Gurdjieff's Transformational Psychology: The Art of Compassionate Self-Study Kindle Edition

In 1999 when I began my own graduate career toward becoming a psychologist I had also begun studying the concepts that Gurdjieff brought to the west. Cognitive dissonance ensued as it was obvious that the Gurdjieff work was a vastly superior paradigm, yet I had to find a way to embrace the traditional paradigm to complete my degree. I've been somewhat lonely in my field since then. I have used the work ideas to great effect with patients for 15 years and had considered how I might espouse them to other therapists but I always felt some fear of being marginalized. Alas, Dr. Schreiber took the plunge and jumped right in. And it is our good fortune he did so. He has produced and infinitely readable and concise recitation of the ideas and framed them in the context of a humanistic psychology. Dr. Schreiber picks up where Maurice Nicoll left off. The field of psychology often avoids a directly naming the goal of therapy as 'regeneration of the self'. However, Dr. Schreiber courageously does not avoid taking this position. Well written and a highly valuable contribution to our field. My sense is that this is book for the future of our field. - Erik Pedersen, Psy.D

If you have chosen Gurdjieff work as a spiritual practice or are healing your life's psyche wounds and have not yet read Russell Schreiber's Gurdjieff's Transformational Psychology, I highly recommend you do so. Dr. Schreiber's book is a well written well organized application of Gurdjieffian work methods for inner development through a psychological lense/ framework.Personally, I wish I could have read this book in the late 60's and 70's when I began counseling. I believe it would have greatly eased my efforts at "healing". Later, in the late 90's after working in a Gurdjieff group, I realized that many of the work methods such as self-remembering, self-observation, sensing and what Dr. Schreiber call's disidentifying all were highly valuable and in my opinion, necessary for accomplishing effective self investigation or psychoanalysis. At that point, I thought that someone should write a book how Gurdjieff work methods greatly compliment psychology and those of us using that western healing modality. This is that book and in my view it is one of the best for the practical application of Gurdjieff Work done compassionately leading to transformation .

I was in "The Work" for twenty-three years and still put into practice many of the Gurdjief ideas to this day. I wanted an introductory book that explained Gurdjieff's ideas and the possible mind-set of someone like myself to give to my new boyfriend. I found this publication to be well written, easy to understand and very comprehensive. Hard to say whether it's the best intro book I've read that can enlighten one on the ideas, but it's up at the top of my list. I would highly recommend it for anyone who is becoming newly acquainted with Gurdjief's ideas.

How does the sublime get brought into the world? When thinking about the teachings of such notable gurus as Gurdjieff, one tends to think of secret techniques and knowledge from the mysterious past. Here Russell Shreiber brings that knowledge into practical application in our lives. An amazing translation. I will use his insights in my own path of self-study.

I like the design of bringing the reader along gradually as he gets deeper and deeper into the teaching. I expect that makes it easier for the reader to understand the concepts. I have not yet finished the book but expect it to continue on an understandable path of explanation and help in acquiring the benefit of following the discipline the author is presenting. The author's subtitle is appropriate.James Patton

Excellent!...

I own many books on the Work and related areas.This has got to be one of the least obscure, most reader-friendly, and well written.I regularly return to it when I am having difficulty with understanding what others have written on a particularaspect of the Gurdjieff teachings.This man knows his stuff.

Having worked actively in groups for over fifty years, I'm disappointed in this book. The author gets it right as far as he goes. He just doesn't go far enough or even know he doesn't.

Very insightful useful and personal book based on the work teachings. Manages to incorporate modern Psychotherapy to benefit self study,