Eighty years before Bobby McFerrin took over the airwaves with Don't Worry, Be Happy Dr. George L. Walton, a visionary in matters of the mind, penned this book. Dr. Walton is renowned as the first rational therapist, and his sage advice is just as pertinent today as it was in 1908. As a neurologist, Dr. Walton encountered many people who were tormented with worry. Certainly, these patients came seeking a medicinal or surgical remedy for their condition. Rather than offering a pill, Dr. Walton offered his patients a fresh perspective on their situation.

This book is Dr. Walton's advice and prescription for the chronically worried. The road to wellness was not anything he, Dr. Walton, could offer them. In order to regain a healthy state of mind - and peace - people must retrain their minds to push away obsessive, troubling thoughts and replace them with sound, rational thinking. Dr. Walton's approach, rather than seeming simplistic, resonates with truth and good sense. Dr. Walton admits that all worry cannot be escaped, but by using this mental training and choosing rational thoughts over irrational thoughts, one can live a happier life in a better mental state. Dr. Walton expresses his hope that perhaps people will recognize themselves in the examples he offers, and try some of the remedies discussed. Dr. Walton begins his book with this appropriate proverb: The legs of the stork are long, the legs of the duck are short; you cannot make the legs of the stork short, neither can you make the legs of the duck long. Why worry? - Chwang Tsze.

This comprehensive summary includes biographical information about Dr. Walton, definitions of important terms, and a synopsis and analysis of the text. Whether you are interested in studying Rational Therapy in psychology, or you are a person who struggles with worry in your everyday life, Dr. Walton's book Why Worry? is a must hear for you.