E-Book Overview
From a bestselling author and the most-followed psychologist on Twitter,this “intriguing new slant to personal transformation” (KirkusReviews)shows you how to take control of your life in an instant.Victorian philosopher William James had a theory about emotion and behavior: It isn’t that our feelings guide our actions (feel happy and you will laugh). On the contrary, it is our actions that guide our emotions (laugh and you will feel happy). This led James to a remarkable conclusion: “If you want a quality, act as if you already have it.”Roused by James’s astonishing discovery, renowned psychologist and bestselling author Richard Wiseman confirms James’s principle and shows how the self-help genre has for too long put the cart before the horse in trying to help us take control of our lives. Bringing to the table a dazzling array of firsthand experiments, surprising histories, and psychological case studies, Wiseman illustrates in brilliant detail how we can apply this principle in our daily lives:Smile to become measurably happierWash your hands to drive away guiltClench your fist to increase your willpowerEat with your nondominant hand to lose weightNod while speaking to become more persuasiveAct like a newlywed to rekindle your marriageLively, engaging, and truly mind-changing,The As If Principleis that rare gem that offers real, workable solutions for your day-to-day goals while helping you to instantly take control of your emotions. Whether it’s quitting a bad habit, persevering through a difficult task, or achieving your dream self,The As If Principlecan help. Don’t just think about changing your life. Do it.
E-Book Content
Thank you for purchasing this Free Press eBook. Join our mailing list and get updates on new releases, deals, bonus content and other great books from Free Press and Simon & Schuster. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP or visit us online to sign up at eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com CONTENTS A BRIEF INTRODUCTION It’s time for positive action CHAPTER 1: HOW TO BE HAPPY Where we meet that adorable genius William James, turn the world upside-down, learn how to create good cheer at will, and visit the fun factory CHAPTER 2: ATTRACTION AND RELATIONSHIPS Where we unpack the mysteries of the human heart, discover the power of footsie, invent a new type of speed dating, and learn how to live happily ever after CHAPTER 3: MENTAL HEALTH Where we meet the “Napoleon of neuroses,” find out why watching sports is bad for your health, and discover how best to deal with phobias, anxiety, and depression CHAPTER 4: WILLPOWER Where we learn why rewards punish and discover how to motivate others, beat procrastination, stop smoking, and lose weight CHAPTER 5: PERSUASION Where we explore the problems of changing people’s minds, find out what really manipulates the masses, and discover how cooperation can shape society CHAPTER 6: CREATING A NEW YOU Where we learn how to feel more confident, change our personality, and slow the effects of aging CONCLUSION Where we hypnotize a woman, saw a brain in half, and discover why you really are of two minds about everything Appendix Acknowledgments About Richard Wiseman Notes Index To Ronald and Brenda If you want a quality, act as if you already have it. —William James, 1884 A Brief Introduction It’s time for positive action Self-help gurus and business coaches preach the same simple mantra: if you want to improve your life, you need to change how you think. Force yourself to have positive thoughts, and you will become happier. Visualize your dream self, and you will enjoy increased success. Think like a millionaire, and you will magically grow rich. In principle, this idea sounds perfectly reasonable. However, in practice, the ap