Matousek (Sex Death Enlightenment) makes a case for why human beings are inherently ethical creatures in a provocative book that suffers from uneven execution. Wired from birth with "mirror neurons" that function involuntarily, and cause us, for instance, to tear up when others cry: "Emotions, not reason," Matousek asserts, "are the bedrock of ethical life." Drawing on philosophy, neurological and psychiatric research, anthropology, pop psychology, and mysticism, he debunks the belief that organized religion is a necessary framework for an ethical sense, and demonstrates that moral behavior evolves out of a complex interaction between our built-in empathy for those we identify as like ourselves, and the way we respond (or don't respond) to the supposedly abstract suffering of those we deem as "other." In the hands of an Oliver Sacks, this braiding of the scientific, moral, and anecdotal could be revelatory; Matousek, however, repeatedly substitutes opinions and inferences for fact, sapping his argument's credibility and his reader's patience. (May)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Praise for ETHICAL WISDOM
“Mark Matousek guides us through a revolution in ethical science with deft, thought-provoking style.
Ethical Wisdom is a riveting, fun, and insightful tour of life’s meaning and purpose, essential reading for anyone drawn to the query, ‘How ought we to live?’”
—
Daniel Goleman, author of
Emotional Intelligence “Mark Matousek has done some magic: he has written an informed, intelligent, humorous, insightful, and juicy book on ethics. He covers a broad field and is up-to-date and thorough. You’ll enjoy this book and maybe become a better person because of it.”
—Thomas Moore, author of
Care of the Soul “This broad-ranging book is remarkable for its emotional intensity, and for its message of redemption; it is a delineation of hope itself.”
—
Andrew Solomon, author of
The Noonday Demon “
Ethical Wisdom is a beautiful work. Bringing together the best of today's scientific research with a plainspoken forthrightness,
Ethical Wsdom does what few books of this type can do: it inspires.”
—
Mark Epstein, M.D., author of
Thoughts without a Thinker “
Ethical Wisdom is a unique delight—a fascinating, enlightening, and adventurous romp through the territories of philosophy, psychology, science, and spirituality. Mark Matousek has pulled off a most difficult task: he has written an intellectually rigorous and expansive book that is also beautiful and funny and inspiring.”
—
Elizabeth Lesser, co-founder of Omega Institute and author of
Broken Open “This book springs from the latest research on biology [and] some of the oldest human wisdom. Both are interesting, and together they are potent.”
—
Bill McKibben, author of
Eaarth “I don't know how he has done it, but Mark Matousek has written a book about being good without being moralistic or judgmental.
Ethical Wisdom is a call to our higher selves. Read it!”
—
Eve Ensler, author of
The Vagina Monologues “
Ethical Wisdom provides tremendous insight into our collective and individual psyches. Like GPS for the soul, it is a necessary guide for human evolution, and survival, in the 21st century.”
—
Peter Buffett, founder of the NoVo Foundation and author of
Life is What You Make It “As a species, we have not found a healthy way to harness our basic goodness and avoid the seeds of human suffering. The book you have in your hands will show you why this is so. Engaging, thought provoking, and enlightening … this book acts as an insider’s guide to what makes us tick, and gently prompts us to look in the mirror and at our place in the great pond of life. A must read for anyone interested in making the world a better place.”
—
John P. Forsyth, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at the University at Albany, SUNY and author of
Your Life on Purpose "Insightful and informative."
—
Library Journal
