How People Change: A Serious Psychological Work on Human Transformation

by Allen Wheelis

"At a time when slick, superficial, psychological works are foisted on the lay-public, Allen Wheelis has written a serious treatise."-- San Francisco Sunday Examiner-Chronicle

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Textbooks

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stumbled on this book because it was mentioned in a footnote in "The Road Less Traveled" by S. Peck and I was interested in the subject “Freedom and Necessity”. Allen Wheelis was after all like Peck a psychiatrist.

The book is almost written like a novel. Especially chapter 5 “Grass” is a very interesting read because the author describes in detail a very defining story about his relationship with his father. The author states that these childhood events not only caused his writing but also what he writes and the conclusions he comes to. He sees in this the determinism he wants to destroy and asks how to get free of it.

[Will Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This pseudo memoir / philosophy book is a short read with a ton of insight on the nature of man. It addresses the paradox between viewing life as a result of environment and conditioning, and viewing life as full of possibilities that we have the freedom to choose from. In the end, the most change is brought when we look within and make the slow decision to change our behavior. There are other things that can help with our mindset, such as therapy, but that can equally be used as a crutch that halts any progress. It was full of great analogies, metaphors, and anecdotes. It was not too dogmatic, but also not too spiritual. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Noam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple and short piece with a powerful understanding of not only what motivates us to change, but what helps us build new habits (in a way that actually works).

All cards being on the table: fear, social anxiety, belonging, identity, habits, pain, decision and strength of character- in just a few pages, the author paves the road to understanding how each and every one of us can create real change in our lives.

Not an easy read, but highly recommended.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A simply written, direct unjargoned analysis of analysis and therapy, strongly self-directive and not for the lean-on-me-I'll-help-you believer or practitioner. Better than most lengthy texts in the field, readable for one thing, not pedantic for another."
~~back cover

Not at all what I expected. The author basically states that no amount of therapy will produce a change in a person, and that no amount of insight will lead to change -- but the person needs to discover his or her own solution and be willing to "go it alone" to find that solution and work towards it. A much different perspective than most theories of therapy.

One discordant note was the inclusion of homosexuality as a condition that can be eliminated rather than a biological state as we consider it today. Given that the book was written in 1973, that belief isn't so extraordinary but it's certainly discordant by today's standards. It was rather like reading a book written in the early 1900s using "nigger" and "darkie" as terms of reference for African Americans -- standard in that time but shocking in ours.

The author shared a story from his childhood as an example of a situation that gives a child an opinion about himself that he carries into adulthood, usually disastrously. That story was chilling and heartbreaking -- a very normal example of parental theories of child-rearing in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Emotional abuse is difficult for me to read about, as I was raised by a parent who also subscribed to this theory. It was so difficult for me to read that I thought there should have been a warning given at the beginning of the chapter -- the kind of warning given on the tv news when they say "the images in this story may be disturbing to some viewers" and then proceed to show some really unsettling footage.

All in all this book gave me a lot to think about, and perhaps a different approach to try in ,y own life. If you read this book, please tell me what you think of it.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I think it brings up some really great points and has some eloquent arguments. There is much discussion on the interwoven nature of freedom and determinism. How much responsibility do we have for our actions? Are we purely a product of our environment, and if so is it impossible to change?

However, it was clearly written numerous decades ago and could use an updated version that is less homophobic and that perhaps discusses the role of medication in this conversation.

This would not be a book I would recommend to give to someone who is struggling; compassionate is not an adjective I would use to describe it. However, if you're someone who benefits from thinking about the more philosophical ideas behind your suffering, and are looking for an argument that will convince you that you can choose to change, (and you aren't LGBTQ+) this could be a beneficial read.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

thought-proking read on the suffering present in all of of us and the extent to which we are free to change or are bound to cause and effect.

[ILostMyAccountInfo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. I happened to stumble upon this book by chance at a thrift store. Looking at this book, one would think it is a psychoanalysis and psychodynamic book based on how individuals change and adapt corresponding with their environment, conditions, and inner self; The title, reviews, and praising on the back surely reenforces this. Yet, what the reader gets is instead a memoir of Allen Wheelis where he opens himself up and exposes all his insecurities and vulnerabilities while being, more or less, renowned in his field. Surely, my perception of this is more evident given the fact this book flows more like a novel or prose poetry than actual psychological self help or standard psychology. It's a rare and incredibly intriguing thing to see a respected psychologist open up about his own conflicts and neurosis as well as let the reader join in on his reflections of his past and presence.

[Ana Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. I enjoyed Mr. Wheelis’ transparency when talking about the root of his adult anxiety, and his perspective on choosing between mental enslavement or freedom. I was a bit moved by how he stated that the more we dig deep into the causes that shaped us, the more we create opportunities for change to occur, for better or worse… it’s up to you, which hits home for me. This book is a book written ages ago, and seems as though written in a poetic way so certain chapters I would read over again a second time to not miss anything. Overall, it was a good read.

[house targaryen · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book criminals and homosexuals were frequently paraded as deviants and examples of deplorable behavior. It was written in 1969 so it was a different era then.

If you remove the excessive anti LGBT+ passages, there are some good points to be had in the book. That is, if you can stomach the homophobia, reader beware!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a painful story - but so insightful. Totally worth reading and contemplating several times...

[Mohamed Shedou · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has some amazing chapters that I liked more than others. I never heard of the writer before so the book exceeded my expectations. Worth another read. Not for speed reading!

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short book with some excellent insight into an individual's ability to change their behavior and life circumstance. So long as one lives, change is possible but the longer we engage in a certain behavior pattern the more force and authority it acquires, permeating other characteristics and becoming more difficult to ultimately change. That is why the most important step to changing, is action.
Choices lead to conditions and character. Each day we engage in poor choices we reinforce and strengthen the negative consequences upon our character. The good news is that while we are where we are because of the past choices we have made, tomorrow we may be somewhere else due to the wise choices we can make today.

Those who believe that a leopard cannot his spots is seeking to avoid responsibility. We can change our lives with better choices. True freedom in life is the awareness of alternatives and the ability to choose. Effort and will are crucial.

The word "can't" is a dangerous word. Often, people feel that circumstances mandate that they can't change. This may be true or untrue. I want to be six foot tall say the five foot tall adult. That is a mandatory necessity based on natural law. It's not changing as much as you may want it to. But, I want to stop drinking, that is an arbitrary necessity, and while it might not be easy, it can be changed through dedication and hard work. Many people fall into the trap of putting the arbitrary matters in the mandatory ones (I would like to change but I was born this way).

Every person has a realm of freedom and a realm of constraint. A farmer must know the fence which bounds his land but need not spend his life standing there, looking out, beating his fists on the rails, better he till his soil, think of what to grow and where. However small the area of freedom, attention and devotion may expand it to occupy the whole life.

This is a life commitment to the freedom of choice.

[Noora · Rating 5 out of 5]

من الكتب القصيرة و العميقة. حبيته جداً لأنه يجمع ما بين الفلسفة و علم النفس/الاجتماع و السيرة الذاتية. الكاتب طبيب نفسي و يتناول موضوع الانسان بين الحتمية و الحرية. واحد من فصول الكتاب يتضمن قصة توضح علاقة الكاتب بوالده، معظم الكتابات الشبيهة تكون ضعيفة جداً في هذه الاطار و لكن الكاتب فضلاً عن كونه طبيب إلا أنه قصصي بارع. الكتاب قديم من السبعينيات و شعرت أنني محظوظة جداً أن عثرت عليه- أو يمكن هو اللي عثر على!

[Ben Larzabal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great primer on the importance of choice to overcome our environment and develop true personal freedom. That being said, to enjoy the book, you have to ignore several distasteful references to gay people and a small section that seems to support Nixon’s war on drugs (which most should recognize was really just a war on black Americans).

[meowdeleine]

to reread
so itchy
--
insight is not enough. effort and will are crucial.

Of two equally true accounts of the same life the one we choose will depend upon the consequences we desire, the future we intend to create.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The piece on freedom and necessity as well as the apparent brevity makes this re-read worthy

P.S. Repeated suggestions on retraining homosexuals in the same context as criminals would could be triggering. Personal reflections were hard to relate to at times

[Laurence Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is mentioned in Scott Peck's "The Road Less Traveled" so it was as Dr. Peck said it would be, a deeper insight into the concepts Peck wrote about.

[Miguel Ruiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Binged it swiftly. Stoic ideals without passive predestination.

[Edlira Book nerd and art lover. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find myself repeating myself, when it comes to Wheelis. Insightful, honest and articulate writing.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's aged, but still managed to find a few good nuggets

[Jason Korn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking book.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was simply not much substance in this book for me to cling to..

[Pizza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was insightful to discussing how people change and the limitations of therapy. However it was also very much a product of its time given the reference to homosexuality as a mental illness.

[Leslie de Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really thought provoking book that uses some extreme examples to illustrate human nature and our full capabilities of choice, freedom and perception.

[Michael Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this long ago as part of either a Motivation or an Adjustment class in my psych major. It was a moving book at the time because of a part that deals with daddy-son stuff, but otherwise I was fairly unmemorable.

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good.

[Kate Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exploring the interplay of freedom and constraint in our life narratives. Most useful, he's transparent enough to show you how it's done.

[Phoury · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I wish to see more from other aspects of life, but still this is laconically masterpiece.