This book is such a wonderful, though-provoking read. It’s also delightfully different than most personal development books in that it’s written as a dialogue, so it almost feels like a fiction book.
The dialogue format, also known as the Socratic Method, has its beginning back when Socrates was teaching Plato through conversations. We, as the reader, can learn alot from the mentor/student conversations in this book.
The theories explored in these conversations are from the psychologist Alfred Adler. And as the mentor in the book guides the student through his negative outlook and low self-esteem, we learn about this type of psychology and what a positive impact it can make.
Here’s a passage to give you an idea of the style and content – and it’s on page 35, so it is early enough in the student’s journey to no spoil any of the subsequent discoveries.
Student: One wants to change, but changing is scary?
Mentor: When we try to change our lifestyles, we put out great courage to the test. There is the anxiety generated by changing, and the disappointment attendant to not changing. I am sure you have selected the latter.
Student: Wait… just now, you used the word “courage”
Mentor: Yes. Adlerian psychology is a psychology of courage. Your unhappiness cannot be blamed on your past or your environment. And it isn’t that you lack competence. You just lack courage. One might say you are lacking in the courage to be happy.
Wow! So much to unpack there and the book does just that, looking at how we can be more accountable for our own happiness. The lessons continue to build on each other and it’s such a joy to go on this journey.
My big takeaway might spoil that journey for you, so instead I’ll share that this book really empowered me to embrace my role in my own happiness, especially in relationships.
This book absolutely unlocked my own courage to be disliked, which is certainly a work in progress, but I’m already seeing the positive results… and it’s just been a few weeks into the process.
So I certainly recommend this book and look forward to hearing your top takeaways!
