50 pages • 1 hour read
Dr. Joseph MurphyThe Power Of Your Subconscious Mind
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1963A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
In what ways was Murphy both ahead of his time and a product of his time? Cite examples from the text that examine his innovations and his ingrained cultural biases.
Use Murphy’s definition of scientific prayer to explain the meaning of his statement that “[e]very thought is a cause, and every condition is an effect” (11).
How does Murphy’s philosophy characterize future events? Include at least three examples from the text to support your discussion.
Murphy contends that both positive and negative experiences originate from the interplay of the conscious and subconscious minds. Therefore, it is necessary to cultivate positive thoughts and suppress negative ones. Compare this belief to more modern warnings against the harmful effects of “toxic positivity.”
Analyze the forms of evidence that Murphy presents to support his arguments. How does he attempt to appeal to readers of all philosophical backgrounds? Do his frequent quotes from the Bible aid or hinder this process? Utilize examples from the text to support your reasoning.
How do Murphy’s techniques compare to the process of goal setting—for instance, in the context of sports psychology?
Murphy often uses the word “perfect” to describe the goals one might achieve: “perfect health” (12), a “perfect plan” (24), perfect “peace, harmony, and wholeness” (53), a “perfect memory” (110), a “perfect solution” (118). Why does he emphasize perfection in this context?
Murphy quotes philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said, “Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the death of fear is certain” (186). How does this quote support Murphy’s discussion of how to overcome a phobia?
In an introduction to a 2019 edition of the book, American author Mitch Horowitz ascribes the success of Murphy’s philosophy to its marriage of 20th-century psychology with principles of New Thought and Divine Science. In what areas are this “marriage” the most prominent?
Why does Murphy often refer to his ideas in terms of science and laws, and how do his spiritual and religious beliefs nonetheless infuse his perspective?
