Psychology 101 1/2: The Unspoken Rules for Success in Academia

Rating:
Summary: Beware: George Bush Also Hails From Yale
Review: If a train filled with overused cliches leaves Yale University in New Haven, CT, at the same time that a train filled with cheap advice leaves the American Psychological Association in Washington, DC, where will these trains meet? The answer: Right in the middle of Psychology 101 1/2: The Unspoken Rules for Success in Academia.

I'm glad I didn't personally buy this book, but I am ashamed that I asked my University library (Cornell University) to waste the money for this pseudo-intellectual fodder. Why did I rate this book so low? For one, the use of the word "uspoken" in the subtitle leads one to believe that the "advice" this book holds isn't commonly spoken of. However, that is hardly the case. Every chapter is based on a horrible cliche or a piece of cheap advice common to daytime talk shows such as Jerry Springer and Dr.Phil. Some examples: "Think before you speak;" "Nip problems in the bud;" "Don't take yourself too seriously;" and "Practice what you preach." Further, as if these purported nuggets of wisdom weren't bad enough, the author wastes the reader's time repeating nearly identical lessons under slightly different chapter headings, presumably so that he can reach the quaint 101 and 1/2 chapters.

Overall, this book exemplifies the power of psychology, especially as it pertains to marketing and consumer behavior: beautifully wrapped trash looks amazingly like a gift. Using a catchy title and impressive credentials, Sternberg rings Pavlov's bell and causes us to salivate, but fails to deliver the "steak."

If you enjoy trite daytime-drama wisdom, reading pop psychology magazines, and titles such as "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff," you'll probably love this book. But, if you'd like to help the field of Psychology from falling further into the fad-basket, or you'd like to improve your own academic career, you'll get much more use out of the _Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: A Handbook for Students and Faculty_, by James Mauch and Jack Birch.

Last, although I was pretty harsh in my review, I must say that one thing I really enjoyed about this title was getting to know Robert Sternberg through his loose journal-entries. I found that we share similar goals for education, reinforcing my interest in working in his research department when I go to graduate school.