Remember the Peace Dividend? Where did it go? If I could trace one book that radicalized me, it was this one. It was on the reading list for a course I took in college called "Alternatives to War" (right after the Persian Gulf War, of all things). I took the class because it was something I'd never thought of - alternatives to war? War seemed inevitable, like the tides.

But this book contains some of the most interesting and overlooked ideas you'll find. It radicalized me because the ideas made so much sense and flew in the face of everything I'd been taught while growing up. They weren't pie-in-the-sky, but actually practical. It got me thinking that if alternatives could be found for something as seemingly overwhelming as warfare, then alternatives could be found for anything.

I'm sad to see this book out of print, but am not really surprised. Works like this clash with conventional wisdom. Leaders don't want citizens thinking about ideas like this. If you stumble across this book, grab it quickly, because you'll find things that you simply don't see anywhere else - lost to the dustbin of history. Things like the Clark-Sohn Plan, minimum deterrence, qualitative disarmament, nonprovocative defense, civilian-based defense, and so forth. I personally found qualitative disarmament among the most intriguing ideas, devised by Basil Liddell Hart, the British military strategist - probably the most influential military thinker of the 20th century (he invented the concept of the Blitzkrieg - too bad that the Germans were the only ones reading his works prior to World War II!)

The book is divided into three parts: Part One explores the United Nations and the above-mentioned alternatives to war; Part Two covers issues that apply to all of the above-things like verification, international law, and peacetime conversion. Part Three troubleshoots the relative strengths and weaknesses of each security alternative.

Despite having three writers, this book is very readable considering it covers such a deep topic. They clearly wrote it to make it accessible to everyday people. My sincere hope is that Westview Press reprints this book, because it's needed now more than ever, in the post-Cold War era we're in.

What you come to realize after reading this book is that nations don't really want peace, despite lip service and lofty rhetoric - or that true peace is an obstacle to national and international power, not a goal in itself. Just look at where the money goes. But everyday people do want peace, and in the age of weapons of mass destruction, it seems more important than ever for people to consider alternatives to war, rather than continuing the endless upward spiral of military spending.

I held onto this book after college because I realized it was an important work. I hope you can find it.

Forget the $100 motivational tape sets! This is where Tony Robbins and the other personal development gurus got there initial ideas. The author is a plastic surgeon who noticed that some people who had disfiguring facial scars and felt they couldn't face the world, didn't change their point of view even after reconstructive surgery. Some even insisted that their faces had not changed. Maltz realized it was the self-image we have of ourselves that is more important than the physical reality. This remaking of the self-image is the work of the book. Many very practical exercises. The author uses the analogy of WW-II torpedo guidance systems - the mind as a servo-mechanical mechanism (now we would visualize laser-guided smart missles) - that locks onto a goal and uses mistakes and setbacks only to adjust the trajectory and hone-in more precisely on the target. If we focus too much on our mistakes and errors we retarget our mind on the mistake rather than the desired goal. This book has exercises and images that can be used for greater understanding and real growth. An amazing kernel of wisdom from an era noted for its materialism and superficiallity!

Of the perhaps thousand books that I have read in my lifetime, PsychoCybernetics occupies a very special and honoured place on my bookshelf...

This classic self help book is so mature and sane in its content. No gimmicks, no bells and whistles...Just timeless truth and wisdom from an obviously wise and insightful man.

This book was a landmark in proving that our self image is all important in determining the quality of our lives. It is inspirational in its promise and challenge that we can change our self image systematically and effectively. Its insights into our psychology are deep, and ring so true in their logic and simplicity. Maltz did not want to make himself a guru....as is evidenced by so many self help authors. As a matter of fact, as an avid reader of self help books, I see that most of the modern self-help authors base themselves on the writing of this giant man. In a thousand years, when some yet unborn person will write their doctorate on self help books through the ages, many of today's books and authors will have been long forgotten - but not Maltz...His book will live on as a classic work. Its truths shining on in their timelessness.

One of the great thinkers of all time once said: " If I have seen further than others, it is only because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." Maxwell Maltz, without a doubt, is a true giant among authors who have bestowed upon the world inspirational literature..Please allow me to pass on to you the gift of his wisdom - as a token of my appreciation to Maltz and his legacy which have so deeply affected and enriched my life.

This book is so instrumental that I plan order additional copies for family and freinds.The results I have achieved are fascinating.The techniques are simple and effective but you must take action! Just reading the book will not do, you must apply the imformation.I've used this book to improve my self esteem,release stress, improve focus and master the art of goal setting.I highly recommend it for those serious about changing their life.I would also recommend"Psychology of Winning and Nine Empowering Secrets of Successful Living-Dennis Waitley,Think and Grow Rich-Napoleon Hill and Awaken the Gaint Within and Unlimited Power-Anthony Robbins".I would also recommend Using your Brain for a Change-Richard Bandler-a teacher to Anthony Robbins,covers the subject of NLP.Take back your life and read this book!