Scientific Secrets for Self-Control

By: C. Nathan DeWall, The Great Courses

Narrated by: C. Nathan DeWall

Length: 3 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Join an expert in self-control research for six engaging and inspirational lessons that shatter the myths about willpower and replace them with verifiable science that can make the seemingly unattainable finally possible. Packed with eye-opening studies, experiments, and exercises to strengthen your self-control when dealing with money, fitness, personal relationships, and more, this course will have you wondering why you ever doubted yourself.

Whether you're looking for new ways to resist temptation, make a strong first impression, or better control your emotions, this is your guide to understanding—and mastering—what is a frequently misunderstood subject. In clear language, your award-winning professor introduces you to the general theories behind self-control: what it is, how it works, and how you can take steps to improve it.

Among the topics you'll investigate:

• How researchers discovered that delayed gratification can lead to better individual well-being in everything from higher self-worth to less sensitivity to rejection
• One of the most influential theories about how self-control works - the limited resource model, which argues that self-control relies on limited energy that becomes depleted after use
• How scientists discovered the link between the prefrontal cortex and aggression, and how people at risk for violent anger show abnormalities in that region of the brain.

Alongside groundbreaking scientific findings and research, you'll get personal exercises, activities, and thought experiments you can use to practice strengthening your self-control skills to meet whatever specific goals you want to achieve.

Disclaimer: Please note that this recording may include references to supplemental texts or print references that are not essential to the program and not supplied with your purchase.

©2013 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2013 The Great Courses

Straight and net in value in every minute

Enjoeyed the smooth paste of the presenter wih allowed to digest in an adequately manner the imgormation been rendered.

Thanks.

Interesting. practical exercises

narrator was good. interesting topic with
practical example to strengthen our self control
I'll end up rereading several times I'm sure

Interesting subject but too short on critical areas

Reading was good and subject interesting. A bit heavy-handed on the result of experiments and less on the practical every-day steps to achieve self-control. The practical steps were there and helpful but too few and not enough time spent on it.

Sounds read, good potential though.

The lecturer's style is very stop-start. Structural improvements can be made too, and I'm pretty sure the phrase "diabetics have trouble breaking glucose down into amino acids" was used... I dare say anyone would have trouble succeeding at that. Some lovely content, but I'd recommend a 2nd edition that flows better.

Boring and repetitive

I personally struggled to finish, the topic is interesting though. I listened to better books

Enjoyable, clear, and concise

I very much enjoyed the presenters clear and concise style.

The science and explanation of self-control were easy to grasp and understand.

Great tips for getting your self-control under control.

Inciteful

Incredible self control “hacks” based on research and brain science. An eye-opening introduction to fresh concepts surrounding how to exercise and build self control.

Sometimes the secret is that the chest is empty...

Would you try another book from The Great Courses and/or Professor C. Nathan DeWall?

No. The content was very loose but I have other titles of "The Great Courses" which I enjoyed. For a more detailed review, please see below.

Has Scientific Secrets for Self-Control turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. Other books deserve consideration based on their content, not the lack of substance from this series.

What three words best describe Professor C. Nathan DeWall’s voice?

Average, Acceptable, Level

Was Scientific Secrets for Self-Control worth the listening time?

No. I didn't finish this audio book. I decided to stop committing time to this book on my commute toward the end of Chapter 4, finally losing the last reserves of self control required to listen to what amounted to pretty much nothing. Most of the information is common sense. There are a few relevant take away's which, while interesting, aren't backed up with any significant findings. Or they exist amid a sea of repetitive, irrelevant "facts". The narrator often states phrases such as, "the research supports", or "in a recent study". I do not require countless references or plugs to specific researchers or institutions, but with only 2 direct references to the "studies", I felt the information wasn't credible.

The narrator doesn't even go as far as to beg the question. He makes a statement such as, "Do monkeys show signs of self control?" Follows with a few examples, all of which are preceded by, "A research" or "A study". Then finishes with, "yes, they do show self control". The true issue here is that it doesn't just happen once. He then moves on to another mammal and tells the exact same story. This methodical approach happens often throughout, and it doesn't take long before you realize you haven't actually learned anything.

Any additional comments?

There simply isn't much here. It happens. I was skeptical of the newest wave of courses due to their low times, and after reading a few similar reviews, may be less eager to purchase the next one. However, I have had very good luck with some of the longer volumes. They seemed to have more attention to detail and spent time addressing specific concepts rather than repeating broad generalizations.

Great science + useful tips for life

Science presented with just the right level of detail. Very simple lessons to improve your own self-control, with all lessons based on scientific studies. The narration was very passionate. Only downside is it was too short.

Disappointing to come from The Great Courses

Too much repeating. Not enough pragmatic knowledge. If you have already read The Power of Habit then don't read this book, or read that book instead.