Tag: Psychology Books

Wachtel on the Who, What, Why and How of the Psychopath.

As a Social Science teacher, I am always looking for books that allow me to discover more about, and understand the social sciences in nuanced ways. This becomes particularly helpful when answering questions that my students have about various concepts like: What is the difference between positive and negative punishment? What was Freud thinking when he came up with the Oedipus and Electra complexes (complexi?)? Or, my personal favourite: What are the precise differences between a sociopath and a psychopath, Ms.? Good question, let me look that up…

Enter, Dr. Maximillian (Max) Wachtel’s succinct and concise research and analysis on the sociopath and psychopath: a short book titled, Sociopaths & Psychopaths: a crisis of conscience and empathy. A forensic psychologist who has interviewed a plethora of criminals for various court cases, Wachtel makes the research (precious little and none of it in any way definitive) accessible to readers of all strokes. You don’t need to have a PhD in Psychology to understand what he is saying. As a teacher, I appreciated the language he used to break down the most important concepts around this intriguing branch of psychology. Enriched with information from various sources (Wachtel has clearly done ample research, evidenced by the 80+ resources he has cited at the end of his book), Wachtel adds an extra layer of appeal for readers by introducing this subject from different angles, he throws in a bit of philosophy, the law, neuroscience. At turns cheeky, serious and cringingly (is that a word?) funny, Wachtel makes you feel smarter while somehow managing to entertain you (this is like EVERY teacher’s job description; yes I took down some tips!). He covers the amygdala (one of my favourite parts of the brain!), the concept of free will and morality, of having a conscience or being amoral, the DSM-5 (that fancy book that psychologists use as A tool – it is one of many – to diagnose mental disorders in patients), and so much more with such ease. I feel like a bit of an expert on the topic myself, off I go to write a book about it…

In all seriousness, if you are in any way interested in learning more about sociopaths and psychopaths (and don’t pretend you aren’t; I know you’ve binge-watched nearly every show on Netflix with a deranged character as the lead), give this quick and comprehensive read a try. I finished this book in two sittings, in about an hour and a half (I was taking notes for a project I am working on, so it took a bit longer). Fellow Social Science teachers, this book might be of particular interest to you, especially if you decide to do a lesson on Antisocial Personality Disorder (Sociopaths and Psychopaths technically fall into this category). You can also encourage your senior students to read it themselves if they are interested in the topic. Happy reading, and let me know what you think!

Joel Osteen’s Think Better Live Better: Hope in 207 Pages

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Joel Osteen is a well-known name in religious Christian circles. This man has an extensive media persona and for all the right reasons. With the pseudo-miracle workers that prey on people’s vulnerabilities, it is easy enough to lump Joel Osteen into the same category, but this man actually spreads valuable messages. I have watched him on T.V. and read his books and my deduction is simply this, he actually cares about making a positive difference in the lives of the people he hopes to touch.

I recently read his latest book, Think Better Live Better that came out this Fall (2016), and if anyone should need testament of how a book can change your life, I would call into admittance this one. The thing that strikes me most about this book is the humility inherent in Osteen’s writing. He is obviously a man of much influence, but he still writes to his readers as one of God’s humble servants, with respect, kindness and gentleness. It is this tone that will render the readers most set in their ways more than willing to let him in to change them for the better. This book brims with positivism, and it is not just the kind that throws a bunch of feel-good sayings in your face and then scampers off the page. No, Osteen goes beyond that to offer real-life examples and opportunities for you to apply his teachings. He doesn’t heap it all into a few hundred pages. He breaks it down into little lessons that will get you thinking about how you can apply them to your life with the turn of each page. He repeats his positive messages over and over again and finds clever ways to connect his teachings, weaving in powerful and often poignant real-life stories.

Bursting with words of hope, faith, charity, kindness, and truly uplifting stories, Osteen’s genuine desire to help, to reach out and enable people shines through and makes you want to take stock of your own life and rise up to meet your divine destiny. This book is not exclusive to the religious or followers of only Christianity or even fans of Osteen. No, this book is for anyone who has lost themselves, lost hope or faith or lost the will to try harder. This is for those people who need someone to believe in them so they can straighten up and forge ahead to fulfill all they were meant to. In an age where we have become more aware about how to live healthy lifestyles, tapping into meatless diets and better fitness levels, there is something to be said for nourishing your emotional and spiritual selves. There is something to be said about the necessity for hope, and this book is literally hope in 207 pages. This book helped me navigate a dark time in my own life, and with each page I read I felt my own hope beginning to grow into its former self. If you are looking to love yourself again and to live a more fulfilled life where you can then leave a positive legacy, this would be my recommended go-to. If you do get around to reading it, I would love to hear what you thought!

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Blink: A Look at How We Make Decisions 

Rating: 4.5/5

Psychology has always been a favourite subject of mine. How the human mind works is truly fascinating, and even that is an understatement. Having dabbled in Malcolm Gladwell before, I appreciate his finesse for writing. So, when I had the chance to sink my teeth into Blink, I was excited.

In Blink, Gladwell tackles the rather complex concept of human decision-making. He delivers with succinct detail, thoughtful examples of scenarios where humans have used different pathways to make their decisions. He divides the paths into two: deliberate thinking accompanied by information-gathering, and subconscious ‘gut’ instincts that lead us to ‘just know’. Gladwell is able to make this very multifaceted idea a very accessible one for readers not well-versed in the psychological jargon. In the same breath, he offers even psychology aficionados insights into this very intriguing human mindset. I have a degree in psychology and I was thoroughly enthralled by his various research points and deductions.

One of the many things I genuinely appreciated about this book was the care Gladwell has taken in organizing the material. He begins with scenarios to get you thinking about various connections, and then proceeds to poke at them to break things down so he can piece together the bigger picture, so you can have your “Aha!” moment. In doing so, he conveys his very interesting information in a scaffolding fashion (my fellow teachers will smile here), thereby building on your knowledge throughout the book to create a sound understanding of this topic.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, evidenced by the many notes I made in margins and sticky tags on every other page, for ideas I found worth revisiting at a later date. To anyone who wants to learn more about what influences our decisions, you’ll definitely want to grab this book off a store shelf. I have also, through the reading of this book, begun to pay closer attention to my conscious and unconscious thinking and how each affects my behaviour. If nothing else, I have gained a keener sense of self-awareness, and that in itself is quite a gain.

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