Customer Reviews

Mastering Your Moods: How To Recognize Your Emotional Style and Make it Work For You--Without Drugs

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Dr. Kinder has turned physcotherapy into the study of physcobiology. After years of therapy and trying to fit into a "mold" that wasn't working, I accidentally found this book. What a relief to know that there are some things that are not "broken" and are not the result of a supposedly dysfunctional childhood. Dr. Kinder focuses his years of therapy into the logical response that due to our biochemical makeup, there are somethings about us that cannot be changed. The greatest part of this book is that he tells us "You are not broken", and then gives exercises that teach how to function with the moods that are part of our genetic makeup.

Although rather technical, this book as more merit than anything I have read in the many years of searching for the reasons of why I am the way I am.

Before reading this book I was confused, anxious and on the verge of another failed marraige. Mastering Your Moods has helped me understand why I feel the way I do and why I react the way I do.

I owe a sincere debt of gratitude to Dr. Kinder for guiding me through many of my innermost fears and anxieties. By understanding and working within myself, I can once again feel alive.

The book has also helped me better understand why others act in certain ways, particularly my spouse, for whom I have the greatest admiration and love.

I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is looking to better understand themselves and those with whom they interact.

If only I had read this book when it first had been published,
I would have saved myself years of grief trying to come to terms
with who I am!

Take it from me .. somebody who has done the route of analysis, medication and spiritual quests ... to find a way to peace/happiness - learning how to accept and deal with reality as it IS ... and to take control of the NOW is the way to go.

I happened upon this book in the Library - and read it within a few days! It confirmed my belief ... that the concept of a generalized "normality" is a myth. And that we as Americans, far too often over-medicate and over-therapy-ize ourselves due to our inablity to accept our essential selves. Just reading Chapter 2 alone - "Exploding Myths about Emotions" ... was incredibly liberating! But most importantly, this book gives one tools to accept and manage one's self emotionally without crippling one's emotional self-confidence with judgemental psycho-babble labeling.

While I don't agree that all people fit conveniently into 4 categories ... since I, myself scored high on all the tests, so I could be any one of the types at one point or another... I found the suggestions of how to manage certain problematic moods/ways of being invaluable. They really DO work!

This is the first review I was inspired to write about a self-help book, and I have read hundreds of them over the years!

I found Dr. Kinders book to be one of the most insightful books I have yet to read. In the four years I have been studying psychology, I have yet to find such a fresh outlook into the human mind. This book makes more sense to me than any other. The best part about this book is that it is easy to read, so even if you don't know much about psychology in general, it's easy to understand. Also, it is very helpful to all in need of some proffesional advice. Dr. kinder is a brilliant man.

In Mastering Your Moods, Dr Kinder seeks to eliminate the common assumptions that sadness and anger are "bad" feelings and must be eradicated. He does this by dividing all people into 4 personality types: "Sensor," "Focuser," "Discharger," and "Seeker." By determining which of the four types a reader's personality most adheres, Dr. Kinder helps readers realize that the personality quirks of each person are actually biological and normal. Dr. Kinder then makes a case that many people who are using anti-depressants should not be , and he gives many strategies for each personality type in coping with their most common emotions.

One word of caution: those who express behavior and/or emotions of a depressed individual should seek help in addition to reading Dr. Kinder's book. Although he warns against the use of anti-depressants as substitutes for normal emotions, some individuals are genuinely ill and need medication. This book is immensely helpful in determining if your less than "desireable" moods are symptoms of illness.

This is a very well-written book that, in my opinion, is meritous of a Nobel Prize nomination. Great Work!