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Cover of Mental health through will-training

Mental health through will-training

Abraham A. Low

First published 1950 · 448 pages

A pragmatic, foundational guide to reclaiming self-respect through cognitive discipline and practical wisdom.

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What it feels like

Reading this foundational manual feels like sitting in a structured, supportive group therapy session where practical wisdom takes precedence over abstract theory. The pace is steady and deliberate, designed to help the reader absorb and apply cognitive behavioral techniques to daily life. Its tone is deeply pragmatic and encouraging, relying on clear, aphoristic maxims to remind us that humor is our best friend and temper our worst enemy. The mood is grounded and purposeful, offering a safe, reflective space for those looking to build better living skills. It will deeply satisfy readers seeking a straightforward, historical framework for self-care, emotional regulation, and the quiet courage required to make mistakes and grow from them.

Mood
  • reflective
  • grounded
  • purposeful
Tone
  • instructive
  • pragmatic
  • encouraging
  • direct
Pace
steady
Themes
cognitive behavioral techniques · self-control and self-respect · emotional regulation · practical self-care
The writing
Clear, aphoristic, and instructional, relying on memorable maxims to reinforce behavioral frameworks.
The arc
Moves from recognizing one's intellectual blind spots to building a steady sense of self-respect through disciplined practice.
Who it's for
Readers seeking foundational, practical cognitive-behavioral tools and structured frameworks for managing temper and improving daily living skills.
Content notes
  • mental health struggles
  • discussions of temper and emotional dysregulation

About the book

Mental Health Through Will-Training is one of the main resources for the explanation and application of the cognitive behavioral self-help techniques developed by Abraham Low, MD. The book not only lays out the framework for developing better living skills, it is also essential for taking part in Recovery International meetings, as it fully describes such self-help tools as:

Humor is our best friend, temper is our worst enemy. Have the courage to make a mistake. People do things that annoy us, not necessarily to annoy us. Tempers are frequently uncontrolled, but not uncontrollable. Every act of self-control leads to a sense of self-respect. Temper is an intellectual blindness to the other side of the story. [GoodReads]

Description from Open Library.

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