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Why Do I Do That? by Joseph Burgo Ph.D. Review: A Clinically Grounded Self-Exploration Guide
Why Do I Do That? By Joseph Burgo Ph.D. Adapts the core strategies of psychodynamic psychotherapy into a structured self-help guide, using case studies and end-of-chapter exercises to help general readers recognize and work through the psychological defense mechanisms that shape their emotional lives and relationships — a substantive offering for anyone willing to engage honestly with the harder questions about their own behavior.
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Psychologically curious, self-motivated readers who have noticed unexplained patterns in their own behaviour and want a clinically grounded framework — more rigorous than typical self-help, but less demanding than formal therapy.
Worth it if
You are willing to engage actively with the journal exercises and honest self-reflection the book demands, and want a plain-language introduction to psychodynamic thinking rooted in real case studies.
Skip if
You are looking for cognitive-behavioural, acceptance-based, or neuroscience-informed approaches, are already well-versed in psychoanalytic theory, or are navigating acute or severe mental health concerns that call for professional support rather than a self-guided text.
What readers & critics say
Publishers Weekly praised the book's case-study approach, noting that Burgo "identifies and cohesively presents ways in which negative behaviors can be thwarted through direct confrontation with triggers" and calling the end-of-chapter exercises "a valuable resource for readers." Sobrief.com synthesises reader responses as broadly positive — describing the book as "insightful, accessible, and thought-provoking" with clear explanations and practical exercises — while noting that some readers flagged the exclusively psychodynamic framework as a limitation.
“Burgo identifies and cohesively presents ways in which negative behaviors can be thwarted through direct confrontation with triggers.”
— Publishers Weekly“Exercises at the end of chapters apply techniques for recognising and defusing oppressive defenses in readers' own lives, creating a valuable resource.”
— Publishers Weekly4.6from 1,257 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
In This Review
- What Works & What Doesn't
- What the Book Actually Is and Does
- Scope and Argument
- Genuine Strengths
- Limitations Worth Knowing
- Who This Book Is For
What Works & What Doesn't
What Works
- Translates psychodynamic theory into accessible, plain-language explanations designed for non-clinical readers
- Individual case studies ground abstract defense mechanism concepts in recognizable, everyday situations
- End-of-chapter exercises, designed to be recorded in a journal, give the book a structured, participatory format rather than a passive reading experience
- Critics described it as a cohesive and valuable resource for readers seeking to confront and defuse entrenched behavioral patterns
- Informed by Burgo's extensive background as a practicing psychotherapist, lending clinical credibility to the self-help format
What Doesn't
- The psychodynamic framework is the book's sole lens; readers seeking cognitive-behavioral or neuroscience-based approaches will need to look elsewhere
- The self-guided format places significant responsibility on the reader — the very defense mechanisms the book addresses are designed to resist the honest self-scrutiny the exercises require
- Readers dealing with severe or acute mental health concerns are likely to need professional support rather than a self-directed text
This review covers the book's content, design, and published reception; it does not reflect hands-on application of its exercises.
Why Do I Do That?: Psychological Defense Mechanisms and the Hidden Ways They Shape Our Lives by Joseph Burgo front cover
What the Book Actually Is and Does
Why Do I Do That?: Psychological Defense Mechanisms and the Hidden Ways They Shape Our Lives is a self-help and popular psychology book, published by New Rise Press in October 2012, in which psychotherapist and Ph.D. Joseph Burgo translates the foundational concepts of psychodynamic psychotherapy into a guided course accessible to non-clinical readers. The book's premise is that psychological defense mechanisms — which Burgo defines in one passage as "lies we tell ourselves to ward off pain" — are an inevitable and necessary part of human experience. The problem, as Burgo frames it, is that when these defenses become too pervasive or too deeply entrenched, they damage personal relationships, restrict and distort emotional life, and prevent the development of lasting self-esteem. The book is structured in two parts: Part I builds a conceptual foundation around the unconscious mind, while the remainder moves into the specific defense mechanisms themselves. Readers are encouraged to keep a journal and record their responses to exercises throughout.
“recognizing and defusing oppressive defenses in readers' own lives”
Scope and Argument
Burgo draws on his background as a practicing psychotherapist — the book's dedication, "To all my clients these many years," signals the clinical well from which the material is drawn — to argue that change is possible for those willing to confront the ways they react and defend. Rather than offering a survey of abstract theory, the book grounds its argument in individual case studies that illustrate how specific defenses operate in recognizable, everyday situations. The publisher synopsis characterizes the work as one that adapts psychodynamic strategies to a "guided course in self-exploration," a framing that sets it apart from both purely academic texts on the subject and from lighter, checklist-driven self-help. The book positions itself squarely in between: informed by clinical practice, but designed for readers who have never set foot in a therapist's office.
Genuine Strengths
critics reviewed the book and noted that through individual case studies, Burgo "identifies and cohesively presents ways in which negative behaviors can be thwarted through direct confrontation with triggers," describing the exercises at the end of chapters as tools for "recognizing and defusing oppressive defenses in readers' own lives" and calling the result "a valuable resource for readers." That same review noted the end-of-chapter exercises bring the material down to a personal level — a structural choice that distinguishes the book from more passive reading experiences. The text accompanying the book confirms that exercises are designed to be recorded in a journal, reinforcing that the book is engineered as a participatory course rather than a passive read. Burgo's own history — he began thirteen years of psychotherapy as a severely depressed college freshman — lends the book a dimension of personal stakes that enriches its clinical perspective.
Limitations Worth Knowing
The book's psychodynamic orientation is, by design, a lens rather than a complete map of the psychological landscape. Readers expecting coverage rooted in cognitive-behavioral, acceptance-based, or neuroscience-informed frameworks will find those approaches are not the book's focus. The self-guided format also places meaningful responsibility on the reader: the exercises are written to prompt honest self-reflection, but the book itself acknowledges that defense mechanisms operate precisely to resist that kind of scrutiny — a real structural tension in any self-help approach to this material. The publisher synopsis itself flags this directly, noting that when defenses are "too deeply entrenched," they shape perception in ways that are difficult to see. Readers in acute crisis or dealing with severe mental health conditions are better served by working with a professional rather than a self-guided text.
Who This Book Is For
Why Do I Do That? is well-suited to readers who are psychologically curious and self-motivated — people who have noticed patterns in their own behavior they cannot fully explain, and who want a framework more clinically substantial than standard self-help fare without committing to formal therapy. The book's case-study approach makes abstract concepts concrete, and its exercise-driven structure gives readers a method to apply what they encounter. Those already familiar with psychoanalytic or psychodynamic theory at an academic level may find the explanations introductory, but for the general reader drawn to the question the title poses, the book offers a coherent, practice-oriented path into that inquiry. As the publisher synopsis puts it, "easy-to-understand explanations" are a stated design priority throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this book best suited for?
The book is well-suited to psychologically curious and self-motivated readers who have noticed patterns in their own behavior they cannot fully explain and want a framework more clinically substantial than standard self-help fare without committing to formal therapy. It is designed for general readers, not those already deeply versed in psychoanalytic theory, who may find the explanations introductory.
Is Why Do I Do That worth the price?
At $11.85, the book offers a practice-oriented, exercise-driven course in self-exploration that critics have called a valuable resource for readers. For someone seeking a clinically informed introduction to defense mechanisms without the cost of formal therapy, the price appears reasonable given the structured, participatory nature of the material.
What is the central argument of the book?
Burgo argues that psychological defense mechanisms — which he describes as lies we tell ourselves to ward off pain — are an inevitable and necessary part of human experience, but that when they become too pervasive or deeply entrenched, they damage relationships, restrict emotional life, and prevent lasting self-esteem. The book's core claim is that change is possible for those willing to confront the ways they react and defend.
What are psychological defense mechanisms as defined in this book?
Burgo defines defense mechanisms in one passage as lies we tell ourselves to ward off pain, framing them as a natural feature of human psychology rather than a sign of pathology. The problem he identifies is not their existence but their overuse, which distorts perception and limits personal growth.
How is the book structured?
The book is divided into two parts: Part I builds a conceptual foundation around the unconscious mind, while the remainder of the book moves into specific defense mechanisms themselves. Each chapter ends with exercises designed to be recorded in a journal, reinforcing the book's design as a participatory course rather than a passive read.
What is the role of exercises in the book?
End-of-chapter exercises are a central structural feature, designed to bring the material down to a personal level and help readers recognize and defuse oppressive defenses in their own lives. Readers are encouraged to keep a journal and record their responses, making the book function as a guided course in self-exploration rather than a conventional text.
Does the book use case studies?
Yes, Burgo grounds his argument in individual case studies that illustrate how specific defenses operate in recognizable, everyday situations. Critics noted that through these case studies, Burgo identifies and cohesively presents ways in which negative behaviors can be thwarted through direct confrontation with triggers.
What is the author's background and does it show in the writing?
Joseph Burgo holds a Ph.D. and is a practicing psychotherapist, and the book's dedication — To all my clients these many years — signals that the material is drawn from real clinical experience. Burgo also brings a personal dimension to the work, having begun thirteen years of psychotherapy himself as a severely depressed college freshman, which lends the book a sense of personal stakes that enriches its clinical perspective.
What psychological framework does the book use?
The book is rooted in psychodynamic psychotherapy, translating foundational concepts from that tradition into a guided course accessible to non-clinical readers. This orientation is a lens rather than a complete map, so readers expecting cognitive-behavioral, acceptance-based, or neuroscience-informed frameworks will find those approaches are not the book's focus.
What are the main limitations of this book?
The psychodynamic orientation means the book does not cover cognitive-behavioral, acceptance-based, or neuroscience-informed approaches. Additionally, the self-guided format places meaningful responsibility on the reader, since defense mechanisms are designed precisely to resist the kind of honest self-reflection the exercises require — a real structural tension the book itself acknowledges.
Is the book appropriate for someone in mental health crisis?
The review explicitly cautions that readers in acute crisis or dealing with severe mental health conditions are better served by working with a professional rather than a self-guided text. The book is designed for curious, self-motivated readers rather than those requiring clinical intervention.
How accessible is the writing for readers with no psychology background?
Easy-to-understand explanations are a stated design priority, and the publisher positions the work as a guided course accessible to non-clinical readers who have never set foot in a therapist's office. The case-study approach further helps make abstract psychodynamic concepts concrete for general readers.
How does this book differ from typical self-help books?
The book positions itself between purely academic texts and lighter, checklist-driven self-help by grounding its content in clinical practice and case studies while remaining accessible to non-specialists. Its exercise-driven structure and psychodynamic foundation give it more clinical substance than most mainstream self-help titles.
Will someone already familiar with psychoanalytic theory get much from this book?
Readers already familiar with psychoanalytic or psychodynamic theory at an academic level may find the explanations introductory. The book is primarily designed for the general reader drawn to the question the title poses, offering a coherent, practice-oriented entry point rather than an advanced treatment of the subject.
What practical takeaways does the book offer?
The book gives readers a framework for identifying the defense mechanisms driving patterns in their own behavior and a concrete method — through journaling and end-of-chapter exercises — for applying what they learn. Critics described the exercises as tools for recognizing and defusing oppressive defenses in readers' own lives.
What tension exists in using a self-help book to tackle defense mechanisms?
The book itself acknowledges a genuine structural tension: defense mechanisms operate precisely to resist the kind of honest self-scrutiny that the exercises are designed to prompt. The publisher synopsis flags this directly, noting that when defenses are too deeply entrenched, they shape perception in ways that are difficult to see — which limits what any self-guided text can accomplish.
When was the book published and by whom?
Why Do I Do That? was published by New Rise Press in October 2012. It was written by Joseph Burgo, a psychotherapist and Ph.D. who draws on his clinical practice as the foundation for the book's content.
How have critics responded to the book?
Critical reception noted that Burgo identifies and cohesively presents ways in which negative behaviors can be thwarted through direct confrontation with triggers, calling the result a valuable resource for readers. The end-of-chapter exercises were specifically highlighted as a structural choice that distinguishes the book from more passive reading experiences.
Can this book serve as a substitute for actual therapy?
The book is designed for readers who want a clinically substantial framework without committing to formal therapy, but the review is clear that it is not a substitute for professional help in serious cases. Readers dealing with severe mental health conditions or in acute crisis are explicitly advised to seek a professional rather than rely on this self-guided text.
Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
- Cited in this review
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- 2
- 3
- Further reading
- 4
afterpsychotherapy.com
- 5
josephburgo.com
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- 7
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- 9
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