What makes you weak can also make you strong

[Andy62]

"The Importance Of Feeling Inferior" is a very interesting and thought provoking book by Marie Beynon Ray. It is based on the theories of Psychologist Alfred Adler, founder of the school of individual psychology, who was an associate of Sigmund Freud and borrowed heavily on the power dynamic theories Friedrich Nietzsche. Adler's theory very simply stated is that feelings of inferiority can be the catalyst to drive individuals to great accomplishment. The book gives many illustrations of how an inferiority complex has been the motivating force that drove many people to greatness and lists numerous case studies and examples. The first example given in the first chapter is one that we are all familiar with-Charles Atlas. The book gives numerous examples of other individuals who used their feelings of imferioity to drive their ambitions . The examples include: Lincoln,Franklin,Da Vinci, Napoleon, Norman Vincent Peale, Lawrence of Arabia,Alexander The Great and many more. The book is an easy and interesting read and imparts an understanding of people and their motivations that can be helpful to all of us as we deal with people in our day to day lives.

[gruntbrain]

The book is timely given today's challenges. JP & Jack LaLanne overcame early childhood physical adversities . Somehow many children overcame the psychological adversity of their parent's divorce & became "superstars".

[April]

"The Importance Of Feeling Inferior" is a very interesting and thought provoking book by Marie Beynon Ray. It is based on the theories of Psychologist Alfred Adler, founder of the school of individual psychology, who was an associate of Sigmund Freud and borrowed heavily on the power dynamic theories Friedrich Nietzsche. Adler's theory very simply stated is that feelings of inferiority can be the catalyst to drive individuals to great accomplishment. The book gives many illustrations of how an inferiority complex has been the motivating force that drove many people to greatness and lists numerous case studies and examples. The first example given in the first chapter is one that we are all familiar with-Charles Atlas. The book gives numerous examples of other individuals who used their feelings of imferioity to drive their ambitions . The examples include: Lincoln,Franklin,Da Vinci, Napoleon, Norman Vincent Peale, Lawrence of Arabia,Alexander The Great and many more. The book is an easy and interesting read and imparts an understanding of people and their motivations that can be helpful to all of us as we deal with people in our day to day lives.

I couldn't remember if it was Hertz or Avis who tried harder, but I do remember the slogan: We're #2. We try harder. (I think it was Avis because their slogan now is "We try harder" but it doesn't say anymore if they are #2 or not.) Catchy slogan, and actually very true. Our faults give us something to overcome. The challenge is getting ahead and staying ahead.

How many of us here are trying to overcome lifelong physical inadequacies? We might be surprised at the answers of the forum members. The posts in the forum attest that DVR's are helping us to achieve things we never thought we could.

I wish I had time to read a book. Sounds like a very good one.

[John Peterson]

Hey Andy62,

I am ordering this book. Sounds like a winner to me. Truth to tell, I have studied this topic for years. And I have no doubt that the inferiority complex is a two edged sword that cuts both ways. But no matter how you cut it(pun intended) it is a catalyst for transformation.

Consider: It can be used as a tool for positive transformation as Charles Atlas advocated and modeled for hundreds of thousands of his students. To this day Mr Atlas represents lifelong health, strength, virility, and self reliance.

Or, it can used in the negative. For example, Bob Hoffman, a self appointed adversary of Mr. Atlas did all he could to try and bring Mr. Atlas down. He wrote vicious articles attacking him at every opportunity and blatantly lied about Mr. Atlas. In fact, Bob Hoffman had to admit some of his lies in a court of law under oath or be found guilty of committing perjury. Why did Hoffman do this? Not because he was trying to tell the truth about Charles Atlas and how Atlas trained but because he (Bob Hoffman) was consumed with jealousy and hatred toward Charles Atlas. Why? Because regardless of what he did or how he trained Bob Hoffman could never have the beautiful physique and matchless fitness Charles Atlas had and he could never be Charles Atlas. As a result Hoffman felt inferior to Mr. Atlas and proved it by his malicious acts toward Mr. Atlas.

Yet today, both men are remembered. Charles Atlas for being the ultimate example of manliness that he was to millions and Bob Hoffman for introducing steroids into American sport. In short, Charles Atlas represented an American ideal that has long since passed from our culture and that was emphasized by an adage my Little League Coach used before and after every game we played when he stated, "It's not winning or losing that's most important fellas, but it's how you play the game that counts."

For Hoffman, it wasn't how you played the game that counted but whether you won or lost. To me that speaks volumes about him.

---John Peterson

[gruntbrain]

Hoffman is also remembered for his "glorious" tasting protein powder & his huge ego

[Andy62]

The book and Adler's psychological theory really have a lot of Alois P. Swoboda's principles in them. We all have the resources lying dormant witin us that we need to overcome our obstacles in life. We just have to develop them.