Frederick Matthias Alexander was born in Tasmania in 1869. In his twenties, he became a professional reciter of dramatic pieces. After almost completely losing his voice, he pioneered a method of improving the “use” of his body musculature in all positions and movements, curing his vocal problems without medical aid. Alexander came to realize that most people stand, sit, and move in a defective manner and that the incorrect “use of the self” might be the cause of much human suffering. He moved to London and established a school, publishing several books and achieving international success. Alexander died in 1955, but his technique of mind and body re-education lives on through the work of the many teachers of his method. The Use of the Self is the foremost text on Alexander’s revolutionary technique.
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Frederick Matthias Alexander was born in Tasmania in 1869. In his twenties, he became a professional reciter of dramatic pieces. After almost completely losing his voice, he pioneered a method of improving the “use” of his body musculature in all positions and movements, curing his vocal problems without medical aid. Alexander came to realize that most people stand, sit, and move in a defective manner and that the incorrect “use of the self” might be the cause of much human suffering. He moved to London and established a school, publishing several books and achieving international success. Alexander died in 1955, but his technique of mind and body re–education lives on through the work of the many teachers of his method. The Use of the Self is the foremost text on Alexander’s revolutionary technique.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A guide to directing your life,
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This review is from: The Use of the Self (Paperback)
It is important and necessary for an individual to be aware of his/her own body, both physically and mentally. As a musician, I have been even more acute to this phenomenon. I first became aware of the Alexander Technique in 2003 when a friend (a fellow musician) recommended it to me. It is useful both for those with exisiting problems (such as tendonitis) and for those who simply wish to maximize the use of themselves--this inevitably helps music-making. I started taking Alexander Technique lessons and realized the importance of this new way of thinking: new ideas were presented as well as new insights into common occurrences in daily life.
I bought a copy of this book, "The Use of the Self," and would highly recommend it to those familiar with the technique and for those that are simply curious. Though one can always learn more through private lessons, this book is an inexpensive and valuable guide to starting the process of change. I would also recommend Alcantara's book, "Indirect Procedures."
25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a genuine classic,
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This review is from: The Use of the Self (Paperback)
Although Alexander's writing style is spectacularly convoluted by today's standards, anyone who patiently reads through this book will come to appreciate what a gem it is! With this work, Alexander presented an explicit technology by which you can gain access to your unconscious processes, and program them effectively. In one of the most important works of the twentieth century, Alexander here opens up the whole field of "learning how to learn", in an unprecedented way.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
What book did the other reviewers read?....,
By Andrew (Watertown, NY, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Use of the Self (Paperback)
I'm a doctor of chiropractic who has been interested in learning about alexander technique for some time. I'm on a budget so had to pick what I thought would be the best book (of many) on the subject to teach me the principles of this popular style. Unfortunately, this book was NOT the right pick. I suppose it would be interesting to someone who was curious about Alexander's thought processes which led him to the development of his method. But there is no practical information for a reader to apply the technique (whatever it is...?). Beyond a historical account of Alexander technique, this book offers zero value in my opinion. Disappointed.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
In writing some introductory words to Mr Alexander's previous book, Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual, I stated that his procedure and conclusions meet all the requirements of the strictest scientific method, and that he has applied the method in a field in which it had never been used before - that of our judgments and beliefs concerning ourselves and our activities. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Lord Dawson, Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual, Professor John Dewey, Open Letter New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
In writing some introductory words to Mr Alexander's previous book, Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual, I stated that his procedure and conclusions meet all the requirements of the strictest scientific method, and that he has applied the method in a field in which it had never been used before - that of our judgments and beliefs concerning ourselves and our activities. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Lord Dawson, Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual, Professor John Dewey, Open Letter New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 6
books:
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59
books
cite this book:
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- The Use of the Self by Alexander F. Matthias on 10 pages
- Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual (Man's Supreme Inheritance, V. 2) by F. Matthias Alexander on page 7, and page 113
- The Alexander Principle: How to Use Your Body by Wilfred Barlow in Front Matter, and page 3
- Science and Religion by Elsa M. Glover on page 16
- Novum Organum (Spanish Edition) by Francis Bacon on page 21
See all 6 books this book cites
- F.M.: The Life of Frederick Matthias Alexander: Founder of the Alexander Technique by Michael Bloch on 9 pages
- Indirect Procedures: A Musician's Guide to the Alexander Technique (Clarendon Paperbacks) by Pedro de Alcantara on 8 pages
- Body Learning: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique by Michael J. Gelb on 7 pages
- The Alexander Technique: A Skill for Life by Pedro de Alcantara on 5 pages
- Voice and the Alexander Technique by Jane Heirich on 4 pages
See all 59 books citing this book
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