Getting Unstuck: 8 Simple Steps to Solving Any Problem [Hardcover]

Joy Browne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2002

When it comes to problem solving, Dr. Joy Browne is a pro at not only doing it, but showing you how to do it, too. On her own internationally syndicated radio program, she helps millions of listeners get to the point and solve their problems, one caller at a time. In this book, she lays out her revolutionary 8-Step System to Getting Unstuck, making it simple to find terrific answers to life challenges.

Whether you want to overcome your negative life patterns, gain perspective and learn self-awareness, or perfect the fine art of interacting with people at home or at work, this book has the answers you've been looking for. Full of timeless wisdom, profound insight, and gentle humor, Getting Unstuck is Joy's definitive guide to thinking the way she thinks -- understanding that the past is truly history and the future is fantasy. Today is what you've got . . . and that's all you really need.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Folks who love to hate Browne will be disappointed with this book it presents some pretty good advice. The titular eight steps are part of a larger method for "getting unstuck from the past, and getting on with your life." However, readers can't skip around from step to step. The entire book helps readers identify, evaluate, objectify, and actively solve problems. Using concepts from cognitive behavioral therapy, Browne focuses on the process as well as the product. Thus, "extracting your emotional self from a situation" and acting in your own best interest are both key to getting unstuck. Browne presents scenarios that mimic call-ins from her radio show to exemplify various concepts, and although these scenarios are varied, readers may want more concepts and fewer examples. As in her earlier, readable Dating for Dummies, Browne's tone here is easy yet insightful and informative. Recommended.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Dr. Joy Browne is a licensed clinical psychologist and host of her own nationally syndicated daily radio show. Every day, millions of listeners in the U.S. and Canada hear her give advice on everything from cheating boyfriends to the best new plays on Broadway. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the American Psychological Association’s President’s Award and the National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts award for Best Female Talk Show Host two years in a row. In addition to radio, Dr. Browne can be seen on television as a guest on shows such as Oprah and Larry King Live, and as the host of her own show, Doctor Joy Browne.

This is Dr. Browne’s eighth book. Her other titles include The Nine Fantasies That Will Ruin Your Life—0609804731 and the bestselling Dating for Dummies—0764550721. Before finding her way to the airwaves, Dr. Browne was a teacher, Archaeologist, and engineer on the space program. Joy keeps herself inspired by dancing, hot-air ballooning, skydiving, and practicing yoga. She is a proud resident of New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 241 pages
• Publisher: Hay House (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0641755902
• ISBN-13: 978-1561709465
• ASIN: 1561709468
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,969,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Joy Browne is a nationally acclaimed, syndicated radio host and licensed clinical psychologist. Her radio program, the longest running of its kind, has been on the WOR Radio Network for nearly 15 years. Her show offers millions of devoted listeners advice on issues ranging from relationships and marriage, finance, work and career.

Dr. Joy has won numerous awards for her work including the American Psychological Associations President's Award, the Talkers Magazine award for Best Female Talk Show Host, #10 on the list of the 25 Greatest Radio Talk Show Hosts of All Time, and has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Talk Show Hosts. She has been singled out for News/Talk National Personality of the Year as well as Syndicated Talk Show of the Year by Radio & Records Magazine every year since the list was formed.

Additionally, Dr. Joy has been a guest on numerous popular television shows such as Lou Dobbs Tonight, The Early Show, Oprah Winfrey and Larry King Live. She has had two of her own television shows which include one on CBS called Dr Joy Browne and another on Discovery health which was a simulcast of her radio show. Dr Joy has three TV pilots in the works. Most recently Dr. Joy has extended her psychological input on media scandals such as "the boy in the hot air balloon" on CNN Prime News and the Tiger Woods' scandal on Inside Edition. Dr. Joy also hosted a panel at the 2010 New Media Seminar in New York City. Many clips of Dr. Joy's appearances can be found on YouTube or www.drjoy.com.

Dr. Joy has authored numerous self-help and inspirational books including: Dating for Dummies, The Nine Fantasies That Will Ruin Your Life, Dating Disasters, Getting Unstuck and It's A Jungle Out There, Jane.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Dr. Joy is an active volunteer. She was on the board of directors of the Herbert G. Birch Summer Project, helping to run a camp for children and families living with HIV and AIDS, and also worked extensively with the Salvation Army to provide counseling after the World Trade Center disaster. She is on the Advisory Council of the Mayor's Commission Against Domestic Violence. Dr. Joy can also be found helping out at the New York Rescue Mission where she was awarded as their 2010 Maria Mcauley Award recipient. She also recently kicked off the New York Rescue Mission 2010 "Souper Bowl", feeding hot meals to those in need. Dr. Joy is President of her own foundation: Dr. Joy to the World, which focuses on getting underprivileged children high school diplomas and jobs and also includes helping her listeners complete their education.

Before finding her way to the airwaves, Dr. Joy was a teacher, private practice therapist, and social service director for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, in addition to her work on the Space Program and her time as an archeologist. She holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Northeastern University as well as a B.A. from Rice University, and also did postdoctoral work at Tufts Medical School.

In her spare time, Dr. Joy loves to go to the theatre and actively views and reviews movies and theatre for her website www.drjoyreviews.com. Some of her theatre knowledge has also gone to hosting talkbacks at the famous Ziegfeld theatre in New York City in 2010. Most recently, Joy made her singing debut at the Friar's Club during a roast of Tovah Feldshuh. Also, as of late, Joy has joined the blogosphere. Her weekly blog can be found on www.drjoy.com and www.wor710.com

Joy is the mother of one daughter, and keeps herself inspired by dancing, doing yoga, and hot air ballooning. Although she has lived in many American cities, Dr. Joy currently resides in New York. After over a decade spent in the Big Apple, she is truly proud to be a New Yorker.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How to quit being your own worst enemy, February 7, 2004

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting Unstuck: 8 Simple Steps to Solving Any Problem (Hardcover)

"Obsessing about the past is never going to change it; and while it allows us to see where we've been, the past isn't a roadmap for the future." ~Dr. Joy Browne

In my time online I've met a lot of people with seemingly insurmountable problems and I've had a few of my own. Sometimes you literally do feel "stuck in a continuing pattern of negativity." Now, I'm a naturally positive person at heart and I tend to agree with Dr. Joy Browne when she says that there are ways to solve any problem. I also agree that you make your worst decisions when you are not feeling good about yourself. Once you learn how to boost your self-esteem, you can gain more control over all aspects of your life.

That might mean that you give up unrealistic fantasies about how you imagine your life to be. While you can create the life of your dreams, there is room for a reality check. You can literally become your own worst enemy.

Dr. Joy Browne presents an 8-step program to encourage a change in perspective, show you how to overcome negative life patters and show you that your failures may be blessings in disguise. It took me about 6 years to understand the "failure is a blessing" tip, but hey, I finally got it and decided to stop being a victim of a universal conspiracy that was definitely trying to destroy my life.

Through this book you will learn to analyze your life. Through analysis you can determine what is not working. Once you admit that something is not working, you have a base from which to work. Dr. Joy Browne believes that solutions do exist, but they must be found and applied to be useful. Solutions should also be feasible.

I enjoyed reading her 13 ways to remain stuck in negative thinking. While humorous, they are very true. I now believe that may of us enjoy being in pain because otherwise we would find faster solutions to our problems. Playing the role of victim allows us to release responsibility for our lives.

"Without this ability to see alternatives, you're left seeing yourself as either victim or victimizer, which leaves you stuck in a miserable place." ~Dr. Joy Browne

Throughout this book, problems are presented and analyzed. You won't believe the situations people have gotten themselves into. Page 153 is just a nightmare situation that I can't believe even happened. However, even in the worst situation, there are solutions. Walking away from a problem is sometimes the best solution. You can't solve everything in life because often the people in your life won't agree with your solution. There is a limit to how much a human should have to endure.

I enjoyed reading about the breathing techniques to alleviate stress and was pleased to read that Dr. Joy Browne is taking yoga classes. Yes, with all the problems she deals with, she needs yoga. Yoga also gives you a new perspective on your life and if you haven't tried it yet, it could be a solution to a hundred problems you can't solve. By doing yoga, you connect with your deeper self and can deal with problems in a more rational manner. Instead of panicking over situations, you view them from a distance without as much attachment. I love how she advises you to just turn off the TV, Phone, Radio, etc. This is what I have to do at times. I need my yoga time!

"Getting Unstuck" presents solutions for impossible situations. I enjoyed Dr. Joy Browne's wit and realistic solutions. She is a licensed clinical psychologist who hosts her own internationally syndicated daily radio show.

One of the best lines in this book: "If what you're doing isn't working for you, stop doing it." Persistence definitely does not always lead to pleasure.

I still believe that self-centeredness is the cause of all the problems in the world and self-sacrifice is the solution to many problems. Living that way does seem impossible, but if you can try to be less selfish, you start to see more beauty in your life. There is definitely beauty in sacrifice of the self, within reason. Selfishness has rarely brought me happiness and normally leaves me stuck in a bog of despair.

Dr. Joy Browne helps you to avoid the bogs. She encourages you to take the higher path, think about your life in a realistic way and set realistic goals. I'm always interested in people's names and how they relate to their vocations. Dr. "JOY" speaks volumes. If you want more joy in your life, this book will show you how to chase down joy through making better choices.

~The Rebecca Review

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Problem Solving Techniques to change your attitude, May 17, 2006

By 

Amalfi Coast Girl (Mid-Atlantic, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Getting Unstuck: 8 Simple Steps to Solving Any Problem (Paperback)

This is a very useful book if there is a problem in your life that you are trying to solve. Much of this book is related to interactions and the resulting problems that come up when dealing with other people. But, isn't that where most of us run into trouble in our lives? This book outlines very useful problem solving techniques that most of use could use a refresher course on when life gets tough, or we "get stuck".

I purchased this book because as a 40-something woman I know that I need to develop and stick to a structured exercise routine, yet I don't do it. I have been avoiding this issue for years and finally decided that I needed to find out why I can't commit to an exercise routine. Well, according to Dr. Browne I just need to do it. And then it will become a habit and I will get the same end result, consistent exercise. Can we all say duh? Okay, now I know that was an easy answer, and I am an educated woman, so why didn't I think of that? Sometimes it really is much easier to solve problems when they are someone else's, and not your own.

Dr. Browne subdivides her book as follows:

Step 1: Time Shifting (Figure out where you are)
Step 2: Patterns (Remember where you have been)
Step 3: Self-Awareness (See yourself)
Step 4: Perspective (See your world)
Step 5: Building Blocks (Find and use the right materials)
Step 6: Goals (Know what you want)
Step 7: A Dozen Tools (that allow you to see the big picture clearly)
Step 8: Interactions (Know that the only behavior you can control is your own)

In the preface to the book Dr. Brown details the 13 self-defeating steps that many people do to stay stuck in their life. These behaviors will be very enlightening to some. My personal favorite two were, "find someone to blame" and "host frequent pity parties for yourself". We all know people like this; they are ones that we all try to avoid.

Dr. Browne did a wonder job of succinctly describing the tools that she uses to problem solve. The techniques that she describes are what I would call tried and true methods for solving problems. However, she explains these techniques in very simple terms that even a teenager could understand. In fact, I think this book would make a nice gift for a child in college or just out of college and on there own. There is nice discussion about identifying patterns in your life and working to correct those that aren't working well for you any longer. The passage on letting go of grudges was also particularly well written.

If you are experiencing a problem that you haven't been able to solve on your own, this book might just have the techniques to help you get to the root of the problem and get on with your life. The book is written in a conversational tone and is a very easy and pleasant read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great advice for getting unstuck from anything..., July 2, 2007

By 

merlot (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Getting Unstuck: 8 Simple Steps to Solving Any Problem (Paperback)

I ran across this book by accident but I'm SO glad I did. I don't have the benefit of listening to Dr. Browne's talk show but I'd heard of her. I really enjoyed the book. The variety of examples are useful and shows how we can get unstuck from any situation. I must admit, this is the first book in a long time that I've actually used a highlighter and post-it notes to go back to important passages and comments, there were many!

Dr. Browne said in the beginning there's no magic presented in the book and that we've got to decide that we want to get "unstuck" from our current situation. She says it does take time BUT the book helps you get there. It helps you see that no problem in insurmountable. In some ways this book is like a private counseling session but better in the sense that you have all the notes to refer back to. One of the most helpful elements to me was the emphasis on solutions and not dwelling on the problem(s). Some self-help books spend way too much time discussing and rehashing the problem and you lose hope of finding a solution, not Dr. Browne.

I highly recommend this book and I think if I ever get stuck again, I know where to turn. If you know someone that seems stuck this would make an excellent gift.