Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People

by David L. Weiner and Gilbert M. Hefter

Book Overview

From the sexcapades of Bill Clinton to the unbelievable story of Hugh Grant and the prostitute; from the 15-year-old who weighs only 82 pounds but believes she's obese, to the professor who screams profanities at other drivers in snarled traffic--we wonder out loud, "What are they thinking?!" What drives so many apparently normal, intelligent people to act irrationally, harming themselves and others? According to Sigmund Freud, such behavior may be...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573927473
• ISBN13: 9781573927475
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 466 Pages
• Weight: 1.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Lively, Entertaining and Informative

This book does an amazing job in telling us how our minds really work. I have found most books on this subject to be tedious and difficult to read. But because Weiner keeps the writing lively and entertaining as well as informative, and intersperses his text with an imaginary and imaginative sub-plot involving Sigmund Freud, the book makes for a great read.

Why We Do What We Do

Throughout our lives we have seen people doing things that we thought were senseless. Whether they were people in our workplace, people in government or close friends. After reading David Weiner's book, you realize that their "Inner Dummy" made them do it. They really can't control the senseless things they do because they don't know they are doing them. After reading "Battling the Inner Dummy" you are more tolerant of these "Dummy" captured people...and you try to control your own "Inner Dummy."

Mind Over Matter

David Weiner has put together a truly entertaining book which answers the question,"What place in a person's mind allows generally reasonable people to do generally universally agreed upon unreasonable things?"Well researched, this book looks at real world examples, knowing the reader applies them to themselves and to the people, they know. Great chapters outline the base "limbic drives" present in all people. This mix of limbic drives is what powers our personalities and our actions, and this book offers explanations and a scorecard to see where the reader falls with regard to "average" behaviors. In the end, you have a better understanding of personality and actions, and a solid knowledge of the Inner Dummy in all of us.GREAT READING !

Please-Make Up Your Mind!

David Weiner has put together an altogether entertaining book defining what makes up our minds and our personalities. And what drives people to do the things they do.In today's age where someone goes on national television, and says, "I want to Marry a Millionaire," this book offers incredible insight into what shapes extraordinary events in the mind.Weiner's book is well researched,and offers many opportunities for self-analysis. It is a fun book to read and to pass. The analysis of the limbid drives will well illustrate personality traits in the reader and in people the reader knows. It asks the question, "What is Normal, Am I Normal, Are my Friends Normal?"Just a blast to read!

Battling the Inner Dummy : The Craziness of Apparently Norma

A friend and I were discussing President Clinton's foibles when I asked, "What was he thinking?" My friend said, "Funny you should say that" and recommended Dave Weiner's book. Psychoanalysis is not my thing, however, I found "Battling the Inner Dummy" to be an enjoyable and stimulating read that provides an interesting perspective as to why seemingly intelligent and rational people do stupid things. I really liked the book.