Difference between revisions of "59 Seconds"

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[[Image:59 Seconds - Hardcover - UK - 1st Edition.jpg|thumb|256x256px|UK, first edition hardcover.]]
 
[[Image:59 Seconds - Hardcover - UK - 1st Edition.jpg|thumb|256x256px|UK, first edition hardcover.]]
  
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'''''59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot''''' is a popular psychology book written by [[Richard Wiseman]] and published on 2009-12-29. In the introduction, Dr. Wiseman explains how a friend wanted to know something about about psychology so he began a lengthy explanation about it, but the friend interrupted him and wanted the 59-second abridged version. Seeing that many people don't have time for lengthy psychology discussions, Wiseman set out the task of condensing the psychological research of various areas of study into segments that can be explained in 59 seconds, although, he also gives a much more detailed version explaining the research behind each segment for those who want a more thorough understanding.
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'''''59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot''''' is a popular psychology book written by [[Richard Wiseman]] and published on 2009-12-29. In the introduction, Dr. Wiseman explains how a friend was duped by a self-help book which gave tips to make yourself happier, but most of the tips went against established science. Wiseman began a lengthy explanation about the research, but the friend interrupted him and wanted the 59-second abridged version. Seeing that many people don't have time for long psychology discussions, Wiseman set out the task of condensing the psychological research of various areas of study into segments that can be explained in 59 seconds, although, he also gives a much more detailed version explaining the research behind each segment for those who want a more thorough understanding.
  
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I learned about this book, and Dr. Wiseman, because he is popular in the skeptic community.
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I learned about Dr. Wiseman because he is popular in the skeptic community. This led me to reading his book [[Paranormality]] which talked briefly about this book which led me to reading this one as well.
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==
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I'm currently reading this book.
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I do not own this book, but I have read it as an audio book.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
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* Wiseman covers a lot of different topics in psychology including creativity, self-esteem, dating, addiction, and more.
 
* Wiseman covers a lot of different topics in psychology including creativity, self-esteem, dating, addiction, and more.
 
* I like how the book demonstrates that a lot of conventional wisdom is flat out wrong. For example, hitting a pillow doesn't help curb aggressive behavior, visualizing yourself succeeding actually prevents you from trying harder, etc.
 
* I like how the book demonstrates that a lot of conventional wisdom is flat out wrong. For example, hitting a pillow doesn't help curb aggressive behavior, visualizing yourself succeeding actually prevents you from trying harder, etc.
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* It's interesting to hear various counter-intuitive psychological results. For example, congratulating a child for doing well on a test tends to cause them to do poorly in the future tests, but congratulating on worling hard and trying tends to cause them to do better.
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* Wiseman doesn't just explain why certain behaviors are unhelpful, he suggests alternate behavior instead. For example, congratulating a child for doing well on a test tends to cause them to do poorly on the future tests, but congratulating them on studying and trying hard tends to cause them to do better.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
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* Occasionally, Wiseman cites less-than-reputable research like that conducted by evolutionary psychologists. For example, one suggests that men are naturally superior at music, not because the music industry is run by men, but because of their higher testosterone levels. This causes me to question the rest of his citations.
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* Occasionally, Wiseman cites less-than-reputable research conducted by evolutionary psychologists. For example, one suggests that men are naturally superior at music, not because the music industry is run by men, but because of their higher testosterone levels. This seems very specious, and it causes me to question the rest of his citations.
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* Wiseman has a section where he describes Freud's id, ego, and superego. I hate how psychologists keep bringing up Freud's ideas as though there might be something to them, even though they agree they're both wrong and unscientific. Later in the book, Wiseman, in so uncertain terms says that Freud and Jung were both wrong in their theories, so why include their theories at all?
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* Wiseman in so uncertain terms says that Freud and Jung were both wrong in their theories about behavior, which I appreciate, but still has a section describing Freud's id, ego, and superego hypothesis. I hate when psychologists bring up Freud's ideas as though there might be something to them, even though they agree they're both wrong and unscientific.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
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[[Category: Science]]
 
[[Category: Science]]
 
[[Category: Psychology]]
 
[[Category: Psychology]]
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[[Category: Books I've Read]]

Revision as of 10:35, 21 September 2018

UK, first edition hardcover.

59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot is a popular psychology book written by Richard Wiseman and published on 2009-12-29. In the introduction, Dr. Wiseman explains how a friend was duped by a self-help book which gave tips to make yourself happier, but most of the tips went against established science. Wiseman began a lengthy explanation about the research, but the friend interrupted him and wanted the 59-second abridged version. Seeing that many people don't have time for long psychology discussions, Wiseman set out the task of condensing the psychological research of various areas of study into segments that can be explained in 59 seconds, although, he also gives a much more detailed version explaining the research behind each segment for those who want a more thorough understanding.

I learned about Dr. Wiseman because he is popular in the skeptic community. This led me to reading his book Paranormality which talked briefly about this book which led me to reading this one as well.

Status

I do not own this book, but I have read it as an audio book.

Review

Good

  • Wiseman covers a lot of different topics in psychology including creativity, self-esteem, dating, addiction, and more.
  • I like how the book demonstrates that a lot of conventional wisdom is flat out wrong. For example, hitting a pillow doesn't help curb aggressive behavior, visualizing yourself succeeding actually prevents you from trying harder, etc.
  • Wiseman doesn't just explain why certain behaviors are unhelpful, he suggests alternate behavior instead. For example, congratulating a child for doing well on a test tends to cause them to do poorly on the future tests, but congratulating them on studying and trying hard tends to cause them to do better.

Bad

  • Occasionally, Wiseman cites less-than-reputable research conducted by evolutionary psychologists. For example, one suggests that men are naturally superior at music, not because the music industry is run by men, but because of their higher testosterone levels. This seems very specious, and it causes me to question the rest of his citations.
  • Wiseman in so uncertain terms says that Freud and Jung were both wrong in their theories about behavior, which I appreciate, but still has a section describing Freud's id, ego, and superego hypothesis. I hate when psychologists bring up Freud's ideas as though there might be something to them, even though they agree they're both wrong and unscientific.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Gallery

  • UK hardcover, first edition.

  • UK Paperback.

  • USA paperback.

  • Paperback, unknown region.

Links

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