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The Art of Being Audiobook
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(4.00) - 642 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
This classic work by psychologist and social philosopher Eric Fromm builds upon his previous popular book, To Have or to Be? In The Art of Being, Fromm teaches us to avoid the tantalizing illusions of our consumer-driven world by learning to function as a whole person from a state of inner completeness or being. The transition from an identity of having to being creates a state of enlightened psychological and spiritual happiness.
How can we realize and actualize love, reason, and meaningful, productive work? Fromm’s proposed way of living, based on authentic self-awareness, comes only through honest self-analysis. Wisely, he warns of the pitfalls of our attaining enlightenment without effort, or believing that life can be lived without pain. The tantalizing “spiritual smorgasbord” offered by our consumer-oriented world, Fromm maintains, only feeds our illusions of “easy awareness.” Confronting the psycho-gurus who preach these shortcuts to enlightenment, Fromm offers another way to self-awareness and well-being, one based on psychoanalysis and self-awareness through meditation. By learning to be centered in the self, the individual is less swayed by the endless pressures and dissatisfactions of the culture of consumerism.
The Art of Being is one of Fromm’s most important works.
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" This book changed the way I view myself in relation to my culture and society. I would recommend it to any one who has ever felt torn between what they feel is right for them and what their society often suggests is right for them. It is a great and fascinating book! "
— William (5 out of 5 stars)
The Art of Being Listener Reviews
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" Best book i ever read. "
— Gregor, 12/26/2013 -
" This book changed the way I view myself in relation to my culture and society. I would recommend it to any one who has ever felt torn between what they feel is right for them and what their society often suggests is right for them. It is a great and fascinating book! "
— William, 12/25/2013 -
" another book, I never part from "
— Lily, 11/29/2013 -
" Quit reading reviews and just read this one because it is quick and worth the read. "
— Cassandra, 11/25/2013 -
" Expansion and revision to To Have and To Be. Emphasizes importance of self-awareness and independence, and takes apart rationales behind 'having', or rampant consumerism, false paths to 'enlightment', and other trivial things. "
— Hadrian, 11/25/2013 -
" "Modern man has many things and uses many things, but he is very little." "
— Les, 10/3/2013 -
" it about the difference between Being & Having "
— LonelyRose, 8/9/2013 -
" So good...a plea for us to 'be' and not to focus on 'do' and 'have' as much as we do. "
— Julian, 7/21/2013 -
" Originally part of To Have or to Be?, Fromm decided it would draw too much attention away from the main part of the book, so he wrote this compelling volume. He does an excellent job of writing to everyone, not just an academic audience. "
— Denae, 5/11/2013 -
" I like it a lot, it is his books that touches so many fields of my life, and open my eyes to many questions that I never suposed to exist. Definetly a must to read. "
— Victor, 2/13/2013 -
" There was nothing very profound or insightful about this. In many places, the author was quite boring and irrelevant. "
— Jim, 12/4/2012 -
" Fromm goes deeply into viewing the core of our existence and what we are attempting to attain by being "happy." Very thought provoking and many insights were valid. However, it felt as if a large portion of the book was laced with an air of self righteousness. "
— julia, 8/2/2012 -
" A beautiful guide on living. Must read "
— Sean, 2/19/2012 -
" Short, sweet and very good "
— Jo, 1/3/2012 -
" sort of a mix of freud and marx, but more "pop" and so easier to read. im not sure why i started with fromm, but maybe i was out to impress an attractive musicologist grad student.. "
— Frank, 12/21/2011 -
" Erich Fromm outdid all social scientists in this book. My explanation would be too shallow to write, so I advise you to read it yourself! "
— Saiid, 6/16/2011 -
" Quit reading reviews and just read this one because it is quick and worth the read. "
— Cassandra, 4/27/2011 -
" Fromm goes deeply into viewing the core of our existence and what we are attempting to attain by being "happy." Very thought provoking and many insights were valid. However, it felt as if a large portion of the book was laced with an air of self righteousness. "
— julia, 1/13/2010 -
" sort of a mix of freud and marx, but more "pop" and so easier to read. im not sure why i started with fromm, but maybe i was out to impress an attractive musicologist grad student.. "
— Frank, 7/1/2009 -
" A beautiful guide on living. Must read "
— Sean, 3/10/2009
About Erich Fromm
ERICH FROMM was a German-born psychoanalyst and social philosopher who explored the interaction between psychology and society. He was the author of To Have Or to Be?, The Art of Loving, The Sane Society, On Being Human, The Art of Listening, Marx’s Concept of Man, and many other classic works. He died in 1980.
About Raymond Todd
Raymond Todd is an actor and director in the theater as well as a poet and documentary filmmaker. He plays jazz trombone for the Leatherstocking quartet, an ensemble that gets its name from one of his favorite Blackstone narrations, The Deerslayer. Todd lives in New York.