How to Get Whatever You Want Out of Life

by Joyce Brothers

Psychologists have amassed a tremendous amount of information about people. What makes them angry, what frustrates them, what makes them coo with pleasure. We know why some people succeed and others do not.
But psychological findings can also -- and should -- be used to enrich the lives of people who are healthy and vibrant, to make their lives even more joyful.
In the following pages, I outline key psychological findings and techniques and explain how you can use them to attain your own goals. There is nothing esoteric about the techniques that I recommend. They are scientifically based, absolutely straightforward and uncomplicated. There are no gimmicks here. No false promises. You can put what you learn to work immediately. And you can use this knowledge to get whatever you want out of life.
Dr. Joyce Brothers

Genres: Self Help

245 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Joyce Brothers was a psychologist well known for her TV appearances. She also wrote a daily advice column in newspapers from 1960 to 2013.

Reviews

[Ilena Holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen to dr. Brothers, she’s been there and done pretty much everything she set out to do in life. She did have one regret, and that was being a psychologist instead of a psychiatrist.

[Leer es Pensar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro de los pocos que existen, muy bien fundamentados en estudios de psicología

[Ed Shapard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book years ago at a used book store and it's a pretty good read. Dr. Brothers gives good advice on how to figure out what you want, tips on succeeding in business, advice for having a good relationship, and tips for manipulating others to get what you want. All of this is from an evidence-based, psychological point of view (well, almost all of it).

One of the more interesting points she makes is that people can fall into what she calls the 'secondary gain trap'. Here people get stuck doing behavior over and over even when it doesn't get them what they really want. This principle was observed in rats that, after learning to dig in the sand to find food, continued digging for the rest of their lives even though there was never food to be found again.

This is a good book and it has my recommendation, but I would imagine that more recent investigations may have invalidated many of the conclusions.

[Prakash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I ever read in the personal development genre. I used to wear these cheapo watches and carry this cheap briefcase. After I finished reading this book, I went out and bought myself a nice watch and a nice briefcase. What a difference these seemingly small actions had on me. If you read "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind" or attend the Millionaire Mind Intensive, they talk about worthiness. I guess I didn't feel that I deserved to wear a nice watch or carry a nice briefcase. This was an important step in moving towards a change in mindset.

[Maureads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book carries high expectations, with much of its information being ahead of its time. While some examples were compelling, I find myself questioning the reliability due to uncertainties about the authenticity of most characters. The later chapters tend to drag on, where the author could have conveyed the same ideas in a more concise manner. This book is not a universal fit; it's better suited for married couples. The central theme revolves around love, yet it comes across as a subjective viewpoint, possibly not resonating with all readers.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

First two thirds of the book was very insightful, even inspirational, but the last third was geared toward middle-aged couples, so I didn't really find it interesting. The book is definitely written for women, but the author covered both genders for most of the topics. I know there are much better self-help books out there than this one, but it does help you figure out what you want.

[Grace*dnfing books since 2022* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Life sucks.

[John Elia]

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