In the Tunnel of Magical Thinking. Protecting Ourselves from Reality

The book includes a fictional novel illustrating the phenomenon of magical thinking, and an article explaining the essence of this phenomenon from a psychotherapeutic perspective. Both the article and the novel are intended for a wide audience, but will be useful for psychologists and psychotherapists who frequently encounter manifestations of this phenomenon in practice.

The book by Irina Mlodyk, an experienced psychotherapist and author of numerous popular science publications, is dedicated to magical thinking. What is it, when and how does it arise, how does it manifest, and why do we need it? Why do we, even as adults, continue to believe in magic pills, secret knowledge, and simple solutions to complex problems? What remains for us when, along with the illusions of a carefree life, we lose faith in miracles and kind wizards?