For years gurus, coaches and motivational speakers have urged people to improve their lives by changing the way they think and behave. Research has revealed that many of their techniques are ineffective. Visualisation exercises often hinder rather than help and group brainstorming produces fewer, and less original, ideas than individuals working alone.

Richard Wiseman both explodes the myths of existing self-development techniques, and demonstrates that personal and professional success may be less than a minute away...

How you can become 10% more creative by just lying down; how placing a pencil in your mouth instantly makes you feel significantly happier; how merely thinking about the gym helps keep you in shape.

The book's ten chapters cover Happiness, Creativity, Attraction, Stress, Motivation, Persuasion, Relationships, Decision-Making, Parenting, Personality.