About the Book
Surprising, life-changing solutions to the social problems that affect us all
Why will most self help books leave you worse off? How do youth rehabilitation programmes backfire? And how can one volunteer help the whole of society?
Redirecting the stories you tell about yourself - and changing the stories others are telling about themselves - can help everyone, whether improving education and parenting skills or reducing crime, teen pregnancies, and drug and alcohol abuse.
This timely, life-changing book offers practical advice that has been proven to give real results. Redirect will show you exactly how you can be happier and more successful, using only the power of your own stories.
About the Author :
Timothy D. Wilson is the Sherrell J. Aston Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. He is the author of Strangers to Ourselves, which was named by New York Times Magazine as one of the Best 100 Ideas of 2002, and is co-author of the bestselling Social Psychology textbook, now in its seventh edition. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife and two children.
Review :
"Particularly when criticizing various failed social policies and programs, REDIRECT is sensible and reasonably convincing. Wilson...knows his behavioral research and is a fair and careful critic."-- Boston Globe
"REDIRECT is a 10-chapter treasure trove of information on various aspects of social psychology....The man who wrote REDIRECT is patently honest and fair in his assessments of all the barriers keeping any of us from being all we can, and might, be....[It's] a book to stir all of one's human instincts and curiosity."-- Daily Progress
"[In "Redirect"], a keen observer of the human condition explains how tweaking our personal narratives can have a huge effect on our lives."-- Kirkus Reviews
"In clear prose that does not trivialize the science, Wilson reviews the many success stories in social psychology....As the scientist Paul C. Stern once wrote, a policy objective of science is to 'separate common sense from common nonsense and make uncommon sense more common.' Wilson's book does science and society a great service by accomplishing precisely this."-- Science
"[In Redirect"], a keen observer of the human condition explains how tweaking our personal narratives can have a huge effect on our lives."-- Kirkus Reviews
"For those...who find in social psychology a viable vehicle for leading us more surely on the path towards what is true, right and good, REDIRECT is likely to be a stimulating, valuable read."-- New Scientist Culture Lab
"Accessible, engaging and consistently WTF-worthy...an instant classic of popular science."-- Evening Standard
"This presents a fascinating argument for how humans make sense of the world."-- Library Journal
"Wilson convincingly argues that our conscious minds are but the tip of the iceberg in deciding how we behave, what is important to us, and how we feel...A fascinating read."-- Library Journal
"One of the foremost psychologists of our time, Timothy Wilson shows us that solving endemic social problems and making ourselves happier, healthier, and more successful is within our grasp. "Redirect" reveals the hidden meanings we assume in our everyday lives, how these meanings shape our behavior, and how we can change our assumptions and the world. Extraordinary."--Greg Walton, PhD, Department of Psychology, Stanford University
"Renowned social psychologist Timothy Wilson writes for those of us who want to make a real difference in our worlds (and not just to fool ourselves into thinking we're doing so). With wit and wisdom, he shows us how to spare ourselves worthless (or worse) interventions, think smarter, and live well."--David G. Myers, Hope College, author of "The Pursuit of Happiness"
"Wouldn't it be amazing if a very smart scientist could write a book on happiness, crime, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, parenting, and teenage pregnancy-and sum up all the research in clear and surprising lessons on how we should live our lives? Well, Timothy Wilson is the scientist and "Redirect" is the book, and it is in fact amazing."--Daniel M. Wegner, Harvard University, author of "The Illusion of Conscious Will"
"There are few academics who write with as much grace and wisdom as Timothy Wilson. "Redirect" is a masterpiece."--Malcolm Gladwell
""Redirect" is a great book! In his uniquely engaging way, Wilson shows how simple techniques can deliver large and lasting personal changes--and convinces us that only good research can give us these techniques."--Carol Dweck, PhD, author of "Mindset"
"Is it possible to reinvent ourselves, transform our children, and improve our communities? Professor Timothy Wilson proposes an idea that many readers will find revolutionary - namely, that the most effective methods are often deceptively simple. What matters most is not pressuring the people that we want to change, but subtly helping them to shift the stories that they tell about themselves. Whether you are a parent, educator, employer, or simply someone who cares about making the world a better place, you should read this book."--Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and author of "The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want"
"This glorious book shimmers with insights-an instant classic that will be discussed and quoted for generations. One of the great psychologists of our time, Timothy Wilson has distilled the field's wisdom and shown us how to use it to change ourselves and the world. This may well be the single most important psychology book ever written. Not to be missed!"--Daniel Gilbert, author of "Stumbling on Happiness"
"Timothy Wilson's book "Redirect" reminds me why I became a social psychologist. Without solid laboratory and real world research, some of society's most important decisions can easily be guided by faulty beliefs. The genius of Wilson's book is that it points out how mistakes can be made and, at the same time, how research can help us to correct these errors. This should be required reading for any well-intentioned person who wants to make the world a better place. It brings together central issues in psychology, public policy, community activism, and science."--James W. Pennebaker, Professor and Chair of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, and Author of "The Secret Life of Pronouns"
"With a deft narrative touch, an engaging metaphor for bringing about psychological change (personal story editing), and a ferocious commitment to scientific evidence, Timothy Wilson has made a remarkable contribution to knowledge."--Robert Cialdini, author of "Influence: Science and Practice"
