3.5
Rewire
ByPublisher Description
A refreshing guide to becoming a healthier, happier self.
We humans tend to get in our own way time and time again—whether it comes to not speaking up for ourselves, going back to bad romantic partners, dieting for the umpteenth try, or acting on any of a range of bad habits we just can’t seem to shake. In Rewire, renowned psychotherapist Richard O’Connor, PhD, reveals exactly why our bad habits die so hard. We have two brains—one a thoughtful, conscious, deliberative self, and the other an automatic self that makes most of our decisions without our attention. Using new research and knowledge about how the brain works, the book clears a path to lasting, effective change for behaviors that include:
• Procrastination
• Overeating
• Chronic disorganization
• Staying in bad situations
• Excessive worrying
• Risk taking
• Passive aggression
• Self-medication
Bringing together many different fields in psychology and brain science, Dr. O’Connor gives you a road map to overcoming whatever self-destructive habits are plaguing you, with exercises throughout the book. We can rewire our brains to develop healthier circuitry, training the automatic self to make wiser decisions without having to think about it; ignore distractions; withstand temptations; see ourselves and the world more clearly; and interrupt our reflexive responses before they get us in trouble. Meanwhile, our conscious minds will be freed to view ourselves with compassion at the same time as we practice self-discipline. By learning valuable skills and habits—including mindfulness, self-control, confronting fear, and freeing yourself from mindless guilt—we can open ourselves to vastly more successful, productive, and happy lives.
We humans tend to get in our own way time and time again—whether it comes to not speaking up for ourselves, going back to bad romantic partners, dieting for the umpteenth try, or acting on any of a range of bad habits we just can’t seem to shake. In Rewire, renowned psychotherapist Richard O’Connor, PhD, reveals exactly why our bad habits die so hard. We have two brains—one a thoughtful, conscious, deliberative self, and the other an automatic self that makes most of our decisions without our attention. Using new research and knowledge about how the brain works, the book clears a path to lasting, effective change for behaviors that include:
• Procrastination
• Overeating
• Chronic disorganization
• Staying in bad situations
• Excessive worrying
• Risk taking
• Passive aggression
• Self-medication
Bringing together many different fields in psychology and brain science, Dr. O’Connor gives you a road map to overcoming whatever self-destructive habits are plaguing you, with exercises throughout the book. We can rewire our brains to develop healthier circuitry, training the automatic self to make wiser decisions without having to think about it; ignore distractions; withstand temptations; see ourselves and the world more clearly; and interrupt our reflexive responses before they get us in trouble. Meanwhile, our conscious minds will be freed to view ourselves with compassion at the same time as we practice self-discipline. By learning valuable skills and habits—including mindfulness, self-control, confronting fear, and freeing yourself from mindless guilt—we can open ourselves to vastly more successful, productive, and happy lives.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesRewire Reviews
3.5
“Rewire offers an in-depth and compassionate look into the patterns of depression and how the brain can become “wired” for self-destructive habits. Richard O’Connor, PhD, does an excellent job explaining the science behind depression in a way that feels human, relatable, and validating. The book shines when it breaks down why our minds fall into familiar negative loops and how learned behaviors shape our emotional responses over time. I especially appreciated the practical focus on building new, healthier habits to retrain the brain—one small action at a time.
However, while the information is valuable, the delivery felt repetitive. Many concepts are revisited again and again, which slowed the pacing and made the middle sections drag. I found myself wishing the ideas were condensed, allowing more space for fresh examples, tools, or stories from real-world experiences.
Overall, Rewire is a solid resource for anyone interested in understanding depression on a deeper psychological level, especially if you’re drawn to habit-based healing. It offers insight, encouragement, and clarity—but requires some patience to get through the repetition. A worthwhile read, just not the most streamlined one.”
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