Take Charge of Your Life: How to Get What You Need with Choice-Theory Psychology

This book has a great need for a good editor to go through and stop the rambling repetitive prose. When this is done, PLEASE REMOVE the bias against homosexuality as that would likely be considered offensive. It is very outdated in many places. But, over all, I found it so frustrating to read that I nearly didn't get through it. I had assumed it was a good book as I heard through my research that it was used in some prison settings as a text book. I assigned a client to read it and have had to apologize for assigning it before I'd had time to read it myself. Yuck. This book might have veins of some gold here and there about Choice Theory and Reality Therapy, it it is not worth the frustration. STAY AWAY. I don't think anyone should buy this book. I think there are better books anywhere else on this topic.

Thank you.

I’ve seen a lot of people online comment on (and criticize) Dr Glasser’s Choice Theory who haven’t actually read his books. All I can say is read the whole thing before you make up your mind about this book. As a mom & wife this has helped me so much to improve my relationships with my family. As a future teacher, it has helped me to plan what I want my classroom to look like and how I will make sure my future students’ need are met. I’m very grateful I encountered Dr Glasser’s name in the course of my studies. This book is a game changer.

Easy to read and understand. It makes sense why some people get sick and what can happen when a person is not in control of their actions. I have listened to Dr. Glasser speak to educators years ago. I went to hear him as a Doubting Thomas and became a disciple. I read his books on Control Theory and Reality Therapy and u sing his ideas totally changed the way in which I engaged with my high school students in a very positive way! His ideas are relevant to all aspects and relationships in our life.

One day, some teenagers broke into a local school nearby where I live. By coincident me and a friend who is actually the headmaster of the school, was there and was catching one of them. I expected to see my friend very angry, getting the police involved. But the way he handled it was a total surprise to me and very impressive. Later he told me that this was ‘techniques’ from a program they had just introduced at school. And this program was based on Choice Theory. Choice Theory have made me a better father, husband, and colleague at work. Highly recommended.

"Take Charge of Your Life", by William Glasser, M.D., is well worth the price and is now an essential part of my personal library. It is an excellent work for preventing AND solving relationship problems, and for getting along well with one's friends, acquaintances, and spouse and family. One key point that has stayed with me is that there are only negative consequences in being critical toward other people [that is, criticizing others], and criticizing others is a sure way to wreck good friendships and marriages. Dr. Glasser's books are always an interesting read, and I have also read three other books of his: "Reality Therapy", "Positive Addiction", and "Choice Theory"---all essential titles that I recommend and own.

This is not only an excellent and practical update of Glasser's book Choice Theory, but also a very user friendly book. It explains the why and how we need to change the way we think about ourselves and our environment to be able to get what we want and need.I highly recommend this to friends and clients when they are wondering why they are stuck and not moving in the direction they want to move.Tip: Every chapter builds on the previous one, so read it from front to back the first time around. Then read the sections specific to the changes you want to make.

Tldr; you choose how you react to life. You choose to be sad (depressing, in Glasser's parlance), you choose to drink too much, you choose to criticize others and limit your interactions with them. And you make these choices for what are, to start, good reasons. We want to feel happy and connected and, most importantly in this book, in control. Glasses then asks a devastatingly simple question--is how you are acting getting you what you want? Overall, the point is a good one, but the book is underwritten, chatty and repetitive. Short read, and worthwhile.

This is a great book with some invaluable lessons on how to take charge of your life and be happier.

A book that can help you step outside yourself and see things from a different perspective. Not too keen on Dr Glasser's chapters on medicine and education, but his insights into the concept of having a mental picture of how life should be that can lead to poor choices is useful if you are disillusioned and looking for direction. A book that demands rereading of certain sections to get the most benefit.

I ordered this book because i am preparing a 3hr presentation on reality therapy. The style of writing is clear and i found it personally challenging - i am looking forward to finishing my presentation so that i have time to work through this book for myself

It could be really good, but I'm finding his message kind of mixed and there is a lot of filler. I am going to have to find another book on choice theory, written by someone different, to make sure I understand it.

Like most psychology based books, it all boils down to common sense. The author presents these theories and practices very well through the book and use good examples. Pleased I read it.