Who's Really Running Your Life: Free Your Self from Custody and Guard Your Kids

by Peter K. Gerlach

Does a furtive "false self" control you? This book shows you how to find out, and - if so - how to free your true Self to harmonize your inner family. You'll also see how to guard kids in your life from toxic false-self domination.

Genres: Psychology

476 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2000

About the author

A professional trauma-recovery and family systems therapist.

The author of the non-profit educational "Break the Cycle" website. (http://sfhelp.org)

Over 33 years of experience as a professional therapist, working with individuals, couples and families.

B.Sc. of Mechanical Engineering from University of Stanford
M.A. of Social Work from University of Illinois
Participated in hundreds of post-graduate seminars.

http://www.youtube.com/user/gercacn/v...

Reviews

[Marshall · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book argues everyone has a minor form of Multiple Personalities Disorder, that everyone has a bunch of little people in their heads, with very different personalities, ages, even genders and names. I figured this can be a useful metaphor, but this author believes it quite literally. He thinks it's some kind of revolutionary discovery, but he also believes it has a long legacy, as if Freud somehow lends scientific legitimacy. In some spots he says there's a ton of research to support this view, and in others admits there is virtually none. Sometimes I'm amazed how far Freudian thinkers go to extend their debunked theories, to religious proportions. This Freudian spirituality masquerading as science reminds me of Scientology.

This guy is a total nut. He's obsessed with 12-step programs, but hopes his theory will completely revolutionize them. He also abuses 12-step terminology, like "recovery" and "toxic." He's extremely judgmental and dogmatic. He's anti-atheist, calling the disbelief in a Higher Power to be "toxic." He says if you're ambivalent about his theory, it means you're "wounded." Not that, maybe, possibly, his theory might be totally loonie toons?

I've saved the worst part for last. The writing is awful. It's mind-numbingly repetitive, and has terrible grammar and many misspellings. It ignores many writing conventions. It abuses quotation marks. Its lists alternate randomly between bullet points and underscores (underscores??). I'd say this is the worst book I've ever read, but I save that honor for Consumer's Guide to HSAs.

[Psych Client · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of sub-selves just fascinates me. We all have them to some degree and this book I haven't read cover to cover but enough to understand the concept. It's a good one!

[Jer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen a bit of Bruce Gerlach's work online (youtube). Very interesting stuff that has a lot of validity. Do we all have multiple personalties? Is that what he's trying to say? Dunno yet. I haven't read the book!

[Lew Brown]

Adds a different perspective for understaning the unconscious