The Situation is Hopeless, But Not Serious

by Paul Watzlawick

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Do you see the past through a rosy filter that makes it seem like Paradise Lost? Are you convinced that traffic lights always turn red for you? Do you have to win (so as not to lose)? After extricating yourself from a bad relationship, do you find another partner just like the previous one? If so, congratulations! You have the makings of an unhappiness expert. With the techniques in this book, you can raise yourself to the genius level. A word of warning, however. Along the way you may begin show more to ask yourself, "How did I manage to turn myself into my own worst enemy?" Fortunately, this tongue-in-cheek (but serious) volume takes a look at that question too. Special attention is given to such topics as "Four Games with the Past," "Self-fulfilling Prophecies," and "Why Would Anybody Love Me?" Those who believe that the search for happiness will eventually lead to happiness will find much to ponder in the section "Beware of Arriving." All readers will be both amused and startled to find themselves in these pages, but there is a special delight and enlightenment for therapists and counselors. Although the author does not officially admit it, the book is one complex "symptom prescription," a therapeutic double bind as described and practiced by him and his colleagues. show less

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16 reviews
Eines meiner Lieblingsbücher, welche ich jedes Jahr lese. (Mit 130 Seiten auch wirklich zu schaffen). Es ist witzig, lehrreich, kurzweilig und interessant. Besonders die Geschichte mit dem "Mann mit dem Hammer" war für eine seltene Gelegenheit, bei der mir ein Buch die Augen geöffnet hat. Jedem zu empfehlen, der Ironie zu schätzen weiß und ab und zu mal einen Tritt braucht, um sich von den eigenen Verhaltensmustern zu befreien.
Very true, very funny, and should you prefer NOT to be unhappy, you could always try to avoid the thought patterns Watzlawick describes.
Still my favorite book in the world, I recommend it to everybody.
"El arte de amargarse la vida" es una obra clásica de la psicología escrita por Paul Watzlawick, que desafía las convenciones tradicionales sobre la felicidad y propone una perspectiva única sobre cómo enfrentar los desafíos de la vida. En este libro ingenioso y perspicaz, Watzlawick argumenta que a menudo somos responsables de nuestra propia infelicidad y que podemos aprender a sabotear nuestra propia felicidad de manera inadvertida.

A través de una serie de anécdotas, ejemplos y reflexiones profundas, Watzlawick explora los diferentes mecanismos psicológicos que utilizamos para mantenernos atrapados en patrones autodestructivos. Desde la autocensura hasta la búsqueda obsesiva de la perfección, desde el miedo al cambio hasta show more la tendencia a culpar a los demás por nuestras propias insatisfacciones, el autor desentraña los diversos modos en que podemos contribuir a nuestro propio malestar emocional. show less
l arte de amargarse la vida, best seller perenne desde su primera publicación en 1983, supuso el reconocimiento internacional de Paul Watzlawick, una de las figuras clave de la psicología del siglo XX. Es posible que el lector encuentre en esta parodia de la autoayuda algo de sí mismo, su propio estilo de convertir lo cotidiano en insoportable y lo trivial en desmesurado; al mismo tiempo, la obra proporcionará al terapeuta un valioso material. Ya es hora de acabar con los milenarios cuentos que presentan la felicidad, la dicha, la buena fortuna como objetivos deseables.
Manuel d'auto-destruction sarcastique et en réalité, plein de bon sens, ou comment l'être humain a tendance à se faire des films et se pourrir la vie tout seul.. Intelligent!

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title
The Situation is Hopeless, But Not Serious
Original title
Anleitung zum unglücklich sein
Original publication date
1983
First words*
Was kann man nun von einem Menschen ... erwarten?
Last words*
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)So hoffnungslos einfach ist die Lösung.
Original language*
Deutsch
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Philosophy
DDC/MDS
158.1Philosophy & psychologyPsychologyApplied psychologyPersonal improvement and analysis
LCC
BF575 .H27 .W37Philosophy, Psychology and ReligionPsychologyPsychologyAffection. Feeling. Emotion
BISAC

Statistics

Members
753
Popularity
37,486
Reviews
16
Rating
(3.87)
Languages
9 — Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish, Swedish
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
44
UPCs
1
ASINs
26