Book Review - “Psycho Cybernetics” by Maxwell Maltz

Hi,

I thought it was about time that I did a book review here. As you may know, TGM (that being me as in “The Gazz Man” - sick of typing that out all the time when I am being importunate or quarrelsome - hmm, I may just do a Prince-thing and refer to myself as the “acronym” - silly stuff over.) has a HUGE library of motivational and associated books.

One of the very finest IMHO is Maxwell Maltz’s BRILLIANT book called Psycho Cybernetics. Do NOT let this curious title put you off. This book is packed with information about success, self-image, rational thinking and a host of other information about why we are like we are.

I read this book the first time on 27 October 1991. Now, you may be wondering how I know that. And even if you’re not, I’m gonna tell you anyway. Well, I sign and date every book I read and give it a score out of ten on the last page. And this book is a rare 10/10 on TGM’s Richter Scale. I have read it several times since too. And I am just about due to do that again.

Have I impressed upon you how highly I rate this book? I hope so. (FYI the ISBN is 0-671-70075-8 and my copy was published by Pocket Books). Any decent bookshop will have a copy but you can probably pick up a second hand copy for five bucks. Stupidly, many people get rid of it - probably from deceased estates. They really don’t know what they are doing. If they knew what it was about they would devour every page because every page is literally loaded with wonderful information.

Just to give you a sample of what Psycho Cybernetics contains, let me select a few excerpts to share with you:

“It usually requires a minimum of about 21 days to effect any perceptible change in mental image.”

[See addendum below]

“Edison believed that he got some of his ideas from a source outside himself. Once, when complimented for a creative idea, he disclaimed credit, saying that ‘ideas are in the air’ and if he had not discovered it, someone else would have.”

“You act, and feel, not according to what things are really like, but according to the image your mind holds of what they are like.”

[See addendum below]

“Why not select the right role, the role of a successful person - and rehearse it.”

[See addendum below]

“The minute that we change our minds, and stop giving power to the past, the past with its mistakes loses power over us.”

“Resentment is an emotional rehashing, or re-fighting of some event in the past. You cannot win, because you are attempting to do the impossible - change the past.”

“Resentment, even when based on real injustices and wrongs, is not the way to win. It soon becomes and emotional habit. Habitually feeling that you are a victim of injustice, you behin to picture yourself in the role of a victimised person. You carry around an inner feeling which is looking for an external peg to hang itself on.”

“Ideas are changed not by ‘will’ but by other ideas.”

[See addendum below]

“God sees us as men and women through whom He can do great work.”

“IMAGINATION plays a far more important role in our lives than most of us realise.”

Maxwell Maltz was one of the world’s most widely known and highly regarded plastic surgeons. He lectured in Amsterdam, Paris and Rome universities. He also performed plastic surgery in Nicaragua and El Salvador. He passed away in 1975.

As I said at the beginning of this topic, do NOT let the rather weird title of this book put you off. I was speaking with Garry Parkes about it just before I finished this post and I mentioned to him that Maxwell Maltz’s Psycho Cybernetics would be in my TOP 5 motivation and self esteem books. I recommend that everybody should read it. It is simply superb.

ADDENDUM: I used some of the information in Psycho Cybernetics to write my own e-book called BRAIN TRAINING several years ago and it has helped a lot of people with issues ranging from motivation, self-esteem, weight loss, quit smoking and the like. There is even a template and instructions on how you can write your own affirmation to combat whatever mindset you may have difficulty with. [shameless plug]

Here is an example of an affirmation from BRAIN TRAINING. It is to do with “happiness.” Since, most people want happiness but find it so difficult to achieve try this for 28 days - write it out by hand onto a small card and read it every morning when you get out of bed and every night before you go to bed.

If you repeat this happiness affirmation in the manner that I have described something incredible will happen to you. Suddenly, upon awakening, you will mysteriously already have a smile on your face. What a way to start the day! Try it.

Filed under: BRAIN TRAINING • Book Review • Gary Simpson • Maxwell Maltz • Motivation & Inspiration • Psycho Cybernetics • Psycho Cybernetics book review • affirmations • happiness • happiness affirmation • motivation • self esteem

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