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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Set It And Forget It, January 26, 2008
Length:: 9:45 Mins
I was looking at reviews of self-help books because I wanted to reference one of the concepts of Psycho-Cybernetics on my own web site. To place the book itself in context within the self-help genre I wanted to point out that some self-help book reader reviews are such psycho-babble they might make you shy from the whole genre, and that such reviews did not necessarily reflect on the value of the book itself and especially not on the whole genre. I found plenty of examples for other books, but all the reviews for Psycho-Cybernetics seem well thought out and to be written by people seeking to work rationally towards making positive changes rather than some magic way of thinking that will solve all their problems. I was also surprised to find the original 1960 version still in print, let alone so popular.
The lowest reviewer rating was a three because the reviewer thought it was all about expectations and self-evident. He's right and maybe that's enough for him. I believe for most people there's a profound difference between knowing something "intellectually" and knowing it "viscerally", or as I call it, internalizing the knowledge. Psycho-Cybernetics shows you how to internalize the concept of a "helmsman" of the mind that automatically seeks goals. This concept resonated and stuck with me, and it's the one I wanted to talk about on my site.
Psycho-Cybernetics teaches you how to go about consciously instructing the helmsman to seek goals you select. Most of the instruction or 'programming' of the helmsman on how to do routine tasks is accomplished through trial and error, such as a baby learning to pick up objects. Thinking about a particular problem in detail programs the helmsman to direct the mind towards solving the problem after you give up for the day. An answer you hadn't even considered may just pop into your mind while you're brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Psycho-Cybernetics shows you how to consciously program your mind to target selected goals in addition to the automatic programming that allows it to walk your body around and solve logic problems.
My site, Quest For Endorphins, is dedicated to applying the same principles to physical activity. It was only when I went back to look at Psycho-Cybernetics that I realized how much my ideas were influenced in addition to the "helmsman" concept that was the original reason I wanted to reference the book. Now, after thumbing through it and looking at some of my old notes, and realizing how much it's influenced my life and ideas I realize I've been trying to come up with ways to express ideas that Maltz already expressed better 48 years ago. So of course I'll be recommending the book instead of just referencing it.
As I said in the video, I wanted to review it from the perspective of 30+ years rather than read it again first. Based on memory, the one thing I would emphasize more is acting along with visualization.
Words to live by:
"Faith without works is dead"
"The Lord helps those who help themselves"
"I'm sure the Lord wants to keep your son safe in the ring, Mrs. Johnson, but he really needs to work on keeping his left up".
A related idea that's been teasing my mind recently is almost any goal can be achieved with almost any plan. Find a goal, find a way to advance towards that goal in some small way, I don't care how small. That's your plan. Work on implementing your plan every day, even if it's to sit down for five minutes and write down ideas, or just think for five minutes. Just make sure it's every day. Obviously if you keep spending only five minutes, you won't get anywhere, but if it's really a goal you care about, spending time every day will cause your helmsman to pull you into it so you'll have trouble restraining the amount of time you spend. Correct your plan as necessary depending on the results. You may find your goals change as you go along. But you have to start, and you have to persist for that to happen. If your goals are too grand, you may find yourself too intimidated to start. If so, find a nearer goal on the way. If you keep working and keep correcting your course, your subconscious will do the same.
I used to think "Do something, even if it's wrong" was a joke. It's just a very simple plan. Seriously, just make your plans flexible enough to change and simple enough to start as soon as you can. Focus on what you want and put yourself out there every day trying to make it happen and your helmsman/computer will do the rest.
If you're trying to lose weight or just eat better, an ideal companion book that I also recommend on my site is The Vice-Busting Diet: A 12-Week Plan to Break Your Worst Food Habits and Change Your Life Forever. Julia Griggs Havey addresses the psychological aspects of eating and offers a realistic plan for gradually improving your diet and your outlook. Use it as input for your helmsman.
If you want to take a look at my site, "Quest For Endorphins", it can be reached through the 'my web page' link in my profile. There's nothing for sale; I'm trying to raise my visibility so I can promote the same principles of "Energy Focused Exercise" on a larger scale.
"Energy Focused Exercise", everything else is dread, drudgery, quitting and guilt, unless you're one of those freaks that likes it for its own sake. And I mean freak in the best sense of the word, so please don't find me and hurt me. I'm old and bruise easily.
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 Psycho-Cybernetics, A New Way to Get More Living Out of Life 0671700758
Maxwell Maltz
Pocket
Psycho-Cybernetics, A New Way to Get More Living Out of Life
Books
Set It And Forget It
See video on Amazon.com I was looking at reviews of self-help books because I wanted to reference one of the concepts of Psycho-Cybernetics on my own web site. To place the book itself in context within the self-help genre I wanted to point out that some self-help book reader reviews are such psycho-babble they might make you shy from the whole genre, and that such reviews did not necessarily reflect on the value of the book itself and especially not on the whole genre. I found plenty of examples for other books, but all the reviews for Psycho-Cybernetics seem well thought out and to be written by people seeking to work rationally towards making positive changes rather than some magic way of thinking that will solve all their problems. I was also surprised to find the original 1960 version still in print, let alone so popular.
The lowest reviewer rating was a three because the reviewer thought it was all about expectations and self-evident. He's right and maybe that's enough for him. I believe for most people there's a profound difference between knowing something "intellectually" and knowing it "viscerally", or as I call it, internalizing the knowledge. Psycho-Cybernetics shows you how to internalize the concept of a "helmsman" of the mind that automatically seeks goals. This concept resonated and stuck with me, and it's the one I wanted to talk about on my site.
Psycho-Cybernetics teaches you how to go about consciously instructing the helmsman to seek goals you select. Most of the instruction or 'programming' of the helmsman on how to do routine tasks is accomplished through trial and error, such as a baby learning to pick up objects. Thinking about a particular problem in detail programs the helmsman to direct the mind towards solving the problem after you give up for the day. An answer you hadn't even considered may just pop into your mind while you're brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Psycho-Cybernetics shows you how to consciously program your mind to target selected goals in addition to the automatic programming that allows it to walk your body around and solve logic problems.
My site, Quest For Endorphins, is dedicated to applying the same principles to physical activity. It was only when I went back to look at Psycho-Cybernetics that I realized how much my ideas were influenced in addition to the "helmsman" concept that was the original reason I wanted to reference the book. Now, after thumbing through it and looking at some of my old notes, and realizing how much it's influenced my life and ideas I realize I've been trying to come up with ways to express ideas that Maltz already expressed better 48 years ago. So of course I'll be recommending the book instead of just referencing it.
As I said in the video, I wanted to review it from the perspective of 30+ years rather than read it again first. Based on memory, the one thing I would emphasize more is acting along with visualization.
Words to live by:
"Faith without works is dead"
"The Lord helps those who help themselves"
"I'm sure the Lord wants to keep your son safe in the ring, Mrs. Johnson, but he really needs to work on keeping his left up".
A related idea that's been teasing my mind recently is almost any goal can be achieved with almost any plan. Find a goal, find a way to advance towards that goal in some small way, I don't care how small. That's your plan. Work on implementing your plan every day, even if it's to sit down for five minutes and write down ideas, or just think for five minutes. Just make sure it's every day. Obviously if you keep spending only five minutes, you won't get anywhere, but if it's really a goal you care about, spending time every day will cause your helmsman to pull you into it so you'll have trouble restraining the amount of time you spend. Correct your plan as necessary depending on the results. You may find your goals change as you go along. But you have to start, and you have to persist for that to happen. If your goals are too grand, you may find yourself too intimidated to start. If so, find a nearer goal on the way. If you keep working and keep correcting your course, your subconscious will do the same.
I used to think "Do something, even if it's wrong" was a joke. It's just a very simple plan. Seriously, just make your plans flexible enough to change and simple enough to start as soon as you can. Focus on what you want and put yourself out there every day trying to make it happen and your helmsman/computer will do the rest.
If you're trying to lose weight or just eat better, an ideal companion book that I also recommend on my site is The Vice-Busting Diet: A 12-Week Plan to Break Your Worst Food Habits and Change Your Life Forever. Julia Griggs Havey addresses the psychological aspects of eating and offers a realistic plan for gradually improving your diet and your outlook. Use it as input for your helmsman.
If you want to take a look at my site, "Quest For Endorphins", it can be reached through the 'my web page' link in my profile. There's nothing for sale; I'm trying to raise my visibility so I can promote the same principles of "Energy Focused Exercise" on a larger scale.
"Energy Focused Exercise", everything else is dread, drudgery, quitting and guilt, unless you're one of those freaks that likes it for its own sake. And I mean freak in the best sense of the word, so please don't find me and hurt me. I'm old and bruise easily.
Richard T. Waddell
January 26, 2008
- Overall: 5
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Location: Southern California, USA
New Reviewer Rank: 66,014
Classic Reviewer Rank: 51,978
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