Posted by Mark H. on March 4, 2005, at 19:49:48
In reply to Born to Win - anyone know this book?, posted by partlycloudy on March 4, 2005, at 8:02:00
Dear PC,
"Born to Win" is a classic text in Transactional Analysis (my therapist used to buy them by the case and hand them out), but for my clinical/analytical type of mind I always preferred "TA: the Total Handbook of Transactional Analysis" by Stan Woollams and Michael Brown, published by Prentice Hall in 1979.
It is probably out of print now, but I see that abebooks.com lists at least one used copy available in hardcover for $10, which is a very good price for this book (other copies they list are going for upwards of $40).
Woollams lays out the whole theory and practice of TA in a clear and straightforward manner.
I like the principles of TA because they force those of us with complicated minds to think in simple, concrete terms, e.g., "am I feeling mad, glad, sad, or scared?"
One of the most useful aspects for me was doing values clarification using the concepts of parent, adult and child, each of which (for me, at least) have different values. I found that if I wasn't meeting the relatively simple needs of my child ego-state, for instance, then that part of me sabotaged my adult goals and objectives. Likewise, many of the values of my parent ego state weren't even mine, and once I identified them, I was able to let them go (e.g., I *should* get a masters degree, learn to play the piano, attend church, clean the garage, etc.).
Personally, I found "Born to Win" difficult to get through, even though the ideas were worthwhile. If the concepts of TA appeal to you, try the Woollams book instead.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:466370
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050225/msgs/466666.html