The Mental Environment [Paperback]

Bob Gebelein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2007

Human beings as social creatures are immersed in a sea of other people's thoughts, including all the books that have ever been read. In this mental environment there are inaccuracies, or "mind pollution," created mainly by social pressures.

This book is a basic introduction to the mental environment and mind pollution -- not just the obvious pollution of advertising and political lies, but going deeper than that, into the internalized social influences of family, peers, religion, and education.

It explains how the high status of physical science has steered psychologists away from the study of the mind, and presents a view of the mind with the "mental senses." It describes methods of mind pollution -- "unscientific methods," misrepresentation, manipulation, and mental warfare -- and factors contributing to mind pollution -- bad logic, psychological problems, sorcery, domination, and status. It presents the perspective of a new civilization (first described in Re-Educating Myself, 1985), and from that perspective points out inaccuracies in major belief systems of the present culture -- the religious, the academic, and the New Age.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Bob Gebelein is a rarity -- a largely independent thinker, who has arrived at his world-view on his own. Although some of his ideas on "mind pollution" have been discussed by other writers, Bob has his own unique way of critically examining all sorts of issues -- from drugs to politics to the spiritual to evolution. Agree with him or not, Bob's views will definitely challenge you and make you reflect on your own biases. --Joel Funk, Plymouth State University

About the Author

In 1955, because of the threat of nuclear annihilation and other cultural problems, Bob Gebelein turned his back on the culture and set out to design a new civilization. This one project has been the main thrust of his adult life. He found answers to all his questions, and documented his search and the answers that he found in Re-Educating Myself, which he self-published in 1985. The Mental Environment is a continuation of that same project, exposing cultural lies and explaining the social forces that create them.

He has worked about half his years as a computer programmer to earn a living. His home is in Provincetown, Massachusetts, although he has had to go other places to get a computer job. The Mental Environment was written in 8 years in a pristine country setting in the shadow of Moose Mountain in a corner of Hanover, New Hampshire.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Omdega Press; 1st edition (October 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0961461128
• ISBN-13: 978-0961461126
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,872,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Young Voices Awards 2010, September 14, 2010

By 

Robert S. Gebelein "bobgeb" (Provincetown, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Mental Environment (Paperback)

In Young Voices Awards 2010, The Mental Environment was awarded Silver in Popular Culture, Bronze in Environment/Ecology/Nature, and Seal of Approval in Non-Fiction Adult and Multi-Cultural Non-Fiction Teen / Young Adult.

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine pick for any library catering to the scholarly layman reader of sociology and cultural affairs., January 9, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mental Environment (Hardcover)

The author of RE-EDUCATING MYSELF returns with another hard-hitting survey of how to design a 'new civilization': this one focusing on the underlying cultural lies and the network of advertising and politics that fosters them. THE MENTAL ENVIRONMENT (MOSTLY ABOUT MIND POLLUTION) pinpoints inaccuracies, failures of social systems and mental warfare that has created such inaccuracies. From TV culture to advertising, THE MENTAL ENVIRONMENT analyzes underlying patterns of deception and is a fine pick for any library catering to the scholarly layman reader of sociology and cultural affairs.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mental Environment by Bob Gebelein, December 26, 2007

By 

Nancy Eaton "bestsellersworld.com" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mental Environment (Hardcover)

Do we really live in a free country? Bob Gebelein will really make you think twice about this statement after reading his book "The Mental Environment".

What is mind pollution? The author defines mind pollution as any thought, idea, fiction, hypnotic suggestion, judgment, etc. that makes one's view of reality less accurate. The main goal is to try and make one's view as accurate as possible without the influence of any polluting elements.

What is the main factor that influences mind pollution? It is social manipulation. Just think about it. In our country we have many legal laws that guarantee us certain rights and freedoms so we can express our views without government persecution. However, on the other hand, we have social laws. Social laws tell us how we must act within a certain group. These laws are unwritten but they are clearly understood. For instance, if you belong to a certain social group, your beliefs must agree with the others in the group. What would happen if you believed in something totally different from the rest of the group? You must live by the norms of the group. If a person goes along with the norms of the group, they are the "greatest". If they do not agree, the person would probably be labeled as "weird". So the question here is do you want to feel good by going along with the norms of the group or do you want to feel your beliefs are accurate?

Bob Gebelein talks about many subjects but the one I really found interesting is religion. The author describes religion as not just a belief but also a way of approaching a knowledge of the spiritual. Religion claims to know the ultimate reality. He makes the point that many of the Christian Gospels were written decades after the life of Jesus and not based on first hand experience but from other people's accounts. Another point the author makes is that religion fills our social need for authorities. When we want to know the ultimate truth we reach out for something that appears to be the ultimate truth. However, if one group follows the beliefs of a certain spiritual leader and another group follows a different leader, who is to say which group is accurate about the ultimate truth if each group's beliefs are different. Take some time to think about this and you will understand where the author is coming from.

Bob Gebelein has written a book that is clear and concise on the subject of "The Mental Environment". This book really made me sit down and analyze everything the author is saying. I found myself thinking, "That is so true and really makes sense". This book is easy to understand but it is not what you would consider "light" reading. The author gives you plenty of food for thought and it is up to the reader to take that information, decipher it and think about the point the author is trying to make and then come up with your own conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it forced me to really ponder the points of the author. There is no doubt the author is passionate about his subject. This really comes through in his writing. If you are looking for a book to read that is unique, challenging and interesting, be sure to add "The Mental Environment" to your reading list.