Victorian philosopher William James had a theory about emotion and behavior: It isn’t that our feelings guide our actions (feel happy and you will laugh). On the contrary, it is our actions that guide our emotions (laugh and you will feel happy). This led James to a remarkable conclusion: “If you want a quality, act as if you already have it.” Roused by James’s astonishing discovery, renowned psychologist and bestselling author Richard Wiseman confirms James’s principle and shows how the self-help genre has for too long put the cart before the horse in trying to help us take control of our lives. Bringing to the table a dazzling array of firsthand experiments, surprising histories, and psychological case studies, Wiseman illustrates in brilliant detail how we can apply this principle in our daily lives:
— Smile to become measurably happier
— Wash your hands to drive away guilt
— Clench your fist to increase your willpower
— Eat with your nondominant hand to lose weight
— Nod while speaking to become more persuasive
— Act like a newlywed to rekindle your marriage
Lively, engaging, and truly mind-changing, The As If Principle is that rare gem that offers real, workable solutions for your day-to-day goals while helping you to instantly take control of your emotions. Whether it’s quitting a bad habit, persevering through a difficult task, or achieving your dream self, The As If Principle can help. Don’t just think about changing your life. Do it.
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"Not as good as 59 Seconds, but still very insightful regarding how our behavior can affect our thinking. Listened to this as an audiobook, and for what it is worth the narrator is excellent as well."
— Monk (4 out of 5 stars)
" meh. Delusion is a good thing. "
— Sara, 11/18/2013" I really don't care for the hokey titles that Dr. Wiseman or his publisher keep using for his books but I do find the results of the research into this area of study rather fascinating. "
— Greg, 3/9/2013" The initial premise of the book was fascinating, but by the time I got halfway through the book I was bored by the many experiments and examples trying (not quite successfully) to prove the thesis. "
— Trisha, 2/7/2013Richard Wiseman has gained an international reputation for research into diverse areas of psychology, including deception, success, and luck. He was described in Scientific American magazine as “one of the most innovative experimental psychologists in the world today.” His books, including 59 Seconds, The Luck Factor, and Quirkology, have sold more than three million copies worldwide. He has presented keynote addresses to the Swiss Economic Forum, Google, and elsewhere, and his YouTube videos have been viewed more than 500 million times. His work has made the front page of the Londonn Guardian, New Scientist, and the New Yorker. He holds Britain’s only professorship in the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire.
Ralph Lister is an actor, voice actor, and AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. He spent fifteen years in London theater before moving to the United States to focus on film and television. He has held numerous roles in Shakespeare and modern dramas, as well as starring roles in independent films. His voice and character work can be heard in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearland 13 Going On 30. He lives in Los Angeles.