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Change the way you behave and you change the way you feel—that’s the simple and powerful message in this insightful and engaging new book by internationally renowned psychologist Richard Wiseman.
Most self-help books encourage you to think differently: to think yourself thin, imagine a richer self or to visualize the perfect you. This is difficult, time consuming, and often doesn’t work.
Tossing out the rule book, Professor Richard Wiseman—a renowned psychologist with 90,000 Twitter followers and 13 million YouTube viewers—presents a radical new insight into your body and brain: that it is your actions that have the power to instantly change the way you think and feel. Smile and you’ll become measurably happier. Clench your fist and you will increase your willpower. Put a spring in your step and you will feel instantly younger. Acting, not thinking, is what controls your emotions and allows you to unleash your hidden potential.
Drawing on a dazzling array of scientific evidence, Professor Wiseman shows how this simple idea can be used to easily increase motivation, overcome depression, lose weight, stop smoking, and even slow aging.
So don’t just think about changing your life. Do it.
"Wiseman contends, when you smile, as the saying goes, the world smiles with you. . . .The as-if principle can help you get motivated, fall in love, avoid anxiety, stay thin, and be more joyous."
“'The most-followed psychologist on Twitter' re-examines the process of creating personal change and growth… By flipping current psychology theories upside down and putting motion before emotion, one can have better relationships, fight depression and anxiety, lose weight and stop smoking (or curb other addictive behaviors), grow more confident, and slow down the effects of aging….[An] intriguing new slant to personal transformation.”
A Brief Introduction xi
It's time for positive action
Chapter 1 How to be Happy 1
Where we meet that adorable genius William James, turn the world upside-down, learn how to create good cheer at will, and visit the fun factory
Chapter 2 Attraction and Relationships 33
Where we unpack the mysteries of the human heart, discover the power of footsie, invent a new type of speed dating, and learn how to live happily ever after
Chapter 3 Mental Health 73
Where we meet the "Napoleon of neuroses," find out why watching sports is bad for your health, and discover how best to deal with phobias, anxiety, and depression
Chapter 4 Willpower 115
Where we learn why rewards punish and discover how to motivate others, beat procrastination, stop smoking, and lose weight
Chapter 5 Persuasion 145
Where we explore the problems of changing people's minds, find out what really manipulates the masses, and discover how cooperation can shape society
Chapter 6 Creating a New You 187
Where we learn how to feel more confident, change our personality, and slow the effects of aging
Conclusion 233
Where we hypnotize a woman, saw a brain in half, and discover why you really are of two minds about everything
Appendix 243
Acknowledgments 247
Notes 249
Index 267
Overview
Change the way you behave and you change the way you feel—that’s the simple and powerful message in this insightful and engaging new book by internationally renowned psychologist Richard Wiseman.
Most self-help books encourage you to think differently: to think yourself thin, imagine a richer self or to visualize the perfect you. This is difficult, time consuming, and often doesn’t work.
Tossing out the rule book, Professor Richard Wiseman—a ...