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85 reviews for:
The Tools: Transform Your Problems into Courage, Confidence, and Creativity
Phil Stutz, Barry Michels
85 reviews for:
The Tools: Transform Your Problems into Courage, Confidence, and Creativity
Phil Stutz, Barry Michels
I received my copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway that I entered. I want to say upfront that I only made it about half way through this book- reading a bit here and there before bed. To me, this is a repackaging of the idea of using creative visualization to make changes in one's life. I've heard about this idea since I was a college student. I do believe it can work and I know many successful people- especially in sports and the performing arts fields use this technique to improve their performance. I just thought this version was very complex and specific. I think I would have to carry around note cards with prompts to remind me which "tool" I needed to use in which situation. So- it was not for me. However, I think for certain individuals, this could be a very helpful system.
This was recommended to me by someone in my writing group so I gave it a try, despite the "Hollywood's secret to life!" sticker plastered over it.
God this was painful. Far too much time was spent hyping up the "tools", which one of the authors keeps emphasizing no other therapist will give you, only for the tools to be basic mindfulness practices repackaged with tepid spirituality adjacent language.
Absolutely not.
God this was painful. Far too much time was spent hyping up the "tools", which one of the authors keeps emphasizing no other therapist will give you, only for the tools to be basic mindfulness practices repackaged with tepid spirituality adjacent language.
Absolutely not.
Yes, I know of Phil Stutz from the infamous Netflix documentary directed by Jonah Hill, a documentary about what tools his therapist use to help him in life, tools that actually work.
Phil Stutz captivated me, the documentary captivated me all.
I’ve started to search things about him myself and that’s how I’ve found this book, which I recommend from the get go.
If you are a sufferer of any type of mental health but especially anxiety and depression, these tools are for you.
Learn about them and apply them at all times. They are not only helpful but amazing, they change your life like no other.
It’s actually insane.
Couldn’t recommend this book enough.
Phil Stutz captivated me, the documentary captivated me all.
I’ve started to search things about him myself and that’s how I’ve found this book, which I recommend from the get go.
If you are a sufferer of any type of mental health but especially anxiety and depression, these tools are for you.
Learn about them and apply them at all times. They are not only helpful but amazing, they change your life like no other.
It’s actually insane.
Couldn’t recommend this book enough.
read this book yeaaaars ago (forgot when, probably before I created a Goodreads account because I didn't log it) and I still have my handwritten notes about it. I was reminded of this because of Jonah Hill's docu about his therapist who shared some "tools" and concepts like "maze" and "shadow" (which are all mentioned in the book). when I went to GR to look for this, I realized that the psychiatrist is LITERALLY ONE OF THE AUTHORS (Phil Stutz).
I'm logging my notes here tbh mainly for me if ever I lose my notes somehow, at least I still have a reference here. but hey something might interest you, I suggest you read this or watch Stutz.
THE TOOLS by Stutz & Michels
(1) Reversal of Desire (Force of Forward Motion)
- when: pain you're avoiding
- do:
* demand pain "I love pain" (cloud)
* "pain sets me free"
(2) Active Love (Outflow)
- when: someone angers you
- do:
* concentration, transmission, penetration
* don't get stuck inside the maze
(3) Inner Authority (Force of Self-expression)
- when: difficult to express yourself/connect to people
- "shadow" - negative habits
- do:
* focus on shadow, unbreakable bond
* "LISTEN!"
(4) Grateful Flow (Gratefulness)
- when: worry, self-hatred, any negative thoughts
- do:
* visit specific things that you are thankful for
* feel gratefulness, energy from ❤️
* chest will soften and open
(5) Jeopardy (Willpower)
- when: can't use tool, feel you don't need tools
- do:
* imagine yourself lying on your deathbed
* older self: "Don't waste the present!"
I'm logging my notes here tbh mainly for me if ever I lose my notes somehow, at least I still have a reference here. but hey something might interest you, I suggest you read this or watch Stutz.
THE TOOLS by Stutz & Michels
(1) Reversal of Desire (Force of Forward Motion)
- when: pain you're avoiding
- do:
* demand pain "I love pain" (cloud)
* "pain sets me free"
(2) Active Love (Outflow)
- when: someone angers you
- do:
* concentration, transmission, penetration
* don't get stuck inside the maze
(3) Inner Authority (Force of Self-expression)
- when: difficult to express yourself/connect to people
- "shadow" - negative habits
- do:
* focus on shadow, unbreakable bond
* "LISTEN!"
(4) Grateful Flow (Gratefulness)
- when: worry, self-hatred, any negative thoughts
- do:
* visit specific things that you are thankful for
* feel gratefulness, energy from ❤️
* chest will soften and open
(5) Jeopardy (Willpower)
- when: can't use tool, feel you don't need tools
- do:
* imagine yourself lying on your deathbed
* older self: "Don't waste the present!"
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Sono rimasta perplessa perché veramente libro privo di nozioni interessanti.
Ovvio che molte delle cose hanno senso e potrebbero essere efficaci ma sconsiglio la lettura a chiunque.
Ovvio che molte delle cose hanno senso e potrebbero essere efficaci ma sconsiglio la lettura a chiunque.
Guilty (but delicious) pleasure. I have to admit I loved it. I'm a huge Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) fan. And much of the ideas in the book were very inline with the ACT model. But (importantly) delivered in a much more user friendly (quasi new age) package. I'm a stalwart atheist/materialist. Not because I am certain about such things (how can anyone be certain about such things). But because it's the world view that seems to be the least far-fetched and most effective for me.
That being said, I understand that the majority of people in the world have a very different point of view. As a therapist I'm willing to meet anybody where they are at. If sprinkling in a little new age sparkle helps the medicine go down, and helps the client find empowerment and make healthy life changes, then by all means, let's bust out the healing flavor crystals.
I have been using (modified versions of) the tools from the book in my therapy practice and in my personal life. I think they're wonderful and I plan on continuing to use and practice these neat little life hacks. I love shit that works and I'd rather be effective than "right". If I have to swallow a little sugar to get the dope, than OK.
All that aside, I cannot bring myself to strongly endorse a book that is as philosophically and methodologically problematic as this one. First and foremost, the authors establish the legitimacy of their method by stating that they have tried The Tools in their practice and it works. This is a huge red flag for anyone trained in the social sciences. This particular problem (relying on the clinicians judgment to gauge the effectiveness of the treatment) plagued psychotherapy for its first century.
In the days of Freudian analysis, psychoanalysts did surveys of the effectiveness of psychoanalysis. The measure of whether or not the patient got better was whether or not the psychoanalyst said the patient was better, even if the psychoanalysts opinion strongly conflicted with that of the patient. The obvious problem is that if you rely on the clinician's judgment, the clinician may be strongly motivated to report positive results (for reason$ that $hould be obviou$).
Not to be a total bummer, but the scientific method is pretty much the only way to get the truth of whether or not an intervention works or doesn't. Without randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials, it's really hard to know whether or not an intervention is effective, or exactly why it is or isn't effective.
So I'm feeling a lot of cognitive dissonance about my favorable review of this wonderful and problematic and wonderful book. But the good news is, there's even a tool for dealing with cognitive dissonance. BRING ON THE PAIN! (You'll have to read the book to know what that means).
.
That being said, I understand that the majority of people in the world have a very different point of view. As a therapist I'm willing to meet anybody where they are at. If sprinkling in a little new age sparkle helps the medicine go down, and helps the client find empowerment and make healthy life changes, then by all means, let's bust out the healing flavor crystals.
I have been using (modified versions of) the tools from the book in my therapy practice and in my personal life. I think they're wonderful and I plan on continuing to use and practice these neat little life hacks. I love shit that works and I'd rather be effective than "right". If I have to swallow a little sugar to get the dope, than OK.
All that aside, I cannot bring myself to strongly endorse a book that is as philosophically and methodologically problematic as this one. First and foremost, the authors establish the legitimacy of their method by stating that they have tried The Tools in their practice and it works. This is a huge red flag for anyone trained in the social sciences. This particular problem (relying on the clinicians judgment to gauge the effectiveness of the treatment) plagued psychotherapy for its first century.
In the days of Freudian analysis, psychoanalysts did surveys of the effectiveness of psychoanalysis. The measure of whether or not the patient got better was whether or not the psychoanalyst said the patient was better, even if the psychoanalysts opinion strongly conflicted with that of the patient. The obvious problem is that if you rely on the clinician's judgment, the clinician may be strongly motivated to report positive results (for reason$ that $hould be obviou$).
Not to be a total bummer, but the scientific method is pretty much the only way to get the truth of whether or not an intervention works or doesn't. Without randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials, it's really hard to know whether or not an intervention is effective, or exactly why it is or isn't effective.
So I'm feeling a lot of cognitive dissonance about my favorable review of this wonderful and problematic and wonderful book. But the good news is, there's even a tool for dealing with cognitive dissonance. BRING ON THE PAIN! (You'll have to read the book to know what that means).
.
I took awhile to read this one as there is a lot to absorb here. Unlike most books, it isn't going back on the long term bookshelf as I think I'm going to start reading it again immediately. It is fine to read the book as an interesting read but to really get some value out of it you have to use these tools. And I think that means going through the reading, absorbing, and understanding process a few times.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This was wonderful...though I know it is going to be one of those books I need to go back to again and again. Some great ideas. Excited to apply them.