Frederick Matthias Alexander’s Writings

Below you will find the tables of content of F.M. Alexander’s four books

Man’s supreme inheritance (1918)

Part one: Man’s supreme inheritance

  • From Primitive Conditions to Present Needs
  • Primitive Remedies and their Defects
  • Subconsciousness and Inhibition
  • Conscious Control
  • Applied Conscous Control
  • Habits of Thought and of Body
  • Race Culture and the Training of Children
  • Evolutionary Standards and their Influence on the Crisis of 1914

Part two: Conscious guidance and control

  • Introduction to Part Two
  • Synopsis of Claim
  • The Argument
  • The Processes of Conscious Guidance and Control
  • Conscious Guidance and Control in Practice
  • Conscious Guidance and Control: Apprehension and Re-Education
  • Individual Errors and Delusions
  • Notes and Instances

Part three: The Theory and practice of a new method of respiratory re-education

  • Introductory
  • The Theory of Respiratory Re-Education
  • Errors to be Avoided and Facts to be Remembered in the Theory and Practice of Respiratory Re-Education
  • The Practice of Respiratory Re-Education
  • Concluding Remarks

Conscious constructive control of the individual (1923)

Part I : Sensory appreciation in its relation to man’s evolutionary development

Part II: Sensory appreciation in its relation to learning an learning to do

  • Education and Re-education
  • Incorrect Conception
  • Imperfect Sensory Appreciationn
  • Illustration
  • Respiratory Mechanisms
  • Unduly Excited Fear Reflexes, Uncontrolled Emotions, and Fixed Prejudices
  • Psycho-Physical Equilibrium

Part III: Sensory appreciation in its relation to man’s needs

  • “Knowing Oneself”
  • Imitation
  • Concentration
  • Memory and feeling
  • Complexity and Complications in Relation to Stress and Tension

Part IV: Sensory appreciation in its relation to happiness

Part V: Psycho-physical attitude

The use of the self

The use of the Self (1932)

Chapter I. Evolution of a technique

An account of F.M. Alexander’s successful attempts to overcome his vocal problems.

Chapter II. use and functioning in relation to reaction

How the way we use ourselves affects the control of any reaction.

Chapter III. The golfer who cannot keep his eyes on the ball

Application of the principles of the Technique to solving a the golfer’s problem.

Chapter IV. The stutterer

Application of the Technique to overcoming a specific case of stuttering.

Chapter V. Diagnosis and medical training

Of the importance of not underestimating the use of the self in medical diagnosis.

The universal constant in living  (1942)

I. The constant influence of manner of use for good of ill

II. The constant influence of manner of use in relation to diagnosis and disease

III. A review of the report of the physical education committee of the British medical association

  • Part one: Fallacies and Limitations in Physical Culture
  • Part two: A New Technique for New Soldiers

IV. A technique for prevention

V. The constant influence of manner of use in relation to change

  • Part 1: The Human Element
  • Part 2: Procedures Involved in the Technique First Principles in the Control Human Reaction
  • Part 3: The Fundamental Approach

VI. Physiology and physiologists

VII. The theory of  “The whole man” and its counterpart in practice

VIII. An osteopath’s idea of a new technique

IX. The test of principle in new ways for old

X A new pattern and working to principle

XI. Stupidity in living

XII. Knowing how to stop

XIII. In conclusion

Complete bibliography on the Alexander Technique

The Mouritz website also contains a complete bibliography of everything published on the Alexander Technique, historical articles and key quotations from F. M. Alexander’s writings.

Frederick Matthias Alexander writings

Frederick Matthias Alexander writings

Alexander wrote four books, apart from many articles and letters. His books are still worth reading today as his concepts are still revolutionary and the procedures he proposes still most needed.

Publishers of books on the Alexander Technique

Publishers of Books on the Alexander Technique

You will find here the small list of these generous and courageous people who have specialized in publishing books on the Alexander Technique. I thank them heartily and wish them luck and inspiration.