Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People [Paperback]

David L. Weiner (Author), Gilbert M. Hefter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1999

From the sexcapades of Bill Clinton to the unbelievable story of Hugh Grant and the prostitute; from the 15-year-old who weighs only 82 pounds but believes she's obese, to the professor who screams profanities at other drivers in snarled traffic - we wonder out loud, 'What are they thinking?!'. What drives so many apparently normal, intelligent people to act irrationally, harming themselves and others? According to Sigmund Freud, such behaviour may be caused by the 'id', our built-in mental invitation to everything from dangerous fun to horrendous acts of irrationality. For popular psychology writer David Weiner, 'id' stands for 'Inner Dummy', the part of the brain that we must come to understand if we are ever to know why we do foolish, irrational, and compulsive things. Drawing on the groundbreaking theories of evolutionary psychology, this book localises the source of our irrationality in the limbic id - the most primitive part of our brain that endlessly thirsts for status, sex, territory, nurturance, and survival. 'We become captured by these drives', Weiner says. 'By understanding our Inner Dummy, we can avoid disasters in our own lives'. Along with sound advice from clinical psychiatrist Dr. Gilbert Hefter on how to handle our own Inner Dummies with built-in rewards and punishments, Wiener brilliantly interweaves delightful, imagined conversations with Freud and staffers at a mythical advertising agency, who have been given the assignment of communicating the nature of the id's irrationalities to the general public. This inviting, humorous romp with Inner Dummies who have made the news illustrates how we can apply 'ID prevention' in our daily lives and includes all the major strategies science and medicine have developed over the years to counter Inner Dummies that threaten our well-being.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Drawing on evolutionary psychology theories, imaginary meetings with Sigmund Freud, and a fictitious advertising agency, popular psychology writer Weiner weaves a logical and understandable explanation of why apparently normal people sometimes behave in a totally irrational manner. His collaborator, psychiatrist Hefter (Northwestern Medical Sch.), gives a short, academic-oriented commentary at the end of each chapter. Weiner brings into play Freud's premise that the "id" is what causes people to commit foolish, irrational, and even horrendous acts; he labels this part of the brain the "Inner Dummy." This refreshing book is both interesting and readable; the use of Freud as a literary device adds to the book's uniqueness and value. Highly recommended for popular psychology collections in public and academic libraries.AElizabeth Goeters, Georgia Perimeter Coll., Dunwoody
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In this informative, entertaining, and well-researched book, Weiner explores why it is that people do irrational and compulsive things, sometimes against their better judgment. He intersperses his text with an imaginary conversation with Sigmund Freud, engaged in an advertising campaign to market his concept of the id, or Inner Dummy. The Freud device is meant to simplify the psychiatric concepts of id, ego, and superego, but Weiner does a fine job of that himself. The book is meant to explore the "underlying causes and nature of irrational, neurotic outlooks in a way that would be comprehensible to most of us." Weiner examines a range of irrational behavior, from that of President Clinton in the Monica Lewinski affair to the murderous activities of Slobodan Milosevic and Adolf Hitler. We all have some sort of personality disorder, some better managed or concealed than others, according to Weiner. He also examines treatments for personality disorders. Coauthor Hefter, a clinical psychiatrist, offers commentary at the end of each chapter. Vanessa Bush

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Product Details

• Paperback: 466 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; 1st edition (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573927473
• ISBN-13: 978-1573927475
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #696,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Over Matter, February 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People (Paperback)

David Weiner has put together a truly entertaining book which answers the question,"What place in a person's mind allows generally reasonable people to do generally universally agreed upon unreasonable things?"

Well researched, this book looks at real world examples, knowing the reader applies them to themselves and to the people, they know.

Great chapters outline the base "limbic drives" present in all people. This mix of limbic drives is what powers our personalities and our actions, and this book offers explanations and a scorecard to see where the reader falls with regard to "average" behaviors. In the end, you have a better understanding of personality and actions, and a solid knowledge of the Inner Dummy in all of us.

GREAT READING !

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Battling the Inner Dummy : The Craziness of Apparently Norma, February 28, 2000

By 

DRG (WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People (Paperback)

A friend and I were discussing President Clinton's foibles when I asked, "What was he thinking?" My friend said, "Funny you should say that" and recommended Dave Weiner's book. Psychoanalysis is not my thing, however, I found "Battling the Inner Dummy" to be an enjoyable and stimulating read that provides an interesting perspective as to why seemingly intelligent and rational people do stupid things. I really liked the book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why We Do What We Do, June 29, 2000

By 

Donna Czukla - See all my reviews

This review is from: Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People (Paperback)

Throughout our lives we have seen people doing things that we thought were senseless. Whether they were people in our workplace, people in government or close friends. After reading David Weiner's book, you realize that their "Inner Dummy" made them do it. They really can't control the senseless things they do because they don't know they are doing them. After reading "Battling the Inner Dummy" you are more tolerant of these "Dummy" captured people...and you try to control your own "Inner Dummy."