Good as an overview

It is supposed to be "psychology for non-psychologists", which basically means it briefly covers the major writings and biographies of famous authors.
Cutting edge? Definitely not. But it's summarizing and terse. It's a starting point to actually read those works explored. If you want an in-depth study, you read the book by the author, not a summary.
Here's the list of authors and the works:
1 Alfred Adler Understanding Human Nature
2 Gavin de Becker The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals that Protect Us from Violence
3 Eric Berne Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships
4 Robert Bolton People Skills: How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others, and Resolve Conflicts
5 Edward de Bono Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step
6 Nathaniel Branden The Psychology of Self-Esteem
7 Isabel Briggs Myers Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type
8 Louann Brizendine The Female Brain
9 David D. Burns Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
10 Robert Cialdini Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
11 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
12 Albert Ellis & Robert A. Harper A Guide to Rational Living
13 Milton Erickson My Voice Will Go With You: The Teaching Tales of Milton H. Erickson
14 Erik Erikson Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History
15 Hans Eysenck Dimensions of Personality
16 Susan Forward Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You
17 Viktor Frankl The Will to Meaning: Foundations and Applications of Logotherapy
18 Anna Freud The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defence
19 Sigmund Freud The Interpretation of Dreams
20 Howard Gardner Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences
21 Daniel Gilbert Stumbling on Happiness
22 Malcolm Gladwell Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
23 Daniel Goleman Working with Emotional Intelligence
24 John M. Gottman The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
25 Harry Harlow The Nature of Love
26 Thomas A. Harris I’m OK—You’re OK
27 Eric Hoffer The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements
28 Karen Horney Our Inner Conflicts: A Constructive Theory of Neurosis
29 William James The Principles of Psychology
30 Carl Jung The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious
31 Alfred Kinsey Sexual Behavior in the Human Female
32 Melanie Klein Envy and Gratitude
33 R. D. Laing The Divided Self: A Study of Sanity and Madness
34 Abraham Maslow The Farther Reaches of Human Nature
35 Stanley Milgram Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View
36 Anne Moir & David Jessel Brainsex: The Real Difference Between Men and Women
37 Ivan Pavlov Conditioned Reflexes: An Investigation of the Physiological Activity of the Cerebral Cortex
38 Fritz Perls Gestalt Therapy: Excitement and Growth in the Human Personality
39 Jean Piaget The Language and Thought of the Child
40 Steven Pinker The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human
41 V. S. Ramachandran Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind
42 Carl Rogers On Becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy
43 Oliver Sacks The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Tales
44 Barry Schwartz The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
45 Martin Seligman Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfilment
46 Gail Sheehy Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life
47 B. F. Skinner Beyond Freedom and Dignity
48 Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, & Sheila Heen Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
49 William Styron Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness
50 Robert E. Thayer The Origin of Everyday Moods: Managing Energy, Tension, and Stress

71 people found this helpful

50 Success Classics

The 50 Success Classics as well as the 50 Self-Help Classics and the 50 Psychology Classics are all worthwhile for the reader who wants a quality overview of the subjects. I personally found that Tom Butler-Bowden included a good balance of personal observations along with the core details and excerpts from the individual books covered without injecting an overt personal bias.

These books have increased my reading list, but with a clarity and focus to read the books that most interest me most. These books are not just a collection of excerpts from others' writings. They include background information on the authors and the times and circumstances surrounding the writings. These books are entertaining and informative by themselves; but I think anyone who truly has an interest in their subject matter will find them to be useful resources as well are shortcuts to a greater understanding of the subjects.

I highly recommend these books in both their printed and audio forms. The audio versions are read by professional narrators with engaging voices that add to the pleasure of the listening experience. I can't recommend these books enough for anyone interested in learning more of the human experience through the insight from some of the greatest minds to ever put pen to paper.

29 people found this helpful

Would be better in print

This book is a great reference. I now want to read all fifty classics. If you get this audiobook however, be prepared to carry a pen and paper with you the whole time. I would suggest getting a print copy of this and trying to find audio versions of all the books described within.

26 people found this helpful

Enjoyable and complementary

I found the information enjoyable and interesting. It help me further complement knowledge for my comprehensive exams in clinical psychology doctorate.

I get more out of listening to books then reading them. This book, however, needs more complete online reference as to which great psychology greats were discussed. Audible is weak on providing necessary material that should accompany a book.

14 people found this helpful

Hard to follow

This book seemed to be hard to follow in the listening format. I can't seem to get past the first of six discs- I keep relistening and losing interest.

14 people found this helpful

A little disappointed.

I am studying psychology in college right now and was a little disappointed with this one. It mainly gives the writer's own opinion about the psychologists and a brief overview of their life and their work (what they are best known for). Does not give any research results and findings. A good audible.com book I would recommend is "59 Seconds".

10 people found this helpful

From an experienced Clinician

What did you love best about 50 Psychology Classics?

Good value for the layperson, student, or experienced clinician. Comprehensive in the scope of the many different systems of psychotherapy (I.e. both pop-psychology, and the more scholarly rigorous psychological therapies), concise yet accurate in describing the core factors of each scholar and practitioner who dedicated themselves to the helping professions. This book also emphasises the commonalities (common factors) of counseling and psychotherapy throughout the chapters.

A good attempt at describing what has been called by clinicians "technically eclectic and transtheorectical" practice.

Easy to understand and a good "sampler" for the student or layperson, and a good reminder for those of us who have been in the industry for many years...

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The synthesis of ideas and theories presented throughout the book.

What does Sean Pratt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good speaker, presents himself as passionate and interested in the work himself

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes ! Summed up as "Oh I forgot about that dude !" (good and bad ;-)

Any additional comments?

If you're interested in the scholarly field of psychology (emphasis on the little "p"), want to be a Psychologist (big "P"), Professional Licensed Counselor, Social Worker, Teacher, Nurse, or teacher. I'd start here.

9 people found this helpful

Great start into the field

i've done the selfhelp, prosperity and now psychology.

this one was not as good as the 50 Prosperity Classics, however this was still a great listen. i'm a psych major so many i had heard about or read, however i took a lot of notes and there's quite a few i'll be looking into more.

this is great to get a broad overview and find books that might interest you more, i gave it 5 stars although i think 4 1/2 would be better fit.

if you are intrested in psychology, this is a great place to start.

8 people found this helpful

Great Synopsis and Intro to "Psychology Classics"

Where does 50 Psychology Classics rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I kind of purchased this as a random buy as I do sometimes ... what a surprised I loved it. Not being a psychology person I found it a great introduction to so many elements and people, it was almost a "tease" of information and has got me interested in listening (and reading to a lesser extend) a lot more on the topic.

I recommend it to anyone who want the 50,000ft view of the full field, despite its length I wished it never ended.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would not have changed it, each element the perfect length to educate without flooding.

4 people found this helpful

A waste of time!

This is about a biography of psychologists and not what I expected. Very boring.

3 people found this helpful