Emotional Resilience : Simple Truths for Dealing with the Unfinished Business of Your Past

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Summary: A book for those serious about changing behavioural patterns
Review: David Viscott's "Emotional Resilience" is a tightly packed book that provides the tools needed to unravel the behavioral and emotional tangles that complicate our lives, and to move on as emotionally healthier and happier individuals. The book is for people who are serious about breaking out of old patterns and who are ready and willing to confront themselves. Using phrases such as emotional debt, and toxic nostalgia Viscott indicates where emotions have needed to be addressed and how our personalities have developed as a result of not having done so. "Emotional Resilience" is by no means easy reading and digesting the contents may take repeated readings at different periods of time. I have reread sections of the book many times, and each time I learn something new. Viscott has provided me with the tools I needed to move out of old patterns and to realize myself as self-reliant adult. I cannot recommend Viscotts "Emotional Resilience" more highly!

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Summary: EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE
Review: I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH DR. VISCOTT AT THE BEVERLY HILLS VISCOTT CENTER. AS ONE OF HIS STAFF PSYCHOTHERAPISTS I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ PORTIONS OF EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE PRIOR TO ITS PUBLICATION. THIS BOOK IS A COMPILATION OF YEARS OF THOUGHT AND IS A ROAD MAP OF THE MIND. IT SUMMARIZES MUCH OF HIS EARLIER WORKS AND EXPLAINS COMPLEX IDEAS IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE. EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE, LIKE ALL OF DAVID'S WORK, CUTS TO THE CHASE AND PRESENTS A MODEL OF THE CAUSE AND CURE OF UNHAPPINESS. THIS BOOK EXPLAINS THE THE MOURNING PROCESS AND CAN BE HELPFUL IN ONE'S ATTEMPTS AT MOVING FORWARD WITH LIFE AFTER LOSS. IT BRILLIANTLY EXPLAINS HOW WE DEFEND OURSELVES AGAINST PAINFUL TRUTHS...TRUTHS WE NEED TO ADMIT TO OURSELVES IN ORDER TO LEARN AND GROW. EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE CLEARLY DEPICTS THE CONTROLLING, DEPENDENT, AND COMPETITIVE PERSONALITY TYPES AND ALLOWS READERS TO IDENTIFY THOSE TRAITS WITHIN THEMSELVES THAT GET IN THE WAY OF BEING ONES VERY BEST. IT ALSO EXPLAINS HOW TO OVERCOME OUR WEAKNESSES AND BECOME EMOTIONALLY RESILIENT IN LIFE. A BOOK WORTH READING MULTIPLE TIMES.

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Summary: Excellent Content But Delivery A Bit Too Hurried.
Review: I have admired David Viscott for many years. I appreciate his straightforward explanations and his tough love approach. I highly recommend this set of audio tapes. However, the listener must be prepared to play and replay selections of interest, as David Viscott speaks much too quickly for immediate comprehension.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Content But Delivery A Bit Too Hurried.
Review: I have admired David Viscott for many years. I appreciate his straightforward explanations and his tough love approach. I highly recommend this set of audio tapes. However, the listener must be prepared to play and replay selections of interest, as David Viscott speaks much too quickly for immediate comprehension.

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Summary: Nothing New
Review: I've read more self-help books than I'd care to admit, and I'm often disappointed by fluffy texts that cite dozens of case studies instead of offering useful advice. Viscott doesn't rely on patients' stories to fill his pages; he presents practical guidelines to help the reader clear her/his own emotional hurdles. The back cover alone (which offers 10 simple truths) is a gold mine, and there's much, much more inside. The tone is neither dry/boring nor warm/fuzzy, but balanced. Case studies are cited as examples, but not to excess, or to cover for a lack of substance. Viscott is mainly interested in you, the reader. This is the most dense (with inspiring, practical information) book I've ever read in the field of self-help. A steal, for the price! But be warned: without the fluff, there's nowhere to hide; you must be courageous to read this book and really take it in. If - and only if - you're truly ready to be honest with yourself, and to experience the pain and joy of genuine growth, do yourself a favor and buy this book.

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Summary: Are you living with a controlling man?
Review: This book contains the most comprehensive explaination of what a controlling personality is. If you are having difficulty understanding why and how that person in you life is thinking. Please read this book! I have gained more insight from this one book than any other source. You will learn why your man thinks they way he does, (I say man because most controlling personalities are men) and you will be given methods to deal with him. These methods really work! Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing New
Review: Viscott's theme throughout the book is to be truthful. This seems ironic from a man who believed in poltergeist and the paranormal; from a man whos reality testing method was jumping to conclusions. He discusses how events can trigger emotional responses in people because they are getting in touch with the truth. Apparently, Viscott never heard of delusion, exaggeration, or misperception. He uses the terms truth and true feeling interchangeably, even though true feelings can be based on untruths. He talks about forgiveness as though people have a switch they can turn on and off at will. He relates all mental illness to some hidden truth. But, he never provides any supporting data for this. Instead, he just weaves up his ideas without any regard for the real truth. He mentions that his patients would sometimes become depressed after hearing their therapy tapes of sessions with him. He concludes that they are depressed because they hear themselves being untruthful on the tape. It never occurs to him that maybe they become depressed because they hear a harmful therapist. His stressing of the truth gets old fast in the book. Who doesn't know that knowing the truth can be helpful? What a revelation! Furthermore, Viscott was the last person who could ever know the truth because he didn't have a logical, scientific thinking process. He would jump to foregone conclusions and assume that this was the truth.