Product Description
This book proposes a new science of self-control based on the principles of behavioral psychology and economics. Claiming that insight and self-knowledge are insufficient for controlling one's behavior, Howard Rachlin argues that the only way to achieve such control--and ultimately happiness--is through the development of harmonious patterns of behavior. Most personal problems with self-control arise because people have difficulty delaying immediate gratification for a better future reward. The alcoholic prefers to drink now. If she is feeling good, a drink will make her feel better. If she is feeling bad, a drink will make her feel better. The problem is that drinking will eventually make her feel worse. This sequence--the consistent choice of a highly valued particular act (such as having a drink or a smoke) that leads to a low-valued pattern of acts--is called "the primrose path." To avoid it, the author presents a strategy of "soft commitment," consisting of the development of valuable patterns of behavior that bridge over individual temptations. He also proposes, from economics, the concept of the substitutability of "positive addictions," such as social activity or exercise, for "negative addictions," such as drug abuse or overeating. Self-control may be seen as the interaction with one's own future self. Howard Rachlin shows that indeed the value of the whole--of one's whole life--is far greater than the sum of the values of its individual parts.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 2 reviews)

Insightful science, not practically oriented by Michael A. Cohn (Ann Arbor, MI, USA)

4 Stars
October 28, 2002
Rachlin does an excellent job of deconstructing the concept of willpower, reducing it to a small number of skills and abilities which can be directly studied. His central thesis is that our ability to delay gratification for future gain is based on the act of "chunking" experiences. If you always make your decisions based on how you'll feel five minutes from now, then you'll never stay on a diet or learn to play the violin. Even for someone who's gotten past the initial hard work, the extended and deep pleasure that comes from (say) reading a challenging novel or kicking butt at football may be overwhelmed by the extraordiary low-cost but unfulfilling pleasure of vegging in front of the television or surfing random book reviews on the web. Rachlin uses some very clear language and some very confusing diagrams to explain how this works and how we can work to change, but his practical methods are a little naive. His construction of drug abuse is also highly questionable, although as a general model for self-perpetuating but valueless activity it is worthwhile. This book will give you a fascinating new perspective on why even good people can be lazy, stupid, or self-destructive, but don't expect detailed self-help exercises.

Comments on Scienc of Self-Control by A. Goldberg (Menlo Park, CA)

4 Stars
July 30, 2000
I am writing this review after only reading excerpts of the book. It is well written, with cogent examples that can act as a "How-to" book. Although based on science, it is clear enough to be understood by most, and should be helpful to all.

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