Life and How to Survive It

Rating:
Summary: speculative silliness
Review: 'Robin' retains the role of therapist in this discussion with his former patient 'John', who, though witty and charming is a little too uncritical for my taste. Even if one is willing to accept a psychoanalytic account of personality development and family dynamics, and I am, the latter part of the book's speculations regarding management, politics, religion, and the like, are without foundation. I found it particulary annoying how they make the Japanese (not to mention Americans) sound like another species entirely.

Rating:
Summary: an in-depth and entertaining dicussion of emotional health
Review: 2 things very unique about this book: 1) it is a discussion of robust mental health (as opposed to mental pathology). 2) the discussion is layed out as a dialogue/script between the co-authors.

Instead of discussing the symptoms, causes and cures of mental pathology, the authors discuss the "olympians of mental health" and the things they all tend to have in common.

After covering the aspects of individual mental health, the authors expand their scope to the mental health of families, organizations, businesses, countries and cultures.

For my second reading "Life.." became my morning "devotional" book. I found myself being transported to an imaginary room where I sat and listened quietly to John and Robyn, looked them in the eyes, laughing and crying with them. The profound effect of these daily trysts was that over time I was developing the same awe, wonder and respect for the "olympians" that the authors had. I also found myself becoming more like the "olympians of emotional health" that we admired so much. I've read thousands of books and this one has had a more profound effect on me than any other that I can recall.

I gave the book a score of 9 only because in a few places the discussion and banter become a bit boring (but you listen patiently because you're with friends).

If you like this book, you also will like "Families and how..". If you've read this book and enjoyed it like I have, please send me e-mail, I'd really like to hear from you.

Rating:
Summary: an in-depth and entertaining dicussion of emotional health
Review: 2 things very unique about this book: 1) it is a discussion of robust mental health (as opposed to mental pathology). 2) the discussion is layed out as a dialogue/script between the co-authors.

Instead of discussing the symptoms, causes and cures of mental pathology, the authors discuss the "olympians of mental health" and the things they all tend to have in common.

After covering the aspects of individual mental health, the authors expand their scope to the mental health of families, organizations, businesses, countries and cultures.

For my second reading "Life.." became my morning "devotional" book. I found myself being transported to an imaginary room where I sat and listened quietly to John and Robyn, looked them in the eyes, laughing and crying with them. The profound effect of these daily trysts was that over time I was developing the same awe, wonder and respect for the "olympians" that the authors had. I also found myself becoming more like the "olympians of emotional health" that we admired so much. I've read thousands of books and this one has had a more profound effect on me than any other that I can recall.

I gave the book a score of 9 only because in a few places the discussion and banter become a bit boring (but you listen patiently because you're with friends).

If you like this book, you also will like "Families and how..". If you've read this book and enjoyed it like I have, please send me e-mail, I'd really like to hear from you.

Rating:
Summary: Simple, practical and thought-provoking.
Review: I have a horrible feeling that I will be dissapointed...this is the first book on psychology that I have ever read and I just know that none will match it for it's practicality, it's easy of understandiing and it's ease of reading. Eminently enjoyable. You will discover a lot about yourself, your friends, your work and even your country in this gem. Everyone should be able to find something to make their life more enjoyable and fulfilling.