Editorial Review

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Reviews (610)

Blink twice if you love it!
I blink twice all day long.I read this book in just one sitting, I could not put it down.To see how success is tied to a subconscience level of thinking is so right on.It is well written, very entertaining, and very eye opening.
Apples & Oranges
Gladwell writes well and the book is interesting. I read about half the book before I knew it! But I was jolted when Gladwell suddenly changed the focus of the book. In the first half of the book snap-judgments are good, then theyre suddenly bad. "What's up with that?" I asked myself.
Entertaining-- a little bit thinly sliced.
The Salon review of this book makes a remark that Gladwell's mission is to be entertaining, and not useful. I think that if you read this book in the spirit of that remark, you will not be disappointed.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Cognitive Psychology    4. Decision Making & Problem Solving    5. Decision making    6. Intuition    7. Psychology    8. Social Psychology    9. Self-Help / General   

Editorial Review

Do you know what makes you happy? Daniel Gilbert would bet that you Read more

Reviews (77)

Wonderful, Insightful Book!
I loved reading this book. It gave me a lot more to consider, subjectively speaking, with where my happiness comes from, and why. It's a great book, and a great read. I highly recommend it!
Horrible writer who does not respect the intelligence of his readers
Based on the reviews I ordered this book and starting to read it with a sense of anticipation and excitement.I was badly disappointed.The material Gilbertdealing with is interesting andobviously he is aknowledgeable. The big problem is thathis writing is almost a parody ofpopular science writing.I guess his editor told him to be personable and relate to his readers.What we gotinstead is a narcissistic, verbosenarrative an idea every five or six paragraphs, deeply buried inGilbert's accounts of his cigar smoking and other tidbitsdrawn from his tedious observations of own life. It seems that he has no respect for the intelligence of his reader who he feels he has to entertain withcute and trite commentsin every other sentence. When you compare him to someone whoboth respects the intelligence of readers and knows how to write such as Daniel Goleman,you realize that popular science writing is a difficult art and Gilbert has no talent for it.
Stumbling on Happiness is a home run....
"Stumbling" is a do-it-yourselfer's self-help book.Dan's insights into why we behave so illogically and sabotage our happiness are brilliant, but he resists the temptation to be prescriptive...
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Subjects:  1. Applied Psychology    2. Cognitive Psychology    3. Happiness    4. Personal Growth - Happiness    5. Personal Guidance    6. Psychology    7. Self-Help    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Cognitive Psychology   

Reviews (89)

Classic - Important
This is the fourth edition, so that means there is value in the message.It has proven its value in the market place.
Easy To Read, But Makes You Feel Very Smart!
This is one of those books that is generally as easy to read as a pop-psychology book, but has the flair and style of something much more intellectual. I do agree with one reviewer who says it reflects much of the material in Cialdini's other book on the subject--but it isn't precisely the same.
Outstanding book
I always look to customer reviews before I decide whether or not to purchase. I never really thought about why I did it until I read this book.
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Subjects:  1. Applied Psychology    2. Compliance    3. Influence (Psychology)    4. Marketing - General    5. Mental Health    6. Persuasion (Psychology)    7. Psychology    8. Cognition & cognitive psychology    9. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    10. Science: General Issues    11. Self-Help    12. Business & Economics    13. General   

Reviews (15)

better outcomes...less burnout!
As a relatively new therapist in a community mental health setting I noticed I kept getting clients that were diagnosed with BPD.No one else seemed to want them and as the new therapist I got "stuck" with them.After many months of frustration and questioning whether or not I made the right career choice, I stumbled across DBT.
Innovative protocol
Marsha Linehan's treatment approach to Borderline Personality Disorder is innovative and refreshing.DBT does work!This book explains BPD, it's history, and the development and theory behind several practices and how Linehan, through her own practical experience, came to treat BPD with her effective approach.The text is very clinical, but readable.It is a great, in-depth compliment to the skills manual by Linehan.A must for any clinician who has thrown up his/her arms in frustration while working with a Borderline client!

"The" book on DBT therapy, dense but well written...
CBT of Borderline Personality Disorder is a must have clinical book. Dense and chock full of therapeutic interventions, this book is pivotal for anyone working extensively with persons with BPD or anyone who has chronic suicidal thoughts, or other maladaptive and destructive coping skills. It's so dense however, take your time with it. Not an over night read unless your really good at absorbing a lot of information all at once. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Behavior Therapy    2. Borderline Personality Disorde    3. Borderline Personality Disorder    4. Cognitive Psychology    5. Cognitive therapy    6. Mental Disorders    7. Mental Illness    8. Personality    9. Psychology    10. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    11. Psychopathology - General    12. Treatment    13. therapy    14. Clinical psychology    15. Psychiatry    16. Psychology & Psychiatry / Clinical Psychology   

Reviews (15)

Repetitive at times but lots of enlightening information.
Some beginning parts of this book are a little repetitive, if you've been through a teacher credential program.However, I found lots of useful information that I definitely think can be incorporated into any curriculum.

Thought Provoking, Critical, Essential
With respect to some of the previous reviewers, I really don't think they have done justice to this book.I'll completely expose my inner geek and admit that curriculum design is fascinating to me, and add that I own a considerable number of books on the topic.I am particularly interested in differentiating curricula, and I purchase books about educational theory and classroom ideas the way other women purchase shoes--insatiably.I have constantly challenged myself to create personalized lessons with meaningful learning goals throughout my teaching career, but I will say that this book has definitely changed the way I view teaching and curricular design--and for the better.
Great Service and Great Product
I am very happy with the seller. the book is in great condition and got to me in a timly manner. Would do buisness with again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cognitive Psychology    2. Comprehension    3. Curricula    4. Curriculum planning    5. Curriculum-based assessment    6. Education    7. Education / Teaching    8. Learning    9. United States   

Reviews (28)

Excellent!!
This book deals in depression and was one I truly needed. It has helped me so much words can't describe. An excellent book.
If you need help with managing your emotions, this is it
I have had issues dealing with past emotional pains and while I have not yet gone through this whole book, I am definately finding help and a greater understanding of my problems through the portions that I have gone over.I cannot wait to finish this and to see my complete transformation from a person who just floats from mood to mood without taking resposibility for them, to a person who is aware and is taking responsibility for her emotional destiny.

MIND OVER MOOD;CHANGE HOW YOU FEEL BY CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK
EXCELLENT BOOK ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Affective disorders    2. Cognitive Psychology    3. Cognitive Therapy    4. Emotions    5. Mood Disorders    6. Popular works    7. Psychology    8. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    9. Treatment    10. Popular psychology    11. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    12. Psychotherapy   

Subjects:  1. Cognitive Psychology    2. Language    3. Language Arts & Disciplines    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Linguistics    6. Reference    7. Language & Linguistics    8. Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics   

Reviews (7)

Save your Money
This is a great concept, but not worth buying a book over.
Helpful and easy to implement
It was very easy to implement the program, and my student got it right away.

Incredible 5-Point Scale
I recently ordered this book to use with my students. I am a special education consultant primarily working with students that have Asperger's syndrome or traumatic brain injury in a public school setting. I am always looking for materials that are functional and easy to implement.This book is great! Very straight-forward; provides quick and useful examples without a lot of lengthy explanation. This book provides tools for both teachers and parents to use quickly and without a lot of training or experience with Asperger children. Very easy to adapt and individualize as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Movements - Behaviorism    4. Psychology    5. Special Education - Socially Handicapped    6. Child care & upbringing    7. Coping with disability   

Reviews (70)

I've never cried over a how-to book before....
. . . .unless you consider Tuesdays with Morrie a book on how to die. Steven Pressfield
Art IS a war.Don't believe me?Read for yourself...
In reviewing "The War of Art", "dyzml" believes that Steven Pressfield would consider Stephen King and Dean Koontz "hacks" for writing for a target audience.This is a total misinterpretation of what Pressfield considers a "hack".
OK
Not a bad book.Has some good ideas but it is not one that I will pick up and read over for insight or inspiration. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cognitive Psychology    2. Creation (Literary, artistic,    3. Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.)    4. Creative Ability    5. Creative thinking    6. Creativity    7. Inhibition    8. Personal Growth - General    9. Procrastination    10. Psychology    11. Resistance (Psychoanalysis)    12. Self-Help   

Subjects:  1. Cognitive Psychology    2. Neuropsychology    3. Neuroscience    4. Psychology    5. Neurology & clinical neurophysiology    6. Physiology    7. Psychology & Psychiatry / Neuropsychology   

Subjects:  1. Action research in education    2. Cognitive learning    3. Education    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Literacy    6. Reading Skills    7. Reading comprehension    8. Research    9. Cognition & cognitive psychology    10. English    11. English language: reading skills    12. Language Arts & Disciplines / Literacy    13. Language learning: specific skills    14. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (14)

Enlightening and inspiring
A wonderful book for anyone interested in science and all those who wonder about the answers to the nature of life.Kandel tells a fascinating tale of his own remarkable and admirable life while giving homage to many of those pathfinders who contributed to this body of knowledge and served as inspiration, mentors and collaborators to the author.
a superduper book
i have read no end of books which are in one sense or another concerned with searching for memory. this is the best. it combines a good survey of the field with a wonderful scientific autobiography of Kandel.

A must read for those interested in knowing how the brain works
How do we remember? Why do we forget? How is short term memory converted to long term memory? Starting from biology fundamentals, Nobel Prize winner Eric R. Kandel provides clear answers to these questions. Through a unique form of narration, Mr.Kandel weaves four separate strands -his autobiography, historical development of psychology and neuroscience, fundamentals of neuroscience and current research in neurobiology to providefascinating reading to any science enthusiast.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Cognitive Psychology    3. Life Sciences - Biology - General    4. Medical scientists    5. Neurologists    6. Nobel Prizes    7. Psychology    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. United States    11. Popular science    12. Science / General   

Reviews (6)

Great for people who ask "but why..." at the end of every statement.
This book is absolutely excellent.I have looked through other stats books and lost interest immediately, but this book is written in such a way that it actually makes you want to learn the material. Rather than just telling you how to solve the problem, the authors inform you as to why learning it is necessary, and frequently give you real-life, interesting scenarios regarding how specific formulas are used by psychologists.
Good moral support
My first impression was that this book was priceless since it really helped me through the first couple of chapters in the main text. At the beginning it goes into lengthy, step-by-step instructions. I may not have felt as confident in the class if it had not been for this supplement. Once I reached chapter 6 and 7 it was all over!There was not enough information to help me understand what the book was losing me on, I needed to seek private tutoring at this point. Occasionally I still go to the book in the hopes that it can pick me up and get me through the homework but it does not. These later chapters may be too complicated to go into in a study guide but what would a study guide be for if not walking you through the steps? I am glad I bought it, just dissappointed that it quit so early.

Fantastic Statistics Resource
This is the very best statistics book that I have purchased (and I have purchased 5 others trying to help me get a grasp on this subject)! I would recommend it to anyone who needs an easy--to-read and easy-to-understand textbook on this difficult subject! I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Movements - Behaviorism    3. Probability & Statistics - General    4. Psychology    5. Social sciences    6. Statistical methods    7. Probability & statistics    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (57)

Eye-opening and thought-provoking, well written:a must read for anyone interested in the field!
In this well-written, very accessible book, Martin Seligman points out that traditional psychology has always focused on the pathology of the human condition:illness and trauma.By understanding more about what makes people exceptionally well - happy, positive, optimistic - and recognizing that those who have these characteristics are more likely not only to have rewarding lives, but also to be successful in the world, Seligman believes that those who are naturally pessimistic or focused on the down-side can shift their perspective and become happier people.
Positively Disturbing
This is the first time I have written a review.In this particular case, I felt it was my responsibility to forewarn potential readers of the disturbing contents of this book.I've read several "self help" books on subjects ranging from introversion to optimistic thinking.I found this book to be of little help and quite disturbing.The book is filled with tests and self evaluations.I do not believe it is necessary to know where one falls on the optimist/pessimist scale.Often, such tests can only further depress or make anxious an already vulnerable reader.In Chapter 5, the author uses an extremely horrific and disturbing story to illustrate a five step process to forgiveness.I was further sickened by the author's list of "bodily pleasures" in Chapter 7.Rather than feeling uplifted by this book, I found myself feeling upset and outraged by the author's egotism, ignorance, perversion and insensitivity.I caution anyone seeking advice on optimism

From a person who was once very unhappy...
I believe this book goes a long way toward directing those who are still seeking happiness at a feeling level. But, in order to be totally fulfilled we have to get over our (narcissistic) need to always look at our transient feelings as any indications of how we are doing. I completely disagree with Dr. Seligman's statements on our 'set points.' I used to be chronically unhappy. I moved so far beyond that 'set point' that I do not even remember who I used to be. I think that 'set points' are an unecessary perspective in such a happy book. I asked a teacher who has helped me greatly in shifting my perspective. Here is part of his response:
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Subjects:  1. Applied Psychology    2. Cognitive Psychology    3. Conduct of life    4. Emotions    5. Happiness    6. Optimism    7. Personal Growth - Happiness    8. Psychology    9. Self-Help    10. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (1)

Outstanding contribution; must for Wechsler users
This is a terrific book -- it provides a lot of information on how to administer and score the WISC-IV.It has the same innovative approaches Kaufman has used in previous books on earlier Wechsler tests -- new ideas on interpretation and scoring that make sense. With the added viewpoint provided by Flanagan, a specialist in the cross-battery assessment, this book is a merging of two interesting approaches; unique project by two top psychologists in their prime. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Assessment, Testing & Measurement    2. Cognitive Psychology    3. Developmental - Child    4. Psychology    5. Wechsler Intelligence Scale fo    6. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children    7. Psychology & Psychiatry / Testing & Measurement   

Reviews (6)

A useful and inspiring resource
This book, intended for therapists, is a comprehensive, compassionate, and accessible guide to what Najavits establishes is the first crucial step for someone struggling with PTSD and substance abuse: learning to feel safe. It is also an excellent resource for patients who want to help themselves. What I like best is that the book is filled with checklists, stories, exercises, and quotations such that I can open to nearly any page and find ideas that are both practical and inspirational. In short, this is a great book.

A Very Powerful Book
Thank you for writing such a great book.I have suffered from addictions for years, tried many books and many methods.Working with a group or individual is one thing, but for me, nothing helps more than a book.It's on call twenty four hours a day and I can easily reference it.As far as books go...this one is by far the best.The most comprehensive and in-depth book I've read so far.It provided tremendous support and guidance on issues that often result in isolation. Most of all, it didn't talk down to me as a reader.That's something I don't need!Thank you for making this book available and writing it in such a helpful way.

Extremely useful volume for professionals
I can see why this book got such rave reviews and is such a best-seller.It's a superb book, offering both real insight into trauma and addiction, as well as hands-on clinical tools. As someone in the field, I have found both the philosophical and practical aspects of Najavits' work incomparable. On top of the impeccable professionalism, is her impressive writing. This is a must buy for anyone interested in this area. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Behavior Therapy    2. Cognitive Psychology    3. Cognitive therapy    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Patients    6. Post-traumatic stress disorder    7. Psychology    8. Psychopathology - Addiction    9. Rehabilitation    10. Substance abuse    11. Drug addiction & substance abuse    12. Psychology & Psychiatry / Addictions   

Reviews (8)

Overly generalized
When I bought this book, I was expecting helpful solutions, but all I got were general facts that most parents of autistic children already know.The book definitely needed more specific information on how to handle problems.

Engaging Autism:Helping Children Relate, Communicate & Think with the DIR Floortime Approach
This book is a must read for parents with an autistic child. This book is easy to read and understand. Dr. Greenspan has made me feel I will be able to help my son fully recover.This is the 1st time in 3 years I have hope!My son is moderate to severly autistic. We have been doing Floortime & have seen much success. What a natural way of helping him & having fun doing it.Thank you Dr. Greenspan.

Too Much Engaging and Too Little Information
I have been a Learning Specialist for nearly twenty years at the high school and community college levels.When I read "Engaging Autism" by Stanley I. Greenspan, I was anticipating a book filled with fresh information, scientific validity, and ideas that could be realistically applied in a variety of classroom settings.Instead, I read page after page of disappointment.DIR/Floortime is an interesting/innovative approach for helping individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities.However, this book was extremely weak in the following areas:repetition of the same ideas/concepts throughout the work, reliance on anecdotal information, no scientific validation of information, absence of an in-depth bibliography, frequent reference to products written by Greenspan and his team, and lack of organization throughout the text.DIR/Floortime is presented as too simplistic when in actuality it appears to be extremely time consuming and labor instensive which is impractical in contemporary public education settings.The author recommends homeschooling and intense family involvement as though this was a simple solution.However, parents uusually do not have the extensive time or expertise to devote to the DIR/Floortime approach.If you are interested in learning what DIR/Floortime entails, I recommend researching Internet sources or consulting works by other authors.This book is largely a waste of time for professionals in the field of special education.Unless you want to read a rehash of ideas over and over again, I would not waste my time with this book.I was going to order another book by Dr. Greenspan entitled "The Child With Special Needs:Encouraging Intellectual and Emotional Growth" but will not be doing it at this time.
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Subjects:  1. Autism    2. Autistic children    3. Behavior modification    4. Child Development And Rearing    5. Children with Special Needs    6. Education    7. Family & Relationships    8. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    9. Family/Marriage    10. Parenting - General    11. Psychology    12. Psychopathology - Autism    13. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent    14. Rehabilitation    15. Advice on parenting    16. Clinical psychology    17. Coping with disability    18. Paediatric medicine   

Reviews (32)

Question your assumptions and challenge what you think you know
This book provides a well-organized survey of issues that limit our reasoning abilities:
Should Have Been Better Than It Was
Gilovich starts this book of with a real bang!After reading the Introduction, I thought this book would be really interesting and change the way I look at the world.He writes in a college-teacher tone that will not be approachable to those he most needs to reach.In other words, I really don't need a book to tell me to avoid holistic cretins, ESP, psychics, mysticism, and all that other garbage.
Required for all psychology students!!!
This book is a contemporary classic that should be required reading in all psychology programs. As a psychologist, I am regularly appalled by how few trained psychologists know of the research discussed in this book, indeed, of decision science in general!! It only goes to show, there's scientific psychology (of which this book qualifies), and then, well, there's the other 99%...the crap, fluff, unsupported, unscientific, claims and practices that arise out of pseudo-scientific approaches, misinterpretations of data, and fallacious assumptions and conclusions. As an exemplar of what's good in a field rife with methodological manure and hocus pocus B.S. (e.g. psychotherapy, psychiatry, etc.), this book really shines. Read it and discover why some of psychology really is a science. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cognitive Psychology    2. Critical thinking    3. Error    4. Evidence    5. Judgment    6. Logic    7. Psychology    8. Reasoning (Psychology)    9. Cognition & cognitive psychology    10. Psychology & Psychiatry / Child Development    11. Social, group or collective psychology   

Reviews (106)

2 1/2 stars, because it is half a good book
When the author focuses on what she knows - autism, neurobiology, and domestic livestock - this book offers many insights. By applying some excellent existing research in neurobiology about what animals are truly capable of perceiving and feeling (read some of the referenced books for confirmation of emotions in animals) and applying her own experiences with domestic livestock and insights founded in her autism (a much more visual world than "normal" people (her word, not mine)), Dr. Grandin shows how a more visual, detail-oriented animal encounters the world.
NO stars for this book!!
What a bunch of high school hallway gossip! The author does not know the difference between white and albino! The 'genetics' discussions on color (which includes people, chickens, horses, and dogs - all of it suspect) and mutts vs. purebred dogs are total claptrap! I confess, I couldn't get past page 87 when the author explains that 'one of the reasons wolves turned into dogs was that nursing human mothers probably adopted orphaned wolf cubs and nursed them at their breasts along with their human babies.' WHAT?? A waste of my hard-earned $. Having read those parts I cannot believe anything that went before or that follows, not that I'm reading any further. How is a multi-published author allowed to put such uneducated 'information' into print? And now she's influenced readers -- a terrible situation. Publisher, where are your pre-publication reviews? Shame on you for allowing this ignorant speculation to be published!!

Very, very interesting
This book was someone else's bookclub selection, and I think having no expectations when I picked it up really helped in my having that WOW experience that some folks report with this book and others miss. Yes, the prose needed much better editing: overuse of repetition, "stock" phrases, and "hanging" assertions that should have been cleaned up.However, I found the discussions of brain development/evolution, similarities between certain animal behaviors and human behaviors, development of language in different animals, and the coevolution of humans and dogs to be facinating (oops, just gave away the ending!).I found the side discussion of outcome-based audits interesting and enlightening.I also liked Dr. Temple's recommendation that people with autism be hired for baggage checking positions.Great idea! Although the book really goes all over the place, I found it a wonderful opportunity to engage my "seeking/hunting" motivation (you'll have to read the book for that one), and worth wading through the flaws to pick up the nuggets of gold. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animal behavior    2. Animals    3. Autism    4. Cognitive Psychology    5. General    6. Life Sciences - Zoology - Mammals    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Science    10. Zoology (General)    11. Science / Life Sciences / Zoology / Mammals   

Editorial Review

"The best way to understand the dramatic transformation of unknown books into bestsellers, or the rise of teenage smoking, or the phenomena of word of mouth or any number of the other mysterious changes that mark everyday life," writes Malcolm Gladwell, "is to think of them as epidemics. Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do." Although anyone familiar with the theory of memetics will recognize this concept, Gladwell's Read more

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Reviews (701)