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On Personal Power: Inner Strength and Its Revolutionary Impact
A classic from the pioneering and influential therapist Carl Rogers. To anyone interested in psychology or sociology or politics or morality, Rogers will give a new dimension of awareness. The Month
305 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
34 people are currently reading
812 people want to read
About the author
Carl R. Rogers
89 books1,337 followers"Experience is, for me, the highest authority. The touchstone of validity is my own experience. No other person's ideas, and none of my own ideas, are as authoritative as my experience. It is to experience that I must return again and again, to discover a closer approximation to truth as it is in the process of becoming in me." -Carl Rogers, On Becoming a Person
DEVELOPED THEORIES - THERAPIES
Person-Centered; Humanistic; Client-Centered; Student-Centered
TIMELINE
1902 - Carl Rogers was born in Oak Park, Illinois.
1919 - Enrolled at University of Wisconsin.
1924 - Graduated from University of Wisconsin and enrolled at Union Theological Seminary.
1926 - Transferred to Columbia.
1931- Earned Ph.D. from Columbia.
1940 - Began teaching at University of Ohio.
1946 - Elected president of American Psychological Association (APA).
1951 - Published Client-centered Therapy.
1961 - Published On Becoming A Person.
DEVELOPED THEORIES - THERAPIES
Person-Centered; Humanistic; Client-Centered; Student-Centered
TIMELINE
1902 - Carl Rogers was born in Oak Park, Illinois.
1919 - Enrolled at University of Wisconsin.
1924 - Graduated from University of Wisconsin and enrolled at Union Theological Seminary.
1926 - Transferred to Columbia.
1931- Earned Ph.D. from Columbia.
1940 - Began teaching at University of Ohio.
1946 - Elected president of American Psychological Association (APA).
1951 - Published Client-centered Therapy.
1961 - Published On Becoming A Person.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 28, 2021
Great to read the older Carl Rogers completely at ease and vindicated in his theoretical practice to the extent that he is playful, radical and confidently broad-minded in how a person centred can transform western societies.
It's fascinating to see what he has to say about consensual nonmonogamy too. Each chapter takes a different case study for person centred practice beyond the therapy room: with children, at work, in relationships.
It's also a great read (unlike some of his earlier works which are a bit of a grind).
It's fascinating to see what he has to say about consensual nonmonogamy too. Each chapter takes a different case study for person centred practice beyond the therapy room: with children, at work, in relationships.
It's also a great read (unlike some of his earlier works which are a bit of a grind).
March 3, 2019
Un libro scritto più di 40 anni fa, in un contesto storico e sociale ben diverso, eppure ancora attuale nel mettere in luce "il potere di chi non ha potere":
April 5, 2022
Please note my review is of Delacorte Press's 1977 edition of Rogers' book On Personal Power. The image shown on Goodreads seems to be of another book.
As a learner and a coach I owe a great deal to Rogers' work. This includes my debt to his colleague Marshall Rosenberg who was prompted by conversations with Rogers to develop nonviolent communication (NVC) which was and remains life-changing for me.
The book is an exploration of Rogers' ideas at the time of personal power; what is is and what it can look like in various settings including intimate relationships, the workplace, in relationships between adults and children and more.
As a reader, there were times when I could settle into the warm fuzzy feelings that come with reading something that chimes with your own experience. I have experienced the benefits of understanding personal power and I really appreciated Rogers thoughtful descriptions of what it is, what its potential might be and of his experiences of applying it, along with those of others.
There were also times when I felt the tension, on reading, between all the messages I received in childhood and the material Rogers was sharing. This was particularly true when I read about open marriages, in which marital partners, by mutual consent, engaged in "satellite relationships" outside the marriage. It was also true, to a lesser degree, when I read about the use of person-centred approaches to leadership. I found the experience of reading these sections beneficial, giving me a great deal of food for thought.
There were strong echoes of the 1970s, of course - Rogers uses examples that were current at the time of writing to illustrate his points. At the same time, there were times when, sitting reading in 2022, I felt this book could by written for our current age.
I share Rogers' optimism about personal power. I also believe there is a quiet and radical revolution in progress. I am glad of this.
As a learner and a coach I owe a great deal to Rogers' work. This includes my debt to his colleague Marshall Rosenberg who was prompted by conversations with Rogers to develop nonviolent communication (NVC) which was and remains life-changing for me.
The book is an exploration of Rogers' ideas at the time of personal power; what is is and what it can look like in various settings including intimate relationships, the workplace, in relationships between adults and children and more.
As a reader, there were times when I could settle into the warm fuzzy feelings that come with reading something that chimes with your own experience. I have experienced the benefits of understanding personal power and I really appreciated Rogers thoughtful descriptions of what it is, what its potential might be and of his experiences of applying it, along with those of others.
There were also times when I felt the tension, on reading, between all the messages I received in childhood and the material Rogers was sharing. This was particularly true when I read about open marriages, in which marital partners, by mutual consent, engaged in "satellite relationships" outside the marriage. It was also true, to a lesser degree, when I read about the use of person-centred approaches to leadership. I found the experience of reading these sections beneficial, giving me a great deal of food for thought.
There were strong echoes of the 1970s, of course - Rogers uses examples that were current at the time of writing to illustrate his points. At the same time, there were times when, sitting reading in 2022, I felt this book could by written for our current age.
I share Rogers' optimism about personal power. I also believe there is a quiet and radical revolution in progress. I am glad of this.
November 2, 2025
I'm floored. Never before have I read from someone who values the dignity and process of people so daringly. I feel complete from his books and I'm sad they're over for now.
“It is not that this approach gives power to the person; it never takes it away” (xii).
“Rage needs to be heard. This does not mean that it simply needs to be listened to. It needs to be accepted, taken within, and understood empathetically” (133).
“It is not that this approach gives power to the person; it never takes it away” (xii).
“Rage needs to be heard. This does not mean that it simply needs to be listened to. It needs to be accepted, taken within, and understood empathetically” (133).
June 29, 2022
Aplicado a cualquier ámbito de la vida (familia, pareja, trabajo, etc.), el enfoque centrado en la persona nos da el poder para vivirnos más libres y congruentes, dirigir nuestro propio destino y desarrollar todo nuestro potencial. Todos los organismos vivos parecen desarrollar una tendencia innata no solo a la supervivencia, sino al crecimiento, siempre que se den las condiciones necesarias.
November 15, 2020
Bad
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2025
Delightfully political and human at the same time. Carl Rogers you're so goated
June 15, 2016
This is a truly inspiring and important book that will show you how to cultivate inner strength through the power of sharing and unconditional positive regard.
Anyone concerned to get their relationship with their partner, their friends, their family, their society, their world – and most importantly with themselves – into harmonious accord, should read this book as a starting point. It was Rogers who, with Abraham Maslow (and to be fair one or two others), helped to pioneer the humanistic movement in psychotherapy.
But don't let my comment on 'psychotherapy' make you think this is going to be too cerebral to understand. If Rogers is anything, he is clear, compassionate and easy to follow as any writer could be.
Rogers standpoint stems from a belief in the innate goodness of life, the positive uniqueness and creative power of each person – and the tendency, nay ability, to actualise our true potential when conditions are right. I recommend you find and read the potato story in the book and you'll get his view of this 'actualising tendency' completely.
Heading: A truly inspiring and important book
Anyone concerned to get their relationship with their partner, their friends, their family, their society, their world – and most importantly with themselves – into harmonious accord, should read this book as a starting point. It was Rogers who, with Abraham Maslow (and to be fair one or two others), helped to pioneer the humanistic movement in psychotherapy.
But don't let my comment on 'psychotherapy' make you think this is going to be too cerebral to understand. If Rogers is anything, he is clear, compassionate and easy to follow as any writer could be.
Rogers standpoint stems from a belief in the innate goodness of life, the positive uniqueness and creative power of each person – and the tendency, nay ability, to actualise our true potential when conditions are right. I recommend you find and read the potato story in the book and you'll get his view of this 'actualising tendency' completely.
Heading: A truly inspiring and important book
July 24, 2008
loved the idea of rogerian/reflective supervision, but didn't know he condoned open marriage. thought this was a little too 70's free thinking psychology for me. i need to read his other stuff.
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February 8, 2013zzzzzz
Read
February 21, 2019Quite a discovery
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews