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Man's Search for Himself

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4.7 out of 5

574 global ratings

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Man's Search for Himself

byRollo May

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Top positive review

Positive reviews›

Alex, and Donte

I like

Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2023

I chose this a 5 star rating because as I read the
book I continued recommending it to different people, and had conversations about it.

One person found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Dated but useful for existential crisis

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023

Has plenty to say that can help with an existential crisis.

However there are numerous passages I strongly dislike. There are many cases where he makes assertions without even so much as an argument for it. Any time he mentions animals and asserts confidently about their (lack of) inner experience. His discussions of communism which never rise above the propaganda of the time.

Granted, much of this can be written off as attempts to meet the reader of the time where they were at, but I hope someone today is reading this book with an appropriately critical eye and not blindly accepting his unfounded or even eventually disproven claims. Considering the success of "12 rules for life", I have my doubts about the modern reader's capacity for skepticism.

Generally these things aren't essential to the core point he's trying to make. Just be prepared to stumble over some parts.

The context of the book is surprisingly relevant to today's world of perpetual doom. The struggles of people worrying about nuclear war have a lot in common with what we worry about today - things that make us question whether it's worth doing anything when you wonder how long until this all ends.

5 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Alex, and Donte

Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2023

Verified Purchase

I chose this a 5 star rating because as I read the
book I continued recommending it to different people, and had conversations about it.

One person found this helpful

Dated but useful for existential crisis

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023

Verified Purchase

Has plenty to say that can help with an existential crisis.

However there are numerous passages I strongly dislike. There are many cases where he makes assertions without even so much as an argument for it. Any time he mentions animals and asserts confidently about their (lack of) inner experience. His discussions of communism which never rise above the propaganda of the time.

Granted, much of this can be written off as attempts to meet the reader of the time where they were at, but I hope someone today is reading this book with an appropriately critical eye and not blindly accepting his unfounded or even eventually disproven claims. Considering the success of "12 rules for life", I have my doubts about the modern reader's capacity for skepticism.

Generally these things aren't essential to the core point he's trying to make. Just be prepared to stumble over some parts.

The context of the book is surprisingly relevant to today's world of perpetual doom. The struggles of people worrying about nuclear war have a lot in common with what we worry about today - things that make us question whether it's worth doing anything when you wonder how long until this all ends.

5 people found this helpful

Inspiration and Insights

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2022

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Inspiration and insights that transforms lives. Achieve a higher level of success in discovering your meaning of life by reading this book. Karen Briscoe, author and podcast host 5 Minute Success

Gary V. Ventimiglia

One of the best books on the human condition ever!

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2010

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Rollo May's understanding on the pressures of being human in this world are extraordinary. Writing in the shadow of World War Two, and the recent ending of the Korean war with its fears of global destruction, May introduces the idea of a new anxiety that treatens the person from the outside. Because of this, he sees a greater emphasis put on the familial, and interpersonal relationships of life. His emphasis on the "morbid dependencey," on mother, the regressive giving up of one's responsible growing up into maturity is quite profound. His chapter entitled, "THE STRUGGLE TO BE," with its sections called "Cutting The Psychological Umbilical Cord," and "The Struggle Against Mother," are very relevant to our own time even though May wrote nearly fifty years ago. Also the way May describes the loneliness, anxiety, guilt, and purposelessness of modern man hits the mark of the 21st century's post-modern environment. May's use of Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Fromm, Eliot, Freud, Spinoza, Tillich, Goethe, Kafka, and Jesus in relevant and understandable ways, shows the breath of his scholarship. He writes as one who is in the midst of his cultural commentary. As a practicing psychoanalyst, and existential philosopher he describes the depth of a person's struggles with his/her own essential meanings, and the height of the society's struggle with dealing with the trivializtions of the important issues of life. Rollo May has given us a masterpiece on understanding the predicament that so many people find themselves in: estrangement from themselves, from God, from other people, and from their own culture.

36 people found this helpful

If only you knew the insight that awaits you within these pages...

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2015

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This book, has to be one of the classics in my book. I'm an avid reader, and I dabble a bit in psychology/philosophy and if you enjoy both you'll enjoy this book. I was listening to an Earl Nightingale audio book and he mentioned this book in it. It sounded interesting so I decided to buy it. I LOVE THIS BOOK. Now I must say I'm a bit partial because I realized while reading it that we share similar views on a lot of things. I even bought 2 other books of his immediately after starting this one (and LOVED them just the same!) but either way he explains things very thoroughly in an eclectic mix of psychological science and philosophical theory! And the way he ties everything together! It's really good. I bought this book in pretty good condition for 1 cent which is great, but also kinda sad because it just goes to show how much intellectual genius is undervalued these days! But it's a great book and I highly recommend it for cerebral people.

42 people found this helpful

Self-search journal

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2012

Verified Purchase

Reading this book has been parallel in reading a journal, only that i could not have expressed it as lucid and clear as May. It's perfect for those who are asking and searching of the fundamental question, who am i? Feel like you don't quite fit in with the environment, social settings around you? It's not you who is the problem, but rather that you are unique and not meant to fit in what the culture and society had set up for you. It has been a release for me to read May's insights and understanding of self-consciousness in being myself.

3 people found this helpful

Alfredo Gomez III

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2019

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This delve into self awareness along with the examples given is an excellent read. Definitely must be able to read through a lot of the comprehensions twice but it is thought provoking and eye opening to those whom never have seen themselves from other perspectives

senan Al-Shutbi

This book explained well. “We fight for our freedom & we collapse once we have it”

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2018

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I liked this book some much, It uncover the a lot things regarding our behavior. I was amazed to find out that as human being we fight for our freedom when someone take even shadowing our identity is not acceptable. I have read history books and royal families conflicts and fight about their freedom.

4 people found this helpful

Rollo May is Brilliant

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2017

Verified Purchase

I'm a bit confused as to why the quote on the bottom of the front cover wasn't made into 2 lines & centered so it doesn't go into the yellow area on the front. It just looks weird. But nonetheless, the rest of the book is well laid out & the content is brilliant. Would have loved to have met Rollo May.

thought provoking and inspiring

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2014

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I really enjoyed this psychological study on man's development as a thinking individual. The examples used from written works and historical figures were very helpful in clarifying some of the points made. At times I questioned whether I agreed with what was being said, but it very much agree with the final conclusion; definitely worth the read.

One person found this helpful

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