Taming Your Gremlin: A Guide to Enjoying Yourself.
By Richard D. Carson.
The beginning of the author's introduction focuses on clearing up a couple of thoughts or pre-existing biases of this book and the author. It is divided into the following sections: The Book, Me, You, Your Gremlin, Simply Noticing, Trying and Figuring Out. In the section The Book, he states how this book will not bring the reader miracles and will "guide them on the path to enlightenment" but this book will however help the individual learn to be happier with each day. The author then continues to talk about how he is a counselor and has been for many years but he does not think he is a master of any ability to cure people of their issues, he simply believes he helps people live happier day by day. The next section focuses on the reader and the author states the obvious by acknowledging that the reader must be questioning some aspects of themselves or feels a little lost. And then he continues with encouragement stating, "The real you is a pure life force and is not limited by your concepts and ideas of who you are." And even though this book might not help the reader solve all of their life issues, the reader is still capable of using some of these concepts to benefit from. The next section discusses the reader's "Gremlin" and how this term is used in the book. "Your gremlin in the narrator in your head. He has influenced you since you came into this world and he accompanies you throughout this entire existence." This the author describes some of the pain, emotions, and frustration the reader could possibly be experiencing due to their gremlin. He focuses on how one must be able to observe this inner gremlin and how this book is to create awareness and learn to observe, and eventually control the gremlin tendencies. The chapter ends with the last two sections on how to tame the inner voices, one must "simple notice" which the author stresses involves no thinking or thought process. The author also states that to observe we have to allow the gremlin into our relationship so we can observe the instinctive destructive habits. The author ends this chapter by adding an emphasis of no stress: "If you get bored, confused, overwhelmed, distracted, or spaced out, simply stop for a while."
The author takes such a laid back approach to his writing that at first he comes off as non-shallot and unprofessional. However, after time and reading ahead his approach makes perfect sense. He is essentially dumbing down complex concepts and trying to make it somewhat entertaining to the audience and I assume him. He states, "Two is a company and three is a crowd especially if the third party is a gremlin." The author is enjoying himself while writing this. The introduction itself is well put together and a very simple beginning to the complex concepts he is going to present to the reader. The constant illustrations throughout the chapter also create the feeling that this book is genuinely what he says; to live each day happier and for entertainment.
I am so far very intrigued with the author’s idea of this book. He seems to think all of our internal frustrations can be solved by a simpler approach and that becoming happy can be fun and entertaining. It almost seems like this book could be treated as a “intro” to a more profound complex self-help book. But because I am also reading this book for personal pleasure and an essential for my happiness, this book is perfect for it's use. The author appears to be an easy-going guy that really wants to help all the people, not just the one who can understand the terminology and the complex concepts. I hesitate, because at the same time I second guess and assume that the author is just pulling our leg and taking our money, but usually I suffocate this assumption by believing what he says in the introduction; the book will not solve all the wonders of the world but to satisfy the day by day pleasures in life.
