What "non-required" psychology book are you reading?

[Iwillheal]

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I don't think anybody reads, say, Meehl if it's not required. Not me at least.

But there are plenty of psychology books out there that peek my interest. Typically books about history of psychology. The following book was recommended to me recently by a classmate:

"The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease" by J. Metzl.

So while contemplating if I should purchase this book, I have decided to ask what other people are reading, assuming they have the time and energy to do some nonrequired psych reading.

 

[Ollie123]

I have totally read non-required Meehl articles before, and expect I will continue to do so.

I'm currently pounding my way through "Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling" and "Computational Modeling in Cognition". I get the feeling that's not exactly what you were looking for though....

 

[Iwillheal]

Ollie123, way to burst my bubble, lol.

So you read that stuff for fun? Or is it that you're doing research and you find those books somewhat related or helpful?

 

[PsychPhDone]

I like Meehl 🙁

 

[Ollie123]

Ollie123, way to burst my bubble, lol.

So you read that stuff for fun? Or is it that you're doing research and you find those books somewhat related or helpful?

I'm not sure "fun" is the right word, but interesting? They are semi-related to my research in the broadest context (i.e. "SEM can be applied to many types of data), but have no direct utility for anything I'm currently doing or am planning in the immediate future. Basically just things I'm interested in, and would like to know more about.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I'd say 98% of what I read involves nerdy imaging/neuroanatomy journal articles, mostly about fMRI research and animal modeling stuff. The other 2% is sinful fluff. I just finished "White Girl Problems" by Babe Walker (fictitious author). I wouldn't call it a psych book, but it definitely had some fun Axis-II stuff going on!

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I have totally read non-required Meehl articles before, and expect I will continue to do so.

I'm currently pounding my way through "Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling" and "Computational Modeling in Cognition". I get the feeling that's not exactly what you were looking for though....

I actually found that to be surprisingly readable, particularly for a stats book. I need to go back through it again at some point, though, as I'm horrible about having that sort of information failing to "stick" on a single read-through.

As for me, I'm currently sifting through "Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychology;" it's only semi-required, so I'm counting it. I also still have to finish making my way through Fuster's "Cortex and Mind."

 

[Ollie123]

I actually found that to be surprisingly readable, particularly for a stats book. I need to go back through it again at some point, though, as I'm horrible about having that sort of information failing to "stick" on a single read-through.

Glad to hear others found it useful. I'm using it to determine if I should take a course in SEM. I'm getting to the point I feel like most basics I can pick up on my own with sufficient time/effort, and it seems rare for a one-semester stats class to get into anything much beyond the basics. I'm taking Bayesian right now which has been useful since I know jack about it (and have learned that after 10 years off, my calculus skills are....rusty....), but something like SEM I feel like I should be able to learn independently. Time will tell!

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Glad to hear others found it useful. I'm using it to determine if I should take a course in SEM. I'm getting to the point I feel like most basics I can pick up on my own with sufficient time/effort, and it seems rare for a one-semester stats class to get into anything much beyond the basics. I'm taking Bayesian right now which has been useful since I know jack about it (and have learned that after 10 years off, my calculus skills are....rusty....), but something like SEM I feel like I should be able to learn independently. Time will tell!

Given how many components it uses from other techniques, I'd imagine you'll likely be fine without a class. The text was actually our book for the class I took (like you and Bayesian, I knew jack about it at the time), and I'd say it was a very good choice.

 

[PhDToBe]

Love's Executioner But, I don't have any time for it right now...maybe winter break?!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Glad to hear others found it useful. I'm using it to determine if I should take a course in SEM. I'm getting to the point I feel like most basics I can pick up on my own with sufficient time/effort, and it seems rare for a one-semester stats class to get into anything much beyond the basics. I'm taking Bayesian right now which has been useful since I know jack about it (and have learned that after 10 years off, my calculus skills are....rusty....), but something like SEM I feel like I should be able to learn independently. Time will tell!

Does your university (or neighboring uni?) offer any advanced stats seminars/programming? At my prior institution they had a great series of stats training seminars spread throughout the year, so post-docs/fellows/staff/others could attend the trainings without having to commit to the 15wks/scheduling of a regular class.

 

[Ollie123]

Not one that covers SEM, unfortunately. Though my experience with those has been that they are usually REALLY simplified to fit into a condensed format, so I'm not sure how much mileage I'd get from that. The more reading I do though, the less inclined I am to think formal instruction will be necessary. If factor analysis and regression had a slightly mutant offspring.....

 

[LivingOffLoans]

I actually haven't picked up anything in a while, mostly because I have a number of books I started and am still finishing off. My most favorite of recent reads has to be 'Can Love Last?' by Stephen A. Mitchell. Incredible.

 

[Goobernut]

I just read "Walden Two" 🙂 non-required for fun. It's a tiny book though. I'm working on "LGBTQ Psychology: An Introduction." Written by Clarke, Ellis, Peel, & Riggs. I'm pretty sure it's meant to be a textbook, but I'm liking it as an intro book.

 

[MBellows]

Does your university (or neighboring uni?) offer any advanced stats seminars/programming? At my prior institution they had a great series of stats training seminars spread throughout the year, so post-docs/fellows/staff/others could attend the trainings without having to commit to the 15wks/scheduling of a regular class.

Are you admitting to being institutionalized? 😛

I'm trying to find time to finish Minding the Body, Mending the Mind by Joan Borysenko, but that damned required reading is getting in the way.

 

[MBellows]

You know... That and posting on forums.

 

[madtofu]

I'm into philosophy in general and especially into the ways psychology grew from philosophy and where they intersect today. So I'm reading The Philosophy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Stoic Philosophy as Rational and Cognitive Psychotherapy by Donald Robertson. Buried under required reading, it'll probably take me a year to read it, but it's fascinating stuff if you like philosophy and/or are really into CBT.

 

[cara susanna]

NOT "Just Friends": Rebuilding Trust and Recovering Your Sanity After Infidelity by Shirley Glass.

No, I have not been involved in infidelity 😉 It's just a very interesting topic and Glass IMO does a great job of integrating her research and clinical experience to support her theory of why/how people cheat on their partners. It's pretty pop psych-y, but it makes it more of a fun read for me. I definitely think this could be a good book to recommend to clients who have dealt with infidelity.

 

[snowcherries]

I don't think anybody reads, say, Meehl if it's not required. Not me at least.

But there are plenty of psychology books out there that peek my interest. Typically books about history of psychology. The following book was recommended to me recently by a classmate:

"The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease" by J. Metzl.

So while contemplating if I should purchase this book, I have decided to ask what other people are reading, assuming they have the time and energy to do some nonrequired psych reading.

The Protest Psychosis is a truly fantastic book if you're at all interested in social influences on diagnosis. His arguments may overreach at time, but the evidence he compiles is great. It's also a very compelling and fast read.

 

[lukewarm1]

I had to cite some material from de Shazer's (1985) Keys to Solution in Brief Therapy for a paper and have found myself continuing to read through it. His writing style is engaging and the book really provides insight into how de Shazer conceptualized SFT compared to where it's at now. Very interesting.

 

[MBellows]

I had to cite some material from de Shazer's (1985) Keys to Solution in Brief Therapy for a paper and have found myself continuing to read through it. His writing style is engaging and the book really provides insight into how de Shazer conceptualized SFT compared to where it's at now. Very interesting.

Have you read Doing What Works in Brief Therapy by Ellen Quick?

 

[Buzzwordsoldier]

Interesting to see the Stoics pop up in this thread -- in relation to CBT, no less! I've been reading Gilles Deleuze's The Logic of Sense, in which he used concepts borrowed from Stoic philosophy to critique Kleinian object relations theory.

 

[ela]

I've been on a Lacanian bender; to that end

The Unsayable - Annie Rogers
Lacanian Psychotherapy: Theory and Practical Applications - Micheal Miller
Fundamentals of Psychoanalytic Technique - Bruce Fink
The Lacanian Subject - Bruce Fink

and TOTALLY unrelated (well, not really, but fiction so kind of) to psych, just finished the best novel I've read in the past 10 years

Leaving the Atocha Station - Ben Lerner