Review of Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature, second edition

[Anu Anand]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature, second edition" by Chet Shupe.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Are you living in the moment, truly enjoying your life, or are you constantly planning for a better future? Have you ever felt anxious or depressed about the future? Have you ever longed to abandon the complexities of modern life and return to nature? Many of us, at one time or another, experience personal anxieties about the future, guilt over how we live, resentment toward perceived injustices, and even bouts of hopelessness and depression. In “Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature, second edition,” Chet Shupe encourages readers to reconnect with their true human nature, which he describes as the innate blueprint for human well-being. Offering fresh perspectives on humanity’s existence, this book seeks to awaken us to the suffering institutional life imposes and inspire us to rethink how we live, inviting profound change in both our outlook and way of life.

I appreciated the author's reminders of what it means to be truly human. Some of the insights he shared about the root causes of many of our life’s troubles were relatable. However, I don’t completely agree with his perspective; returning to a pre-civilization state seems impractical. As much as I found some of his ideas relatable, I can’t help but reflect on the Malayalam proverb, "Naadodumbol naduve odanam," which translates to "Run with the crowd when the crowd runs." It emphasizes adapting to the circumstances around us rather than resisting. While the author's view of going back to civilization has its merits, I believe we also have to find a balance by adapting to modern life while staying true to our core nature. The glossary at the end was a helpful addition, providing clarity and aiding in the understanding of the key ideas presented.

As for the editing part, I only found a few minor errors. So, we could say that the book is professionally edited. In many chapters, I noticed a repetition of certain concepts, which made the content feel dragged out at times. I rate this book 4 out of 5. I dropped a star due to the slow pacing and repeated content mentioned in the book. Other than that, the book was enjoyable; it provided a unique perspective. The personal anecdotes provided in the book were also interesting.

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Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature, second edition
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[Mary Omotosho]

Reconnecting with true human nature is, hmmm. That sounds good.
As someone who loves nature.
I love that the book talks about what being truly human means.

You did a great job reviewing the book, it shows you took your time to read the book.

[Sarah Zain]

I can understand the author in the idea of going back to pre-civilization in some way and I agree with you because we must find a balance between communicating with nature and ourselves as well as benefiting from the progress that has taken place.

The problem will be that as long as the development continues and at this rapid rate, it will become more difficult to make the balance. The idea of the book seems promising.
Your review highlights the important aspects of the book. Great review Anu!

[Mradushi Singhal]

Your review thoughtfully addresses the book’s core message and the challenges of fully embracing its ideas. The repetitive content and impracticality of returning to a pre-civilization state made me hesitant too, but I was intrigued by the unique perspective offered.

[RJ Reviews]

As is often the case with self-help books, this book too suffers from slow pace and repetitive sections. Other than that, the concept and delivery of the key message seem interesting. It is important to be flexible enough to be adaptable to any circumstances. It is often our own fears to step out of our comfort zone that hinders our progress. I enjoyed reading your review. Thank you.

[Seetha E]

It's crucial to find a balance between the two extremes. We definitely don't want to revert to a primitive way of life, nor is it wise to blindly follow the materialistic mentality of modern society. Great job identifying the ideal middle ground.