As I was busily alphabetizing in the psychology section the other day, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud in sheer amazement at various book titles. Whoever said you can’t judge a book by its cover was wrong. The adage should be: Never underestimate the power of a good title.
Here are just a few examples:
The Gift of Fear by Gavin DeBecker. I thought this was a great reframe . . . very clever to grab the reader’s attention by saying that something painful and often times debilitating can be a gift! DeBecker studies violent behavior and helps people identify potential danger early by relying on our gut feelings.
How to Change Anybody by David Lieberman. Talk about the power of positive thinking. Nothing like hope to send us straight to the cash register. The book flap says, “Don’t let crazy people drive you crazy. Don’t let annoying, obnoxious, petty people get under your skin whether it’s your kids, spouse, friend, client, patient, or co-worker, you have the power to make it better.” (What was that part about co-workers?)
Building a Home with My Husband by Rachel Simon. Need she say more? (Why? jumps into my mind but I continued reading further.) Simon lives in an imperfect house . . . it has charm but it’s small, dark and has a huge hole in the dining room ceiling. It won’t sell so she and her husband decide to renovate. This experience forces her to confront memories and inspires her to repair fractured bonds with those closest to her. I imagine that would be her husband. (You know those home repair shows on TV that have a husband and wife working together and they are unfailingly nice and patient with each other? They are actors . . . )
The Trouble with Thinking by Lauren Powers. Aren’t these titles great? Powers explains “the dangerous trip thoughts take from inside our heads to out of our mouths!” This book takes an important look at the way our minds work and could work better. It is a fantastic journey through our thought processes and reactions, drawing a map for us to find a better route.
The Soulmate Secret by Arielle Ford. There are so many Mark Sanford jokes running through my brain but I really like Jenny Sanford so I will leave them there . . . but the gall of that man. Anyhow, Ford shows how to take control of your romantic destiny by using the Law of Attraction. She says finding your soul-mate is possible if you are willing to prepare yourself on all levels to become a magnet for love. (Ummm, a magnet for love? Wow, at least Sanford didn’t use that line. Not to say that he won’t, however.)
The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout. Talk about a great title. There is no way you are going to see that title and walk away without reading just a little! The book is actually about what makes good people good and bad people bad and also how good people can protect themselves from these bad people. The author asks: “Who is the devil you know? Is it your lying, cheating ex-husband? Your sadistic high school gym teacher? Your boss who loves to humiliate people in meetings? Furthermore, Ford states that four percent of ordinary people have an undetected mental disorder. She encourages us to learn to identify a sociopath and protect ourselves. (I had a man come in a few months ago and buy two copies of this book at once. I was dying to follow him home and see who lives on the other side.)
And lastly, a real husband favorite . . .
How to Improve Your Marriage without Talking about It by Patricia Love. The author states that talking makes women closer but makes men move away. Even with the best of intentions, talking about your relationship does not bring you together and will eventually drive you apart. Love is not about communication; it is about connection. You’ll never get a closer relationship with your man by talking to him like you talk to your girlfriends. Patricia Love asserts that there are four ways to connect with a man: touch, activity, sex, routine. When men feel connected, they talk more. Male emotions are like women’s sexuality: You can’t be too direct too quickly.
Not a whole lot to say after that . . .
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