Review of Beyond Pipe Dreams and Platitudes

[Do Thi Huong]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Beyond Pipe Dreams and Platitudes" by Geraldine K. Piorkowski, Ph.D..]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Beyond Pipe Dreams and Platitudes is a collection of eight essays written by Dr. Geraldine K. Piorkowski, a retired clinical psychologist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology. In this book, she shares her insights from working with diverse people and reveals many psychological truths that challenge popular beliefs.

This book taught me a lot about the psychology of human nature. I found myself relating to every chapter as the author explores different types or patterns of behavior found in various areas of our lives.

The first chapter helps me understand why I constantly daydream angry scenarios. Then, Chapter 2 examines anger from a psychological perspective, exploring its causes and providing effective ways to express it.

Readers will get to know the different motives behind romantic love in Chapter 3. The concept of mastery motivation is particularly eye-opening for me. Chapter 4 discusses the benefits and risks of vulnerability, describing archetypes like the emotional hermit and immature types who struggle with being vulnerable. Chapter 5 offers many lessons on parenting and the importance of autonomy.

The book covers much more, including new perspectives on luck and religion. Each chapter ends with a helpful summary and practical advice. The writing is simple and easy to understand. I love that Dr. Geraldine K. Piorkowski incorporates stories from her counseling clients to illustrate her points. The book as a whole opened my mind to fascinating psychological concepts and deepened my understanding of why we behave the way we do.

I also must commend the amazing editing, as I couldn’t find a single error while reading. I have no criticisms of this book and believe it deserves a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars. It’s a book full of wisdom, speaks from real experiences, and is written in an approachable way. Therefore, I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about social psychology, especially parents and teachers, as the book offers knowledge about parenting and the significant role childhood experiences play in shaping behavior.

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Beyond Pipe Dreams and Platitudes
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[Enkay Favour]

“Beyond Pipe Dreams and Platitudes” seems like an insightful exploration of human behavior, offering practical psychological advice grounded in real-life experiences. The book’s focus on relatable scenarios and clear writing makes it sound like a valuable read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of human nature.

[Yasmine ZM]

The mysteries of the mind are fascinating and very complex. Why we do certain things and behave in a certain way? It is interesting to have the insights from a longtime psychologist (as the title suggests).