Books>
59 Seconds: Think a little, change a lot
Macmillan Search Macmillan by Prof. Richard Wiseman Search Prof. Richard Wiseman
 |
Rating:  More Details: 59 Seconds: Think a little, change a lot 59 Seconds: Think a little, change a lot @Amazon 59 Seconds: Think a little, change a lot @aStore |
Customer Reviews:
A bit disappointing
Wiseman basically takes a bunch of other people's studies and lumps the into one book. Unfortunately, if you've ever read any other books loosely related to this subject you would have read most, if not all, of these studies before, a lot of them are quite dated, and are fairly well known. At the end of each chapter Wiseman gives you a quick debrief on what was covered, and that's pretty much about all he contributes to the material in the book. I can't help feel this book is something Wiseman has thrown together to earn a quick bit of easy cash.
His writing style is jovial and light-hearted. He attempts to keep the reader entertained with a few jokes here and there, but he comes across like a annoying children's TV presenter at times. The format of the book is ugly with a mixture of serif and sans serif fonts, and too much leading between lines, which I found unpleasant to read.
Another great Wiseman book... 
Richard Wiseman addresses self help psychology from a scientific and research based perspective. This is a great book for those skeptical of the 'positive thinking' approach to changing mind set, changing behaviour and hence changing performance, and in turn life and fortune.
I have said in previous reviews that I like positive thinking and I believe it to be true that "if you change your mind, you can change your life" (William James, one of the founders of modern psychology). Richard Wiseman puts it another way - "Think a little; change a lot".
This book echoes one of Wiseman's other books ("The Luck Factor", a favourite of mine) in its empirical and scientific approach to areas of life so often and so easily dismissed. Be in no doubt, the brain has powers we have only just begun to really understand and apply and this book is a great addition to all this.
It is important in my work helping clients improve their performance, whether through my individual coaching or team building and motivational events. I could not recommend discovering Wiseman's work more highly.
Quirkology Was No One Hit Wonder: Well Done Professor Wiseman!
Most would agree that Quirkology: The Curious Science Of Everyday Lives was a brilliant book. So, given its strength, I bought 'Did You Spot The Gorilla' and was very disappointed by what felt like a rushed out book(let! of barely a 100 pages), and a poor distant cousin of Quirkology. Thus it was with some degree of hesitation, that I recently bought :59 Seconds...
And was I happy with it? Very much so. Professor Wiseman has definitely returned with gusto! 59:seconds is a book which proves that the man who wrote Quirkology had plenty more tricks up his sleeve. Although some have unjustly criticised his straying off course at times - insofar as when he has an interesting social experiment's results to hand, he cannot help himself, and slips same into the text - even when the accompanying pages may have less relevance to the results he's just disclosed. But I still say: interesting reading is interesting reading! And so what if the professor has seasoned his text with some liberal snippets of curiously entertaining information!? The book is all the better - not worse - for it.
In this most interesting & well written book, he seeks to find out if it's possible to change your life (from decision making and parenting to creativity, stress and relationships etc.) in the minimal of time? And, some 340 pages later, you'll be in no doubt that it is. It's clear that Professor Wiseman took no shortcuts in writing this book, which has some 27 pages of extensive reference notes; and is to be congratulated for producing arguably one of the best books on 'self help' ever written. On that note, Happiness Hypothesis: Putting Ancient Wisdom to the Test of Modern Science is another most brilliant book which takes a slightly different approach, but is also strongly recommended to you. Both books succeed in appealing to a wide audience, without being patronising, and do not labour readers with too much academic jargon etc.
Lastly, I am at a loss as to why at the time of writing this review, :59 Seconds has only 4/5 stars! It deserves far greater praise. Nonetheless, I very much look forward to what Professor Wiseman will publish next.
Worth a quick browse 
I wouldn't say it was the most earth shattering book I've read on the topic, but if you want a quick, easy to read refresher on how to be more effective, save time and be happier, then its worth a look.
A Customer 
This book was a disappointment. The author quoted lots of academic studies which made it hard work to read. The layout was also messy and the title did not live up to what it promised.
Listmania Lists:
Books for summer
Gift ideas
RELATED:
59 Seconds: Think a little, change a lot & More...
related blog:
Reasons to be cheerful
It is available from Amazon – http://www.amazon.co.uk/59-Seconds-Think-little-change/dp/023074429X – and all good bookshops. I got my copy from my local library. (The public library service is one of the great overlooked wonders of ...
http://www.lady.co.uk/blog/?p=6
59 seconds: think a little, change a lot
by: richard wiseman - isbn-13 978-0-230-74429-5 (isbn-10 0-230-74429-x)
http://www.books-by-isbn.com/0-230/023074429X-The-59-Seconds-Think-a-Little-Change-a-Lot-0-230-74429-X.html
vanishing head illusion
via youtube.com. dr richard wiseman rocks. he has a fascinating new book out called .59 seconds too. http://www.amazon.co.uk/59-seconds-think-little-change/dp/023074429x. posted via web from chrisgarrett.posterous ...
http://chrisg.org/vanishing-head-illusion/
