Tácticas de poder de Jesucristo y otros ensayos

by Jay Haley

In this classic volume available now once again, Jay Haley in the controversial title article, proposes an original interpretation of the Bible analysing Jesus actions as a man trying to build a mass movement to topple a power structure. Using wit and wry humor, Haley in the other essays discusses such topics as: what it takes to be schizophrenic; the art and technique required to have an awful marriage; and how to be an awful therapist. His rationale for a directive therapy is the subject of other essays.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Essays, Christianity, Biography, Self Help

177 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Caio Andrade]

Que título, hein?

[Mike Tunney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went to Catholic school, so I’m not religious. But, THIS is the book I should have been assigned in Catholic School, instead of the awful dogma that is taught instead.

Jay Haley does the work that more authors should do I my opinion. He does without the value judgments and ideology associated with a subject people think they already know and presents it in a useful context. In this case, Haley focuses on the strategy and tactics Jesus used to form his organization and take hold of the Roman Empire.

From defining the term power tactic, to analyzing the power of the surrender tactic (turn the other cheek), to Jesus final strategic calculation (or perhaps, miscalculation) in his arrest and execution, Haley covers Jesus’ entire gambit, focusing on what he gained strategically from his actions and what we can learn from them.

The most useful strategy Jesus used when first starting his movement was he framed his radical movement within the existing framework of the society in which he lived. Instead of claiming he was starting a new religion, he instead insisted his ideas weren’t, “deviations from the established religion but a more true expression of the ideas of that religion.”

After reading The Power Tactics of Jesus Christ, a logical next step would be Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. I saw shades of the great community organizer throughout the essay, making me think he did Haley’s work years before for his own study.

[MacKenzie Green]

I strictly picked this up for the title essay after reading 48 Laws of Power (it was part of the bibliography).
Would have loved for this to have been a more expanded work. A thoughtful convo of theology, power, and the impacts of the power tactics of Jesus on future leaders.
At times it felt as though the essay was written strictly to fulfill a hypothesis.

[Matt Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's essay, How to Fail Miserably as a Therapist, has been considered by many to be an important read for grad students, aspirants in this area, or any new therapist.

Not terribly engrossing stuff beyond this.

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

garage sale find...I liked the cover. more of a family counseling book. most memorable moment: sticking your neck out for a slaughter often results in victory.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book's dry humor and thought-provoking essays. The Amiable Hippie was my favorite.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haley's collection - this is the 2nd edition after some time in the "out of print" realm - embraces sarcasm and humor while teaching us about such things as psychotherapy, relationships, and critical thinking. You'll wonder if you should take Haley seriously (you should) and if he can be fully trusted (he can): get through these initial thoughts and the collection reads easily.

The title track - The Power Tactics of Jesus Christ - discusses the subject's skill at organizing a group of people and the use of vague language to create his fame. It was (still is?) a controversial essay but should be required reading for those studying either freethought or theology; Haley's points are backed by good evidence and clear, airtight logic.

My favorite essay was 'How to Have an Unhappy Marriage.' Like many of the essays, Haley approaches the problem (unhappiness/failure/etc.) from the angle of a positive "How-to" dialouge, which is simultaneously hilarious and sobering.

I strongly recommend this book. It would be great for travel or for an "essay a night" schedule. Enjoy!

[James Atkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Ricc Terranaova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic!

[Misha Y. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would only read these three:
* The Art of Psychoanalysis
* The Power Tactics of Jesus Christ
* The Art of Being a Failure as a Therapist

[Ryan Holiday · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever been in therapy or know someone who has, there is all sorts of great advice in here to help make the therapeutic process short, direct and goal-oriented. Which is helpful because if therapy is not those things for you, it's really not worth doing, now is it? Haley has an amazing essay called The Art of Being a Failure as a Therapist where he attempts to look at the ways therapy might not be therapy, the idea being that if something can't be falsified it isn't scientific. Naturally, Haley is applying this test to his job, and we benefit from his conclusions, but we'd be even better off if we tried this in our own fields. If you can't say how you can fail at your job then it isn't much of a job. The essay about Jesus Christ is very insightful, but what separates this book from most books of essays is that the title essay is not the best one. In fact, it's such a rarity that as a general rule I think you're safe to stay away from any interestingly titled book of essays since it will inevitably be one good piece packaged together with a bunch of crap.

[Jonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short read, though probably a bit dated. Common sense musings on the state of psychotherapy, both the industry and the profession (as they are different things).

You could get away with reading only the first two essays.

[Robert Pater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I read this book a long time ago, I still vividly remember 2 of the essays in it - the lead title one and "The Art of Being a Schizophrenic." I was and am still highly impressed with Jay Haley's innovative perspective and incisive perception.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mostly about psychology, therapy, and psychoanalysis while the titular essay is on Jesus as a mass movement leader in the same revolutionary vein as a Lenin, Ghandi, or Martin Luther King.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful, about life, about people and relationships, about power and its role in relationships, and an analysis of the power tactics employed by Jesus Christ. Solidly recommend

[Martha Duran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completamente útil si te interesa la terapia breve y estratégica, a partir del tercer capítulo se centra en aspectos clínicos y terapéuticos.