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HO> S dO H >ZH Photo: University of Rochester The D ay Johnny Carson Learned About A ttention Control Yes, that’s Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon above. The third man is Robert M. Nideffer, author of A.C.T. (Attention Control Training). The photos were taken a few years ago during the “Tonight Show.” They show Carson thrusting his head through a one-inch-thick board held by Dr. Nideffer. The board split clear in half. Carson was incredulous—and unhurt. Dr. Nideffer had been explaining the concept and simple methods described in the book you are now holding. Carson was told that the ability to perform even “impossible” feats depends on attention control; attention control depends on total concentration; and with Dr. Nideffer’s Attention Control Training (A.C.T.), problems that often block a person’s achieve ments can be eliminated. Including such problems as pain. The TV experiment was unrehearsed. Carson was given a quick version of the instructions contained in this book— that’s all. He could achieve total concentration. So can you. Ordering number: 26134 ISBN: 0-88326-153-7 ATTENTION CONTROL TRAINING Dr. Robert M . Nideffer and Roger C. Sharpe Think for a moment about your ability to concentrate, to pay attention, to avoid being distracted by irrelevant matters. It’s really the key to success in almost any situation, isn’t it? It doesn’t matter whether it’s hitting a home run to win a game, responding to your boss, making a decision about how to react to a child’s question, giving an answer in a meeting, or trying to organize your day —your phone calls or paperwork or dinner preparations—so that things come off on time and in the most productive order. In all of these situations, the key is concentration. A.C.T. (Attention Control Training) is your answer. A.C.T. moves beyond TM, est, biofeedback, and the “relaxation response” and shows you how to focus your complete at tention on any demanding situation in the home, office, or school, on the tennis court, or anywhere else. (continued on back flap) (continued from front flap) With this revolutionary but easily learned program, developed by Dr. Nideffer in his psychoeducational laboratory at the Uni versity of Rochester, you pick out which type of attention to apply and when; you shut out all distractions, anxieties, and “choking”; and you fully control your re sponse and its timing. It’s the simple, effec tive way to keep your blood pressure down, your performance up, and life going your way. Robert M. Nideffer, a clinical psycholo gist, is a former associate professor in the departments of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y., and former director of the University of Rochester Biofeedback Laboratory. He is the author of numerous scientific articles and the book, The Application of Psychology to Competitive Ath letics* He lives with his wife and two children in San Diego, California, and is president of Enhanced Performance Associates. Cover Design by One Plus One Studio Wyden Books Distributed by Simon and Schuster, Inc. New York, New York 10020 A.C.T. ATTENTION CONTROL TRAINING A.C.T. ATTENTION CONTROL TRAINING How to Get Control o j Your Mind Through Total Concentration Dr. Robert M. Nideffer and Roger C. Sharpe Wyden Books This book is dedicated to my mother and to my father. R.M.N. Copyright © 1978 by Robert M. Nideffer and Roger C. Sharpe. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by an electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording means or otherwise, without prior written per mission of the author. Manufactured in the United States of America. F IR S T E D IT IO N Trade distribution by Simon and Schuster A Division of G