{"product_id":"on-wanting-to-change-adam-phillips-ca-0374172048","title":"On Wanting to Change","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author, Adam Phillips\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdam Phillips is a celebrated psychoanalyst and essayist, born in Cardiff, Wales, and trained at the Tavistock Clinic in London. He has written over twenty books, including \u003cem\u003eOn Kissing, Tickling, and Being Bored\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eMissing Out\u003c\/em\u003e. Known for his elegant prose and ability to make complex psychological ideas accessible, Phillips explores the tensions between what we want and what we think we should want. Critics have praised him as one of the greatest living writers on the mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is On Wanting to Change About?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eOn Wanting to Change\u003c\/em\u003e, Adam Phillips turns his focus to a fundamental human desire: the wish to change. Whether it’s altering a habit, a relationship, or a way of thinking, he argues that our ideas about change are often shaped by unspoken assumptions about what we think we should be. Rather than offering a prescriptive guide, the book invites readers to examine their own relationship with change and consider that not changing might be just as important. Phillips draws on his clinical experience and psychoanalytic theory to explore how we are both drawn to and fearful of transformation. He suggests that our desire to change is often tangled with a desire for control, and that true change might require letting go of certainty. Written in his lucid, aphoristic style, this book challenges readers to think differently about evolution.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Themes Explored in the Book\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA central theme is the paradox of intentional change. Phillips questions whether we can deliberately change without first understanding our resistance. He uses examples from literature, philosophy, and practice to illustrate how change often happens sideways, through insight and acceptance. Another important theme is the role of uncertainty. Phillips contends that living with less certainty and more spontaneity can be a form of psychological freedom. He encourages tolerating not knowing and embracing gaps in understanding, seeing the wish to change as a sign of aliveness. The book also examines change and identity: if we change, are we still ourselves? Phillips explores this with nuance, suggesting identity is a process, not fixed. He offers a compassionate view of the difficulty of change, acknowledging that our patterns, even painful ones, feel like home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy This Book Resonates with Readers\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaders have found \u003cem\u003eOn Wanting to Change\u003c\/em\u003e to be a stimulating and empathetic read. Many appreciate how Phillips offers bite-sized insights that allow kindness and patience with oneself when grappling with life’s challenges. Others highlight his unique perspective that encourages living with less certainty and more spontaneity. The book has been described as a treasure for its brilliant linguistic style and deep psychoanalytic understanding. While some note it is written from an insider’s perspective, many lay readers still find wisdom in its pages. The overwhelming sentiment is that Phillips’s approach is both humane and thought-provoking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs this book a self-help guide?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot exactly. While it offers insights applicable to personal growth, \u003cem\u003eOn Wanting to Change\u003c\/em\u003e is more of a philosophical meditation on the nature of change. It does not provide step-by-step instructions but instead encourages reflection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDo I need a background in psychology to understand it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. Phillips writes in an accessible style, though he draws on psychoanalytic concepts. Some familiarity with Freud and Winnicott may enrich the reading, but it is not required.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat makes this book different from other books on change?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnlike many books that treat change as a problem to be solved, Phillips sees it as a paradox to be explored. He values resistance to change as much as the desire for it, offering a more nuanced and compassionate perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adam Phillips","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48329064677614,"sku":null,"price":42.19,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0816\/1158\/7822\/files\/61xdG_UF1fL._SL1500.jpg?v=1784198913","url":"https:\/\/vitamin4ca.com\/products\/on-wanting-to-change-adam-phillips-ca-0374172048","provider":"vitamin4ca","version":"1.0","type":"link"}