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paola_mobileread's review against another edition
3.0
This was an ok read for me - in the beginning it felt like a self help book, and I got the same exact feeling from the concluding chapter, but overall it did contain a good measure of results. There isn't a particular theory of willpower that is fed to the reader as the ultimate way to think about it, or at least the narrative is more subtle than that, and sure as I am no psychologist it could be that it reports rather selectively only results which are closer to the line of research of Baumeister, one of the authors - nevertheless I did get something out of it, and the various experiments and results are presented clearly and in such a fashion as to present a coherent view.
There are interesting points and angle that I were new to me, such as the implied role of new technologies to keep people in check as a substitute for religion; and interesting points on dieting. But to my taste the book tended too often to stray towards the and-now-I-tell-you-how-you-can-avoi-such-pitfalls-in-you-life that irk me deeply.
Overall, though not overjoied I am glad I read this book.
There are interesting points and angle that I were new to me, such as the implied role of new technologies to keep people in check as a substitute for religion; and interesting points on dieting. But to my taste the book tended too often to stray towards the and-now-I-tell-you-how-you-can-avoi-such-pitfalls-in-you-life that irk me deeply.
Overall, though not overjoied I am glad I read this book.
kellegirl's review against another edition
5.0
This book is not only informative but it teaches a great deal about what leads to personal success in any area of life. I read it because I believed I had a challenge with instant gratification in the area of food and many other things. I came away with proven strategies and an understanding of how those strategies work. I highly recommend this book.
martynov94's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
mahir007's review against another edition
5.0
ظهرت العلاقة بين الجلوكوز وضبط النفس في الدراسات التي أجريت على الأشخاص المصابين بنقص السكر في الدم . لاحظ الباحثون أن الأشخاص الذين يعانون من نقص السكر في الدم كانوا أكثر عرضة من الشخص العادي لأن يواجهوا صعوبة في التركيز والتحكم في عواطفهم السلبية عند استفزازهم. بشكل عام ، كانوا يميلون إلى أن يكونوا أكثر قلقًا وأقل سعادة من المتوسط. تم الإبلاغ أيضًا عن انتشار نقص السكر في الدم بشكل غير عادي بين المجرمين وغيرهم من الأشخاص العنيفين ، وقدم بعض محامي الدفاع المبدعين أبحاث انخفاض نسبة السكر في الدم إلى المحكمة.
أصبحت القضية سيئة السمعة خلال محاكمة عام 1979 لدان وايت بسبب اغتياله اثنين من مسؤولي المدينة في سان فرانسيسكو ، العمدة جورج موسكون وهارفي ميلك ، عضو مجلس المشرفين وأبرز سياسي مثلي الجنس بشكل علني في أمريكا. عندما استشهد طبيب نفساني في شهادته للدفاع عن وايت ، باستهلاكه الكثير من الوجبات السريعة في الأيام التي سبقت جرائم القتل ، سخر الصحفيون من وايت لمحاولته إعفاء نفسه بتلك الطريقة . في الواقع ، لم يكن رئيس دفاع وايت يبني على الحجة القائلة بأن الوجبات السريعة جعلته قاتلًا من خلال التسبب في ارتفاع مستويات السكر في الدم بسرعة ثم الانهيار.
جادل محاموه بأنه يستحق الرحمة لأنه عانى من "تقلص القدرة" بسبب الاكتئاب الشديد ، وقدموا استهلاكه للوجبات السريعة (إلى جانب التغييرات الأخرى في العادات) كدليل على اكتئابه ، وليس كسبب له. ولكن عندما تلقى وايت حكماً مخففاً نسبيًا ، أصبحت الحكمة الشعبية أن دفاع الوجبات السريعة قد نجح ، وكان الجمهور غاضبًا بشكل مفهوم.
.
Roy F. Baumeister
Willpower
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
أصبحت القضية سيئة السمعة خلال محاكمة عام 1979 لدان وايت بسبب اغتياله اثنين من مسؤولي المدينة في سان فرانسيسكو ، العمدة جورج موسكون وهارفي ميلك ، عضو مجلس المشرفين وأبرز سياسي مثلي الجنس بشكل علني في أمريكا. عندما استشهد طبيب نفساني في شهادته للدفاع عن وايت ، باستهلاكه الكثير من الوجبات السريعة في الأيام التي سبقت جرائم القتل ، سخر الصحفيون من وايت لمحاولته إعفاء نفسه بتلك الطريقة . في الواقع ، لم يكن رئيس دفاع وايت يبني على الحجة القائلة بأن الوجبات السريعة جعلته قاتلًا من خلال التسبب في ارتفاع مستويات السكر في الدم بسرعة ثم الانهيار.
جادل محاموه بأنه يستحق الرحمة لأنه عانى من "تقلص القدرة" بسبب الاكتئاب الشديد ، وقدموا استهلاكه للوجبات السريعة (إلى جانب التغييرات الأخرى في العادات) كدليل على اكتئابه ، وليس كسبب له. ولكن عندما تلقى وايت حكماً مخففاً نسبيًا ، أصبحت الحكمة الشعبية أن دفاع الوجبات السريعة قد نجح ، وكان الجمهور غاضبًا بشكل مفهوم.
.
Roy F. Baumeister
Willpower
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
kimball_hansen's review against another edition
5.0
I'd give this book 6 stars. I took so many notes on it. Anyone can benefit from this read. It is very diverse and covers a broad variety of topics from child-rearing to weight gain. I enjoyed all the different studies and science experiments that were performed. It discussed the science behind willpower such as glucose which I found to be pretty insightful.
I was surprised procrastination was hardly mentioned until the very end.
This book along with [b:The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|12609433|The Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|Charles Duhigg|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366758683s/12609433.jpg|17624817] and [b:The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less|10639|The Paradox of Choice Why More Is Less|Barry Schwartz|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410138134s/10639.jpg|1157840] is The Perfect Storm (in my opinion) for realizing and obtaining personal success and potential. If we can understand willpower, habits, and choices better we are able to act and govern our own lives instead of being acted upon being just a bunch of yuppies as Kramer would say.
Time to read it again.
I was surprised procrastination was hardly mentioned until the very end.
This book along with [b:The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|12609433|The Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|Charles Duhigg|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366758683s/12609433.jpg|17624817] and [b:The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less|10639|The Paradox of Choice Why More Is Less|Barry Schwartz|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410138134s/10639.jpg|1157840] is The Perfect Storm (in my opinion) for realizing and obtaining personal success and potential. If we can understand willpower, habits, and choices better we are able to act and govern our own lives instead of being acted upon being just a bunch of yuppies as Kramer would say.
Time to read it again.
meilanae's review against another edition
read this for class but actually really enjoyed it! super cool interesting studies
clarks_dad's review against another edition
5.0
Anyone who knows me knows what I think of the field of psychology in general as a "science," let alone my opinion when it comes to the self-help genre, which is why I'm really surprised that Willpower is not only one of the best books I've read all year, but one of my favorite pieces of nonfiction writing to come along in a while. Willpower cites enough peer-reviewed studies across several fields from psychology to biology and neuroscience to satisfy even the most skeptical of readers while maintaining a narrative tone that sparks readers' curiosity before elucidating some rather (in retrospect) obvious observations about the workings of the human mind. Far from the tawdry self-help book that it may seem from its description, this book is a report on solid and fascinating social and biological science that incidentally can help people who have "weak wills" get a handle on their lives.
As a historian, I found Baumeister and Teirney's Victorian era cultural history original and intriguing and I think their analysis of the religious influence on the notion of self-control spot on for Western societies. In fact, a lot of the book's strength stems from placing modern notions and values about control, dieting and work ethic in historical context and across cultures as well. For a cynic in the field like myself, I liked that the overall tone of the work was inherently skeptical. Baumeister and Teirney are quick to question and point out potential flaws in some of the rather astonishing findings of some of the studies they present and seem to intuitively predict the calls of "BS!" that are likely to first come across the reader's mind. They then professionally cite other studies done either by themselves or other researchers that address those very issues to confirm the findings. The result is a pretty air-tight argument for the resurrection of the Victorian age's notion of Willpower as an (almost) physical thing. Along the way, the authors include interesting anecdotes from nearly every walk of life, from stand-up comics to Oprah Winfrey, college students and professors to street magicians highlighting important new discoveries in the science of how and why we do what we do.
Willpower represents the best of the new wave of non-fiction that bridges the academic divisions between subjects in the attempt at finding new ways of thinking about familiar things. I think the future remains bright for interdisciplinary works of this kind. One small thing that was odd to me: the author credits in the book go to Baumeister and Tierney whose studies form the core of the findings in this work and are referred to in third person throughout. Is this a relic of high school english where we never use the word "I" in academic papers or is this standard in academic works in psychology? For my own personal taste, it makes the work feel a little like false modesty. It also feels pretty awkward. Not a big deal; most of the time I was able to just forget who the author was and assume a third person perspective.
Highly recommend for disorganized people, people who are generally discontent with their level of productivity or people trying to kick bad habits. The studies alone are enough to change your behaviors. Thankfully, Baumeister and Tierney leave the preaching to others.
As a historian, I found Baumeister and Teirney's Victorian era cultural history original and intriguing and I think their analysis of the religious influence on the notion of self-control spot on for Western societies. In fact, a lot of the book's strength stems from placing modern notions and values about control, dieting and work ethic in historical context and across cultures as well. For a cynic in the field like myself, I liked that the overall tone of the work was inherently skeptical. Baumeister and Teirney are quick to question and point out potential flaws in some of the rather astonishing findings of some of the studies they present and seem to intuitively predict the calls of "BS!" that are likely to first come across the reader's mind. They then professionally cite other studies done either by themselves or other researchers that address those very issues to confirm the findings. The result is a pretty air-tight argument for the resurrection of the Victorian age's notion of Willpower as an (almost) physical thing. Along the way, the authors include interesting anecdotes from nearly every walk of life, from stand-up comics to Oprah Winfrey, college students and professors to street magicians highlighting important new discoveries in the science of how and why we do what we do.
Willpower represents the best of the new wave of non-fiction that bridges the academic divisions between subjects in the attempt at finding new ways of thinking about familiar things. I think the future remains bright for interdisciplinary works of this kind. One small thing that was odd to me: the author credits in the book go to Baumeister and Tierney whose studies form the core of the findings in this work and are referred to in third person throughout. Is this a relic of high school english where we never use the word "I" in academic papers or is this standard in academic works in psychology? For my own personal taste, it makes the work feel a little like false modesty. It also feels pretty awkward. Not a big deal; most of the time I was able to just forget who the author was and assume a third person perspective.
Highly recommend for disorganized people, people who are generally discontent with their level of productivity or people trying to kick bad habits. The studies alone are enough to change your behaviors. Thankfully, Baumeister and Tierney leave the preaching to others.