Quick & Dirty:
- If I was basing my review solely on how the book is marketed, I’d give this book a 2 at best. HOWEVER if you ignore the title and view this as a reference book it’d deserve closer to a 4. I’m meeting half way and saying 3.
- Advice sections are very small and scattered for a self-help book.
- There is a lot of information provided about many facets of self-defeating behavior…Important to avoid “medical school syndrome” when reading it.
Deep breath, now get ready this is going to be a bumpy ride.
*I’d recommend this book to someone who isn’t sure if they might have a problem or are looking to figure out what their problem is. Most of these issues are pretty deep rooted and the solutions provided seem ok for someone with “tendencies” but not someone with real issues. Realize if you relate to some of these issues it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have them.
The first half really only describes how we screw ourselves over. But, I must point out pg 19. “…must identify and accept the presence of self-defeating…”
So, yes knowing the beast can help you defeat it, but this had a very 12 step feel to it. Although that process has helped people many before, I don’t feel like it’s right for me.
There is a lot of information about the different facets of these behaviors…a few things I’d like to say about that.
1. You really need to be self aware when reading this book. You need to avoid “medical school syndrome”, basically thinking that you have every issue in the book and that you need serious help. Realize that having “symptoms” or “tendencies” does not mean you have a real issue. We’re all sad sometimes, that doesn’t make us all depressed.
2. Very informative, not very helpful.
3. Overly-simplistic solutions really won’t help anyone who has these issues.
Chapter 5: Tips on Overcoming self defeating behavior is only a few pages long…Not really what the title leads you to believe.
I don’t know anything about the author, but here’s what I feel after reading this book. I feel like the author took some Psych classes, maybe has a degree, but hasn’t really suffered from these problems. If he has issues, they’re likely “tendencies” not real psychological problems. Personally, I’ve tried rationalizing my problems, like he suggests, for years. The problem is, these are IRRATIONAL thoughts. It’s going to take more than ‘rationalization’ if you really do have a psychological problem.
Check it out on Amazon.
Overall 3/5
***I received this book as an ARC. This in no way effected my review.***
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