The As If Principle
The Radically New Approach to Changing Your Life
-
- $299.00
-
- $299.00
Descripción editorial
Victorian philosopher William James had a theory about emotion and behavior: It isn’t that our feelings guide our actions (feel happy and you will laugh). On the contrary, it is our actions that guide our emotions (laugh and you will feel happy). This led James to a remarkable conclusion: “If you want a quality, act as if you already have it.” Roused by James’s astonishing discovery, renowned psychologist and bestselling author Richard Wiseman confirms James’s principle and shows how the self-help genre has for too long put the cart before the horse in trying to help us take control of our lives. Bringing to the table a dazzling array of firsthand experiments, surprising histories, and psychological case studies, Wiseman illustrates in brilliant detail how we can apply this principle in our daily lives:
—Smile to become measurably happier
—Wash your hands to drive away guilt
—Clench your fist to increase your willpower
—Eat with your non-dominant hand to lose weight
—Nod while speaking to become more persuasive
—Act like a newlywed to rekindle your marriage
Lively, engaging, and truly mind-changing, The As If Principle is that rare gem that offers real, workable solutions for your day-to-day goals while helping you to instantly take control of your emotions. Whether it’s quitting a bad habit, persevering through a difficult task, or achieving your dream self, The As If Principle can help. Don’t just think about changing your life. Do it.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The American psychologist William James once said, "If you want a quality, act as if you already have it." Wiseman (59 Seconds), a British psychologist and social media phenomenon, backs up the "act as if" dictum by parsing scientific studies and offering practical tips to help folks become the person they want to be. If you're lacking in confidence, adopt a more powerful pose; if you're feeling down, just smile! Drawing from such well-known trials and tests as the Zimbardo prison study and the Stanislavski acting method, as well as historical and pop culture figures like Frederick Douglass and Joan Baez, Wiseman makes a convincing argument for the power of action (though his assertion that his is a "radically new approach" is less persuasive James uttered his famous maxim in 1884). Yet he's at his best when he puts down his bag of tricks and turns his attention to the relationship between action and thought, as when he considers the inefficacy of public health information campaigns when compared to the success of legislation in changing behavior. Readers who have enjoyed Wiseman's previous work will likely enjoy this addition to his oeuvre; more skeptical readers might just have to grin and bear it. Illus.
