Carnegie’s Prescription for Eliminating Worry: A Book Review

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Carnegie’s Prescription for Eliminating Worry: A Book Review

Introduction HUMAN STRESS – PSYCHOLOGY 140
Carnegie’s Prescription for Eliminating Worry: A Book Review

Introduction

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is a literary creation by Dale Carnegie that was first published in 1944. Carnegie became one of the foremost authorities on self-help issues of the twentieth century. Carnegie was inspired to write due to his own disappointments in his personal and professional life. Ironically, his disappointment served to inspire him to write what is now considered to be one of the most important self- help books of our time.
The Culture and Biological Basis for Worry
What is stress? Physiological stress represents a wide range of physical responses that occur as a direct result of a stressor causing an interruption in the natural balance of a human body. When such a disruption occurs, either psychological or physical, the equilibrium in the body responds by stimulating the central nervous system, the endocrine system, and the human immune system. The reaction of these systems causes a number of physical changes that have both short and long term effects on the body. Members of the healthcare and Allied Helping Professions have devoted the last three decades to researching the specific short and long term effects of stress and the effects on the human body. This has led to highly specialized stress appraisals and the development of sophisticated coping techniques in all disciplines of the healthcare industry. Recent innovations have focused on the fact that stress impacts everyone in different ways, and that individual differences must be factored into the treatment milieu. Research continues to explore the correlati...

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...red as timeless and can be applied universally across individual domains. While Carnegie did not personally create the stress reducing suggestions, his painstaking efforts to gather information and compose this book provided a revolutionary concept that continues to capture the interest and concerns of individuals on a global level. My personal take away after having read this book will be to follow Carnegie’s sage advice to cultivate a positive mental attitude in my coursework and future endeavors. I will not let the small things in life upset me and I will strive to accept constructive criticism as a compliment. I will think and act cheerfully towards my coworkers which in turn will make me cheerful and I will look forward to the journey of self-actualization, remembering to always celebrate what I am, as opposed to dwelling upon what I am not.

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