In the introduction and chapter 1 it is quite clear that the hazardous part is what he calls "brain drugs." He contends that mental health just like physical health is a continuum with most people in the middle, and that being in the middle isn't being mentally ill, but that being in the middle is called "unhappiness."

"Ritalin, a strong synthetic cocaine" (p3,32)

"Happiness or mental health is enjoying the live you are choosing to live, getting along well with the people near and dear to you, doing something with your life you believe is worthwhile, and not doing anything to deprive anyone else of the same chance of happiness you have." p7

"The people in (a focus group) are not there to hear extensively about your past or present unhappiness, ... or ... how much pain your are suffering or how unfair life has been to you. They will be interested in hearing about how you are applying the choice theory ideas of this book to your present problems. And in helping you to learn to do this more effectively as the group continues to meet." (p10)

(I have already started to apply this, and I am not even through chapter 1. Last night I made a choice that I would be happier if I vacuumed the floor, so I did, and was happier. Before that I made a choice that I would be happier if I played the musical keyboard, so I did that for 10 minutes, something I have not been doing for the last month or so. 05/03/2006)

Happiness Defined

"You are mentally healthy if you enjoy being with most of the people you know, especially with the important people of your life such as family and friends. Generally, you like people and are more than willing to help an unhappy family member, friend, or colleague to feel better. You lead a mostly tension-free life, laugh a lot, and rarely suffer from the aches and pains that so many people accept as an unavoidable part of living. You enjoy life and have no trouble accepting that other people are different from you. The last thing that comes to your mind is to criticize or try to change anyone. You are creative in what you attempt and may enjoy more of your potential than you ever thought was possible. Finally, even in difficult situations when you are unhappy -- no one can be happy all the time -- you'll know why you are unhappy and you'll attempt to do something about it. you may even be physically handicapped, as is actor Christopher Reeve, and still fit the criteria above." (p22)

"But if they are wrong, (about drugs being needed to correct erroneous brain chemistry) and there are many highly respected psychiatrist and psychologists who believe they are completely wrong, (10) it should reassure you to know that there is a small group of psychiatrists like myself who don't believe in mental illness." (p34)

"Is there a way to tell if I'm making a bad choice before I go ahead and make it?"

"The answer (is) ... covered in remaining chapters but ... Good choices are those that bring us closer to the people we want to be close to. Bad choices tend to separate us from those people." (p54)

The thrust of the book is to stop trying to exert external control over other people. That is hard to do because it is so ingrained into our society.

( )