Drive Yourself Sane : Using the Uncommon Sense of General Semantics, Revised Second Edition [Paperback]

Susan Presby Kodish (Author), Bruce I. Kodish (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000

This thoroughly revised Third Edition of Drive Yourself Sane, first published in 1993, remains the most reliable short introduction to 'general semantics' (GS) now available. A remarkable system of thought founded by Alfred Korzybski (1879-1950), GS is based on a careful study of human behavior and scientific problem-solving, bridging applied psychology and practical philosophy. Drive Yourself Sane provides time-tested methods for critical and creative thinking and constructive communicating with a variety of problem-solving applications for mental hygiene, personal development, education, business, etc. The text and accompanying exercises help readers sharpen the primary tools they were born with: their individual brain-nervous systems with their marvelous capacities to adapt to change and to learn from and build upon their own and other people's experiences. This Third Edition contains fascinating additional biographical material about Alfred Korzybski, based on research for Bruce Kodish's book, Korzybski: A Biography. Includes Notes, Bibliography and Index.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...applies Korzybski's brilliant general semantics philosophy to its readers' everyday lives and shows them how to live more sanely. -- Albert Ellis, Ph.D., President, Albert Ellis Institute

...concise guide...offer[s] a solid, practical approach to the formulations of Alfred Korzybski...explains general semantics in fifteen succinct chapters... -- Review of First Edition by Martin H. Levinson, Ph.D. in General Semantics Bulletin, No. 60

An outstanding work - takes a complex subject and makes it simple and approachable. -- Michael J. Gelb, author of How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Everyday.

Using the methods in this book can cure racism, sexism and similar dangerous follies quicker than any other educational technique. -- Robert Anton Wilson, futurist, author of Schrodinger's Cat and Quantum Psychology

From the Back Cover

A seminar student dashed in one morning hollering, "General Semantics, General Semantics, is driving me sane!" Drive Yourself Sane provides a map and compass for navigating your way through the hype, information overload and uncertainties of daily life. Use it to find your own road on the journey towards achieving your goals. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 237 pages
• Publisher: Extensional Pub; 2 Revised edition (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970066465
• ISBN-13: 978-0970066466
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #781,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Toward better communication and understanding, June 20, 2002

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Drive Yourself Sane : Using the Uncommon Sense of General Semantics, Revised Second Edition (Paperback)

One of the more readable books on General Semantics and how to use it in a practical manner. Among other things General Semantics focuses on the fact that what we perceive to be fact and reality is only a portion or one aspect of true reality. By opening your understanding to more fully grasp all of reality it opens the doors to deeper understanding, happiness and better communication in all areas of life.

At several points the authors refer to "Science and Sanity" by Korzibsky. This was the first authoritative text on General Semantics but was written in a very technical style that most people would find very difficult to follow and digest. All the major points of Korzibsky's work are included here in a much more readable style that allows the reader not only to understand the concepts but to actually start applying them right away.

An excellent book for those who are interested in bettering their communication with others, NLP students and other communication professionals, as well as those interested in General Semantics, it is a recommended read.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introduction to Sanity, April 18, 2004

By 

William Lauritzen (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Drive Yourself Sane : Using the Uncommon Sense of General Semantics, Revised Second Edition (Paperback)

This is an excellent introduction and explanation of Korzybski's work, and I recommend it to both newcomers and experts alike. Alfred Korzybski was one of the unacknowledged geniuses of the twentieth century. He influenced a host of other thinkers and writers, among them Buckminster Fuller, Robert Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard. Korzybski's great work, "Science and Sanity" (1933), can be a difficult book. I thus I tried to get this book, "Drive Yourself Sane," but the at that time it was out of print. I was forced to tackle "Science and Sanity" alone. I had to read it three times through over a period of several years. I wish I'd had "Drive Yourself Sane" to help me through some of the rough spots. It is well organized, nicely laid out, and has a valuable glossary in the back. It also includes valuable personal accounts from the authors. However, even an expert can gain knowledge from this book. I found that it filled in gaps in my knowledge of the subject (general semantics), gave me some new insights, and told me what others had been doing in the field since 1933. Regardless of whether you are interested in Korzybski or not, you won't finish this book without a little IQ rise.

37 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Communicating in a clearer way, June 21, 2001

By 

Patrick Merlevede (Eeklo, Vlaanderen (Belgium, Europe)) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Drive Yourself Sane : Using the Uncommon Sense of General Semantics, Revised Second Edition (Paperback)

Having followed NLP training (up to Trainer's Level) I have tried for years to live the expression "the map is not the territory". NLPers (including myself) often use this expression from Korzibsky methophorically to indicate that what we are saying or percieving is only a part of reality. Much of NLP as a field (as well as of my book on emotional intelligence) has to do with taking apart our "subjective experience" and trying to avoid mixing up what we think (our interpretation) with "hard facts".

NLP borrows some of its ideas in this area from a field known as "general semantics" and points to Korzibsky and his writings. But there is a "small" problem": most people I've met find "Science and Sananity", Korzibsky's main book, "quite challenging" to read (to say the least).

For me, the authors of this book have succeeded to render the ideas of General Semantics more accessible. What I appreciated especially was that this book does more than explaining Korzibsky's concepts: it also makes them usable as a tool to formulate what you want to say, so that you prevent being misunderstood (in stead of having to catch up after that people have misunderstood you).

Whether you have had NLP training or not, if you want to communicate in a way that helps to avoid misunderstanding, this book may be a welcome source for help!

Patrick E.C. Merlevede, -- co-author of "7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence"