"There are few academics who write with as much grace and wisdom as Timothy Wilson. Redirect is a masterpiece." —Malcolm Gladwell
"This glorious book shimmers with insights—an instant classic that will be discussed and quoted for generations. One of the great psychologists of our time, Timothy Wilson has distilled the field's wisdom and shown us how to use it to change ourselves and the world. This may well be the single most important psychology book ever written. Not to be missed!" —Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness
"A keen observer of the human condition explains how tweaking our personal narratives can have a huge effect on our lives."—Kirkus Reviews
We tell ourselves stories to make sense of the world. These narratives help determine if we will lead healthy, productive lives or get into trouble. In REDIRECT: The Surprising New Science of Psychological Change (Little, Brown and Company; September 8, 2011; $25.99; hardcover), world-renowned psychologist Timothy D. Wilson explains a new, scientifically based approach that can make you happier, turn you into a better parent, solve your teenager's behavior problems, reduce racial prejudice, and even close the achievement gap in education. This approach, called story editing, works by redirecting the stories we tell about ourselves and the world around us—with subtle prompts, in ways that lead to lasting change.
Wilson argues that many conventional approaches—including the multibillion-dollar self-help industry and popular programs that are supposed to discourage drug use, drinking, and teen violence—aren't effective at all. In fact, some of these programs, such as abstinence-only sex education, D.A.R.E., and "scared straight" courses, actually have the opposite of their intended effects. Wilson shows us what works, what doesn't, and why.
Each chapter of REDIRECT includes "Using It" sections, offering a range of practical advice, from writing exercises to parenting techniques to happiness practices that work. All of the strategies outlined have been scientifically tested and found to have real results regarding personal meaning and happiness as well as social progress.
Fascinating, groundbreaking, and practical, REDIRECT demonstrates the remarkable effect small changes can have on the ways we see ourselves and the world around us, and how we can use these perspectives on a daily basis. In the words of the social psychologist David G. Myers, "With wit and wisdom, Wilson shows us how to spare ourselves worthless (or worse) interventions, think smarter, and live well."
Timothy D. Wilson is the Sherrell J. Aston Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he received the All-University Outstanding Teacher Award and the Distinguished Scientist Award. He is the author of Strangers to Ourselves, which was honored by the New York Times Magazine as conveying one of the most influential ideas of 2002, and is the coauthor of the bestselling textbook Social Psychology, now in its seventh edition. Wilson has also published articles in Science and the New York Times, among other publications. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Russell Sage Foundation, and in 2009 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.
"Redirect is a great book! In his uniquely engaging way, Wilson shows how simple techniques can deliver large and lasting personal changes—and convinces us that only good research can give us these techniques."—Carol S. Dweck, PhD, author of Mindset
"One of the foremost psychologists of our time, Timothy Wilson shows us that solving endemic social problems and making ourselves happier, healthier, and more successful is within our grasp. Redirect reveals the hidden meanings we assume in our everyday lives, how these meanings shape our behavior, and how we can change our assumptions and the world. Extraordinary."—Greg Walton, PhD, Department of Psychology, Stanford University
"Renowned social psychologist Timothy Wilson writes for those of us who want to make a real difference in our worlds (and not just to fool ourselves into thinking we're doing so). With wit and wisdom, he shows us how to spare ourselves worthless (or worse) interventions, think smarter, and live well."—David G. Myers, Hope College, author of The Pursuit of Happiness
"Wouldn't it be amazing if a very smart scientist could write a book on happiness, crime, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, parenting, and teenage pregnancy—and sum up all the research in clear and surprising lessons on how we should live our lives? Well, Timothy Wilson is the scientist and Redirect is the book, and it is in fact amazing." —Daniel M. Wegner, Harvard University, author of The Illusion of Conscious Will
"Timothy Wilson's book Redirect reminds me why I became a social psychologist. Without solid laboratory and real-world research, some of society's most important decisions can easily be guided by faulty beliefs. The genius of Wilson's book is that it points out how mistakes can be made and, at the same time, how research can help us to correct these errors. This should be required reading for any well-intentioned person who wants to make the world a better place. It brings together central issues in psychology, public policy, community activism, and science."—James W. Pennebaker, Professor and Chair of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, and author of The Secret Life of Pronouns
"Is it possible to reinvent ourselves, transform our children, and improve our communities? Professor Timothy Wilson proposes an idea that many readers will find revolutionary—namely, that the most effective methods are often deceptively simple. What matters most is not pressuring the people whom we want to change, but subtly helping them to shift the stories that they tell about themselves. Whether you are a parent, educator, employer, or simply someone who cares about making the world a better place, you should read this book."—Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want
"With a deft narrative touch, an engaging metaphor for bringing about psychological change (personal story editing), and a ferocious commitment to scientific evidence, Timothy Wilson has made a remarkable contribution to knowledge."—Robert B. Cialdini, author of Influence: Science and Practice
"So often we think of therapy as a long, painful, time-consuming, and expensive process. In this surprising and entertaining book, Wilson shows how changing the stories we tell ourselves about the events of our lives, often in simple ways, can have profound effects on the course of our lives. If I could recommend only one book this year to my children, it would be this one."—Shelley E. Taylor, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, and author of Positive Illusions and The Tending Instinct
Redirect: The Surprising New Science of Psychological Change
Timothy D. Wilson
Little, Brown and Company
September 8, 2011
978-0-316-05188-0
$25.99; hardcover
288 pages
For more information or to schedule an interview with Timothy D. Wilson, please contact Carolyn O'Keefe at (212) 364-1464 or carolyn.okeefe@hbgusa.com