THE HAPPY PERSON

Seven steps toward turning problems into opportunities that--like San Diego therapist Greenwald's Direct Decision Therapy (1973)--aren't as simplistic as they appear. The general message, guessably, ""is that you carry within yourself the resources to heal your most grievous pain, overcome your most penetrating fears,"" etc. In short and in sum, you can be happy and fulfilled. But the steps couched in wish-fulfillment jargon turn out to be basic psychological guidance. Take Step I, ""Decide What You Want in Order to be Happy (or Happier)."" Of cases-in-point Carl and Cecilia, Greenwald observes: ""They have the capacity to make decisions based on what they want--not what their family, friends, or coworkers want for them."" Succeeding steps take us further back, to ""unresolved childhood rebelliousness"" and other behavior patterns. Step V, then, is almost orthodox: ""Examine Your Alternatives to the Behavior That's Causing the Problem."" Interlarded with the cases and precepts are reminders that are never amiss--like ""no decision need be forever."" A beckoning title, a relaxed mien, and contents that might help.