Victorian philosopher William James had a theory about emotion and behavior: It isn't that our feelings guide our actions (feel happy and you will laugh). On the contrary, it is our actions that guide our emotions (laugh and you will feel happy). This led James to a remarkable conclusion: "If you want a quality, act as if you already have it." Roused by James's astonishing discovery, renowned psychologist Richard Wiseman confirms James's principle and shows how the self-help genre has for too long put the cart before the horse in trying to help us take control of our lives. Bringing to the table an array of firsthand experiments, surprising histories, and psychological case studies, Wiseman illustrates in detail how we can apply this principle in our daily lives. Whether it's quitting a bad habit, persevering through a difficult task, or achieving your dream self, The As If Principle can help.--From publisher description.