Man's Supreme Inheritance
by F M Alexander

Published 2003 (7^th Edition)                  284 pages

This is the first of Alexander's four books. It was first published in 1910. This edition, published in 1996 by Mouritz, has been meticulously edited, with extensive notes, by Jean Fischer.  It contains two prefaces by Alexander, an introduction by John Dewey, and the section "To My Reader" with appreciations which were included in the 1918 Methuen edition but accidentally left out of later editions. Ten appendices contain further material which was omitted from earlier editions, reviews of the 1910 and the 1918 editions, extracts from reviews, a printing history and a text comparison table of the 1910 and the 1918 editions.  As well as the original photographs the book contains additional illustrations.  Foreword by Walter Carrington.

Alexander had previously written and published a number of leaflets and pamphlets about his work and a lot of this material is incorporated into this book. The big difference between this book and the earlier publications is the scope and magnitude of Alexander's vision. The earliest papers are concerned with speech and elocution - "Speech Culture and Natural Elocution", for instance. Later papers are concerning with breathing - "Introduction to a New Method of Respiratory Vocal Re-Education", and "The Dangers of Deep Breathing", for instance. In "Man's Supreme Inheritance" Alexander regards his discoveries as offering mankind the opportunity to make progress using conscious awareness as the means of taking control of one's manner of use (seeing "use" in the widest possible way). He believes that he brings this message at a time when mankind is rapidly regressing, responding to the ever greater demands of our evolving world in ways that an instinctive and inappropriate, inadequate for our current needs.

The book does not contain much practical explanation - although as you understand the significance of Alexander's proposals so you might see the practical implications of his work. For the most practical exposition that Alexander ever wrote, read his third book, "The Use of the Self".

Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual
by F M Alexander

Published 2004                        280 pages

Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual, first published in 1923, was Alexander's second book.  This new edition contains two prefaces by Alexander, an introduction by John Dewey, and a new foreword by Walter Carrington. Ten appendices contain reviews of the first edition. The introductory notes by Jean Fischer discuss Alexander's concept of sensory appreciation and the chapter "Illustration". The notes also provide a printing history and a table of changes between the 1923 and the 1946 editions. The book contains several illustrations which have never been published before. This is also the first edition ever of Constructive Conscious Control to feature an index.

In Conscious Control, Alexander once again sets out his understanding of his discoveries and their implications. His preoccupation is that humans have all developed poor use of themselves and that they can only address this and improve their use by developing a conscious awareness of what they are doing. The theme that links the sections of the book is "sensory appreciation". According to Alexander a consequence of our misuse is that our sensory appreciation is debauched. Our unreliable sensory appeciation is both the result and the cause of our further decline. Only by a process of re-education can improved sensory appreciation lead to improved use.

The Use of the Self
by F M Alexander

Published 2001                        118 pages

The Use of the Self is the clearest and most approachable of Alexander's books. This issue published in 1985 and reissued in 2001 is a mass market presentation of this classic work, including an introduction by Dr Wilfred Barlow.

In the first and longest chapter of the book Alexander sets out the story of how he made his discoveries and the reasons that he set out on his quest. Having started on a successful acting career, he began to have trouble with his voice. He sought the help of voice trainers and medical men but nobody was able to help. Eventually he concluded that the problem was that he was doing something wrong - he was using his voice badly. He set out to find out what he was doing and in the process discovered that his interference was not just with his voice but with his whole way of using himself. It understanding this and developing a technique to improve his poor use of himself he evolved what is now known as the "Alexander Technique", a method by which anybody can improve their use and gain the benefits of so doing.

The Universal Constant in Living
by F M Alexander

Published 2000                        416 pages

This is Alexander's fourth and final book, first published in 1941.  To the original appendices are added reviews of the first edition of The Universal Constant in Living, and one appendix contains material which was omitted from the first edition.  Walter Carrington has also written a new foreword for this edition. The introductory notes deal with Alexander's principle of wholeness and of prevention, the writing of The Universal as well as notes on changes in the text.

In addition, a substantial number of notes give information on people, places, events, and subjects referred to throughout the book. Comprehensive cross-references and a new, detailed index are also provided. As well as the original photographs the book contains additional illustrations. One of the photographs proves that Alexander (albeit unknowingly) used the wrong picture of the Army's standing-to-attention position.

The Universal Constant in Living contains Alexander’s most mature and consummate thoughts on the Technique.  In it he shares with the reader knowledge accumulated in the course of more than 45 years of practical teaching experience.  Having fully developed the concepts of his technique, he presents a clear exposition of the fundamental principles: prevention (inhibition), the primary control of use, and the unity (wholeness) of the human organism, among others.

Articles and Lectures
by F M Alexander

Published 1995                        400 pages

We should all feel indebted to Jean Fischer who has brought these papers together in a wonderfully annotated volume that gives us a more complete view of Alexander's writing throughout his life than we can get from the four books alone.  This book is the first published compilation of F M Alexander's articles, published letters and lectures on the Alexander Technique. The book consists of six sections: Early Articles; Published Letters; Lectures; Teaching Aphorisms; "Alexander and the Doctors"; Autobiographical Sketch.  Each paper is preceded by an introduction which gives the historical context.

In addition, a substantial number of notes provide information on people, places, events and particular subjects which were part of Alexander's life and times.  Comprehensive cross-references and a detailed index are also given.

Aphorisms
by F M Alexander

Published 2000                        96 pages

This wonderful collection of Aphorisms were collected at various times by Alexander's pupils and his assistant teachers.  These teaching aphorisms from Alexander's lessons provide succinct insights into the working of the Alexander Technique.  Readers familiar with the Technique will discover much of interest – especially concerning the influence which habit and feeling have on human behaviour.  The meditative illustrations were created by the artist Birgit Meyer-Woycke, who has studied the Alexander Technique for many years.