Total Self Knowledge

by Ernest Dichter

Book Overview

Some people say you're high-strung, full of tension, a bundle of nerves. Others say you're calm, cool, and collected. Which are you? If you're typical, you have probably never taken the time to add up... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812819195
• ISBN13: 9780812819199
• Release Date: January 1976
• Publisher: Stein and Day
• Length: 266 Pages
• Weight: 2.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Book's Introduction ~

Some people say you're high-strung, full of tension, a bundle of nerves. Others say you're calm, cool, collected. Which one are you? If you're typical, you have probably never taken the time to add up your assets and deduct from them your liabilities. One of the major human needs is to know oneself better; yet very few tools have been provided to make this kind of self-examination possible on a practical, day-to-day basis. The purpose of this book is to give an introduction to total self-knowledge. Often we do not realize how we behave. Many people live their whole lives without once looking in the psychological mirror that tells them who they really are. Apparently they are content to live with stereotypes about themselves, like "I'm the way I am, what can I do?" or "I'm just a constant case of nerves." For some, it's as if they had found the ultimate excuse for not doing anything. The quizzes in this book, while they will tell you a great deal about yourself, are not designed to give you a ready-made blueprint of your personality. As annoying as it might sometimes seem, human beings are flexible, changeable. Because we have a certain amount of elasticity, our lives can be just about as exciting and interesting as we want them to be. Our personal qualities cover a wide range of possibilities. Whether we stay with what we have, or seek to change some or all of ourselves, is pretty much up to us. Not all of us can become everything we want to be, but fulfilling the potential each of us has is a worthwhile and fascinating adventure. Before we can do it, though, we need to know what we have to work with. What type of person will get the most out of life? Are you stuck with the "type" you think you are? Or can you change? Some people have tried psychotherapy, but sometimes not even a five-year bout with a psychoanalyst really changes wnything. In the end, they may have the same symptoms, although they may simply worry less about them. The aim of these tests is not for you to pigeonhole or label yourself. Labels are for museum pieces and cold statues. We hope simply to help you become more aware of yourself, in all areas. The quizzes that follow are divided into three major categories: 1) How well do you know yourself? Instead of simply telling you, "Know thyself," we are trying to help you to gradually understand yourself better, in fact, to help you see yourself as you really are. 2) How well do you get along with others? We ae not alone in this world. Self-knowledge involves our relationships with others. We may be wonderful, but if we can't get along with others or they can't get along with us, all our great qualities won't help-unless we want to live as hermits. 3) How do you like your work? Life can seem purposeless unless we spend time doing something satisfying and worthwhile. Being able to learn, to lead or follow, to organize our time to evaluate what we do are important elements in an active life. While we don't claim that