Customer Reviews

The Psychobiology of Gene Expression

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Dr. Rossi has again written a "trail blazing" book. Those familiar with his previous publications know the breadth of his work - a work spanning Ericksonian Hypnosis, Jungian Psychology, Mind-Body Healing, Biological rhythms, and the psychology of Dreaming. He has not written a book on mathematical models of healing but it is clear that he has also studied this area in considerable depth. All the subjects listed above are revisited and taken to new levels in this book.

In addition to these sections Dr. Rossi also shares some very clear and vivid descriptions of actual therapuetic work. In one section he gives an entire transcription of a therapy he did with a woman during a workshop. In another section he lists a series of therapeutic exercises that can be used to access each person's deeper capacities for self healing.

This latest book also places Dr. Rossi in the ranks of the great detectives. He has been systematically tracking down all of the current research relating experience to gene expression. He regularly scans the internet for all sources that may have new findings related to this subject. He asks us to remember that this is "work in progress." Investigators all over the world are unlocking how specific genes are "turned on" by different experiences. Dr. Rossi is the only person I know who is making an attempt to synthesize this information within in a larger psychological context.

Currently both our medical culture and our larger culture continues to propagate extremely primitive models of human development. According to one of the most popular we inherit certain "tendencies" or diseases that are expressed in a nervous system that is essentially fixed after birth. Thus, our best therapeutic efforts will be directed towards modifying the brains that have genetically predestined defects. With these assumptions pharmacology will be the main (often only) ingredient of help.

At the beginning of the book Dr Rossi points out that recent findings have overturned many of our old theories about how the nervous system is linked to experience. We now know that novelty, life-enriching experiences and physical exercise can activate neurogenesis. Such experiences can turn on gene expression within minutes throughout the body and brain. As a result, "every memory is a reframe." We can actually reconstruct ourselves from a genetic level on up when we are experiencing a healing environment.

Taken as a whole Dr. Rossi has written one of the great sourcebooks for healing to guide us into the 21st Century.

I mean this review to be brief so I'll state my conclusion at the start: this is an excellent book covering biochemistry up to psychotherapy. It is a must for any Rossi fan, if only because it has that 'culmination-of-a-brilliant-career' feel to it.

I discovered Rossi in the early 1980's and took one of his "64 questions in search of a graduate student" as my master's thesis. Since then I have digested his work and watched, sometimes in amazement, as clients changed and as I changed. Rossi's view of the mind-body in therapy works and is workable.

I had the pleasure of seeing him in Texas this summer (2003) and was mesmerized (pardon the pun) by the obvious skill of a master therapist. Between his demo to our group and reading this book with a view to integrate it into my work, I have found a revitalizing of my therapy practice that has pulled me out of a 2-year slump... enough said.

Thanks Dr. Rossi.

As a clinical psychologist with a background in biochemistry, I am very thrilled to see the author to integrate the gene expression, environment and mind into a coherent and scientifically-based picture. The book offers a solid foundation for the biological bases for psychotherapy and provides a holistic viewpoint upon human activities. It is highly recommended !

I highly recommend this book for anyone, not just people in the healing arts. I think anyone would benefit from the information. Well written and explained.