"How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" by Dale Carnegie

This is a classic read by a classic author. Although probably not as good as 'How to win friends and influence people' it is still a very useful book. The style of writing is a bit antiquated and it seems that 85% of the book are stories of different people, but the gist is there, and it is useful. The book is wonderfully organized, with chapter summaries and bullet points, which can be read in one breath when one wants to refresh his knowledge of the material.

I like Dales common sense advice, which might be obvious when read in a book, but it is very hard to remember when you are actually engrossed in worry. I also like very much his approach to religion and prayer, which he as a former atheist, doesn't see as a primarily religious duty and ritual, but more of a psychologically beneficial process where one can relinquish control over problems, in which case help often comes from the most unexpected places. Much of the moder worry habit comes from perfectionism and insistence on having control of all the circumstances in ones life, and constant pondering and worrying until one finds a solution, when the best way sometimes is to relinquish control, let go of the problem and admit that there is nothing one can do about it, and then, usually in a most amazing way, something comes along that helps the problem, solves it or makes it irrelevant. Whether this relinquishing of control should be done through belief in God and prayer, or through some other methods, is completely irrelevant, but the prayer has proven its positive psychological benefits for many centuries now.

The writing down of the worries might be an obvious thing to do today, and many psychologists recommend it as a way to organize the thoughts and separate the real concerns from the 'worry noise' in the head, but in the 1930s when Dale wrote this book must have been absolutely revolutionary. Recommendation for one hour nap in the afternoon of each day is probably one of the best ways to extend longevity, and has been long practiced on the Iberian peninsula under the name of Siesta. Not only the body and mind need rest mid-day, but by the very act of relaxing enough to fall asleep we reduce stress and induce a meditative state for stress relief and regeneration.

This is a wonderful book full of 'common sense' advice that is not common at all. The chapter summaries and bullet points should be re-read constantly and used to live by.