The mind gym, by Time Warner Books
The mind gym promotes a compelling personal development philosophy, embodied in a set of core assumptions: that we can choose how to think, that we can all improve, that intelligence is more than just IQ, that our thinking is more habitual than we realise, and that there should be no ‘default’ – we need options in order to cope better with different circumstances.
Creating a space among the many self-help books is a difficult task, but The mind gym seems to have achieved this, and not just for its lime green cover. Its unique selling point is that its advice is based on respected psychological research which, combined with the best in personal development, is translated into something of real value. Every technique suggested has been tested in a mind gym workshop which, as the credits reveal, have been held by a great many high-profile organisations. The result, The mind gym claims, is a book which ‘aims to provide a map through this maze of psychology and personal development by making the former accessible and the latter rigorous’.
It is designed to be read in any number of ways – front to back, back to front, in response to a need – or simply because an interesting anecdote catches the eye. Chapters are clearly labelled, objectives identified, and the fluid, conversational style makes the book easy to read in short bursts. Sections cover ground familiar to anyone who has considered self-help. There are chapters, for example, on ‘taking control’, ‘stress and relaxation’, ‘creative juices’, and a helpful summary of chapter content makes sure you spend your time effectively. Each chapter comprises shorter sections which deal with specific issues in depth, all presented in an entertaining format. Diagrams, lists, questions, photos, stories and summaries are used to break up the page and get you reading – if anything the danger is that you will be too easily distracted by something unrelated. A little self-discipline is often required to get the most out of what’s on offer.
There is much in The mind gym for the accountant looking to build those essential personal skills – for the workplace, and for longer-term career development. Although much material is grounded in personal experience (buying houses, dumping boyfriends) there are plenty of examples based on scenarios familiar to most who work in an office, within a team, who manage or who are managed. And as personal and professional development are often closely linked, there’s much benefit to be gained by improving on all fronts.
Review by Angela Murray, a freelancer writer and PR consultant