HOW TO BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND

by Mildred; Bernard Berkowitz & Jean Owen Newman ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 29, 1973

The simple(minded) premise behind this dollop (60 pages) of softcore psychology is self-respect, self-love -- encourage yourself, compliment yourself, be your own cheering section, pamper yourself. Conversely stop hating, give up those comfortable grievances, quit blaming folks like your parents for those feelings of anxiety and inadequacy -- ""The tragedy of a bad childhood is that people tend to get hooked on it."" Done in question-answer pep-talk style (Owen, a freelancer and Ben Franklin's cousin seven times removed, asks and Manhattan psychoanalysts Berkowitz and Newman, husband and wife, respond in unison), it owes more to Norman Vincent Peale and Ann Landers than Sigmund Freud. This is the smarmy stuff of best-sellerdom, backed with some very friendly advance quotes from such luminaries as Nora Ephron (""I can't live without it"") and Dan Green-burg who caught the real flavor -- ""After just one reading I felt definitely calmer and peppier, and went out and treated myself to a banana ice cream cone with sprinkles."" Slurp.

Pub Date: May 29, 1973

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1973

Categories: NONFICTION