Changing for Good

Rating:
Summary: Good Golly Miss Molly!!
Review: A book written by someone who has spent years researching his theories. In a nutshell, the book covers the stages of change and then helps you figure where you are. The "processes of change" that are most effective for a certain stage to help you move on to the next one are then discussed. Should be of great help to those willing to read the whole book and give it a good try. Other self-help books I liked include "Treat Your Own Knees."

Rating:
Summary: A roadmap to change - for those willing to make the effort
Review: Anyone who has ever tried to change a bad habit knows that it can be a long and trying process, with many setbacks along the way. The authors of CHANGING FOR GOOD are prominent psychologists who have discovered that people go through the same basic stages of change regardless of the goal. So, whether you want to quit smoking, lose weight, or stop procrastinating, you can make use of the same essential processes to keep yourself moving from one stage to the next. The authors don't kid you into thinking it's going to be easy, but they do provide proven self-change techniques geared toward each step along the way to your goal. This book is an excellent resource for counselors interested in applying the stages-of-change model in their clinical practice, but it is not the most user-friendly self-help book. There are enough ideas here to fill a dozen specialized books, and it will be up to you to figure out exactly how to put the change processes to work in your life. Reviewed by Deborah Van Horn for Amazon.com, originally posted 7/7/04, updated 7/25/04.

Rating:
Summary: Roadmap to change - for those willing to make the effort
Review: Anyone who has ever tried to change a bad habit knows that it can be a long and trying process, with many setbacks along the way. The authors of CHANGING FOR GOOD are prominent psychologists who have discovered that people go through the same basic stages of change regardless of the goal. So, whether you want to quit smoking, lose weight, or stop procrastinating, you can make use of the same essential processes to keep yourself moving from one stage to the next. The authors don't kid you into thinking it's going to be easy, but they do provide proven self-change techniques geared toward each step along the way to your goal. This book is an excellent resource for counselors interested in applying the stages-of-change model in their clinical practice, but it is not the most user-friendly self-help book. There are enough ideas here to fill a dozen specialized books, and it will be up to you to figure out exactly how to put the change processes to work in your life.

Rating:
Summary: good idea, but too clinical
Review: As a motivational speaker and trainer, I have read countless books on change, and this is my number one show at my seminars. Prochaska gives a clear, concise, easy to understand map to changing even the most difficult behaviors. What makes this book different from the rest is that it is heavily research and theory based -- Prochaska's own work -- without getting heavily bogged down for the lay reader. Fabulous analogies and metaphors, with special emphasis on the power of social support. I thank him for sharing his research and findings with us so that we can all benefit from it!!

Rating:
Summary: James Prochaska is THE Master Change Theorist!
Review: As a motivational speaker and trainer, I have read countless books on change, and this is my number one show at my seminars. Prochaska gives a clear, concise, easy to understand map to changing even the most difficult behaviors. What makes this book different from the rest is that it is heavily research and theory based -- Prochaska's own work -- without getting heavily bogged down for the lay reader. Fabulous analogies and metaphors, with special emphasis on the power of social support. I thank him for sharing his research and findings with us so that we can all benefit from it!!

Rating:
Summary: Not for the unmotivated!
Review: Being a "rationalizer and Intellectualizer" par excellance, this book gave me the insight I needed to see where I was "stuck" and why the conventional menthods of programs like "AA" just do not work for me. Splendid advice for anyone looking (seriously) to move forward in their attempts to change behaviors which no longer serve them.

Rating:
Summary: life changing!
Review: Changing for good began to change my life before I was even half-way through the book. Its just not for bad-habits, but the way in which we view everything in our life.

Rating:
Summary: best I've seen...and I've seen a lot!
Review: Excellent advice. Helped me break a 20+ year habit of bulimia, for which I had tried countless remedies. The most important things I learned were how to identify some of the self-generated "myths" I was unconsciously buying into....such as "someday it will be easier." His emphasis on exercise has turned out to be another key to success. And Prochaska's book helped me organize former failed attempts into a way of learning from my mistakes. GREAT BOOK! Thanks, Mr. Prochaska!

Rating:
Summary: Change can take place in a predictable pattern......
Review: I looked up this author on Medline and he's very well published- believe me when I say that there's a lot of research behind this book. It is basically about the stages that people go through as they change their behaviors and what they can do to speed up this process. Bottom line- I feel that you'll get out of this book what you put into it. 5 stars from me. Other evidence based self-help books I liked include "The No-Beach, No-Zone, No-Nonsense Weight Loss Plan, A Pocket Guide To What Works."

Rating:
Summary: Good ideas, but...
Review: I thought some of the authors' conclusions were rather illogical. While they compiled a list of traits they felt led to successful behavior change, and it could be that individuals that accomplish successful change exhibit these traits; it doesn't seem logical to me to assume that others will become successful if they adopt these same traits. I also felt that the authors left many gaping holes in their "steps to change". Never could I find a real process that would endow someone with these traits if you were not already blessed with them. Obviously this book is popular with budding psychologists (one recommended it to me); but speaking as a person who has had a life-long struggle with changing my behaviors, I didn't find much real-life help here.