A Guide to Personal Happiness [Paperback]

I started to get into philosophy after I graduated college. I read books by Bertrand Russell and Ayn Rand. I thought Bertrand Russel was great because was he was so logical and down-to-earth. Then I discovered "A Guide to Personal Happiness" and it blew me away. The philosophy presented in this book was so logical, realistic and profound. In the first chapter he succinctly states why someone should put themselves first and go after personal happiness. In the next section, he then illustrates his therapy: All people seem to have grandiose notions about the world, other people and themselves. By giving up these notions using logical, realistic thinking, they can live better and rid themselves of emotional problems such as anger, anxiety, and depression. Ellis was one of the first psychologists to plainly state that faulty thinking causes most emotional disturbance. It seems to me to be almost a trivial observation. He basically shows you how to analyze your faulty thinking, which is almost trivial, and then shows you how to minimize it, which is really difficult. There are several chapters in the book, which are basically transcripts of a session using his therapy. I found them extremely fascinating and it really started to challenge a good deal of my thinking. The last chapter deals with self-actualization. It just a list of the things that bring people pleasure. I still refer to it when I feel depressed. It's a real pick-me up. I have read many books by Ellis and over the years and I'm amazed on how profound his ideas are. I don't always like what he says, but what he says is usually realistic.

I have just re-ordered this book, which I read long ago and wish to re-read. In a world of superstition and wishful thinking, where more and more people seem to adopt "New Age" religious placebos, or revert to traditional religious superstitions, shamanism, talking in tongues, scriving, haruscupating, reading the cards, contacting the collective unconscious, or dancing with rattlesnakes, a rational approach to anything, let alone personal psychological health, is rare and precious.

I remember Ellis's book as one which actually helped me feel better about myself, without any channeling, chanting, or charms. Ellis allows you to put yourself and your happiness above the tangle of external measures and standards, measures and standards which you have internalized. Ellis helps you realize that these critical standards are not a priori elements of your consciousness, but are actually the opinions of others which have been smuggled into your mind over the years.

I look forward to refreshing my self-knowledge in the light of reason. I look forward to re-reading Ellis.