Psycho-Cybernetics, Updated and Expanded

Just finished this book and I am going to start reading it again. It has so many important points and helpful tools in overcoming issues we create for ourselves, often in autopilot. There’s a lot to remember which is why I intend to keep reading over and over until most of its content becomes second nature. I know if I get to that point life will be incredibly different to what it is now for me, for the better.

This book is profoundly good. Do not let the artificial sounding title put you off - it contains chapter after chapter of elegantly written guidance for living. It is evident in the writing that this is the result of not years but decades of observation by Maltz. The chapter on negative emotional habits is in itself worth the money. I bought the book to try to resolve 11 years of tension headaches. After reading teh first chapter, I stopped reading in order to try out some ideas. The headaches are improving, but almost as importantly, I have learnt so much more about myself. Not speculative, extrapolated ideas of the author, but the result of close observations of patients who were councelled before cosmetic surgery. In many cases, the intended facial surgery was canceled, to be replaced by surgery of attitude. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Interesting read

If anyone wanting to learn more in self development I would recommend this book.

This is one of the best motivational books I've ever read - possibly THE best. Originally published in 1960, it was clearly ahead of its time. Dr Maltz not only describes in the book how positive mental imagery can help set you on a course towards achieving your goals, but he uses examples of scientific research to back-up his theories on how this mechanism works. Maltz compared the brain to a super-efficient computer system that is programmed by our thoughts (hence the name "cybernetics") - it is up to us, he said, to get the programming right. He also wrote about the power of relaxation and visualisation, subjects that are discussed by motivational writers today, but usually in a more glib way and with less scientific reasoning. The book also contains several practice exercises designed to replace negative thought patterns with positive ones and to facilitate relaxation. A very worthwhile read.

I read this book a long while ago in the original format and have since read and reread this later version. The words of Dr Maltz were ground breaking for our modern world when written. They remain so to this day, indeed I wonder if there is more of a need for many to consider his words as the pressure of our fast paced world impacts on us all so much more. The speed and ambition of our world is not set to slow down - we all know that it will only get faster. So enjoy the magic in this book and see how it can be used with powerful effect in your life.

This is one of those timeless self-development books. It's credited with having started off the modern self-development movement, and it's certainly a classic of its time. However, it is 'of its time'. A great deal of the content is excellent - priceless, even - but you'll perhaps find some more up-to-date techniques on the internet. Having said that, what keeps this updated volume at five stars is the very clear writing style, and the breaking down of the ideas into easy-to-swallow bites. When I was reading this, I found myself dehypnotised from a great deal of negative beliefs which had been building up over a period of months and years. I highly recommend it.

To be honest, I've yet to finish the book as it challenged me from the first few pages onwards. It's an eye opener and I only wish I had the guts to see it through.

I have been studying psychology for the past 3 years at least, and have delved into topics such as NLP, hypnosis, destructive patterns etc. I have studied each of these topics and more in great depth and detail, and have to say that this book is by far the most treasured possession I own. This book is what I consider to be the answer, the key to all of self development. If you want to accomplish ANYTHING and you are not, there is a reason for it, and this book can help you. If you will read it, and then re-read it, and then re-read it, until you begin to fully understand and comprehend the principles and concepts presented, it will change your life....dramatically. The book's whole premise is that we all behave not according to how things actually are, but how we perceive them to be. As a result of this, our beliefs can be very skewed, and thus our behavior will be as well. It is the task of this book to teach and instruct the reader in how to recognize irrational beliefs, use rational conscious thought to determine what they want to believe instead, and then use principles such as "theater in the mind" and "acting as if" to create a new reality experienced by your mind, which will program your self image, and thus create a new objective reality around you. My personal opinion is that this book contains the key, the solution to any problem you are currently having, which you want to change but don't know how to, or are unsure of where to start. I highly recommend it.

Este livro destrincha o sistema chamado psico cibernética, criado pelo cirurgião plástico Maxwell Maltz com base em suas observações sobre seus pacientes, seus motivos e impedimentos na busca da felicidade. Aqui ele introduz conceitos que foram usados exaustivamente por grandes nomes no campo da autoajuda e profissionais afins nos anos que se seguiram à publicação da primeira edição deste livro. É uma leitura muito interessante, para ser feita com calma e atenção, e parte do princípio de que antes de mudar qualquer coisa na sua vida, você precisa mudar a autoimagem que você construiu para si mesmo desde o seu nascimento até os dias atuais. Com esta mudança, tudo pode ser alcançado a curto, médio ou longo prazo, dependendo dos embaraços em que você se meteu ao longo da sua caminhada. Ele ensina vários exercícios, que não fiz. Alguns, na verdade, achei estranhos e desinteressantes. O que me interessava neste livro eram os conceitos e a experiência do Dr. Maltz, coisas sobre as quais ele fala bastante. Recomendo, vale a pena ler.

Philosophy explained in a scientific manner that is easy to understand. Highly recommend to everyone who wishes to learn more about the human experience.

I have enjoyed and learned a lot from reading this book. I will continue to work on myself to live a better life and to also help others along the way. This book is a must read.

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