The Tools
Transform Your Problems into Courage, Confidence, and Creativity
Ratings7
Average rating3.7
15
Transform Your Problems into Courage, Confidence, and Creativity
Ratings7
Average rating3.7
A groundbreaking book about personal growth that presents a uniquely effective set of four tools that bring about dynamic change in the present and impart a greater understanding of the depth and complexity of the human condition over the longterm. The Tools addresses the most common complaint patients have about psychotherapy: the interminable wait for change to begin. Barry Michels, an LA-based therapist, was frustrated by his inability to bring his patients faster relief from the issues that plagued them. He found a mentor in Phil Stutz, a psychiatrist who years before devised a methodology that arose from a similar disenchantment. The traditional therapeutic model sets its sights on the past, but Stutz and Michels employ an arsenal of tools--exercises that access the power of the unconscious and effectively meet the most persistent problems people face--and the results are electrifying. Stutz and Michels are much sought-after--a recent profile in The New Yorker touted them as an "open secret" in Hollywood--and treat a high-powered and creative clientele. Their first work, The Tools transcends the typical self-help genre because of its paradigm-changing material, the credibility of its authors, and the instant appeal and empowerment of its message.
Reviews with the most likes.
The formula of this book is (1) place your attention here & (2) have faith in a higher force. For those people with an existing faith in “higher forces” I think this relatively simple book could be helpful. If you don't believe that higher forces will save you from the limits of your own capability and responsibility then not so helpful. The cosmology of this book is relatively old school, combined with a light smattering of psychology. After seeing Stutz on Netflix I hoped for more. In short I think it's a bit simplistic and relies too much on faith (& not in one's own potential - which I personally believe more helpful - but in a “hand up” from higher powers), which is important but not enough by itself. I do think though that they did a reasonable job in explaining each of the “tools”. Not helpful for me, but I'm sure there are people who could extract more nourishment from it than me.
4 stars for the tools, 1 star for trying to come up with a new spirituality foundation to place these tools on top of it.
Tools are not unique but a good bunch:
How to handle pain (do not escape from it)
Expanding your love towards everyone, everything unconditionally
Bring out your other shadow self out
Be grateful
And memento Mori.
All good. Even if the writers present these tools in a little different fashion, fundamentally important tools.
But then they also try to talk about a higher force, a new spirituality as basis to these tools where things go not so well for me.
I don't remember them talking about any Eastern philosophies which will be sensible thing to do instead of talking about a higher force as if its something new and their creation.
But no, they have found a new spirituality, who cares about 2500 years old philosophies that are much deeper, well thought and matured over the centuries, etc.
