Why might some sex education programs result in more teen pregnancies? Why did reading that self-help book make you feel less happy? What's the best way to recover from trauma? Can we actually improve our lives by redirecting our thinking?
We tell ourselves stories to make sense of the world. These stories ultimately determine if we will lead healthy, productive lives or get into trouble. Renowned psychologist Timothy Wilson proposes a radical new view: although these stories can be very hard to change, they can change - surprisingly quickly - if tweaked in the right way. He considers a broad range of problems, exposes failed attempts to solve them, and reframes them with new stories. Scientifically tested, his practical advice and simple techniques have been found to bring about real results including enhanced happiness, personal meaning, and social progress.
©2011 Original material © 2011 Timothy D. Wilson. (P)2011 (p) 2011 HighBridge Company
"There are few academics who write with as much grace and wisdom as Timothy Wilson. Redirect is a masterpiece." (Malcolm Gladwell)
"May well be the single most important psychology book ever written." (Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology, Harvard University, author of Stumbling on Happiness)
"Why programs fail."
Interesting book, but Wilson spends most the time describing educational intervention programs that don't work, why they don't work and why the government spends so much money on them.
I was hoping for more in-depth information on methods that are effective in changing behavior. These experiments are briefly described before moving on to the next popular program that doesn't work.
However, I would recommend it to parents, teachers, school board members, political leaders and anyone with a stake in the effectiveness of institutionalized education.
I focus on fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, science, history, politics and read a lot. I try to review everything I read.
"Unexciting but Interesting"
Redirect was not very exciting but it had a number of interesting tidbits. The narrator, Gover Gardner, was great as usual. Redirect tries to make it clear that we, as a society, should test ideas with experiments before spending millions on programs that ???make sense??? but may not actually be affective. Redirect also describes the interesting technique of ???Story Editing??? which, although not as magical as The Secret, would likely be more successful.
"Enlightening"
I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting view into how psychology can help and hurt us. I listen when I drive, I found that I was making excuses to drive places just to listen.
"Grover Gardner turns a dry book into a good listen"
A fascinating look at human behavior and the intervention strategies we use to try to modify it. Grover Gardner's narration is, as always, top-notch and thoroughly professional. This book is a must read for sincere parents of children of any age.
Say something about yourself!
"CHANGING ONE CHILD, FAMILY, COMMUNITY AT A TIME"
This is just the best, most intelligent, fact based approach to child rearing and education that I've ever read. Rather than legislating based on hope, our leaders would do well to follow the testing guidelines outlined in this book before committing millions to programs that don't work. Parents would do well to ignore the Dr. Spock of the moment and read this if they want a happy, well adjusted child.
50-something, female, work in the city, live in the country in the Midwest, religious, married, conservative, professional.
"Interesting"
I liked how the author pulled information and research from various areas to synthesis his premise.
Not all in one sitting, but I did have a couple of driveway moments, where I sat in the driveway waiting to hear the end of the chapter.
""But when we use the story editing approach...""
Repetitious. Story editing is the golden hammer, and the author trots it out again and again after dissing the competition. He may be right, but the idea gets stretched thin, and I was losing interest before the book was done.
"Redirect yourself from this dry book..."
More substance of useful ideas and less data. Lay people need it simplified.
The unexciting delivery
wasn't any
Disappointment
Read it only if into to alternative methods of psychological practice
"I was hoping for more insight."
Little too much data and intepretation. More textbook than I would like. I like the series on 'reptile' and thought some of this might be related. It wasn't.
Make it more about the 'story' and the effects of 'redirecting.' I thought I would get more out of it.
Yes.
No. I barely finished it. I bought it for insight. . .didn't get a lot. I wanted value for what I could use in day to day experiences.
Didn't help me.