Review of Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature
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Charlize Venter
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Review of Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature
[Following is a volunteer review of "Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature" by Chet Shupe.]
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature by Chet Shupe reads as a philosophical ideology on the fix for humanity's most dire problem: connection. The book divides humanity into two categories: humanity before language and humanity after language. The existence between pre-linguistic humanity is contrasted to the existence of modern-day, linguistically capable, existence. The book rehashes the quality of life that humans had while we were living in the moment, free from worries about the future and other issues concerning life. The issues of today are portrayed as through the lens of disconnection; all though in an era where the majority of humanity is in contact with each other through the internet and numerous social media platforms, we are still not in touch and authentically connected. We seem to have given the greatest push in the inexorable destruction of our wellbeing and happiness. We are our own worst enemy, because we no longer use those innate and primal gifts of instinct to flourish the tools we were born with. The book serves as a tool of enlightenment, not only in the sense of where we went wrong but also in the sense that it provides us with an answer as to how we can remedy it.
There are many positive aspects to this book. Personally, I very much enjoyed the philosophical insight that it offers. Although the book does not strictly abide by the scientific method and can merely be considered as a speculative solution, as a psychologist, I can only agree with the hypothesis that Shupe presents. It was refreshing to read something that offered a solution to the problems we, as a society, face; a problem that is only gaining impetus. As someone who more than often notices these drastic changes in humanity, my yearning for a solution in terms of reconnecting with ourselves to reconnect with others are addressed. We put a materialistic value on the highest of pedestals to gain value and meaning in our lives; I was abruptly reminded of a quote by Gregory David Roberts, “Every pedestal is greater than the man who stands on it”, and so it is. We have not, per se, lost our way, yet we have muffled our inherent ability to connect with others: the most important meaning and value to life. The thing we tend to subconsciously keep ignorant about is that we just need to actively rekindle and build on the traits we were born with.
Unfortunately, the book has little evidence to support the claims that Shupe makes. One also finds that the text is fairly repetitive, which one could understand as a means of drawing attention to the importance of such repetitions; it was, however, still a tad too much. Some of his claims seem preposterous, such as the claim that his solution would eradicate suicide and violence; it simply feels like too large a claim with too little certainty to it. Although Shupe’s interpretation of our current pandemic seems plausible, again, there is not enough data to support such a confident assertion.
I hereby rate the book two out of four stars, mainly because the author portrays a sense of certainty without having scientific proof. Otherwise, I quite enjoyed the insights and philosophical debates outlined in the book. The book is good, but lacking in ways I cannot allow myself to overlook.
Target audiences include adults with an interest in the human psyche, existential philosophy, and reconnecting to the self and others. The book may be best enjoyed by those who have already identified the current trouble with inauthentic human connection, wishing to find an informative form sustenance behind these ideas.
******
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature by Chet Shupe reads as a philosophical ideology on the fix for humanity's most dire problem: connection. The book divides humanity into two categories: humanity before language and humanity after language. The existence between pre-linguistic humanity is contrasted to the existence of modern-day, linguistically capable, existence. The book rehashes the quality of life that humans had while we were living in the moment, free from worries about the future and other issues concerning life. The issues of today are portrayed as through the lens of disconnection; all though in an era where the majority of humanity is in contact with each other through the internet and numerous social media platforms, we are still not in touch and authentically connected. We seem to have given the greatest push in the inexorable destruction of our wellbeing and happiness. We are our own worst enemy, because we no longer use those innate and primal gifts of instinct to flourish the tools we were born with. The book serves as a tool of enlightenment, not only in the sense of where we went wrong but also in the sense that it provides us with an answer as to how we can remedy it.
There are many positive aspects to this book. Personally, I very much enjoyed the philosophical insight that it offers. Although the book does not strictly abide by the scientific method and can merely be considered as a speculative solution, as a psychologist, I can only agree with the hypothesis that Shupe presents. It was refreshing to read something that offered a solution to the problems we, as a society, face; a problem that is only gaining impetus. As someone who more than often notices these drastic changes in humanity, my yearning for a solution in terms of reconnecting with ourselves to reconnect with others are addressed. We put a materialistic value on the highest of pedestals to gain value and meaning in our lives; I was abruptly reminded of a quote by Gregory David Roberts, “Every pedestal is greater than the man who stands on it”, and so it is. We have not, per se, lost our way, yet we have muffled our inherent ability to connect with others: the most important meaning and value to life. The thing we tend to subconsciously keep ignorant about is that we just need to actively rekindle and build on the traits we were born with.
Unfortunately, the book has little evidence to support the claims that Shupe makes. One also finds that the text is fairly repetitive, which one could understand as a means of drawing attention to the importance of such repetitions; it was, however, still a tad too much. Some of his claims seem preposterous, such as the claim that his solution would eradicate suicide and violence; it simply feels like too large a claim with too little certainty to it. Although Shupe’s interpretation of our current pandemic seems plausible, again, there is not enough data to support such a confident assertion.
I hereby rate the book two out of four stars, mainly because the author portrays a sense of certainty without having scientific proof. Otherwise, I quite enjoyed the insights and philosophical debates outlined in the book. The book is good, but lacking in ways I cannot allow myself to overlook.
Target audiences include adults with an interest in the human psyche, existential philosophy, and reconnecting to the self and others. The book may be best enjoyed by those who have already identified the current trouble with inauthentic human connection, wishing to find an informative form sustenance behind these ideas.
******
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Mysteries Of the First Instant by Daniel Friedmann
