Review of Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature
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Rasheedah Hakeem
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- Latest Review: Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature by Chet Shupe
Review of Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature
[Following is a volunteer review of "Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature" by Chet Shupe.]
The sociological field is saturated with claims by many sociologists that the emotionally crushing modern condition in which we are forced to live in has spawned many ailments that our society continues to grapple with. Society and its institutionalized ills have robbed us of the one thing we truly crave: happiness. Chet Shupe, in his debut book, Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature, not only gives his own contributing stance but also contends that this statement is indeed true. In this highly intelligent read, the author seeks to illuminate the relationship between civilization, one’s happiness, emotions, need, wants and desires. He claims that the world constructed by man- the modern existence has left humanity spiritually lost, suffering from self-imposed pain imparted through our convoluted civil laws, social institutions, theologies and beliefs. This world opposes the ‘Natural Law of Life’ which is not only the fabric that is embedded in natural life but also the “emotional programming of living beings”, asserts the author. The deviation from the “Natural Law of Life”, the author posits, is a consequence of language acquisition. Through language, humankind has become subjugated to a variety of laws and moral edicts that cripple and oppress our intrinsic nature and instincts. This leads to the development of a sort of false consciousness further propagated by our incessant need to become more civilized, with us failing to notice that the more our society progresses the more we become detached from our true selves and our brethren, the more our problems multiply and the more we become unhappy with the unfulfilled expectations we have of ourselves.
The manuscript does an amazing job in showcasing how civilization took an evolutionary wrong turn, the culprit of the repression and oppression humanity faces today and the resulting ills of domestic abuse, suicide and an array of others propagated many channels of the institutionalized world. It also paints a picture that portrays the idyllic condition of humanity if we as a species were to follow the natural way of life. In the institutionalized world the problems we face are symptoms of our lack of spirituality and the disconnect between us and the natural world. We live in constant fear of losing the physical comforts we deem necessary for life which blinds us to the pulverizing impact of the man-built world. I was delighted with how well organized the book was and the added table at the end which provided a perfect summarization of the book. Positively enriching, it will be a delight for women as there is a chapter specifically written for our empowerment.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed many aspects of the book and found the ambitiousness of the manuscript intriguing, there were several negatives that detract from the awesomeness of what the author wishes to highlight. Firstly, the book overly criticizes the institutionalized world focusing on it as one of the sole contributors to humankind’s unhappiness not taking into consideration other philosophical views that pinpoint the roots of many of the social ills mentioned in the book. It fails to address the role that modern technological advancements and mass media has played in delivering subliminal messages that distort our thoughts, emotions and reality and how these destroy the intimate connections between humans and manipulate the individual into desiring and expecting things that he may not achieve in his lifetime. Secondly, the book is seasoned with strong philosophical and spiritual essence that may be a bit hard to fathom and understand by those who have no prior knowledge about the theories on which most of the manuscript is based or those who find the insistence of spiritual thought unpalatable. Thirdly, the book lacks empirical evidence to substantiate many of the claims it makes and there were also a few grammatical errors present, nonetheless it seemed to be professionally edited.
Therefore, I would rate this book a solid 3 out of 4 stars. I would have loved to give this book full ratings but cannot because of the negatives that were found in the book’s entirety. These negatives however should not dissuade anyone from picking up this book and giving it a thorough read.
This book is recommended for anyone who constantly questions their reality, who isn’t sufficiently satisfied with their relationships and who describes themselves as being unworthy. I believe this book is suitable for any adult who is well read and who approaches books such as these analytically, stopping to digest each sentence in a systematic manner. I see this manuscript becoming a highly praised philosophical read that will be enjoyed by anyone seeking to understand the madness of our civilization.
******
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The sociological field is saturated with claims by many sociologists that the emotionally crushing modern condition in which we are forced to live in has spawned many ailments that our society continues to grapple with. Society and its institutionalized ills have robbed us of the one thing we truly crave: happiness. Chet Shupe, in his debut book, Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature, not only gives his own contributing stance but also contends that this statement is indeed true. In this highly intelligent read, the author seeks to illuminate the relationship between civilization, one’s happiness, emotions, need, wants and desires. He claims that the world constructed by man- the modern existence has left humanity spiritually lost, suffering from self-imposed pain imparted through our convoluted civil laws, social institutions, theologies and beliefs. This world opposes the ‘Natural Law of Life’ which is not only the fabric that is embedded in natural life but also the “emotional programming of living beings”, asserts the author. The deviation from the “Natural Law of Life”, the author posits, is a consequence of language acquisition. Through language, humankind has become subjugated to a variety of laws and moral edicts that cripple and oppress our intrinsic nature and instincts. This leads to the development of a sort of false consciousness further propagated by our incessant need to become more civilized, with us failing to notice that the more our society progresses the more we become detached from our true selves and our brethren, the more our problems multiply and the more we become unhappy with the unfulfilled expectations we have of ourselves.
The manuscript does an amazing job in showcasing how civilization took an evolutionary wrong turn, the culprit of the repression and oppression humanity faces today and the resulting ills of domestic abuse, suicide and an array of others propagated many channels of the institutionalized world. It also paints a picture that portrays the idyllic condition of humanity if we as a species were to follow the natural way of life. In the institutionalized world the problems we face are symptoms of our lack of spirituality and the disconnect between us and the natural world. We live in constant fear of losing the physical comforts we deem necessary for life which blinds us to the pulverizing impact of the man-built world. I was delighted with how well organized the book was and the added table at the end which provided a perfect summarization of the book. Positively enriching, it will be a delight for women as there is a chapter specifically written for our empowerment.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed many aspects of the book and found the ambitiousness of the manuscript intriguing, there were several negatives that detract from the awesomeness of what the author wishes to highlight. Firstly, the book overly criticizes the institutionalized world focusing on it as one of the sole contributors to humankind’s unhappiness not taking into consideration other philosophical views that pinpoint the roots of many of the social ills mentioned in the book. It fails to address the role that modern technological advancements and mass media has played in delivering subliminal messages that distort our thoughts, emotions and reality and how these destroy the intimate connections between humans and manipulate the individual into desiring and expecting things that he may not achieve in his lifetime. Secondly, the book is seasoned with strong philosophical and spiritual essence that may be a bit hard to fathom and understand by those who have no prior knowledge about the theories on which most of the manuscript is based or those who find the insistence of spiritual thought unpalatable. Thirdly, the book lacks empirical evidence to substantiate many of the claims it makes and there were also a few grammatical errors present, nonetheless it seemed to be professionally edited.
Therefore, I would rate this book a solid 3 out of 4 stars. I would have loved to give this book full ratings but cannot because of the negatives that were found in the book’s entirety. These negatives however should not dissuade anyone from picking up this book and giving it a thorough read.
This book is recommended for anyone who constantly questions their reality, who isn’t sufficiently satisfied with their relationships and who describes themselves as being unworthy. I believe this book is suitable for any adult who is well read and who approaches books such as these analytically, stopping to digest each sentence in a systematic manner. I see this manuscript becoming a highly praised philosophical read that will be enjoyed by anyone seeking to understand the madness of our civilization.
******
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature by Chet Shupe
