I just read "A Guide to Rational Living" and I'd say that it is in my top five list of personal development books. There is a chapter on it in the book
Mind Performance Hacks which is how I found out about REBT ("Learn Your Emotional ABCs"). The
WikiPedia article on REBT seems like a great introduction.
This book really "spoke" to me and helped me answer some questions I had about life. For example, in the last several years I have purchased hundreds of dollars worth of therapy, books, DVDs and CDs (Paraliminals, etc.) to help make me "feel" like doing tasks I found unpleasant. Here is a quote from the book that was a total revelation for me:
"Historical approaches to therapy remain popular partly because people who devoutly buy them can avoid taking full responsibility for their present behavior and for working actively to change it. They think, wishfully, that when they begin to _feel_ like doing unpleasant things, they will easily handle their frustrations. Actually, the opposite often is true: The more you _uneasily_ force yourself to do many annoying but productive pursuits (such as studying), the more you _then_ find these pursuits easy and enjoyable."
I had it backwards. I wrongly believed that I could make myself "feel" like doing unpleasant things so I would do them with less pain and discomfort (maybe I can, but nothing I did worked for me). Well, after hours of listening to CDs, watching DVDs, reading books and therapy I got to the point of giving up. I STILL didn't feel like doing these unpleasant things. I just didn't feel that my life was moving anywhere. This has kept me "stuck" for a very long time! I'm still working to integrate the belief that some things are just going to be difficult and that if I consistently take action they get easier (like getting into shape). I think I also believed that since I had a rather unpleasant childhood that my adulthood "should" always be pleasant and pain free and that it was awful if it wasn't. These are just a couple of the irrational beliefs that I've disputed and replaced with more effective beliefs.
For anyone who is interested in self-analysis, personal growth and becoming a happier person, I can't recommend "A Guide to Rational Living" enough.