The biggest obstacle Americans suffer to any sort of progress on urban problems is the Big Lie that after being forced to lie in their own excrement for decades, America's poorest cities can right themselves through a little more efficiency (in the conservative version) or Great Society spending on "community development" (in the liberal version). Rusk shows why community development doesn't work, and also shows why most cities (other than a few immigration hubs like NYC and Sun Belt cities with unlimited annexation powers) simply can't compete with their suburbs without outside help (or at least without a termination of outside hostility, such as highway spending that drags development ever further into the suburbs): if a city has no tax base and poor people who make public services more expensive, it can't compete with the suburbs, efficiency or no efficiency. Like Cities without Suburbs (also by Rusk), this is a masterpiece.

Rusk's book roots out the causes of concentrated urban poverty, proposes solutions, and provides examples of success stories. Rusk convincingly argues that poor racial minorities should be welcome to live in functional neighborhoods, such as the suburbs. I attended a conference at which Rusk discussed "Inside Game, Outside Game," and I was delighted to hear one politician declare that that book should be required reading for every politician in my state. I agree.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who has not been helped (or is considering entering therapy) in a meaningful way via traditional psycological therapy methods. The book should be considered mandatory reading for any professional in the fields of psychology and psychiatry who are determined to make the most positive impact possible for those people seeking their assistance. Instead of Therapy is a revolutionary book that will give the reader solid information on how to make real changes in their lives and avoid wasting time, money and energy in non-productive counseling relationships. I believe the book also gives the reader a glimpse into the future of the psychological therapy process.

For eight years, I had a mediation practice, and I am now a grade four teacher in an international school in Bangkok, Thailand. My guiding principal is to help my clients and my students become independent of me, and help themselves change. My language for this comes from Tom Rusk's "Instead of Therapy." Early in his book, Tom Rusk talks about how he freed himself and his clients from a dependent relationship, and he explains the process with clarity, compassion and humor. He reveals his personal and professional experiences in a refreshing way. Rusk comes across as a solid practioner with no nonsense and at once, with such understanding and caring. I travel with this book and I recommend this book.

I have bought a few traditional children's potty books and they were cute. But they didn't grab my child's attention like this new CD of Patrick's New Potty did. He loved looking at it on the computer as I read it. It isn't just like all the other potty books either, it's funny and cute! The illustrations are very nice too! Over all I was very pleased when I received my CD. I loved how my son's attention was held throughout the whole story and I thought it was definitely a plus for him to start learning how computers work! I would recommend this to anyone who is potty training their toddler right now.

This is a great book for toddlers who are potty training. The story of Patrick's potty helps children understand the ups and downs of toilet training. The illustrations are attractive to children as well. I recommend this book to all parents of toddlers!!!

Finally, the cat is out of the bag! Therapists listen up. Some of the best therapists in our business are telling us what we need to hear. And we better listen if we plan to be relevant to our clients and of value to our profession. The Truth of therapy is revealed in this wonderfully well written book. The rules have changed indeed.

In the ancient days of therapist-dominated therapy it was assumed that somehow we would descend like golden eagles and eaglettes upon the unknowing psychotherapeutic prey also known as patients and/or clients. It was assumed that based on our clinical wisdom we would be able to direct and provide the kinds of interventions and/or techniques that would make a curative difference. All this without narry a need to truly include those to whom we are entrusted to provide hope, freedom, and maybe some healing and cure along the way. Add to this mix the push of managed behavoiral care and endearment of brief is better approaches to psychotherapy all in the name of the almighty dollar, and we may have lost our way on the yellow brick road and have descended into Alice's bottomless pit in search of the white rabbit and not even know it! Sound a bit much? Step back, and ask yourself, as a therapist--"when was the last time you used "common factors" to determine your treatment plans? when was the last time you asked your patient and/or client for "their" direction on the interventions and/or techniques used to attain the psychotherapeutic holy grail?" If these questions seem alien to your gestalt then be assured that there is help out of this mess. There really is a better wasy to do what we do. It has always been there, but we have meely walked passed it, ever in search of yet another method.

The truth is that our patients/client'/s interpretation of what is going on in our therapy, the therapeutic alliance, transfeerence and all that good stuff- still matters. And when we focus on "common factors" we will indeed have more effective interventions in our therapy. "Changing the Rules" presents both a develpmental and empiracal focus, which is most comforting. The text takes us on a very practical and needed journey starting with the initial interview with our patient/client, then on to the design and delivery of the various therapeutic interventions that can positively impact the go and flow of what our patient/client wants- which may or may not be what we want. This is not a therapeutic cookbook with all kinds of cutesie receipes for success. It is a realistic, hardscrabble analyis of what we may have been in denial of for too many years. The lights are back on. We are indebted to the authors for taking the time to do the legwork, the research to once again remind us all of the power and potential of the work we are all blessed to be in. Finally, what sets this book apart form others is the special sections on gender bias and ethics- so important to be aware of and modify -if these are "blind spots" in our practice. I would higly recommend this book to anyone who is involved in psychotherapy. There are lessons for the new and seasoned therapists. In future additions of this work, I would like to see more material on ethnicity and age as therapeutic factors between and among therapist and patient and/or client. This is a book you will read and re-read many times.It will not gather dust on a therapeutic shelf. Well written and well worth the read. Ira S. Katz, PhD- Clinical Psychologist-Soledad, California

Most books on persuasion teach you ways to find you "advesaries" weaknesses and exploit them. This book actually gives you the tools to persuade people through true understanding. It also allows the people involved to come to a decision together, so that no one feels like they were manipulated into the solution.

It is truly ethical!!

My mom's stroke was our family's first experience with a long term medical event. The support staff at her rehab was minimal. This book gives you practical checklists and guidelines to make sure you get everything you need before you go home; and everything you need when you get there. Extremely helpful.

If you enjoy climbing, hiking, and first hand historical perspective you must find this book!

The suggestions, techniques, and growth-tasks in this book are exceptional. The book has changed my life, and would change it even more if I was willing to let it. You know that saying about how "when the student is ready..." ? If you're ready, this book is a damn good teacher. Here's the downside: the two writers are very different, and one is sarcastic, overly-aggressive, and a big turn-off. The other is reasonable and presents his views in a neutral manner. It's impossible to tell which writer is which, but the one who writes the scenes with dialogue should back off. Aside from that, I can say that I'm no fan of self-help books, but I am a fan of this one. It's insightful, powerful, and effective.

Never have I read or listened to a better self help book. The authors get right down to the basics, before people ever heard of Dr. Phil. I am a Psychologist, and I recommend to all my patients to read this book!!! Message to Oprah - Get the authors on your show!!!

A poor self image, trapped by repressions from my childhood, failed relationships, therapy, unsuccessful attempts to save my marriage and finally a devastating separation. My life was being destroyed. I knew something had to change but, I had no idea I was the problem and that I was holding all the answers. I did not like who I was or what I was doing to others. Loving myself was a foreign concept. The exercise in front of the mirror was a very emotional experience that started the process of bringing down walls. As I read on I gained an understanding of past behavior and how these patterns had been the root of my problems. I realized I had spent my life feeling depressed, lonely and sorry for myself. It's no wonder my wife started distancing herself from me. I still have a long road ahead of me but now I know that I can break away from what and who I was. When I find myself slipping back I listen to my 'inner selves' and frequently ask, where did that come, and 'we' talk. I haven't felt this good about myself in my entire life. My wife has noticed a change, we are still separated, and seeing the same therapist. We have 22 years of damagae to repair. Your book is my roadmap to a destination I have been searching out for my entire adult life. You have given us hope. Thank you.

I read the reviews by the other reviewers before I bought this book and they convinced me to buy it. However, I was extremely disappointed in this book and found it of no help at all. If you're looking for self-help book that will actually help you, keep looking.

I've been buying from Amazon for years and this is the first review I've ever written - this book is that good! Granted, it won't be the answer for everyone, but if you've tried other self-help books and even counseling and nothing seems to click - give this book a try. It has completely transformed my life and awakened me from a very long and depressing sleep.

This isn't a joke, it is true. This book changed my life. I was an insecure, confused, lonely individual who never felt sustained happiness and worked in a job that wasn't where I wanted to be. Now I feel good about living, my future, everything, going full throttle in the pursuit of my dreams. The secret to how you feel about yourself is locked away in your childhood. If you really want to change your life, you have to have the courage to face the pain and confusion you endured as a child. If you are willing to re-live that, you've opened the door. The next step is to change the familiar negative behavior and atitudes you've kept in your life as defense mechanisms. You will struggle for a while to change, but if you want it bad enough you will succeed. Hey if I can do it, so can you. It has been 2 years since I read this book, and I can't even believe I was the same person as I was before I read it. As a side benefit, you will be able to see right through the people in your life, and even the people you've just met. If you are a single person like myself, you will never waste your time dating losers ever again unless you want to. So if you are unhappy with any aspect of your life, have the courage to change it. Buy this book. Whatever they are charging for this book, it is worth 10 times that at least.