You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
85 reviews for:
The Tools: Transform Your Problems into Courage, Confidence, and Creativity
Phil Stutz, Barry Michels
3.45 AVERAGE
85 reviews for:
The Tools: Transform Your Problems into Courage, Confidence, and Creativity
Phil Stutz, Barry Michels
3.45 AVERAGE
Pages 270
Bright Red Cover
Contemporary Feel
Obstacles become opportunities is the main theme for creating change.
Recommended by Maria Semple, Marianne Williamson, Kathy Freston
Bright Red Cover
Contemporary Feel
Obstacles become opportunities is the main theme for creating change.
Recommended by Maria Semple, Marianne Williamson, Kathy Freston
Interesting concept. I didn't love the way it was presented but they had some helpful "tools" for life.
informative
medium-paced
This book has been flying off our shelves at work, so I'm going to see what it's all about!
---
Now that I'm finished, I feel that my rating (5/5) requires a nuanced review...especially given how split the readership seems to be in regards to the ratings. Whether or not I'll achieve the nuance and success in explaining...we'll see.
So, overall this is an excellent book for people who want a real way to take control of the psychological issues that they face in their lives. Out of control emotions, worrying, fear, shyness, inability to stay committed to a goal or set of rules (ie, eating well or not smoking, etc), and so on. There's tons of possibilities and not everyone will fit the extreme examples that the authors use in the book. I think that we could all use some help from at least one of the tools that they discuss. In fact, as I was reading the book I kept thinking in the back of my head that I need to buy a copy for this person or that person because they clearly need one tool or another to deal with some issue that they have. I simply can't afford that number of books, so instead here I am reviewing.
Yes, the book's perspective and explanation of how the tools work can be incredibly off-putting, especially for atheists or people who really dislike touchy-feely-ness. Essentially the authors refer to 'The Source' and other 'Forces' to help explain how the tools work, such as making a connection with The Source in order to utilize it's power in order to regain control over your thoughts and feelings and move on with life. The truth is, while they even say that if you want to think of The Source as God and that this is perfectly fine, one could name this 'power' just about anything: Energy, The Force (Star Wars fans?), Mother Nature, The Cosmos, The Gods, The Transcending Power of Society, that-thing-that-makes-us-connect-as-human-beings-that-we-can't-explain-but-clearly-has-an-effect-on-us, or something else! Honestly, I'm pretty sure that you could even use the tools without having a belief in this spiritual explanation of what's going on in the background when you use the tools - the authors even say that this is totally okay. One of the authors was raised an atheist and discusses his own journey in using the tools.
In regards to another criticism that I've read - that the authors are critical of consumerism and yet want people to buy their book. Well yes, and they address this quite directly. They note that a consumer would read the book through and not take any real meaning away from it, likely forgetting the tools and never using them again, if ever. Rather, the authors are pointing out that many of us are consumers in hopes that we'll find meaning, satisfaction, and self-worth through external means, such as buying the new object of status (a tv, the nice home, fancy clothes, etc), whereas true meaning and inner strength come from within. This doesn't mean that you can't live well, but rather that until you find your inner strength and happiness, you'll just be on a never-ending quest of consumerism in hopes that you will find it.
Finally, I wanted to quote a few passages from the book but since my library loan was a limited 7-day loan (best bets shelf), I had to return it today. I'm hoping to buy it soon, so perhaps then I can add more here. Not that this review isn't long enough already. Give the book a chance, and if you really can't stand the spirituality perspective that they discuss from time to time (mostly at the end), then just keep reading and leave the spirituality vocabulary aside so that you can at least try out the tools and see how they work in action.
---
Now that I'm finished, I feel that my rating (5/5) requires a nuanced review...especially given how split the readership seems to be in regards to the ratings. Whether or not I'll achieve the nuance and success in explaining...we'll see.
So, overall this is an excellent book for people who want a real way to take control of the psychological issues that they face in their lives. Out of control emotions, worrying, fear, shyness, inability to stay committed to a goal or set of rules (ie, eating well or not smoking, etc), and so on. There's tons of possibilities and not everyone will fit the extreme examples that the authors use in the book. I think that we could all use some help from at least one of the tools that they discuss. In fact, as I was reading the book I kept thinking in the back of my head that I need to buy a copy for this person or that person because they clearly need one tool or another to deal with some issue that they have. I simply can't afford that number of books, so instead here I am reviewing.
Yes, the book's perspective and explanation of how the tools work can be incredibly off-putting, especially for atheists or people who really dislike touchy-feely-ness. Essentially the authors refer to 'The Source' and other 'Forces' to help explain how the tools work, such as making a connection with The Source in order to utilize it's power in order to regain control over your thoughts and feelings and move on with life. The truth is, while they even say that if you want to think of The Source as God and that this is perfectly fine, one could name this 'power' just about anything: Energy, The Force (Star Wars fans?), Mother Nature, The Cosmos, The Gods, The Transcending Power of Society, that-thing-that-makes-us-connect-as-human-beings-that-we-can't-explain-but-clearly-has-an-effect-on-us, or something else! Honestly, I'm pretty sure that you could even use the tools without having a belief in this spiritual explanation of what's going on in the background when you use the tools - the authors even say that this is totally okay. One of the authors was raised an atheist and discusses his own journey in using the tools.
In regards to another criticism that I've read - that the authors are critical of consumerism and yet want people to buy their book. Well yes, and they address this quite directly. They note that a consumer would read the book through and not take any real meaning away from it, likely forgetting the tools and never using them again, if ever. Rather, the authors are pointing out that many of us are consumers in hopes that we'll find meaning, satisfaction, and self-worth through external means, such as buying the new object of status (a tv, the nice home, fancy clothes, etc), whereas true meaning and inner strength come from within. This doesn't mean that you can't live well, but rather that until you find your inner strength and happiness, you'll just be on a never-ending quest of consumerism in hopes that you will find it.
Finally, I wanted to quote a few passages from the book but since my library loan was a limited 7-day loan (best bets shelf), I had to return it today. I'm hoping to buy it soon, so perhaps then I can add more here. Not that this review isn't long enough already. Give the book a chance, and if you really can't stand the spirituality perspective that they discuss from time to time (mostly at the end), then just keep reading and leave the spirituality vocabulary aside so that you can at least try out the tools and see how they work in action.
I'm certain there's much in here that would be helpful to me and to many others. I'm going to give it some additional thought but I was not initially won over by its non-scientific faith-based reliance. I will test drive the strategies and see how it goes.
I learned about Phil Stutz from the Netflix documentary by Jonah Hill. I liked the ideas there and ordered the book. Over many years of his work as a therapist, Stutz developed certain 'tools' that help in many difficult situations. Rigorously testing them himself and with his patients, he formulated them in a certain way that's easy to use for anybody. This book features 5 of them designed to help when:
1) one needs to take an action they've been avoiding.. things that might cause pain and getting out of their comfort zone;
2) someone enrages you and your mind becomes obsessed with the thoughts of revenge;
3) you are faced with an intimidating situation when it's difficult to express yourself or connect with other people;
4) the mind is filled with worry, anxiety, or any other form of negative thinking;
5) you need to keep/resume your good habits like using the tools, but can't find the willpower for it.
The ending of the book was a bit unexpected, although - convincing for me. It resonated with me a lot and I think this was a very useful book for me. I've started using the tools feeling the immediate benefits. Highly recommend!
1) one needs to take an action they've been avoiding.. things that might cause pain and getting out of their comfort zone;
2) someone enrages you and your mind becomes obsessed with the thoughts of revenge;
3) you are faced with an intimidating situation when it's difficult to express yourself or connect with other people;
4) the mind is filled with worry, anxiety, or any other form of negative thinking;
5) you need to keep/resume your good habits like using the tools, but can't find the willpower for it.
The ending of the book was a bit unexpected, although - convincing for me. It resonated with me a lot and I think this was a very useful book for me. I've started using the tools feeling the immediate benefits. Highly recommend!
I’m definitely a believer in skills-based therapy and self-help, rather than endless navel-gazing, which is why I picked up this book. The tools, themselves, are described in simple terms that make them accessible - even if the concept is abstract or requires you to suspend skepticism. Some of the concepts might seem hokey, but I tend to believe that most skills will work to some degree if you use them. I especially liked the final chapter, where it discusses the potential of these tools when applied to the collective - not just the individual.
I tried each tool only at the moment the book has you do so, but I plan to now take each one and spend 2-4 weeks practicing with it to really get a feel for its effectiveness. Thankfully, I don’t have any raging personal dramas to wrestle with, but can always use help to a) enhance my commitment to goals (eg spiritual practice), and b) tamp down my self-righteous ire about the state of the world. I’ll try to remember to come back and edit this review after the experiment has concluded.
I tried each tool only at the moment the book has you do so, but I plan to now take each one and spend 2-4 weeks practicing with it to really get a feel for its effectiveness. Thankfully, I don’t have any raging personal dramas to wrestle with, but can always use help to a) enhance my commitment to goals (eg spiritual practice), and b) tamp down my self-righteous ire about the state of the world. I’ll try to remember to come back and edit this review after the experiment has concluded.
Mentioned by a friend and sounded interesting, so I gave it a read. Some of the tools themselves may have utility, and the authors have a few good insights about what drives certain types of behaviour. However, they started losing me around the talk of 'higher forces'. Not that I am saying there are or are not higher forces, but my level of cynicism goes up when people think that any such forces can be explained or predicted.
There's some great information in here, including some chapters that managed to explain feelings and experiences I've never been able to put into words myself.
As well as using well proven cognitive tools and logical bases, I found the inclusion of something like a "higher power" humans can draw upon interesting--it's clearly said that this source can be anything you're comfortable with, making it compatible with any philosophies or theologies.
I also appreciate the sections near the end discussing how any positive changes you make in your own life can (and will) ripple out into the world, potentially fundamentally changing it for the better, as well as discussing the reality of struggling to continue using thought tools we try using in any book. Sticking with positive life changes can be so difficult, so it's nice to have one of these books acknowledge that it's not a magic fix for your issues, but instead an aid that requires persistent effort and patience for yourself.
As well as using well proven cognitive tools and logical bases, I found the inclusion of something like a "higher power" humans can draw upon interesting--it's clearly said that this source can be anything you're comfortable with, making it compatible with any philosophies or theologies.
I also appreciate the sections near the end discussing how any positive changes you make in your own life can (and will) ripple out into the world, potentially fundamentally changing it for the better, as well as discussing the reality of struggling to continue using thought tools we try using in any book. Sticking with positive life changes can be so difficult, so it's nice to have one of these books acknowledge that it's not a magic fix for your issues, but instead an aid that requires persistent effort and patience for yourself.