This is one of the best and few books on applying behaviorism to everyday living that I've aware of. You can read Skinner (e.g. "Science and Human Behavior" or his 3-part autobiography) to understand the scientific foundation of his approach and to get a few ideas how you can manage yourself better, but I have found it difficult to work out just how to apply the lessons of behaviorism in daily life. Advancements have been made in applications to such areas as autism and to education, but these require highly trained behavior analysts.
What Daniels has done is work out and carefully explain a straight-forward way in which anyone can apply behaviorism. His advice seems entirely consistent with Skinner, including the avoidance of punishment. Key basics of behaviorism are made simple by Daniels, who has the clearest explanation of the key behaviorist term "contingency" that I've found.
If he didn't so carefully explain how he arrives at this advice, it might seem simplistic. Just compliment? But significantly more than that, for he identifies a number of rules that must hold to effectively positive reinforce others. And because it doesn't require too many rules, it seems quite manageable. I haven't tried it much yet, but I mean to start doing so soon. I hope to succeed because I'll have the scientific power of behaviorism, the laws of nature and the apparent wisdom of Daniels supporting me and keeping it simple.
This author recognizes that we do have the power to help others be their best and that self-limiting habits need to be conquered. The reader is given a series of steps to take to overcome these habits. Try them!reviews: page 1, 2