P. Vaclavik is a famous scientist-psychologist and psychiatrist, a prominent specialist in socio-psychological problems of human communication, the author of monographs and popular science books translated into many languages. Born in 1921 in Austria, educated in Europe, worked in Switzerland, with 1967 lives in the USA, headed a research institute in Palo Alto, since 1976 professor at Stanford University. The author writes in a light, lively, witty manner about serious and relevant things. Under the guise of practical advice for those who want to master the “technique of poisoning their own lives” and feel deeply, truly unhappy, real-life psychological mechanisms that lead to neuroses and stress are described. Helping the reader understand these dangerous mechanisms, laugh together at their own “fears,” and show how much our happiness and mental health depend on ourselves is the goal of this book. Written by a renowned scientist and based on many years of psychotherapeutic practice, the book - with all the ease and elegance of the style - talks about important psychological problems. The book gained worldwide fame, becoming a bestseller in the USA, Germany, Italy, France and other countries.