Customer Reviews

The Betrayal of the Self: The Fear of Autonomy in Men and Women

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If you look for something that fathoms out the deep motivations for human frustration, stop here and read this book. It is clearly written, has a soul, and won't lead you into a hotchpotch of jargon. The best book I've ever read on this subject. Read it, and you'll realize that the recipe to get better along in life is very easy - try to be what you are. How? Well, simply by grasping the fact that we all tend to adopt false behavioral patterns as a means of self-defence. The most valuable thing of this book is that it will lead you gently into this spiritual awekening. No cut-and-dried recipe as to how become a "shark". It's not worth it. A good book must be like a good doctor: be rigorous in the treatment and lead you to wellbeing. Gruen won't teach you how to bully the rest of the world, but he will tell you how you can get closer to yourself and get a life of reality, instead of appearances. If this is not enough for you, don't read the book. If this is what you want, this book can be the first rung in a long latter.

Gruen's work is by far and away the best piece of non-fiction I've ever read in my life. Gruen takes a relentless and incisive look at the underlying reasons behind the insidious undermining of a person's true Self by a false system of beliefs set up by a deluded and oppressive society. Gruen gives his audience an opportunity to be aware of their innermost qualities and emotions with absolutely no shame or judgement. This book has been more enlightening and inspiring than the total sum of self-help books that have accumulated and collected dust on my book shelf over the past 10 years. I implore anybody who is searching for answers and solutions to their deepest conflicts to look no further.

I'm not sure how Mr. Gruen did this, but there can be no arguement that it is a stellar effort. I can't believe Mr Gruen's 2 major books are out of print in the U.S. It baffles me. A country with this much violence, alcohol and drug use, is cutting itself off from Gruen's immensely helpful insights. It's a shame. I recently just read a few passages to my 14 year old son. Result ? He had a grin from ear to ear. He loved it! I do too! It is just as fresh and important today , as I read it, as it was 11 years ago when it 1st came out. My son loved the idea that to be free, one must be an outcast in rational society. The free man irritates those around him. Are you yourself, or are you an image that others expect from you. The nail that sticks out gets the thump of the hammer. Gruen urges us to be that stubborn "free" nail.

This book should be on the required reading list of all parents and would be and current politicians. I found it very insightful and provocative. I am currently reading it for the second time; this time I'm taking notes and asking myself questions about myself from Gruen's paradigm.

While reading the book I caught myself staring at the wall in deep thought. In all my research in human development, why was I not told about this well written, clear and insightful book before? Forget that, just get the book.