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The Act of Living
What the Great Psychologists Can Teach Us About Surviving Discontent in an Age of Anxiety
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The Act of Living
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See moreAn highly original account of psychology through the discipline's great practitioners ( Freud, Jung etc) and their thoughts. It functions both as narrative and by extension a sophisticated self-help book. To be compared with Sarah Bakewell's How to Live and Alain de Botton's The Consolations of Philosophy
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Description
Tallis writes with clarity and wit - Sebastian Faulks
Science, technology, and Western liberal democracy have all had a dramatic impact on our quality of life. Compared to previous generations, we have unprecedented access to information, increased personal freedom, more material comforts, and more possessions. Yet, even before the shock of Covid-19, more people than ever before were reporting being depressed, anxious, or unfulfilled. As our material circumstances become easier, life seems to get harder. Why should this be?
Shelves sag under the weight of self-help manuals, and the internet is awash with the advice of role models and celebrity gurus; however, to what extent can these sources be expected to supply meaningful, practical answersβthe kind of answers relevant to sceptical individuals living in a modern, technologically advanced culture?
For over a hundred years, psychotherapists have been developing and refining models of the human mind. They have endeavoured to alleviate distress and have offered help to people who want to make better life choices. Although the clinical provenance of psychotherapy is important, the legacy of psychotherapy has much wider relevance. It can offer original perspectives on the big questions usually entrusted to philosophers and representatives of faith: Who am I? Why am I here? How should I live?
In this compelling and important book, the principal contributions of the outstanding figures associated with the practice of psychotherapy are explained: from Freud to Ellis, Jung to Laing, Adler to Hayes. Viewed as a single, cohesive intellectual tradition, Frank Tallis argues that psychotherapeutic thinking is an immensely valuable and under-exploited resource.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Frank Tallis has been praised for his engaging writing style, which is both clear and witty. He successfully distils complex psychological concepts without oversimplifying them, offering a readable and touching history of psychotherapy. Reviewers remark on his ability to balance thematic and chronological narratives, providing insights into psychology's beneficial contributions despite its occasional rogue elements. The book is filled with intriguing anecdotes and is considered a compelling exploration of contemporary therapy.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780349143392
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 07 January 2022
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Abacus
Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 26.0mm
Width: 124.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 279g
Pages: 352
About the Author
Dr Frank Tallis is a writer and clinical psychologist. His non-fiction books include The Incurable Romantic, The Act of Living and Mortal Secrets: Freud, Vienna and The Discovery of the Modern Mind, which was a book of the year in The Times. In the TLS William Boyd said 'Tallis' clear-eyed judicious analysis is the best I've read'. Tallis is also the author of the Liebermann Papers, a psychoanalytic detective series set in Freud's Vienna and adapted for television as the BBC drama Vienna Blood. He lives in London.
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