Psycho-Cybernetics, Updated and Expanded

Just finished this book and I am going to start reading it again. It has so many important points and helpful tools in overcoming issues we create for ourselves, often in autopilot. There’s a lot to remember which is why I intend to keep reading over and over until most of its content becomes second nature. I know if I get to that point life will be incredibly different to what it is now for me, for the better.

This book is profoundly good. Do not let the artificial sounding title put you off - it contains chapter after chapter of elegantly written guidance for living. It is evident in the writing that this is the result of not years but decades of observation by Maltz. The chapter on negative emotional habits is in itself worth the money. I bought the book to try to resolve 11 years of tension headaches. After reading teh first chapter, I stopped reading in order to try out some ideas. The headaches are improving, but almost as importantly, I have learnt so much more about myself. Not speculative, extrapolated ideas of the author, but the result of close observations of patients who were councelled before cosmetic surgery. In many cases, the intended facial surgery was canceled, to be replaced by surgery of attitude. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Interesting read

If anyone wanting to learn more in self development I would recommend this book.

This is one of the best motivational books I've ever read - possibly THE best. Originally published in 1960, it was clearly ahead of its time. Dr Maltz not only describes in the book how positive mental imagery can help set you on a course towards achieving your goals, but he uses examples of scientific research to back-up his theories on how this mechanism works. Maltz compared the brain to a super-efficient computer system that is programmed by our thoughts (hence the name "cybernetics") - it is up to us, he said, to get the programming right. He also wrote about the power of relaxation and visualisation, subjects that are discussed by motivational writers today, but usually in a more glib way and with less scientific reasoning. The book also contains several practice exercises designed to replace negative thought patterns with positive ones and to facilitate relaxation. A very worthwhile read.

I read this book a long while ago in the original format and have since read and reread this later version. The words of Dr Maltz were ground breaking for our modern world when written. They remain so to this day, indeed I wonder if there is more of a need for many to consider his words as the pressure of our fast paced world impacts on us all so much more. The speed and ambition of our world is not set to slow down - we all know that it will only get faster. So enjoy the magic in this book and see how it can be used with powerful effect in your life.

This is one of those timeless self-development books. It's credited with having started off the modern self-development movement, and it's certainly a classic of its time. However, it is 'of its time'. A great deal of the content is excellent - priceless, even - but you'll perhaps find some more up-to-date techniques on the internet. Having said that, what keeps this updated volume at five stars is the very clear writing style, and the breaking down of the ideas into easy-to-swallow bites. When I was reading this, I found myself dehypnotised from a great deal of negative beliefs which had been building up over a period of months and years. I highly recommend it.

To be honest, I've yet to finish the book as it challenged me from the first few pages onwards. It's an eye opener and I only wish I had the guts to see it through.