Seligman documents the connection between learned helplessness, depression, and one’s “explanatory style,” that is, how we explain adversities and fortunate events in our lives. The Wikipedia entry on the book has a good summary.

In the last chapter Seligman discusses the role of excessive individualism in what he calls an epidemic of depression. He says that to be happy, people should look more to their communities, that is, have their life “be about something” beyond, paradoxically, their own happiness. This sounds plausible, and he’s not the first to say this. However, the preceding chapters did not relate any empirical evidence for this conclusion. Rather, they summarized many fascinating studies showing the power of optimistic explanatory style in fending off depression. Perhaps I should look at this more closely, as his recommendations for committing time to the “common good” seem to come out of left field.

Some good stories in this book include how Erickson, a therapist, uses unusual methods to assist his clients in addresses their issues.

1. Suggested to a woman who was “yo-yo” dieting to purpose gain an extra 20 pounds before losing the weight once again. This is an instance of “prescribing the symptom.”

2. A man was impotent, so Erickson suggested to the man’s wife that she refuse his sexual advances. He also told the man. After a few weeks, the man reframed the problem to be about his wife, and not himself, and he hence got around the impotence. Nice.

3. The “double bind” used in a (perhaps) healthy way: Erickson’s daughter was in medical school and says (p. 89):

“All patients have the right to refuse rectal, hernial, or vaginal examination by a medical student. None of the other female students have done any and I have done rectal, hernial, or vaginal on every one of my patients.”
I asked her how she did it, since they all had the right to refuse.
She said, “When I got to that part of the examination I smiled prettily and said very sympathetically, ‘I know you are tired of me peering into your eyes and peeking into your ears and up your nose and down your throat, poking you here and thumping you there. Now, as soon as I do the rectal and hernial you can say good-bye to me.’”
And they all waited patiently to say good-bye to her.

4. page 222:

DERAIL THEM
I got a letter yesterday from a former student. He said, “I had a rather paranoid patient in the room. All he wanted to talk about was his ideas. I tried to get his attention, but couldn’t. Then I thought about the unexpected, so I said, “No, I don’t like eating liver either.” The patient paused, shook his head, and said, “Usually, I like chicken.” And then the patient began talking about his real problems. The unexpected can always derail a train of thought, a trend of behavior, and you ought to use it.

5. “Never take an insult.” In “Blank Paper,” Erickson relates a story about a gifted student who likes pathology but “hates all psychologists.” Erickson assigned the students to review some readings in psychiatry, and when they are due, the student handed him a blank sheet of paper. Erickson responded: ”’Without reading your review, I notice you made two mistakes: you haven’t dated it, and you haven’t signed it. So, turn it in next Monday. And remember, a book review is like reading pathology slides.’ I got the one of the most competent book reviews I’ve ever had in my life.”

6. In “Salaam,” Erickson relates a story about a woman who’s always late to class, despite all the ridicule, complaining, and negative feedback of her peers. So instead, Erickson has all the students “salaam” her (I had to look this up, it’s to bow down), and she became punctual.

Orson Scott Card says this himself in the Afterward: “It’s a different kind of book from Ender’s Shadow. Different need not be better or worse, but I prefer the emphasis on interpersonal relations and the psychology and dynamics of leadership in Ender’s Shadow to the maneuvering of armies to conquer each other.

Case studies from a neurologist. Fine examples of how truth can be stranger than fiction, and the wonders of the human mind.

This is a great read. For a summary, see Malcom Gladwell’s review at Gladwell.com. Johnson argument that the potential revenue of DVD sales creates a market for television shows and movies that consumers can enjoy viewing several times is intrigiuing, and is a great example of how technology and art influence eachother. The discussion of video games is also worthwhile, as are his references to fascinating psychology studies. (Malcom Gladwell’s books are also great for this reason.)

Arguably the best live Talking Heads collection, especially in its new 2-CD set. For a long time this was available only on cassette. It’s more raw and less polished than Stop Making Sense, and is great for working out.

The Hudsucker Proxy is most likely my favorite movie because of its sense of humor and light moral, and sense of style.

Seldom to I find novels, such as those by Ayn Rand, with such admirable characters who are cunning, brilliant, and live with integrity to their purpose. This is one reason I like Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow, and also (in video) Firefly.