Richard Wiseman currently holds Britain's only professorship in the Public Understanding of Psychology. He is the author of four bestselling books and is the most followed psychologist on Twitter. In a brief introduction to The As If Principle, Wiseman tells us:

"So sit up straight and take a deep breath. Forget all about positive thinking. It's time for positive action."

The sagacious Victorian philosopher William James shocked everyone with his simple but radical approach to change: "If you want a quality, act as if you have it already." This solid truth has been tested and proven true in hundreds of scientific tests — reports of which appear in this fascinating book. The most written-about experiment revealed that smiling makes people feel better.

There are plenty of other ways to cheer yourself up, and Wiseman covers a large number of them including laughter, singing, happy talk, and taking great pleasure in what you are doing. Here we see that the As If Principle can engender happiness and joy.

Novelists and filmmakers have spent a lot of time and imaginative energy exploring the mysteries of love including attraction, intimacy, passion, jealousy, adultery, commitment, and loyalty. Wiseman describes many experiments from different scientists trying to decipher these mysteries.

In other chapters, the curious and intrepid reader will find delectable material on mental health (phobias, anxiety, depression); willpower (motivation, procrastination); persuasion (charisma, empathy, moving the masses); and creating a new you (identities, turning back time, and ways to slow aging).

The upshot of James' theory and all the research is that not only does the mind influence the body, the body influences the mind. Clench your muscles and you will feel energy pulsating through you giving rise to your willpower. The As If Principle by Richard Wiseman shows us the miraculous and powerful resources we have at our disposal to change our lives.