the recession of 2001 wasn't recognized until it was half a year old, and in spite of a chorus of calls for an incipient recovery it seems plenty of skepticism remains about economic prospects. The reason for this forecasting disconnect is obvious, according to Robert Prechter, Jr.

Prechter's newest title, Socionomics: The Science of History and Social Prediction is a two-book set that offers voluminous support for a revolutionary concept. It reverses the direction of causality that underpins the entirety of orthodox market forecasting with a radical thesis: Instead of the economic statistics leading the market, the market (or more properly the aggregate social mood it measures) determines economic behavior that leads to the statistics.

Though a simple statement, this is heady stuff when its full ramifications are considered. This is exactly what this set does, addressing both theory (Wave Principle of Human Social Behavior, 2nd ed.) and its application (Pioneering Studies in Socionomics, a new work). Its illustrations of this reversal of causality cannot be casually dismissed, nor should they be ignored by anyone who believes timing matters in business, politics, investing, or every other aspect of life.

Socionomics is Prechter's term for the application of Ralph Nelson Elliott's Wave Principle market model to a wider array of social phenomena (see reviews of Elliott Wave Principle). Prechter has taken this principle and, along with colleagues both within and without his Elliott Wave International market forecasting firm, developed it into an early stage science in its own right. Pioneering Studies in Socionomics is a compilation that represents their work, a series of related studies which run from the 1980s and forward to 2002. Most were published as part of Prechter's Elliott Wave Theorist newsletter. Sequential dating of some studies offers a particularly detailed timeline for their conclusions, allowing readers to assess the validity of the observations in retrospect. The result borders on amazing.

Pioneering Studies is quite a departure from Prechter's other recent work, Conquer the Crash. While the latter deals almost exclusively with the financial arena, this latest book leaves the world of finance and ventures out into the wider arena of human endeavor.

Noting that certain social outcomes occur against a backdrop of specific market behaviors, socionomics attempts to make objective forecasts for the kinds of events that should occur as the market and its social mood "Pied Piper" follow their tortuous path through time.

That "torturous path" is where the greater controversy rages. Adherents of Elliott Wave methodology believe that markets follow a fractal pattern and that the market's current position in the wave pattern can often be estimated with a significant level of confidence. Knowing "where you most probably are" gives tremendous guidance in discerning the likeliest path for future market action. Detractors observe that there are always multiple, correct interpretations of where in the pattern the current market resides, so they claim application of the process to forecasting is simply too subjective to be useful.

Prechter's socionomics hypothesis starts with the Wave Principle and so raises two separate questions. Does the stock market reflect aggregate social mood, which precedes and drives social outcomes as varied as fashion, war and peace, economic activity, and even sex, according to socionomics, or are all these social factors dependent upon outside influences like unemployment rates and durable goods orders that can be discerned and used for forecasting in the orthodox method? And even if social mood is the driver of social outcomes, is the social mood patterned and therefore subject to forecast by analyzing the stock indexes, or is the path a "random walk" that precludes accurate forecasting at all?

The answer to the first question, as far as economic forecasting is concerned, can be determined by simply turning to the article titled, "Socionomics in a Nutshell." If a picture is worth a thousand words, the graph found in figure 1 is a picture equal to the sum of all the words uttered each year by economists on TV and in print. It bears a graph of the Dow Jones Industrial Average from the late 1920s to 2000 with shaded bars depicting periods of recession. With one exception (1946, which supports neither case), every recession during the period coincides with or follows a significant decline in the Dow. With this single graph, Prechter shows that asking an economist to forecast the direction of the market using economic statistics is about as silly as asking a passenger to predict how hard the driver will press the accelerator pedal ten seconds in the future by watching the speedometer now. All that is needed is to watch the stock market. If it's rallying, economic expansion will follow, while persistent, larger-scale declines presage economic contraction.

Pioneering Studies addresses topics both light and serious, tracing the connections between the social mood as demonstrated by the stock market with the fortunes of horror films, professional sports, terrorism and war. Events such as 9/11 are addressed in a way that brings coherence to what otherwise looks like chaos.

Anyone who recognizes the value of timing in their endeavors would be wise to consider the message delivered by this latest from Elliott Wave's most articulate exponent. Our times appear to be getting more "interesting," in the sense of the age-old curse (May you live in interesting times) and Prechter's method, thoroughly addressed in this set, offers a unique and useful perspective. This two-volume set should also be the starting point for a broader investigation of socionomics, with an eye toward its establishment as a new field of study in its own right. ... Read more

Book Description

a unique, sophisticated treatment of the spontaneous and reflective dimension of human experience ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Philosophy of the Body
Reading this book contributed helpfully to my studies of the phenomenology of the embodied experience. The authors argue that we cannot understand ourselves to be isolated bodies controlled by a mind that stands apart from and judges an independent environment. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in cognitive science, phenomenological philosophy, philosophies of embodiment, and the relationship of Buddhism to these areas of thought.

This book is amazing!
This ranks up there with Chogyam Trungpa's books for clearly presented insights. Trunpa's genius is making Buddhist ideas come alive for Western readers by clearly presenting Buddhist ideas in everyday terms. This book is a wonderful addition to the same delicious feast, building a bridge from Eastern mindfulness/awareness traditions to Western scientific thought. The effect is to improve our understanding of both. Very powerful and thought-provoking. Each page is like a meal. Hungry? Chew this one slowly and enjoy every bite! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

An excellent work, but one problem
This is an excellent introduction to Jungian psychology - it's well presented, clear, concise, and full of information. It proved in my case to be very stimulating, and I found myself pondering the ideas presented for some time.

Why then, do I award only four stars? Because the title is no longer appropriate. It is not a book exclusively about modern man, but rather, about man as he was seventy years ago. Some of the concepts seem to describe very accurately the state of mind that mankind was experiencing in Jung's time, but today they won't be observed with any great consistency - they are no longer appropriate. That being said, the book outlines the general principles in such a logical way that one may apply them to the world around them, seeing the similarities and differences between Jung's world and their own for themselves.

Worthwhile reading for anyone interested in psychology, or simply expanding their view of life - puts a wide range of life's issues in perspective.

A rich and filling anthology
The eleven chapters in this work are lectures (except for one) delivered by Jung prior to 1933 (date of publication of this book). For those of you who already own some or most of Jung's Collected Works (CW), it may be unnecessary to purchase this title. I found this out too late since in my haste I failed to check the table of contents graciously provided for by Amazon on this web page. So for the benefit of those who are intending to buy this title I have listed below all the chapters and the corresponding volume of the CW where these same essays can be found (note: translations in this work and those in the CW may differ slightly as exemplified by the change in the title of the first chapter).

Table of Contents

1. Dream Analysis in Its Practical Application
["The Practical Use of Dream Analysis", in CW 16]

2. Problems of Modern Psychotherapy
[in CW 16]

3. The Aims of Psychotherapy
[in CW 16]

4. A Psychological Theory of Types
[in CW 6 (one of the four essays in the appendix)]

5. The Stages of Life
[in CW 8]

6. Freud and Jung--Contrasts
[in CW 4]

7. Archaic Man
[in CW 10]

8. Psychology and Literature
[in CW 15]

9. The Basic Postulates of Analytical Psychology
[in CW 8]

10. The Spiritual Problem of Modern Man
[in CW 10]

11. Psychotherapists or the Clergy
[in CW 11]

Notwithstanding the fact that all chapters can be found in the CW, this anthology of Jung's essays is a rich and filling smorgasbord of his thoughts, ideas, theories, and opinions about the psyche around the time he was 50. Although I am disappointed that I purchased a title I practically don't need (having a good number of the CW already) I can hardly give this anthology less than five stars. Nearly all of Jung's works deserve nothing less.

And whether you're new to Jung or not, a must-read is his _Memories, Dreams, Reflections_, a work that he undertook during the last few years of his life, one which is definitely not to be found in the CW.

The best place to start reading Jung
_Modern Man in Search of a Soul_ is the first book you should read by Jung. That is not to say that it is particularly easy; it is by no means a watered-down layman's version of Jung. This is Jung at full intensity. It is an ideal introduction simply because it deals with his more accessable concepts, such as the actual practice of psychotherapy, the doctor-patient relationship, the types of things a doctor should say to his patients, ect. It also deals with broader sociological issues and does not get bogged down with esoteric concepts such as alchemy and ancient mythology. Overall, I would say this is a perfectly crafted philosophical/psychological work. It is potent, miserly, well-written, well-translated, and never gets bogged down with unreadable, esoteric sections. It is not as far-reaching and revolutionary as some of Jung's works, but it is a magnificent work of art pared down to the absolute essentials. Overall it is one of the top five books ever written, by any author, from any genre or time period. Also, as a side note, I would recomend _Psychotherapy East and West_ by the American author Alan Watts as a companion piece to Jung's _Modern Man in Search of a Soul_.

Best Jung book for the layperson
This book was written with the layman in mind, the book examines the average person's need to find his soul. All of the ideas in this book are still as valid as they were when the book was first written. But the need for this book is more than ever.

Modern Man Review
This book is page after page of intelligent insight into the psyche of man. He oscillates back an forth between practical understanding of self and others, and therapy scenarios between doctor and patient. This book exemplifies the kind of thought that will elevate and evolve the common man beyond what we are and have been. He illuminates the logical next steps forward in personal evolution by sharing what amounts to his intimate knowledge of the human condition. Jung gives credit to his audience in that he trusts us to follow his thought with understanding and one feels growing responsiblity with every newly illuminated concept. Please enjoy this book. Let this man's work reach you. ... Read more

Book Description

For the 75th anniversary, a new edition of the seminal work with an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Menand.

Civilization and Its Discontents may be Sigmund Freud's best-known work. Originally published in 1930, it seeks to answer ultimate questions: What influences led to the creation of civilization? How did it come to be? What determines its course? In this seminal volume of twentieth-century thought, Freud elucidates the contest between aggression, indeed the death drive, and its adversary eros. He speaks to issues of human creativity and fulfillment, the place of beauty in culture, and the effects of repression.

Louis Menand, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Metaphysical Club, contributor to The New Yorker, and professor of English at Harvard University, reflects on the importance of this work in intellectual thought and why it has become such a landmark book for the history of ideas.

Not available in hardcover for decades, this beautifully rendered anniversary edition will be a welcome addition to readers' shelves. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

My conception of Frued's "Civilization and It's Discontents"
To whoever is interested in Freuds "Civilization and It's Discontents" I SAY READ IT! An excellent book which depicts civilization for what it is. In this book Freud discussed a varity of topics such as religion, sex, happiness and human suffering (listed in no particular order). I think that the entire purpose of the book was to show humans that civilization is not any better than times before it occured. We tend to think of ourselves better than pre-civilized times however, nothing has changed because reality is constant. Human nature is focused on beauty, instinct and will.

badly translated
If you can find another translation of this seminal book (see my review of Freud's Gravida), then do so. Strackey translates "kultur" (culture) as "civilization," "I" as "ego," and in general makes Freud seem so lifeless and cold-blooded that it's nearly impossible to get an accurate feel for his thought.

Without defending Freud's obvious reductionism, it needs saying that it was he who prompted us to ask: do the demands of modern life encourage or pathologize our innermost strivings? What do they do to our eros, our capacity for loving and feeling solidarity? And how do they stimulate our frustration and aggression?

While I disagree with Freud's conclusion that the total psychic repression of powerful passions is a necessary evil for the existence of culture, I do think he challenges us to wonder about just how high a price we pay for what we believe to be the "higher" and "nobler" achievements of the mind.

Freud as psychoanalytic sociologist.
Sigmund Freud, whatever the variations in his posthumous reputation, remains the most compelling, daring, and persuasive analyst of the human condition we have. His psychoanalytic theories of sexuality, sublimation, repression, etc., offer original insights that profoundly influenced the course of Western consciousness in the 20th century. In addition to his gifts as a thinker, Freud was a master stylist, a man whose luminous prose and skillful argumentation make reading him a genuine pleasure.

"Civilization and Its Discontents," one of Freud's last works, remains one of his most vital and important. Don't be fooled by its brevity; this is a deeply complex and wide-ranging examination of Western civilization and its tensions. Freud speculates about the origins of our modern societies, the difficulties of assimilating ourselves to them given our own individual psyches, and ends the book with a rather pessimistic look forward. Clearly, Freud felt that civilization's "discontents" were an unresolvable fact of life.

What makes "Civilization and Its Discontents" so fascinating is Freud's application of psychoanalysis to Western society as whole. He examines how the factors at play in our own psyches--family conflicts, sexual desire, guilt, the "death instinct," and the eternal battle between our own self-interest and the interests of the human species at large--cause the problems that human beings encounter on a daily basis. As always with Freud, his ideas are put forward not as a final statement, but as a tentative first step.

This is one of Freud's indispensable texts, and its accessible and absorbing style make it an ideal introduction for those who are seeking to discover this colossal mind for the first time. A must read.

Stuck in a dualistic world
Freud's Civilization and its Discontents could arguably be one of the most compelling books you will ever encounter, if read properly. The problematic posed by Freud is a fundamental one. Freud argues that the demands of civilization and demands of our instincts are out of sync. He posits that humans are haunted by an assortment of powerful unconscious needs. These hardcore "needs" range from sexual fulfillment to a release of aggression. These primal needs for sexual fulfillment and aggressions were once the tools we used to survive. With the dawning of a new age, we no longer need to use these tools. We turn inwards. See, juxtaposed and interconnected is the other side of the coin, is civilization - a phenomenon that inhibits these primal drives. But we need civilization to give us a different sense of security. It is a catch-22. Throughout the ages, then the constant tug of war between these two forces has caused ruptures in our history was the tension is expressed in frustration.

Freud is really informative when he posits that we turn this aggression inward. Perhaps it is how civilization has configured good and evil that is turning this mechanism out of sync. In an almost sado-masochistic move, the superego is now torturing the ego. It is the collision rather than the confluence that is ruining this forced marriage. I am not certain that Nietzsche really had this sort of impact on Freud but I am reminded of Dionysus and Apollo from The Birth of Tragedy.

Nietzsche was trying to convey a partnership between them more than a countering or perhaps better, a "healthy tension." To be human is to be stretched between these two domains. The Dionysian is the raw impulses, chaos, and absurdity of existence; the Apollonian is the ordering impulse that seeks order, the eternal (in logic, religion, or morality, etc.) and beauty. As a particular existence, we are comprised of the raw stuff that is life in its very heart. We are contradiction, passions, chaos; but we cannot live in this domain alone, because it is ugly, terrifying and absurd. Thus we are wont to make it beautiful, to create from it a habitable and beautiful world (and self). Without the Dionysian, there can be no Apollonian. Without Apollonian, life would not be bearable. Hopefully, Nietzsche (as does Freud) does not advocate a return to our "bestial natures." However, Nietzsche declares that it is better to be a Cesare Borgia than a Christian, for at least great things are possible with the raw power and nobility of the beast. The Christian, to him, is enfeeblement and brutalizes the nobility and power inherent in humankind. To be capable of greatness, one must be capable of evil and good. The Christian, however, esteems everything that is meek, pitiful and weak. Action is evil, the world is evil, and we must quietly await a better one. Nietzsche, and the existentialists, would resist any attempt to ascribe a "nature" which predetermines us. We are flux. We are change. We are in a constant state of becoming and there is no prior nature that determines what we will become.

Although Freud was a champion for the recognition of these primal urges, it cannot be said that he advocated a free for all. What is really powerful in Freud is that civilization is not seen to be purely an external thing and it has real consequences on the inside. Our superego - civilizations handmaiden on the inside - is now calling the shots. As we internalize what the external is telling us to do, how to act - like gnawing guilt it invades our psyche to the extent that no matter how we wish to transgress, we become and need the very thing that causes our frustration.

If you peg the most basic response to fight or flight, then civilization can be seen to have removed that which was causing all sorts of anxiety - as we no longer express and remove sexual needs and aggression "in the wild." Freud it could be argued is saying that the superego now attacks the ego denying out most elemental needs. Those needs though, because of the reconfiguration of civilization are suppressed. The two forces - the superego and the ego, instead of working together are working against each other. If perhaps there is a hope for a sense of a new humanism, that this might be the answer - finding a way for the superego to work with rather than against the ego, that is of course if you have bought in on the duality. The debate rages on.

Miguel Llora

Surprise: Freud is actually an effective writer!
Many people today believe that Sigmund Freud was obsessed with sex. However, most of these assumptions are based upon what another person said of Freud and almost never upon a careful reading of Freud's work. These people do not see the fact that Freud writes on more than sexuality, he also analyzes and researches the study of mankind. Sigmund Freud attacks the question why we do things the way we do head on and answers to the best of his reason. Therefore, Sigmund Freud was truly a man of his time and his debate on mankind was a very innovative method to answer mankind's most serious issues.
Man is an aggressive being and civilization is the means which humanity withholds its primal urges in check. At least Freud believes so and shows support for this thesis by referring to mankind's constant need to restrain its inherent passions despite all of the controls placed by society. I believe that Freud was definitely on to something with this point. He is right when he states that man is essentially an anti-social, anti-cultural being. One could look down through the pages of history and see war after war, violent act after violent primarily as a result of the inherent greed for power and a passionate thirst for more than one's own. This is one of the many reasons why communism is impossible, man is a selfish being and always desires more than he possesses. He will do what is necessary to increase his holding at the expense of his fellows. I believe that Nietzsche and Freud are in agreement at this point. However, Nietzsche believes that the masses attempt to quell this passion and label that as noble. I believe that Freud does not think it is possible to restrain this aggressiveness and mankind is only able to cover it up in a semblance of control which we label civilization. Though I see merit in both men's argument, my reaction is that there is another solution. I believe in Christian perspective that "by beholding we become changed" and with a personal relationship with Christ one is capable of achieving victory over that aggression. Freud argues that the need for self-preservation is often disrupted by a "social anxiety". This anxiety is a state in which individuals are controlled by the opinions of others towards them. Freud contends that the majority of society is ruled by this anxiety. His solution to this is a "higher stage" attainable by rising above the need to care about how others perceive one's conduct. This implies that behavior controlled by social conventions is more primitive than behavior controlled by the individual. According to Freud, morality is not an issue of socially determined shame, but a matter of internalized primal guilt. This guilt is the basis for beliefs such as an original sin and is the main catalyst in mankind's aggression. I doubt that this is the most flattering perspective to look upon our own nature, but Freud's argument does contain a lot of merit.
We read earlier in Walden that "the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation" and I believe Freud saw this desperation as a direct result of the affects of social anxiety. We see this today in the pop culture where in order to fit in an individual must conform to the trends in fashion. We see it in the work environment where the worker flatters his boss. We see it in the political world where politicians say and do what is necessary to keep public opinions high. We are so drawn into the belief that the opinions of others matters that we spend the majority of our time and money on things we don't need to impress people we don't care about.
After reading Civilization and Its Discontents I am not under the impression that Freud is correct about everything. However, I am able to respect his writing as an important critical look at society which still has merit even today. Perhaps our world would be a better place if all of its inhabitants stop to think of why they do the things they do and what are the effects of their actions. Perhaps mankind would improve if we learned how to control our inherent aggression and to not worry about other people's opinions. Perhaps this is merely wishful thinking on my part. ... Read more

Book Description

Written in a lively, engaging style with many examples to illustrate complex concepts, this text helps readers to understand the influence of intercultural interactions in their own lives. It introduces students to disciplines, including cross-cultural psychology, intercultural communication, and international organizational behavior, that study culture's influence on human behavior. It covers a wide range of topics, such as schooling, work, gender, socialization of children, and health. This solid treatment of basic concepts applicable in the study of all behavior and social sciences lets students see that the study of culture and cultural differences is inherently connected to the other courses they will take throughout their college careers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Brislin makes it easy
Understanding Culture's Influence (2nd edition) has been my "foundation" book for a college course entitled Diversity In the Workplace.

Dr. Brislin uses an easy to follow format which is loaded with excellent analogies, making complex topics understandable.

My only negative comment would be for the publisher.As this book is used as a text, the selection of print paper was poor.Highlighters bleed through from one page to the next which makes spotting important information difficult on review.

Excelent! Academic but Readable. Suitable as textbook.
Of the many good books on the subject of intercultural communication and psychology, this hits a good balance of readability and academic soundness.Lots of good illustrations.Great text for college interculturalcommunication courses. ... Read more

Book Description

Expanded and completely updated, the fourth edition of Motor Control and Learning: A Behavioral Emphasis is a comprehensive introduction to motor behavior. The authoritative text frames the important issues, theories, persons, and research in the field in a reader-friendly way, allowing students to learn the most pertinent information in the field.

Motor Control and Learning: A Behavioral Emphasis, Fourth Edition, is the only graduate textbook that combines motor control and motor learning with the in-depth details students need in order to understand the topic and distinguish between different sides of an issue. Authored by two of the leading researchers in the field, the new edition features an up-to-date review of the latest research, more than 400 new references, new figures, and these new features:· Highlight boxes featuring in-depth discussion of relevant issues, new topics, and classic research · Selected quotes representing important contributions to the field, interpreted for current and future researchers · Web-based references that support and enhance students’ comprehension of the material

Motor Control and Learning: A Behavioral Emphasis, Fourth Edition, is the only text that focuses specifically on the motor learning and motor control areas of motor behavior. The new features and ancillaries make it ideal for students to use as a text and for professionals to access as a reference.

Part I introduces the fields of motor control and learning. It provides a brief history; explains the tools of motor behavior research; presents the information-processing approach, which is fundamental to understanding how humans think and act; and describes how attention influences motor behavior.

Part II addresses various factors contributing to the complex whole of the human motor system. It examines the roles of sensory information and the ways in which information from the environment influences movement behavior, considers the central control and representation of action, deals with laws and models regarding speed and accuracy, looks at the coordination needed for more complex tasks, and addresses factors that make people differ in their skilled behaviors.

Part III addresses performance changes that accompany motor learning. It describes the research methods used for studying and measuring motor learning, discusses the effects of various conditions under which a learner can practice motor skills, considers the effects of providing augmented information about what was done, and examines the empirical relationships and principles concerned with the retention and transfer of motor skills. ... Read more

Book Description

When it was published in 1987, Letting God was the first book to explore the themes of the Twelve-Step programs within the context of Christian tradition. Now revised to emphasize its spiritual focus, and including an introduction presenting a monthly theme, each daily reading begins with a selection from the New Testament. These are followed by eloquent, thought-provoking meditations that reveal how the passages apply to Christian living today, and conclude with a brief prayer. This inspiring daily devotional strengthens and encourages the reader, providing sustenance for the sould and practical insights on everyday life. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An easy-to-read yet rigorous entry point into self analysis
As a software developer and mathematician presently in my early 60's, ever since I can remember I have always been long on technology and short on "people" knowledge Yet from my early adolescence I remember my dad telling me how important it is to know oneself. While I always agreed with this good advice, whenever I explored my soul, I seemed to fail to come up with meaningful, non-judgemental answers - possibly because my questions themselves were not thought provoking.

Enter Ms Peason and her "Heros Within" book. Her brilliant, accessible review of the 12 archetypes that define our personalities suddenly provided me with a new handle - a key to a better understanding of myself and others. What I particularly appreciated in her book was its combination of a rigurous, scientific treatment of the subject, couched in a language both accessible and devoid of academic circumlucutions. I would reccomend her book to anyone who wants to understand himself/herself better and/or redefine his/her professional and personal life.

Nice Tool for Self-Definition
I'm a Creator and a Magician!--who wouldn't be happy to have learned that? I'm also a gardener, a teacher, an artist, an adopted grandmother, a community worker, and I have a lot of other roles in life. Because I read this book, I recognize my strengths and my inclinations better, and I know what to emphasize in my work and in my relationships. I'm glad I read this, and I'm giving copies to others who are unsure about their strengths and how to apply them. Thanks!

This book is a useful tool for self imptovement and insight.
Dr. Pearson wrote this book with the lay person in mind. I never really understood what psychological archetypes were until I read this book. It is a well written "key" which will likely enhance your understanding of Dr. Carl Jung's work. When used with other great books like THE MODERN ALCHEMIST and EGO AND ACHETYPE, the average lay person can supercharge his/her personal understanding of life patterns and challenges, resulting in accelerated inner growth.

A powerful vehicle for self-discover.
Dr. Pearson's book, Awakening the Heroes Within, provides an ideal vehicle for self-discovery and renewal. The book contains self-score instruments that will help readers discover previously untapped sources of personal power. The book seems particularly well suited for adults in their professional years who are looking for ways to clarify their place in the world. The theoretical foundation for the work is both well-grounded and intuitively appealing. Friends, family, and students, have thanked me for the recommendation of this scholarly work. Like me, they revisit the book whenever they are in the mood for a psyche checkup.

Daniel R. Lofald, PhD, Educational Psychologist ... Read more

Book Description

This book offers a unique integrated approach to social behavior. Using a "goal directed" approach, the authors organize the book around a "Goal, Person, Situation" framework using a pair of unifying themes:--Social behavior is goal-directed.--Social behavior is a result of interactions between the person and the situation. By using these two simple organizing themes, the book presents the discipline as a coherent framework for understanding human conduct.Compelling mysteries, cutting-edge scholarship, lively writing, and the authors' reputations as both respected researchers and teachers, all come together to make this book an accessible and engaging read. For students of psychology, or anyone interested in learning more about social behavior. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

the doors of cognition !
this book opens the doors of cognition ; in fact , when tiing a famous person ( ie : demora , luther king , kenwrinkel ) to notions of social psychology like ( social role , influence , aggression , etc ) , it allows our memory to widen , and teach a method to learn more and more easily !
that is , build couples : idea and picture !
this book uses cognition methods and invite us to study that field !
... opening the doors of cognition ...teaches too , that very simple tools may have terrific and positive effects !

Social Psychology: Unraveling the Mystery
The most valuable benefits of adopting this book for my class was the unbelievable support from the publisher. A&B provided a study guide, a test bank, a huge package of transparencies, a powerpoint presentation CD...--all of this for free. I have been astonished by the sevice and free benfits I have gotten as the result of choosing this otherwise excellent book.

Let's hope the competition emulates this author and publisher.

Mr. Cialdini's comments
After reading Mr. Cialdini's comments about his book, I wondered: is he trying to employ his "scarcity principle" to influence book sales? ;) ... Read more

Book Description

Extracted from Volume 8. A parapsychological study of the meaningful coincidence of events, extrasensory perception, and similar phenomena. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A book which will make you think
This book will forever be linked in my mind with the Police album, just like Lolita links with "Don't Stand So Close To Me." One of the things I like most about this book is that it is easy to read and not intimidating. For starters, it's not very long and the language is not challenging. Jung uses a lot of interesting stories to explain his theories of synchronicity, when unrelated things seem to happen together at the same time with a purpose. The first time I read this book, I found that while I was reading it, I would experience synchronicity. For instance, I was reading it on my lunch break from work and I ran into one of my coworkers that I had a crush on. Maybe that's just a coincidence, but maybe there are greater forces at work. I would say that if you are intimidated by reading huge books by Jung, this is a good book to get started with, and it will definitely give you something about which to think.

Jung's Synchronicity
You are looking for a book that explains the inexplicable. You know, those little moments where your mind tells you that what just happened implies something more than what it seems to be, that there are forces at work beyond the boring mechanistic view whith which we are led to believe our lives exist. You are looking for a book that describes your life as more meaningful than you fear it might be. Carl Jung's "Synchronicity" may be just that book:~)

What Jung sets out to describe in "Synchronicity" is proof that there is a higher degree of meaningful coincidences in our Universe than probability allows for. His chief pieces of evidence are the Zenor Card experiments carried out by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s and 40s, and his own "Astrological Experiment." Following these two pieces of evidence, Jung touches on the history of intellectuals who have tried to explain the very same thing he sets out to explain, and here he draws heavily on the I Ching.

"Synchronicity" was a book that I was very interested in reading, but now that I've read it, I am wondering exactly what it is that I've just read (and whether I learned anything from it). Jung takes as proof the quantum idea that even at its most fundamental level, our Universe behaves in "non-linear" acausal ways. He draws on the scientific ideas of Einstein and Pauli in order to make psychic generalizations for the way the human mind and the imagination works.

The ideas are fascinating to consider, but may be all but impossible to prove. Some of the examples Jung uses to illustrate acausal "meaningful coincidence" behavior are startling. My only word of caution with this book is that it might be a little too dense for some readers. All in all, though it's as good an introduction into synchronicity and meaningful coincidence as any book of its kind. Chances are, after reading "Synchronicity," you may want a more clear explanation of the ideas Jung is describing here, and there are a wealth of resources that have elaborated further on Jung's original concepts. Check out Joseph Jaworski's "Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership" or Stacey Hall's "Attracting Perfect Customers: The Power of Strategic Synchronicity" for a contemporary approach to synchronicity's role in our lives. And, of course, I hope this review is helpful to you!

Stacey

Reality Behind Chance Events
.
What an awesome book! Our whole civilization is based on Newton's cause and effect and great technological and scientific achievements have been produced from such knowledge. However, it is Einstein's theory of relativity, that of the atom, where such Newtonian law of cause and effect does not apply. There is a relativity of the movement of the electron. It does not operate according to such law and this is a strange thing indeed. It appears to operate in an acausal effect, one that is determined my chance, and by the person who is examining such movements appears to have an effect on such just by his observation! There is an amazing chaotic element of the operation here.

And this takes us to the idea of synchronicity, that of events occurring outside of Newtonian's law of cause and effect. In this book, Jung does a detailed analysis of planetary alignment and married couples. Anotherwards this acausal effect takes in astrology and chance. Now come to play the games of chance such as Tarot and I-Ching, both ancient oracles in predicting events of chance.

While Jung cannot prove anything measurable in line with science's cause and effect analysis, he does portray a much higher probability in such measurements he records, much more than average chance occurs, relating his argument in the existence of acausal happenings outside of our Newtonian frame of minds. It is an amazing task.

What is so interesting is that the motivation and faith of the person partaking in the experiment appears to have a direct effect on the outcome. I've read this before how faith - an inner determined belief - has a creative effect on our destination and karmic outcome. And what is of equal interest is Jung's few accounts, his story of a fish, his story of a beetle - as in the Scarab beetle dream of a patient that synchronized with an event of a beetle and so forth.

While astrology and I-Ching and other clairvoyant and telepathic events may be blown off by the Newtonian minds of science and trashed by the religious fundamentalists who superstitiously equate acausal events to demons, the idea of acausal events, synchronicity is a reality to be observed, as in the electron, and yet not proven scientifically.

One of his most important essays
_Synchronicity_ is one of Jung's longer and better known essays. It contains fascinating accounts of paranormal phenomenon, such as ESP, and Jung provides numerous examples and well-organized scientific data to prove the existence of psychokinesis and telepathy. Such apparently miraculous phenomena are presumably the result of a purely subjective universe, in which seemingly concrete and objective happenings are created and altered within the confines of our individual subjective psyche. Jung provides compelling evidence to prove this phenomenon of subjective psychic control over the outside, physical world; in the ESP experiments he cited, subjects were placed hundreds of miles away from the site of the experiment (in which a sequence of five different images were randomly uncovered and recorded), and asked to guess the sequence of images days and even weeks later. Most subjects were able to guess what the images were at a rate that was statistically determined to be astronomically improbable. By conducting the experiments in this manner, researchers were able to prove that, not only does ESP exist, it is NOT an energetic, kinetic, or physical phenomenon in the traditional sense. The separation in time and space between the experimenter and the subject proves that ESP is not a phenomenon that can be attributed to wave motion or spacial transmission. It is a purely subjective and psychic phenomenon.

The highlight of this book, however, is Jung's discussion of Tao. Jung compares his synchronistic theory to the ideas of MEANINGFULNESS and HARMONY in the philosophy of Tao. Ideas like ESP and psychokinesis help bolster Taoism's theory of the inherent harmony and intelligent, purposeful design underlying the universe. Believe what you will, but this is a very interesting and very convincing book. It is somewhat of a departure for Jung, however, and is not exactly his quintessential work; it would be a mistake to judge Jung simply based on this one narrowly focused work. But it is very interesting nonetheless, and I highly recommend it to all readers.

Also keep in mind that _Synchronicity_ is reprinted in volume 8 of the Princeton/Bollingen series of the collected works of Carl Jung, entitled _The Structure and Dynamics of the Psyche_. Serious Jungians will probably want to go ahead and buy this full-length version, as it contains many other useful essays in addition to "Synchronicity".

The mysterious link between psyche and matter
Although Jung is of course best known for his exploration of the unconscious mind, this - a small volume by Jung's standards - seeks to map out the mysterious link between the human psyche and the physical universe, mainly studying the so-called 'meaningful coincidence'. The idea is not difficult to grasp. But the implications are, frankly, profound, or even frightening. This book is highly recommended for all readers interested in discovering something new about themselves and the universe we live in. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Especially the Beyond
An excellent history and explanation of psychoanlytic theory and practise. But especially valuable for the review of post-Freudian psychoanlytic understanding of why people have personality problems and what the "new" psychoanalyts have to offer (which is plenty!). I might mention that the authors were apparently not aware that Kohut's "patient", Mr. Z, is actually a disguised portrait of his own psychological history. This book is especially valuable for the relatively simple understandings of why people suffer and how the professional/personal relationship formed between the psychoanalyst and patient is helpful. Disabuses the stereotype of the distant, impersonal psychoanalyst.

Hard to Beat!
I can't imagine a more comprehensive introduction to the vast psychoanlytic field than this one. Mitchell and Black do an excellent job of comparing and contrasting all of the major theorists. Their organization is impressive, not only addressing major schools of thought but adding two chapters at the end that outline major theoretical and clinical controversies that help clarify the preceding chapters. The outcome is an exceptionally clear, comprehensive, even-handed introduction that is hard to beat. The writing is stimulating and simple enough to satisfy those of us who appreciate unpretensious presentations. The compact and brief nature of the book serves its purpose well.

Brief yet very good introduction to psychoanalysis.
This book is an excellent beginners text on the history of psychoanalysis. It is by no means exhaustive, nor could it be. It simply covers too many important personalities to be more than introductory, yet it fulfills that purpose admirably. The book traces the history of thought in and about the subject of psychoanalysis. It begins with Freud's discovery of the psychogenic nature of hysteria, to his discovery of the unconscious, some of his other theories, and how he applied them in clinical management of patients. Others studied under him, and came to realize new facts about the mind, and new dimensions in the way it operates. This, in turn, gave rise to newer theories. The book traces this expansion, synthesis and sometimes clash between theories to bring us to our present understanding of the mind. The meaning of these theories is demonstrated in concrete terms by the inclusion of clinical cases to demonstrate the various types of pathological manifestations. The book flows very well from one psychoanalyst to another, emphasizing the indebtedness of each to their predecessors. Sigmund and Anna Freud, Adler, Bettelheim, Jung, Sullivan, Bowlby, Kahn and many others are revealed. It is both scientific and historical at the same time, and is very engaging. A good read!

A little over my head
Mitchell and Black provide a good introduction to the key personalities, theories, and topics of psychoanalysis. As a lay person interested in the human psyche, the work was too brief and compacted for my tastes. Yet the discussion did provide a solid foundation for further investigation.

Essential Guide
Mitchell and Black provide an essential guide to the major theoretical developments in the field of psychoanalysis since its founding by Freud. They do just what you'd want them to do: they introduce you to each major theorist as a person as well as a thinker, they put each theoretical development in historical perspective both in the context of psychoanalysis and the larger social picture, they show how each thinker developed and how they responded to challenges in the field, and they show how unresolved issues led to the next theoretical breakthrough. All this is done in an accessible narrative style that even educated beginners will find rewarding. Social work students in my classes found this book very helpful. Mitchell and Black are both seasoned clinicians so their writing sometimes sings with clinical insight. ... Read more

Book Description

Midlife: crisis, anger, dissolution, adventure, change . . . Drawing on analytic experience, dreams, and myths, Murray Stein formulates the main features of the middle passage. First an erosion of attachments. Then hints of a fresh spirit—renegade and mischievous—that scoffs at routines. This new spirit—is it Hermes?—disrupts life, alarms family and friends, and brings messages from "elsewhere". Finally, with luck, transformation occurs; life begins again.

Murray Stein, past president of the International Association of Jungian Analysts, has written a best-selling, good-humored book, brimming with shrewd counsel, dreamwork, and cultural relevance. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

genius expressed
As midlife appears to be an unavoidable passage in all cultures of the world, (gratefully so), this compact book is packed with the insights midlifers need to reflect upon it with wisdom and patience. It is a keeper! ... Read more

Book Description

1955. The point of view established in this volume is that the spirit must lean on science as its guide in the world of reality, and that science must turn to the spirit for the meaning of life. This book lends us a new approach to the East, and it also strengthens the point of view evolving in the West with respect to the psyche. Wilhelm provides the reader with the text and explanation, while another section contains commentary by Jung. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The "Big Secret" has been revealed!
The "Secret of the Golden Flower" is the best book i have ever read. I have read hundreds of nonfiction books searching for hidden knowledge - none of them (with an exception of Sri Swami Sivananda's Yogic Texts) speek so clearly and openly of the divine secret which has eluded mankind for so long. I cannot posibly put into words the extreme importance of the contents of this book. The ancient Taoist translations are priceless. Read it and then read it again. I have read the two Chinese texts, with Wilhelms excellent translations, over ten times - and haven't even glanced and Jung's commentary. For the spiritual aspirant contemplating the deep secrets of the alchemical sciences, ancient Egyptian, Indian, and Biblical texts - look no further - this book is worth it's weight in "gold."

Not a page is wasted
This book is absolutely worth reading, from cover to cover, including all of the commentaries and introductions and what have you. The text itself is, of course, incredible, with a surprising clarity that is rare among aged religious and philosophical texts, especially those pertaining to meditative practice, and Richard Wilhelm's somewhat outdated translation doesn't inhibit it much. Carl Jung's commentary is equally worth reading, and could easily stand as a book of its own. It also thankfully puts this book at arm's length from watery New Age "spirituality." Get this book and don't skip anything.

100 days to the Spiritual Child...
If what you seek is a meditation method that will develop in you the basis for illumination [ the Spiritual Child as described in the book ], you will find that by following the methods prescribed therein, in 90 to 100 days you will have it. The book tells it like it is, if only you can read it without intellectual wrangling..... i succeeded in 90 days exactly following the intructions. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fantastic collection of therapeutic metaphors
Metaphors are powerful vehicles for change; the unconscious mind must associate with elements of the story to understand it. Milton H. Erickson, M.D., arguably the greatest hypnotherapist ever, often utilized metaphors to achieve breakthroughs with his patients. Now 100 Ericksonian metaphors are available for you to use with patients thanks to the Lanktons' Tales of Enchantment. Each metaphorical story in this treasure trove is preceded with information regarding what the story teaches, problems addressed, and the target audience. I highly recommend this collection of therapeutic metaphors for any Ericksonian hypnotherapist or individual who wishes to read stories that will effectuate positive changes in his or her life.

A positive resource for profesionals and non-profesionals
This book is oriented principally to people thet work in the mental health area, giving very valuable resources for cariing out therapeutic conversations, and reading it adds a great deal to creativity. But on the other hand, it doesn't have a good review of how to construct metaphors, it presents many ready-made metaphors.

Also it's a good book for anybody that's seeking a positive view in life or in a specific problematic stage of life. It gives a chance to change the glasses you are using to look at the world for a pair that might make you feel better. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (18)

We are not free by choice, not by force.
There is a lack of freedom in our world, even in the best of democracy.
Unfortunately, the only reason we are not free is because we choose not to be. In fact we are trying very hard to escape from freedom just like the title says and that is a very pessimistic thought. If there was a plot to keep us from reaching our individual freedom like some people think, that would be optimistic - In that case we could have a revolution. But the way things are we need billions of inner revolutions, and that's an implausible scenario.
All essential problems of human situation are thoroughly and clearly described in one place. If you are unhappy with your life, your surroundings, or feel weltschmerz of some kind, you'll find all the answers right here. It is incredible that book which is read so lightly almost like some novel, is so filled with wisdom and deepest understanding of human mind and it's problems.
In my opinion Erich Fromm and his entire opus are by far the most important event in Psychology and Sociology in this century.

May change the way you look at the world!
This book offers insight into many everyday issues: thinking, feeling, wanting, character, individualism, politics, most of all freedom - the list goes on. You will learn what it means to have a false self including: pseudo-thinking, pseudo-feeling, pseudo-willing, etc. For example, when you have a "thought" how do you know it is yours? When you want something, how do you know it is you who "wants" it?

This book also explains the rise of Nazism from a psychological and historical perspective, making it actually seem understandable.

Fromm starts the book by talking about our experience as children from the womb to breaking away and moving into the world. The problem he describes is that people on the whole do not want to be free and want to cling to ideas that make them feel as if they were back in the womb.

This book talks much about socialization and in my opinion parallels "The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge" by Peter L. Berger, Thomas Luckmann, which I believe to be one the best books ever written.

good insights into totalitarianism
I'm not the most intellectual of thinkers, or the best suited to evaluate a book like this, but because we live in a democracy and I'm allowed to express my opinion, I think I will. I found this study of totalitarian systems interesting, if not always convincing because of so much psycho-babble thrown in. But this book shows how some people feel alienated and dehumanized and "left behind" in a democracy, and how such people are willing to submit to the fascist idea of a government and ruler who claims to care about them and taking care of their concerns rather than a dog-eat-dog "free society" where like in no other society you're left to fend for yourself. This book is a criticism of democracy's dangers, as well as the dangers that bring about oppressive autocratic rule. Recommended for those who like to read psychology and sociology.

David Rehak
author of "Love and Madness"

A Definite Piece of the Puzzle - A Book To Be Read
.
An amazing book that pieces modern society starting from the medieval to the renaissance and reformation, that is, from a well defined structured and fixed group identity, fixed meaning to life, determined purpose to life and the here after, to that of the existential, capitalistic and monopolist society that has produced radical individualism with the type of freedom producing severe loneliness, separation and the need to alleviate such emptiness, which has been fulfilled by illusionary means.

Fromm goes both into the psyche of man, the nature of societal structure, the development of western civilization and need for security and certainty to that of either authoritarian rule, internal conscious rule or the invisible rule of democratic conformity to public opinion, or automation.

Basic Masochistic/Sadistic desires of man from the extreme, to what is considered "normal" has been seen in the forfeit of the individual self into totalitarian control, capitalistic profit and religious and social concepts that attempt to fill the void of separateness without keeping the self.

Fromm ends his book in what the positive traits of what Faust would be: that of spontaneous living, not compulsive living, but in positive affirmation and movement, in the process of life, not the results, the experience of the activity of the present moment. I couldn't agree more.

What is the Matrix?
...This book was first published in 1941, just after it started the WW2 and without having the information about it that we all know now. From this point, it gives and excellent analysis about the "mechanics" of the human interaction. To read It is a must to understand any other Fromm's publication.

...If you have been looking for what is the matrix, and would like an approximation but, for REAL, then you may take the red pill by reading this book. ...But regrets arent allowed. ... Read more