True and False Magic: A Tools Workbook

by Phil Stutz, Elise Loehnen

Based on the bestselling, groundbreaking self-help book The Tools, this expansive workbook hybrid helps us access the power of the unconscious.

The universe contains three unavoidable domains: uncertainty, the need for constant work, and pain. We can meet the demands of these domains, which encapsulate the problems we all face, only by accessing the unconscious and harnessing our Life Force. While therapist Phil Stutz offers some symptom relief in The Tools, Coming Alive, and Lessons for Living, providing a framework for understanding how to engage with our lives head-on, True and False Magic brings his entire worldview together into an actionable process—one that you can return to again and again.

Readers will encounter familiar Stutzian concepts like Life Force, Part X, and the Realm of Illusion, but the methods conveyed here are stitched together into both a meta-theory and a map-like protocol. Stutz’s method has long been praised by his high-powered clientele, but now anyone can follow along with the prescriptive exercises to access their unconscious and overcome life’s many hurdles.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Health

160 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

Phil Stutz graduated from City College in New York and received his MD from New York University. He worked as a prison psychiatrist on Rikers Island and then in private practice in New York before moving his practice to Los Angeles in 1982.

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

True and False Magic is a useful book for anyone looking to find actionable tools in an era where actual mental health resources can be hard to find and or for those who find themselves in an endless cycle of providers not being covered by insurance or not being open to new patients. I agree with the first review, some of this book builds upon tools explored in the Netflix documentary, as well as previous books. Starting with those resources first will enhance understanding of this book.

My 5 star review is likely influenced to my exposure to “Shadow” work discovered after seeing “Stutz”. That work provided a foundation on how to test the usefulness of these tools with your own data. Specifically keeping track of expected outcomes versus real outcomes after using the tools does appear to have the claimed benefits. I can see where people will dismiss the work with bias though, which misses the lesson of Part X.

For those, like me, who will find support and gratitude for the benefits of the content presented, I am sharing this review. Acceptance of the human condition being based in pain, uncertainty and constant work is well detailed through individual patient and personal stories from the author. This makes the work easily accessible. Having not been raised in a religious environment, rather been exposed to many different faiths of my school and childhood friends, I did need to discover how to invoke the higher powers discussed. There does seem to be real power in these faith based resources as proven through Alcoholics Anonymous or The Artist Way.

NOTE: Do not purchase this book through Random House; my book never arrived due to miscalculation of postage, even after two shipments being attempted. I ended up having to buy from Barnes and Noble and still no refund from the publisher.

Finally, I am hopeful there will be an audio version available soon as I find that returning to sections of previous books on audio are useful for the recurring need to review the uses and cues for use of the tools.

[Amanda Lichtenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastically wonderful & weird read that reiterates a lot of the principles from the classic "Tools" book and offers a bit more anecdotal context from Stutz and his patients. The writing is dense and there's a lot to take in here in terms of the whole Stutz cosmology of terms and meanings to describe the work of accepting three main realities: pain, uncertainty & the need for constant work. A lot resonates and I've been able to apply a lot of this magic in small but subtle ways. One concept trips me up and that's the notion that creativity is the antidote to evil. It's hard to pull these two forces apart or polarize good and evil in this way. Isn't a ton of creative energy marshalled for evil ends and vice versa? Would love to talk through this more with folks who have read and explored Stutz's work. Overall a great read and companion for the original book, which does a better job of breaking down each of the tools. This one goes out into the soul's desert and speaks from the scraggly mountain tops.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is actually great, unlike "The Tools" which, as hard as I tried, made no sense to me.
The approach is clear, direct, empowering, and it provides actual tools that you can implement today to take charge of your life, change your patterns, you know, make the changes towards a better you.



A NOTE ON THE SIDE
Aside from this book, which is totally worth the read, and reread, the entire "The Tools" coaching certification and coaching process is, how should I put this, lacking!
The issue I've seen with this work is that some - well, one specifically - that are trained in delivering/coaching people on The Tools - like a therapist, but not if they've got no therapy training - should not be giving advice at all. The advice I've heard is not from the tools, but comes from that person's small and petty life, filled with fear, and biases, inciting fear and creating conflict when it wasn;t warranted - and yet, it is delivered like gospel, telling the "client" what to do, influencing and outright directing them on a path that was not even an option for the client.
And for that, I am sitting and wondering if "The Tools" don't need to be rewritten, and those trained in coaching about the tools should be trained more rigorously, or only be allowed to practice this if they have any psychology/psychiatry training, and certifications... becasue you are not allowed to tell your client/patient what to do, or suggest and influence and guide them towards a course of action that has nothing to do with their personal growth and developement, but serves more as a validation for the coach that they are right, and their petty, biased personal perspectives...
This was quite sad to hear...
I'm saying that because of my friend's experience with this, and it was not a good one.

[Carling Tanno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Random House, Netgallery, Phil Stutz, and Elise Loehnen for an ARC of True and False Magic: A Tools Workbook in exchange for my honest opinion.

I first became familiar with Phil Stutz thanks to the documentary (Stutz) on Netflix. I read the Tools immediately afterwards because his work spoke to me in a way that no other's had. While not absolutely necessary to be familiar with his work prior to reading this, I do think it helps set the stage for this brief but powerful workbook. In True and False Magic, Stutz and Loehnen outline that pain, need for constant work, and uncertainty are domains we face in our lives. Stutz reminds us that in accepting and facing these things in spite of fear, we are creating real magic (i.e., true magic).

What I liked: Reading this book is like putting the tools into practice. Through his words, Stutz shows us a reflection of all the truths we try to avoid/hide from; there is nowhere to hide. As a clinician, I appreciate Stutz's candor and reflection of wanting to share actual tools with clients. I also appreciate that this book is pretty free of psychobabble which makes it more accessible for readers. This workbook is not a typical workbook but rather a call to action and the steps to apply the concepts to your daily life.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who want to get out of their own way and step into their potential. 4/5 Stars

[E.C. W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the Tools- read it years ago before the documentary and Stutz and his methods became famous. I use the tools personally and professionally to great success even though I don’t buy all of it. I had high hopes for this book. But it rambles, it’s incoherent, and sometimes nonsensical. I’m surprised his co author didn’t help give it more structure and clarity. I think there is a coherent philosophy in there but it’s hard to discern.

[Alpo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not have anything, absolutely anything good to say about this book.
I do not remember ever reading, or even holding, such a book.

[Kim Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accompanies the movie on Netflix with Jonah Hill.

https://www.netflix.com/us/title/8138...

[Paul Bard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five pages of notes over two reads. What do you think?

Immediately actionable advances on human psychology. An incredible good deal.

Read and use.