The Osiris Factor

Phillip Roos Ph.D

Review by Molly

New Solutions for overcoming human destructiveness. Table of Contents includes a Foreword by Lee Nelson who explains: Osiris was an Egyptian god who judged people, often unfairly, when they died. The Osiris Factor is about the unnecessary judging we do in our lives, that frequently results in anger, guilt, shame and eventually depression, and how all this can be avoided. Introduction while the book notes the terrorist attacks against the United States The Osiris Factor is not about terrorism. Rather, the author states the book deals with everyday problems of the average person.

One: "The Common Element" the author reveals most people are responsible for most of their problems, usually they do not know how they sabotage themselves. People in general tend to tell themselves something is and something should. I am wrong, and I should be different, Some is wrong, and someone should be different. The ‘should’ is the thing that causes us a lot of grief. Two:" Living in Two Unreal Worlds" We all cling to the fantasy world we held as a child even after we face the perceived world around us. Three: "Beliefs" beliefs about self, about the world and about relationships are all discussed. Fantasy and Perceived world beliefs and troublesome beliefs are discussed before a plan for constructing new beliefs is presented. Four: "Mental Movies", we get caught up in mental movies when we shift our attention from the world around us to our inner world. Five: "Goals" learning what works and what does not helps us in formulating the goals we need to overcome the ‘should’.

Six: "Reprogramming the Osiris Factor" because we judge ourselves and others, assign blame fault we experience life as a series of trials and prosecutions producing anger, guilt, shame and depression filled with ‘should’ ‘must’ ‘ought’. Seven: "Good-bye to Anger" The first step to reducing anger is to consciously decide to not become angry. Eight: "Overcoming Depression" overgeneralization, biological imbalance, behavior all contribute to depression. Depression is one of three forms of sadness. Normal, appropriate reaction to upset is unhappiness. Grief is a normal reaction to loss. Depression is an abnormal, potentially crippling reaction to loss or upset. Nine: "Our internal Committee" Difficult decisions often involve internal conflict. It is as though we are composed of an internal committee. Ten: "The Osiris Factor and The Self Self-Esteem" is the result of The Osiris Principle applied to the self. Recent polls show self esteem ranked among the top five values listed. Eleven: "Life without the Osiris Factor" The last chapter shows how life can change when we replace the Osiris Factor with the Humility Factor, we are not god, when we accept that we are human our lives change. Bibliography Bibliography included in the back of the book covers a broad spectrum of works.

Writer Roos draws from his successful practice for the material fleshing out his work. The Osiris Factor is written in plain, clearly understood language and is meant for use by the layman as well as others in the field of counseling. Dr. Roos is a licensed clinical psychologist who has come to the conclusion that we are often our own worst enemy. The Osiris Factor provides insight into many of the foibles we humans tend to pile upon ourselves.

The Osiris Factor is a well written treatise filled with excellent suggestions for eliminating much of the guilt producing activity we engage in each day. Dr Roos offers recommendations for enriching our lives by changing our thinking, attitudes and need for placing blame or guilt upon ourselves or others. Roos presents a keenly focused work meant to be read and then read again when things begin to overcome us. Excellent book for the home library, those who want to better their lives, and for the professional.