Customer Reviews

Finding Hope in the Age of Melancholy

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a book well worth reading if one is concerned about the health of today's American Culture. After a slow start, Mr. Awbrey zeros in on the value and meaning. He shows that self has become the lead cultural actor of our time displacing community and country in the process while Post-Modern philosophy tells us there is no hope of discovering meaning beyond the self. Mr. Awbery shows how Modernism has brought us to this point and Post-Modernism has stranded us there. But Mr. Awbery is not satisfied with this condition and calls on great thinkers of the past and present to brought peace and social harmony through science and technology, but massive destruction, bloodshed and millions of atomized, disinherited individuals who deny any allegiance to universal moral ideals or spiritual beliefs."

"... the self ... has been divorced from tradition, community, and morality. All those character forming forces are replaced by a fashionable appearance - a public-relations self."

"... many Americans ... perceive life ... as a quest for the 'self,' an almost mythological creature defined according to the latest therapeutic model of mental health or trendy psychological theory of consciousness that promises control over life while brushing aside moral anxieties that have burdened people for countless generations."

I highly recommend this book for those who seek meaning in human life. Mr. Awbrey has answered that question for himself and shares the answer with his reader

This is an absolutely brilliant book. The description of it gives no idea as to how indepth, intelligent and profound it really is. It is not just about depression - it is about dealing with a mid-life crisis, or depression, or Dark Night of the Soul, or a spiritual awakening -- all synonymous terms these days. I have read many self-help books and researched this area and only this book, along with Carolyn Myss' "Spiritual Madness" offer any real help. Awbrey's use of classical literature references is very clever and provides foundations to his insights. If he had read book 3 of Walsh's "Conversations with God" he would probably have come out with a different interpretation of human being's sins - he would be able to articulate how we beings are actually dualities.

Read Awbrey's book. It is truly amazing with it insights and conclusions. Most self-help books focus on the inner self. Awbrey goes way beyond the typical new age thinking, by addressing social responsibility and the importance of connecting to community. He is way ahead of society's thinking these days. He shows, via historical reference, how a society in depression is actually the prelude to incredible change and renaissance. So, I found his book very uplifting because it convinced me many, many good things are going to happen soon. There is an exciting future. Even it you don't agree with anything he says, the beauty of his writing and the intelligent use of classical literature, makes this book a philosophical gem.

This is a book well worth reading if one is concerned about the health of today's American Culture. After a slow start, Mr. Awbrey zeros in on the core of values and meaning in late 20th Century America: self as the only value and meaning. The self has become the lead cultural actor of our time displacing community and country in the process while Post Modern philosophy tells us there is no hope of discovering meaning beyond the self. Mr. Awbery shows how Modernism has brought us to this point and Post Modernism has stranded us there. But Mr. Awbery is not satisified with this condition and calls on great thinkers of the past and present to rescue us.

A few of my favorite quotes:

"The 20th Century has not brought peace and social harmony through science and technology, but massive destruction, bloodshed and millions of atomized, disinherited individuals who deny any alligece to universal moral ideals or spritual beliefs."

"... the self ... has been devorsed from tradition, community, and morality. All those character forming forces are replaced by a fashionable appearance - a public-relations self."

"... many Americans ... perceive life ... as a quest for the 'self,' an almost mythological creature defined according to the latest therapeutic model of mental health or trendy psychological theory of consciousness that promises control over life while brushing aside ath moral anxieties that have burdened people for countless ginerations."

Using both history and personal account, Aubrey creates a compelling perspecive of both midlife and the country/world in which we live.

I enjoyed the book very much.

First, in the spirit of full disclosure, I must explain that I am a former co-worker of David Awbrey. I worked at the Wichita Eagle during much of the time that David writes about. I found his book to be interesting and challenging. I don't pretend to be half the intellect that David is, so I feel out of my element here. David's take on depression, emphasis on career and self-absorption are on target for the most part. The book quotes many philsophers who I've never studied, but David consistently puts the thoughts and works of others in the proper context. In fact, he did it so well that my appetite has been whetted. So many books to read, so little time...

I have just completed my third reading of this insightful book. A perceptive author, Awbrey displays a broad knowledge of culture gained through his years in public journalism. Courageously sharing from problems he personally encountered, he suggests a return to spiritual foundations and dynamic community life as the means of crossing the abyss of despair many persons find themselves facing today. I highly recommend this book to the disciplined reader who is looking for life with more purpose than the accumulation of material wealth and other traditional symbols of success, or anyone wishing a comprehensive understanding of contemporary thought.

Awbrey's book really resonates with me. As one who knows the pangs of depression all too well, I appreciate our mutual interest in helping others make the journey to self-discovery and healing. He has made excellent use of historical and literary evidence of the cycling ages of melancholy. This wisdom, coupled with his personal reflections on what was missing in his own life (and, indeed in many lives) points us toward our need for divine truth. This book is enlightening and not at all difficult to read, even if you don't have a passion for philosophical and spiritual thought. I'd have given five stars if Awbrey could have brought himself to make more use of the Bible.

I do not want to be sued for writing a book review, but there are brilliant books on both melancholia and depression that have already been written. This is not one of those. Anything by Kay Jamison (Manic depressive and a leading psychiatrist and author on Depression, Elyn Sacks (Schizophrenic, brilliant researcher/author on the brain/depression)BUT, if you are seriously wanting to read on the subject, read The Anatomy of Melancholy by Richard Burton (1577-1640) because despite the age of the compendium Burton covers every aspect of melancholy including physical symptoms, personality types who are prone-amazing resource.

The dull musings of a middle-aged, white man who believes _ or at least has convinced a publisher _ that his own petty shortcomings and personal behavior concern America at large.I'm guessing Mr. Awbrey reaches deep inside and before the finish is able to drown his Melancholy in a newly discovered reservoir of self-approval found in the conventional ways, although I can't be certain because I couldn't make myself read that far. The more genuine but less likely possibility is that he remains hopeless at book's end. Portions of the book will interest several current or former Kansas people whose names are in it.

It is obvious that depression is caused by the lacking American diet and lack of exercise that many people are stuck with. This book tries to explain that the lack of touchy-feely values are to blame, but that is clearly baloney. Anyone who has changed his lifestyly using 'Fitonics', 'Fit for Life' or something similar can attest to that.