Nerves and Common Sense

Annie Payson CallProject Gutenberg · United StatesMar 2023

3.0

Word count: 296K words
Chapters: 30

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Nerves and Common Sense by Annie Payson CallAuthor: Call, Annie Payson, 1853-1940,Language: English, Class: RA: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine, Release Date: Aug 1, 2003

Editor's review

This book is a collection of popular essays by Annie Payson Call on nervous tension and mind-body regulation, an early work of mind-body medicine and self-adjustment. Its core claim is quite simple: much nervous discomfort does not come from external events themselves but from people's misreading of bodily signals and excessive effort with emotions; through relaxation, facing reality squarely, and adjusting attention, one can return to a steadier state. The discussion avoids complex terminology, using everyday situations and metaphors to explain how tension forms and how it is needlessly maintained, in a gentle and persuasive tone. As a text from the early twentieth century, its value lies more in presenting that era's understanding of the relationship between "nerves" and "common sense," and a workable method of self-observation, rather than in offering modern medical conclusions. It suits readers as a historical supplement to mind-body relaxation reading, and as reference for those interested in early popular psychology. It should be read as a period text, with discernment about its health claims and in light of modern medical knowledge.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in early popular works on mind-body medicine and psychology
General readers who wish to understand traditional discussions of relaxation and emotional regulation
Readers studying early twentieth-century health concepts and self-help texts
English learners who enjoy plain, persuasive essays and slow reading

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking modern medical diagnostic standards or clinical treatment plans
Professional students seeking a systematic theoretical framework in psychology
Readers expecting strong argumentative structure or extensive case data

Reading tips

Read by topic, and after each section try one of the author's suggested relaxation or self-observation exercises.
Mark health claims that show the limitations of their era and consider them against modern medical knowledge.
Use it as slow reading before bed or during commutes, one or two sections at a time, without rushing to finish.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can this book replace modern medical treatment?

No. It is a popular early twentieth-century work on mind-body adjustment, discussing relaxation, attention, and emotional habits, but it has no basis in modern medical diagnosis or treatment. For persistent physical or mental discomfort, professional medical evaluation should be the guide; this book is suitable only as auxiliary reading for understanding early health concepts and practicing relaxation.

Can readers without a psychology background understand it?

Yes. The author deliberately avoids technical terms, using everyday situations and metaphors to discuss tension and relaxation in a persuasive essay style. Readers need only basic English reading ability and a willingness to slow down and absorb the practice suggestions; no psychology background is required to grasp the main ideas.

Are the book's views still applicable today?

Its points about relaxation, reducing needless effort, and facing reality squarely resonate with modern stress management, but some health claims are limited by their era and lack modern research support. It is best read as a historical text: take in the workable self-observation methods while remaining cautious about specific medical assertions and not applying them directly.

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About the author

Annie Payson Call Author · American · 1853–1940

Annie Payson Call (1853–1940) was an American woman writer who lived for many years in Waltham, Massachusetts, and contributed to periodicals such as the Ladies' Home Journal. Her writing focused on nervous health, muscular relaxation, and mental and physical calm, advocating conscious relaxation and gentle self-adjustment to relieve tension and fatigue. Her plain, friendly style stays close to everyday experience. Five of her works are included here—Power Through Repose, Nerves and Common Sense, The Freedom of Life, As a Matter of Course, and A Man of the World—most of them classed as inspirational and personal-growth writing. She is regarded as one of the early pioneers of relaxation training and self-help literature, and her ideas influenced later works on mind-body adjustment; public information on her early life and education is limited.