tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-192984252024-02-08T14:09:55.649+00:00Wise Books & Films - Inspiration from likely & unlikely placesI read a lot of books on psychology, philosophy and personal development. I also read some fiction and watch a fair amount of TV and films. I believe there's a lot of wisdom there, if you are looking for it. This blog will bring it to lifeTim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-37648411929150851122009-09-09T10:16:00.003+01:002009-09-09T11:45:14.467+01:00Positivity - by Barbara Fredrickson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/uploaded_images/positivity-757790"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 89px; height: 135px;" src="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/uploaded_images/positivity-757789" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>Barbara Fredrickson is a hard-nosed social scientist, who since the inception of positive psychology has often been cited and praised as the originator of the Broaden-and-Build Theory of positive emotions.</div><div><br /></div><div>In this, her first book, Fredrickson sets out her ideas for the general reader, adding personal anectdotes and speculations to hard data. The book includes a positivity toolkit to help the reader raise their own positivity. Overall, I enjoyed this book and think it is a useful addition to the positive psychology literature. I think it can even tell us something useful about "the good life". But I do have some reservations, which I'll come on to later.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Broaden-and-Build theory has been concisely summarised by its author <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/positivity/200903/what-good-is-positivity">as follows:</a>- </div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I encapsulate two classes of these benefits into my broaden-and-build theory. First, when we experience a positive emotion, our vision literally expands, allowing us to make creative connections, see our oneness with others, and face our problems with clear eyes (a.k.a. the broaden effect). Second, as we make a habit of seeking out these pleasing states, we change and grow, becoming better versions of ourselves, developing the tools we need to make the most out of life (the build effect). And strikingly, these twin benefits of positive emotions obey a tipping point: When positive emotions outnumber negative emotions by at least 3 to 1, these benefits accrue, yet below this same ratio, they don't."</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So - when we are positive we become more open and creative (positive emotions broaden us) and we also grow (they build us). But, surprisingly, only when the positive outweighs the negative by more than 3 to 1. Fredrickson is arguing for positivity as a means to the good life - whether or not feeling good is <i>itself</i> the good life, feeling good (in these ways) helps us get in to a state where we are more likely to achieve <i>these and other </i>elements of the good life. This is an important point for philosophers to bear in mind - hedonism (the idea that happiness/pleasure and the absence o pain is the good life) has had a hard time recently but if it's really true that positive experiences are a means to other parts of the good life (creativity, achievement, making a difference) then a refined version of hedonism may appear more attractive.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 18px; ">But note well that Fredrickson does <b>not</b> equate positivity with pleasure. Far from it, she actually excludes bodily pleasures from her definition, since they narrow your focus and meet a survival need - whereas her ten positive emotions broaden your focus and, in the long run, she claims, "matter most" (p. 38)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So what are these top ten positive emotions?</span></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Interest</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Awe</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hope</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Serenity</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Joy</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Inspiration</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gratitude</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pride</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Amusement</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Love</span></span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I personally remember these by the acronym</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><blockquote>I HAS JIG PAL</blockquote>Write to me if you think of a better one!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now this is very interesting. What Fredrickson has done is suggest 10 emotions which can also be considered as candidate values, as parts of the good life. If it's true that they are good in themselves and also broaden and build us, then their candidacy looks promising. Indeed, I'd like all of these to be part of my life - though there are of course questions about their appropriateness to a particular situation and getting the right balance (bring back Aristotle!). I also wondered whether all of these were really emotions and why some other possibles had been left out (e.g. sense of purpose, sense of meaning, being loved versus being loving, friendship, empathy, compassion). Fredrickson says her ten are "colour people's lives the most" (p. 39) but I wonder how she found this out.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My second problem is similar to the one Eric Wiener expresses in his <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012703102.html">review</a>. Hard-nosed data has its value, but sometimes it seems to only confirm the bleedin'obvious and on other occasions its difficult to distinguish the author's own speculations from ideas that have firm backing. This is particularly true when it comes to the Positivity Toolkit. The ideas here are all plausible enough - be open, create connections, cultivate kindnes, develop distractions, dispute negative thinking, find nearby nature, learn and apply your strengths etc - and some have solid scientific backing. But this section does come across as a bit of a hotch-potch of techniques rather than a tried-and-tested programme that is guarenteed to raise your positivity.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Which brings me to my third and final issue with the book. One finding that certainly can't be criticised as being mere common-sense is the discovery that there is a tipping point of 3 to 1. If you have twice as many positive as negative experiences you wont start to get the broaden-and-build benefits. They only start accruing above 3 to 1. But what follows from this is surely that we should focus more on <i>reducing negative episodes</i> than increasing positive ones. Suppose I have 3 negative episodes a day and 6 positive ones. My positivity ratio is 2 - not high enough! But to get it up to 3 I either need to add 3 more positive ones or have 1 less negative one - so the effort should be in reducing negative episodes. .It seems kind of ironic that a book on positivity has this implication - should we actually be spending more energy on using techniques such as that advocated by CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) than on those aimed at increasing positivity?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Overall, though, I'd recommend this book. Fredrickson has a jaunty style, comes across as basically human and likeable (not always the case in social science books) and does provide a lot useful tips as well as an authoritative account of her own research.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Read On</span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div><a href="http://www.positivityratio.com/single.php">Positivity website including on-line tests and tools</a> <a href="http://www.positivityratio.com/">http://www.positivityratio.com/</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://solutionfocusedchange.blogspot.com/2009/05/review-of-positivity.html">Positive Positivity review with short summary</a> </div><div><a href="http://solutionfocusedchange.blogspot.com/2009/05/review-of-positivity.html">http://solutionfocusedchange.blogspot.com/2009/05/review-of-positivity.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012703102.htm">Eric Wiener's balanced Washingon Post Review</a> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012703102.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012703102.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.unc.edu/peplab/publications/human_flourishing.pdf">Academic paper by Fredrickson and Losada</a></div><div><a href="http://www.unc.edu/peplab/publications/human_flourishing.pdf">http://www.unc.edu/peplab/publications/human_flourishing.pdf</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-7708278052466142562009-02-09T09:37:00.003+00:002009-02-09T09:37:40.712+00:00The Experience Machine: your chance to take part in a famous thought experiment<div style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:9px;height:20px;text-align:center;width:320px;margin:0;padding:0;letter-spacing:-.5px"><a href="http://www.vizu.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#999;text-decoration:underline;font-size:9px;">Online Surveys</span></a><span style="color:#999;"> & </span><a href="http://answers.vizu.com/market-research.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color:#999;text-decoration:underline;font-size:9px;">Market Research</span></a></div><embed src="http://wp.vizu.com/vizu_poll.swf" quality="high" scale="noscale" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="320" height="411" name="vizu_poll" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" FlashVars="js=false&pid=145891&ad=false&vizu=true&links=true&mainBG=000000&questionText=FFFF99&answerZoneBG=CCCCFF&answerItemBG=CCCCFF&answerText=000000&voteBG=9966CC&voteText=000000"></embed><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.11NXC/bHQ9MTIzNDE3MjExNjM3NSZwdD*xMjM*MTcyMjI2NDM3JnA9VklaVSZkPSZuPWJsb2dnZXImZz*xJnQ9Jm89Y2NmNGNmNWU3ZmE3NDA1MGE2ZDliNTU3NzQ1MWIxNzE=.gif" />Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-89181353056826919112009-01-03T21:11:00.001+00:002009-01-03T21:11:56.490+00:00The Mindful Way through Depression by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindal Seagal & Jon Kabat-ZinnTim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-76242824204031190962007-11-26T10:41:00.001+00:002007-11-26T10:41:18.674+00:00The Monk who sold his Ferrari Robin. S Sharma<p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/TheMonkwhosoldhisFerrariRobin.SSharma_90D1/themonkwhosoldhisferrari.jpg" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="130" alt="themonkwhosoldhisferrari" src="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/TheMonkwhosoldhisFerrariRobin.SSharma_90D1/themonkwhosoldhisferrari_thumb.jpg" width="82" align="left" border="0"></a> </p> <p><b>I didn't like this best-selling personal development book at all when I first read it. </b> <p><b>I thought that the narrator character was flat and just too unenlightened and dumb. I didn't like the dialogue, which seemed rather corny and cliched. And I didn't think there was too much original in the book - a mixture of classics like Covey, Frankl, spirituality, Jeffers, CBT wrapped up in a somewhat silly and unbelievable story.</b> <p><strong>Then a few years passed and I liked it a lot better the second time I read it. The amazing this is, I still think all my comments above are correct. But maybe we should give Sharma the benefit of the doubt and assume that all the "failings" are deliberate. The narrator is dumb, because we are all dumb in comparison with Julian, the monk of the title. Maybe the fact that it is an eclectic mix of wisdom is a great strength. And the story, though it isn't the greatest ever told,just make it a book you may read for pleasure as well as spiritual enlightenment.</strong> <p><b>So if you want an easy read which is a more spiritual take on personal development, I'd recommend it - especially if you read it in the right spirit, looking for how it can help you, rather than as a literary critic.</b> <p><b>The monk's 7 timeless virtues of enlightened living are:</b> <p><b>1.Master Your mind</b> <p><b>2.Follow your purpose </b> <p><b>3. Practice Kaizen (constant and never-ending improvement)</b> <p><b>4.Live with discipline</b> <p><b>5.Respect your time</b> <p><b>6.Selflessly serve others</b> <p><b>7.Embrace the present </b> <p><a href="http://www.chillibreeze.com/bookreviews/ThemonkwhosoldhisFerrari.asp">Book Review</a> of The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari</p> <p> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a4cc61df-c955-427b-a657-dda8d1c64edd" contenteditable="false" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/robin%20sharma" rel="tag">robin sharma</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/the%20Monk%20who%20sold%20his%20Ferrari" rel="tag">the Monk who sold his Ferrari</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Buddhism" rel="tag">Buddhism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/spirituality" rel="tag">spirituality</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/growth" rel="tag">growth</a></div>Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-40555995094792427672007-11-18T22:30:00.001+00:002008-03-10T21:09:56.322+00:00Mr Holland's Opus<p> </p> <p>This <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113862/">1995 film</a> will be too sentimental for some tastes, but for me this was an enjoyable and interesting movie. It's a modern take on <a href="http://www.timlebon.com/itsawonderfullife.html">It's a Wonderful Life</a> in that lives which appear unremarkable -even failed - may actually be the reverse.<a href="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/MrHollandsOpus_A584/mrhollandsopus.jpg" atomicselection="true"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="mrhollandsopus" src="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/MrHollandsOpus_A584/mrhollandsopus_thumb.jpg" align="left" border="0" height="140" width="99" /></a></p> <p align="left">The film takes in a span of over 30 years from the early 1960s to the mid 1990s, a time which sees Mr Holland transform from a young man with ambitions to be a composer to a husband, father and eventually retired music teacher.</p> <p align="left">Mr Holland never becomes rich or famous, and and at times neglects his family in favour of his "vocation" - teaching and music. A most poignant moment is when he is reconciled with his son - who, ironically, is deaf so cannot appreciate or share his father's music. He dedicates to hin John Lennon's <a href="http://www.lyrics007.com/John%20Lennon%20Lyrics/Beautiful%20Boy%20%28Darling%20Boy%29%20Lyrics.html">Beautiful Boy</a> - the lines </p> <blockquote> <p>Life is just what happens to you,<br />While your busy making other plans </p><p>which <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">seems to describe Mr. Holland's situation.</span> </p></blockquote> <p><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"></span> </p><p><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Yet at the end - and this is the movie's ultimate message - Mr Holland realises that by shaping the lives of his students he has done more for human happiness than his music was ever likely to do. Maybe meaning through fame and fortune is to be rejected and meaning through ordinary kindnesses and encouragements are more important. </span> </p><p><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Of course, teaching is one job where the benefits are sometimes - if not always - clear. Psychotherapy is another such job. But what about other jobs - like banking, IT work and being a lawyer. Do other people benefit from these jobs? Can one bring light into people's lives through any job? And does economics teach us that all these jobs are valuable, even if we don't see the benefits? I don't know the answer to these questions, but I do believe that one of the problems of modern society is that people don''t get to see the meaning they create. The James Stewart character in <em>It's a Wonderful Life</em> needed an angel to show him, and Mr. Holland requires a rather improbably grand finale which reunites those he has helped the most.</span></p>Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-29095445786153623192007-07-31T00:27:00.001+01:002007-07-31T21:21:36.374+01:00Blink - Doctor Who and the Existentialists<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>Don't blink. Blink and you're dead. Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink. <a href="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/BlinkDoctorwhoandthePhilosophyofTime_1488D/image.png" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="132" alt="image" src="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/BlinkDoctorwhoandthePhilosophyofTime_1488D/image_thumb.png" width="240" align="right" border="0"></a></p></blockquote> <p><font color="#000000"></font> The first time I watched this <a href="http://www.scifiheaven.net/index.php/2007/06/18/blink-doctor-who-review/">stand-out episode</a> from the latest season of the British children's science fiction programme <em></em><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/">Doctor Who,</a> I didn't think too much about philosophy. I was far too busy consoling my terrified children. For some reason weeping angels who send you back in time, ageing or killing your present-day self, were much, much scarier than <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalek">Daleks</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberman">Cybermen.</a></p> <p>The second time I saw <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blink_(Doctor_Who)">Blink</a> I couldn't understand how I missed the existential theme the first time around.</p> <p>The episode's title - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/2007/facts/fact_310.shtml">BLINK</a> - as in " blink and life will pass you by" - is the first hint.</p> <p>Then there are the experiences of the characters. After a visitation by the time-stealing angels, all that remains of Sally's friend Kathy are her remains in a graveyard. Billy, a young and sassy policemen, fares little better. One moment he is chatting up Sally Sparrow with the immortal line</p> <blockquote> <p> Life is short and you are hot.</p></blockquote> <p>The next time we see Billy, he is an old man in hospital, on the point of death. As he catches sight of young Sally he laments </p> <blockquote> <p>Look at my hands. They're old man's hands -- how did that happen? </p></blockquote> <p>We know that Billy and Kathy's fate await us all - weeping angels are but an exaggeration of the human condition.</p> <p>Generally <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who">Doctor Who</a></em> reminds us of the downside of the immortality. The Doctor lives for hundreds of years and regenerates when his old body gets damaged beyond repair. The Doctor can help us be aware of problems with life going on too long - boredom, too much knowledge, too many memories and the loss of loved ones being some afflictions associated with extreme longevity. </p> <p>BLINK firmly reminds us of the opposite reality. Life is short - and we have no idea just how short. Life is short -so we need to make the most of it. Life is short - so treasure every moment. </p> <p>And remember: <blockquote> <p><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpe_diem">Carpe Diem.</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.lisashea.com/lisabase/poetry/art8650.html">Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.</a></strong></p> <p><strong>And - whatever you do - don't blink.</strong></p></blockquote> <p> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:39156ce6-ad70-4efa-ac8b-d947b8317996" contenteditable="false" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Doctor%20Who" rel="tag">Doctor Who</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Existentialism" rel="tag">Existentialism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Philosophy" rel="tag">Philosophy</a></div>Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-70101846908945142982007-07-08T16:34:00.001+01:002007-07-08T21:31:14.075+01:00Happiness: The Science behind your smile Daniel Nettle<p><a href="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/HappinessTheSciencebehindyoursmileDaniel_E916/image.png" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="98" alt="image" src="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/HappinessTheSciencebehindyoursmileDaniel_E916/image_thumb.png" width="71" border="0"></a> </p> <p>One of the best brief recent books on the burgeoning science of happiness. <strong><a href="http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/daniel.nettle/">Daniel Nettle</a></strong> is a reader in Psychology, but he deals more ably than most psychologists with the philosophical aspects of happiness as well.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Chapters</p> <p>1. Comfort and Joy</p> <p>2. Bread and circuses</p> <p>3. Love and Work</p> <p>4. Worriers and enthusiasts</p> <p>5. Wanting and Liking</p> <p>6. Panaceas and Placebos</p> <p>7. A design for living</p>Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-68314623262873891742007-07-07T15:10:00.001+01:002007-07-08T16:13:45.111+01:00Happiness: Lessons from a New Science by Richard Layard<a href="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/HappinessLessonsfromaNewSciencebyRichard_D571/image.png" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="103" alt="image" src="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/HappinessLessonsfromaNewSciencebyRichard_D571/image_thumb.png" width="67" border="0"></a> <p>Layard has for a long time been one of our leading economists - so long that we used one of his books as a text book all those years ago I studied A Level economics. This book is his effort "at a new evidence-based vision of how we can live better" (p. ix) The new science alluded to in the title is the science of happiness which Layard believes may now have found sufficient evidence to create a bit more happiness.</p> <p>Layard states the central finding straight away - people in the West have got richer but not happier (p. 3) It follows that the emphasis given to raising GDP by politicians and economists is misplaced. If you asked people "What do you want? Happiness or Money?" most would reply "Happiness". They governments and individuals waste their energies on making more money instead of - instead of what? That is what Layard hopes the new science of happiness will tell us.</p> <p>Chapter headings:</p> <p>Part 1: The problem</p> <p>1. What's the problem?</p> <p>2. What is happiness?</p> <p>3. Are we getting happier?</p> <p>4. If you're so rich, why aren't you happy?</p> <p>5. So what does make us happy?</p> <p>6. What's going wrong?</p> <p>7. Can we pursue a common good?</p> <p>Part 2: What can be done?</p> <p>8. The Greatest Happiness: Is that the goal?</p> <p>9. Does economics have a clue?</p> <p>10. How can we tame the rat race?</p> <p>11. Can we afford to be secure?</p> <p>12. Can mind control mood?</p> <p>13. Do drugs help?</p> <p>14. Conclusions for today's world</p>Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-3680589560975918152007-07-07T10:10:00.001+01:002007-07-07T10:54:02.148+01:00How to Fall out of Love by Debora Phillips<p> You might say that this is something of a specialist interest - but how many people at some stage in their lives havent "fallen in love with someone they shouldnt have fallen in love with", in the wise words of The Buzzcocks. In anycase, this clearly written and practical book contains a lot of ideas - mainly founded in behavioural psychology and psychotherapy - that have all sorts of applications, even if you have no need to fall out of love.</p> <p> <a href="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/HowtoFalloutofLovebyDeboraPhillips_8F1F/howtofalloutoflove.jpg" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="93" alt="howtofalloutoflove" src="http://www.timlebon.com/wise-books/HowtoFalloutofLovebyDeboraPhillips_8F1F/howtofalloutoflove_thumb.jpg" width="56" border="0"></a> </p> <p>Here is a summary of some of the key techniques (you have to read the book to get the full picture though)</p> <p><strong><u>1. Thought-Stopping</u></strong></p> <p><strong>a) </strong><strong>Make a list of the most positive scenes and pleasure that do not involve the person you are trying to fall out of love with</strong> <p><strong>b) </strong><strong>If you think of this person – shout STOP. Don’t let image form. Then think of a positive scene from your list. You are conditioning self to think of positive things from list, not this person. You are also not reinforcing pleasure from thinking of him or her. The pleasant thought that doesn’t involve them is reward for NOT thinking about them</strong> <p><strong></strong> <p><strong></strong> <p><strong>c) </strong><strong>Keep a record of how many times a day you think of him/her. You may be surprised at the high number to start with. Feel pleased as it declines.</strong> <p><strong></strong> <p><strong></strong> <p><strong>Phillips cites the great philosopher in her cause: “An emotion can only be controlled or destroyed by another contrary and more powerful emotion” . You are substituting a positive emotion from the positive scenes.</strong> <p><strong>It's crucial to keep at this for days, weeks, even months until the new habit forms. To begin with, it's recommended to do it proactively ie Go through A and B, and deliberately start to think of the person and then immediately replace the thought/image with a positive scene. Do this up to ten times a day</strong> <p><strong>Thought-stopping is worth a book on its own. You might think that CBT is better (where you replace thought with a more realistic thought). For obsessive thinking, however, once the thought takes hold its very difficult for the realistic thought to overpower it (remember Spinoza) - so in this case it makes sense to focus your energy on nipping the thought in the bud and re-conditioning yourself.</strong> <p><strong><u>2) Silent Ridicule</u></strong> <p><strong>Laugh at yourself and your predicament. This reminds me of Viktor Frankl and dereflection - getting another perspective can make a huge positive difference.</strong> <p><strong>You can also make the other person in an absurd context - which reminds me of some Paul McKenna ideas. It stops putting the person on a pedestal. Phillips warns that you may have to search around for the right scene to place the person in. She suggests that it has something to do with a habit of theirs or their personality, rather than just a random absurdity.</strong> <p><strong>Again, you can practice this proactively or replace the absurd situation with any positive image you have of them. </strong> <p><strong><u>3) Positive Image Building and Congratulations</u></strong> <p><strong>This is about improving your own self-esteem. A break-up, or being rejected, usually knocks down ones ego - what is up to you, though, is by how much and for how long.</strong> <p><strong>Philllips recommends writing down 2 positive things about yourself every day. She also commends assertiveness as a means to getting what you want. You can also use your thought-stopping skills on <em>any </em>negative or self-critical thoughts, not just ones relating to the person you are getting over.</strong> <p><strong>You should also congratulate yourself on your progress. For example, if the number of thoughts has reduced in the first week, reward yourself by giving yourself a pat on the back or treating yourself to something you'd really like. This will reinforce the thought-stopping. Set a goal for next week, and reward yourself again when you reach it.</strong> <p><strong>Those are the basic building blocks. Other chapters include jealousy, repulsion and chapters on what to do when in love again.</strong>Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-82919197771282947162007-07-06T22:32:00.001+01:002007-07-06T22:53:38.098+01:00Side Effects by Woody Allen<div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">If not wise, then at least very funny.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">You can read Allen's skit on Plato and Socrates in <strong>My Apology</strong>, which is available on line at <a href="http://pressurecooker.phil.cmu.edu/Socrates.html">http://pressurecooker.phil.cmu.edu/Socrates.html</a></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">In fact the whole book is available at <a href="http://students.iiit.net/%7Ekarthik_ravikanti/pdf_doc/WoodyAllen-SideEffects.txt">http://students.iiit.net/~karthik_ravikanti/pdf_doc/WoodyAllen-SideEffects.txt</a></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Here are some of the funniest bits from "<strong><em>My Apology</em></strong>"</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div> <div>Of all the famous men who ever lived, the one I would most like to have been was Socrates. Not just because he was a great thinker, because I have been known to have some reasonably profound insights myself, although mine invariably revolve around a Swedish airline stewardess and some handcuffs. </div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div> <div><strong>*******</strong></div> <div><strong></strong> </div> <div><strong>Agathon: </strong>Oh, I ran into Isosceles. He has a great idea for a new triangle.</div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">************</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div> <div> <p><b>Agathon: </b>I'm afraid the word is bad. You have been condemned to death.</p> <p><b>Socrates: </b>Ah, it saddens me that I should cause debate in the senate.</p> <p><b>Agathon: </b>No debate. Unanimous.</p> <p><b>******</b></p> <p><b>Socrates: </b>Then let it be! Let them take my life. Let it be recorded that I died rather than abandon the principles of truth and free inquiry. Weep not, Agathon.</p> <p><b>Agathon: </b>I'm not weeping. This is an allergy</p></div>Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-15151873799998749672007-07-02T13:41:00.000+01:002007-07-06T22:55:23.498+01:00The Pursuit of Happyness<div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">If Dale Carnegie (How to Win Friends and Influence People) had made a film, it would have been like this.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Judging by its IMDB rating and reviews and awards, many people really liked this homage to the American Dream.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Myself, I thought it rather one-dimensional. A bit like a very long episode of The Apprentice, but with the focus on just one competitor and knowing he was going to be the winner.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">However, let's try to take some positives (as I am sure Chris Gardner, on whole life the film is based, would).</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">1) Don't despair - even the best of lives may have some very hard times</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">2) Work very hard at what you are good at and you will succeed</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">3) Take risks, follow your dreams</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Of course Gardner succeeds not just because he has Carnegie like optimism and courage, but because he is actually very bright and talented. So I'd like to add another, rather important lesson</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">4) </span> Know your own talents and strengths. Don't aim low just because that's what others expect, but don't aim for things that don't match your own character and potential.</div> <div> </div>Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-1138736305012934692006-01-31T19:27:00.000+00:002007-07-06T22:56:20.240+01:00Best children booksSee http://books.guardian.co.uk/childrenslibrary/story/0,6194,1698794,00.html<br /><br />My choice?<br />Pride and Prejudice - I wasnt introduced to Austen til I was 29<br />Harry Potter - exciting and very moral<br />Romeo and Juliet - the most approachable Shakespeare<br />Animal Farm - I was bowled over by it when I was 12 - I couldnt believe that a book could operate on 2 levels<br />The Cyberiad - Sci Fi with a message and fun too<br />PG Wodehouse - Jeeves stories. No life would be complete without them.<br />I Hate School Jean Wills and Tony Ross For the under 5s. My favourite book that my children enjoy<br />Middlemarch - The greatest English Novel<br />The Trumpet Major - the first Hardy I read - history and gentle counry life<br />a Christmas Carol - and one DickensTim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19298425.post-1132915252639309752005-11-25T10:40:00.000+00:002007-07-06T22:55:52.923+01:00Happiness is overrated - Raymond BelliottiThis is one of those books that you don’t necessarily agree with, but may be well worth reading anyway. To be fair, at present I haven’t read it in depth yet – this note is little more than a few headings combined with some of my comments.<br /><br />It’s divided into 5 sections<br /><br /><ol><li><strong>Greek, Roman and Christian Happiness</strong></li></ol><br /><ul><br /><li>Happiness as moral and intellectual virtue</li><br /><li>Happiness as flourishing</li><br /><li>Happiness as radical asceticism</li><br /><li>Happiness as hedonism</li><br /><li>Happiness as tranquillity</li><br /><li>Happiness as wordly transcendence</li></ul><br /><strong>1.Happiness as moral and intellectual virtue</strong><br /><br /><strong>Socrates and Plato.</strong><br />In the just man, reason rules appetite and emotion.<br />The just man cannot be harmed.<br />Happiness is equated with moral and intellectual virtue.<br />Happiness is an objective quality - you can be just as wrong about whether you are happy as you can be about whether you are healthy.<br />Plato believed that this world was but a shadow of the world of Forms, which constitutes a reality beyond this world. It is only in the context of the immortal soul that this theory makes much sense. “Philosophy is preparation for death.”<br />Surely moral virtue neither necessary (you are lucky) nor sufficient (you are unlucky) for happiness.<br /><br />2.Happiness as flourishing<br /><br /><strong>Aristotle</strong><br /><br />3.Happiness as radical asceticism<br /><strong>Cynics</strong><br /><br />4.Happiness as hedonism<br /><strong>Epicurus</strong><br /><br />5.Happiness as tranquillity<br /><strong>Stoics</strong><br /><br />6.Happiness as wordly transcendence<br /><strong> Christianity</strong><br /><br /><ul><br /><li><strong>2. Happiness Reconceived</strong></li><br /><li>Happiness as morally earned – Kant</li><br /><li>Happiness as collective achievement – Hegel</li><br /><li>Happiness as the greatest good for the greatest number – Mill</li><br /><li>Happiness as illusion – Schopenhauer</li><br /><li>Happiness as positive psychological state – modern psychologists</li></ul><strong>3.Contemporary Philosophical Views<br /></strong>More like psychological. Very little on who I consider to be the major philosophical thinkers eg Parfit, Griffin, Summer.<br /><ul><br /><li>Philosophy and social science – accurate self-report of state of mind</li><br /><li>Positive self-appraisal – evaluation as well as description</li><br /><li>Accurate, positive self-appraisal</li><br /><li>Connection to objective, preexisting good</li></ul><br /><strong>4.The Paths to Happiness</strong><br />Seems to be a summary of positive psychology – shame it doesn’t link more with the first part of the book.<br /><ul><br /><li>Adjust expectations</li><br /><li>Nurture relationships</li><br /><li>Be optimistic and appreciative</li><br /><li>Have faith</li><br /><li>Make peace, not war</li><br /><li>Be goal-oriented</li><br /><li>Prioritise</li><br /><li>Use leisure wisely, energise the senses, eat and exercise properly</li><br /><li>Go with flow</li><br /><li>Be lucky</li></ul><strong>6.The Meaning of Life<br /></strong>I think this is a summary of another book he wrote.Tim LeBonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060569828784996629noreply@blogger.com0