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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Psych Major Syndrome

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Psych Major Syndrome

Alicia Thompson

Hyperion

$16.99 U.S. (Hardcover)

FTC: I borrowed this book from the library.

Synopsis by Barnes and Noble:

Using the skills you've learned so far in Introduction to Psychology, please write a brief self-assessment describing how things are going in your freshman year.

Presenting Concerns:

The Patient, Leigh Nolan (that would be me), has just started her first year at Stiles College. She has decided to major in psychology (even though her parents would rather she study Tarot cards, not Rorschach blots).

Patient has always been very good at helping her friends with their problems, but when it comes to solving her own...not so much.

Patient has a tendency to overanalyze things, particularly when the opposite sex is involved. Like why doesn't Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year, ever invite her to spend the night? Or why can't she commit to taking the next step in their relationship? And why does his roommate Nathan dislike her so much? More importantly, why did Nathan have a starring role in a much-more-than-friendly dream?

Aggravating factors include hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who's badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who thinks Patient is, in a word, naive.

Diagnosis:

Psych Major Syndrome

My Thoughts:

This book was really interesting. I am actually minoring in psychology so it was fun to read this book and understand the concepts addressed. Leigh was kind of neurotic, but very relateable. I liked actually reading a book about a character closer to my age. Alicia Thompson did an amazing job of creating a vulnerable and relateable title character. I think my favorite part of the book was the psychology terms at the beginning of the chapters. They added some depth and prepared the reader for what was going to happen in the chapter. The book addressed some very touchy subjects, in a manner that worked. I loved the way it turned out, and really enjoyed reading the book.

Recommendation:

Anyone who needs to do a little psychoanalysis on themselves....

AgeL 15 and up

Grade: A

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