Michael R. Edelstein, Ph.D is author (with David Ramsey Steele) of the book “Three Minute Therapy: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life.”

He has been a clinical psychologist in private practice for more than twenty years. He is a Fellow of the Institute for Rational Emotive Therapy. He served as consulting psychologist for the National Save-A-Life League, Inc., the oldest suicide prevention center in the United States. He has been widely published in professional journals and has lectured internationally.

The following review of his book was written by James Harris and appeared in the Liberator OnLine:

REVIEW: “Three Minute Therapy:: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life.” by Michael R. Edelstein, Ph.D., with David Ramsey Steele, Ph.D. Hardback, 228 pages.

"This book cannot solve all your problems," writes Dr. Edelstein. "But it can help you change your life dramatically for the better."

This is a wonderful guide that can provide you with powerful tools to quickly deal with common problems that cause you trouble, slow your productivity, and interfere with your happiness. The methods taught here are based on the principles of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), originated by Dr. Albert Ellis.

Dr. Edelstein has simplified the principles of REBT, and explains them in a way that lets you quickly and effectively apply them to your life. The results can be dramatic. You can eliminate negative and self-destructive behavior, and free yourself to pursue your highest goals, values, and choices.

It's not magic, and it's not gimmickry. And no, you won't solve all your problems in three minutes. The book is titled THREE MINUTE THERAPY because, once you have learned the simple techniques it teaches, you can apply them to most personal problems in exercises that take about three minutes. Steady use of these simple but powerful techniques can truly change your life. You become your own therapist.

The book begins by explaining the principles of REBT. It is based, Dr. Edelstein says, on "a single, simple fact: the way you feel, emotionally, arises from the way you think. Your feelings come from your thinking."

*The key, then, is to control and eliminate undesirable and destructive feelings by changing your thinking.* That's not easy, but it's not as difficult as you might think. Dr. Edelstein shows you how. He then helps you apply these techniques to many of the major problems we commonly face in day-to-day life. Chapters are devoted to worry; self-esteem; marriage; anger; procrastination; depression; overeating; smoking; panic attacks; money; social anxiety; and more.

The last chapter holds out the promise of the book. It's called "How to be Happy: A Beginning."

THREE MINUTE THERAPY has been highly praised by Dr. Albert Ellis himself, the father of REBT.

Both Dr. Edelstein and Dr. Steele are libertarians. (Steele is author of the libertarian classic FROM MARX TO MISES.) Libertarians seem to appreciate the methods in this book a great deal, perhaps because of the emphasis on rationality, self-reliance, and self-control. THREE MINUTE THERAPY has received tremendous praise from prominent libertarians. Here's a sampling:

What Others Are Saying:

"THREE MINUTE THERAPY will swiftly and surely interrupt, disrupt, and disarm the beliefs and patterns that stand in your way." -- Michael Cloud, 1998 Libertarian Party National Convention Keynote Speaker and creator of "The Essence of Political Persuasion" tape series.

"Both authors are long-term libertarians, but this is not a libertarian book. Instead, it is something perhaps even more important for us: it is a small brilliantly written treatise on how to avoid, among other psychological debilitations, the twin pitfalls of feuding and burnout." -- Dr. Walter Block, libertarian economist and author of DEFENDING THE UNDEFENDABLE.

"A person really willing to apply these exercises can find a goldmine of specific advice." -- Joan Kennedy Taylor, author of RECLAIMING THE MAINSTREAM: INDIVIDUALIST FEMINISM RECONSIDERED.

"I enthusiastically recommend THREE MINUTE THERAPY to anyone with a personal or emotional problem. This is the best practical application of Albert Ellis's theories I have ever seen. Dr. Edelstein's and Dr. Steele's explanations and answers to objections are far more compelling and persuasive even than those of Dr. Ellis himself." -- Jeffrey Rogers Hummel, author of EMANCIPATING SLAVES, ENSLAVING FREE MEN.

Dr. Edelstein has also recorded the following tape, which is available exclusively from the Advocates:

"How to Be Happy in a Statist World" is an audio workshop by Dr. Edelstein. Recorded at a recent International Society for Individual Liberty conference, this tape makes a wonderful companion to the book for libertarians.

On the tape, Dr. Edelstein notes that as libertarians we often find ourselves angry and frustrated at the encroachments of government -- and at other people for tolerating and even encouraging such actions. These emotions are understandable, but they can also make our lives miserable -- even unhealthy. In this workshop you will learn how to change these emotions into more productive and healthy ones. You can be even more effective in your fight for liberty if you don't let the bad guys get you down!

An added benefit: you can use Dr. Edelstein's program in every aspect of your life, to improve every type of relationship you have. The techniques you will learn here makes this nothing less than a practical, step-by-step guide to a much happier life!