Psycho Cybernetics

Maxwell Maltz noticed that many of his plastic surgery patients still felt dissatisfied after their operations, and he set out to learn why setting goals works. His answer centers on self-image, a term he popularized: the picture people hold of themselves governs what they can achieve. Borrowing from Norbert Wiener's cybernetics and from Prescott Lecky's ideas on self-consistency, he treats the mind as a goal-seeking mechanism that steers toward whatever target it is given, positive or negative. Maltz offers techniques such as visualization, mental rehearsal and relaxation for improving self-image. Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar and Tony Robbins have drawn on his methods, and an updated edition adds commentary by Matt Furey of the Psycho-Cybernetics Foundation.

Web developer and teacher Nick Janetakis said it opens readers' eyes to the role of self-image, and MEDIjobs chief executive Catrinel Hagivreta said it showed her that habits, not circumstances, decide where people end up.