Official Review: LIES: The Truth About the Self-Deception...

[scriptbunny]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "LIES: The Truth About the Self-Deceptions That Limit Your Life" by Elizabeth scott, ph.d. and bridget harwell, ph.d..]

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Lies: The Truth About the Self-Deceptions That Limit Your Life is a self-help book by Drs. Bridget Harwell (“Bridget”) and Elizabeth Scott (“Liz”). Lies focuses the little untruths we tell ourselves to explain our actions, metaphorically “ending the conversation” in our attempt to evade those dark nooks of our mind that need the greatest introspection.

Liz and Bridget, both therapists with decades of experience in the field, touch on a number of these “lies” in this collection of forty brief essays, adopting a cool, casual style that reminds you more of an afternoon chat with a close friend than a harrowing visit to the doctor. The two authors even have a little tête-à-tête at the end of each section to reinforce the concepts covered in the essay, giving brief glimpses into how self-deceptions have impacted the authors’ own personal lives.

It should be noted that, despite the title, this book is much more about problematic themes witnessed by Liz and Bridget than on self-deception itself. The topics covered are quite varied, ranging from the need for humility (“Lie: I should be perfect”) to the often perilous, though romantic, notion of holding out for your one true soulmate (“Lie: I know the world has arranged the perfect person for me”). To my surprise there was even a section on online dating! Probably not just a little self-deception going on there, huh?

I have to admit I didn’t always agree with Liz and Bridget’s take on a number of issues. There were times I felt like the advice they gave came not from a professional standpoint but from the women’s own personal biases, borne out at least from their culture if not from privilege. That said, most of their counsel is solid and common sense, probably even including that piece of advice you’ve long needed, but have been avoiding, to hear.

As an aside, I really do need to compliment the authors on their writing in this book. It is rare, especially in the self-help genre, to get such clean, well-edited, flowing, conversational prose as what you’ll find in Lies. Bravo! You can tell the authors spent a lot of time working at this book, selecting their words carefully, as one should when dealing with such serious things as people’s haranguing neuroses.

All in all I give Lies three out of four stars. A light and easy read, Lies isn’t the fix-it-up cure to all your mental and emotional woes, but it may be just the thing to get you to jumpstart the conversation.

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[Skillian]

Interesting! Thanks for the great review!