Books
"Be careful of the printed matter: you may not read it as it is written down."
F. M. Alexander[1]
There are many excellent books on the Alexander Technique - and, alas, some that are not so good!
The purpose of this page is to point anyone interested in reading more about the Alexander Technique toward a few useful books with which to begin, as well as to provide information on where to buy books on the Alexander Technique. We have also indicated a number of books for readers who have more experience of Alexander Technique, and listed Alexander’s own books – for the more adventurous reader!
There are two books on the Alexander Technique in Estonian:
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Kehaõpe: Sissejuhatus Alexanderi tehnikasse by Michael Gelb; and
Alexanderi tehnika saladusi by Robert MacDonald and Caro Ness
Kehaõpe is a translation of Michael Gelb’s Body Learning, which was first published in 1981 and which is widely regarded as the classic introductory guide to the Alexander Technique. Michael Gelb gives a detailed account of how Alexander developed the Technique; describes the seven ‘operational ideas’ of the Alexander Technique; and relates his experiences of applying the Alexander Technique in education, and to learning various skills, such as juggling and aikido. The book also contains many evocative photographs, to give a visual representation of good ‘use’.
Alexanderi tehnika saladusi by Robert MacDonald is a small, simple book, attractively illustrated with colour photographs.
Both books can be bought in all good bookshops in Estonia.
Introductory Books in English:
Body Learning: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique, Michael Gelb
The Alexander Technique: A Skill for Life, Pedro de Alcantara
The Alexander Principle: How to Use Your Body Without Stress, Wilfred Barlow
The Alexander Technique: An Introductory Guide to the Technique and Its Benefits, Chris Stevens
Further Reading:
Freedom to Change, Frank Pierce Jones
Indirect Procedures: A Musician’s Guide to the Alexander Technique, Pedro de Alcantara
Mind and Muscle: An Owner’s Handbook, Elizabeth Langford
Explaining the Alexander Technique: The Writings of F. Matthias Alexander, Walter Carrington and Seán Carey
Personally Speaking, Walter Carrington and Seán Carey
F. Matthias Alexander’s Books:
Man’s Supreme Inheritance: Conscious Guidance and Control in Relation to Human Evolution in Civilization (1910; 6th edn, London: Mouritz, 1996)
Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual (1923; 3rd edn, London: Mouritz, 2004)
The Use of the Self: Its Conscious Direction in Relation to Diagnosis, Functioning and the Control of Reaction (London, 1932)
The Universal Constant in Living (1941; 4th edn, London: Mouritz, 2000)
Articles and Lectures: Articles, Published Letters and Lectures on
the F. M. Alexander Technique, ed. Jean M. O. Fischer (London: Mouritz, 1995)
Where to Buy:
There are two specialist sellers of books on the Alexander Technique that we recommend:
Mouritz, who publish scholarly editions of Alexander's own books; and
Alexander Books, who sell a comprehensive selection of books on the Alexander Technique.
Many books can also be found on Amazon.
Happy reading!
[1] F. M. Alexander, Articles and Lectures ed. Jean M. O. Fischer (London: Mouritz, 1995), p. 206