First, it is important to explain how I came about reading this book. In my Class “Personal Adjustment” which focuses on the psychology of personal growth, a student asked if I had read “The Stranger” when we were discussing “Man’s Search for Meaning.” I hadn’t, and replied as such. She asked if she lent it to me would I read it. In my typically short but honest manner, I replied I wouldn’t: I had no time currently for enjoyment reading, and had a stack of books I was anxious to get to once I did. Furthermore, I don’t read fiction. On the day of the final exam for this class, …

I purchased this book while perusing a Borders that was going out of business, and strictly because of the title. As a therapist and a practitioner of Eastern philosophy I am aware of how although we believe we have the freedom of choice, quite often our choices are made out of our conditioning. I fully expected this book to reaffirm that thinking, and to discuss how to overcome it. The book met and surpassed this expectation.

Some books create a peace in me by just catching a glimpse of them. This is the case of this book. From the time of my purchase it served as a meditation bell. It …

I finished “Island” by Aldous Huxley last night. It is a novel about a utopian society, lost (at least temporarily) to the roar of capitalism and consumerism, that a cynical, shame ridden English protagonist finds himself shipwrecked on. The story follows his introduction to this society, his education about it, and his perceptions while he works both sides of the beginning of a conflict about to come to fruition.

I suppose at this point I have to modify my general statement that I don’t read fiction, to I read fiction about philosophy or therapy or spirituality about 20% of my reading time (I notice in the last two years I’ve read …

A very close friend sent this book to me after we had some discourse regarding our perceptions and opinions of happiness. The title is more telling than you might think, as the book takes an encompassing view of what has been written about happiness through the ages.

The book is very well written in philosophical prose. For those uninitiated in true philosophical writing, this book might seem droll or overly complicated. Philosophical writing begins with the definition of what is being discussed, and works at laying the argument out in a precise fashion. The end of one paragraph lays the groundwork for the next, and the chapters follow suit. The …

Let me begin by saying this book is for therapists interested in applying Buddhist principles to therapy. For the casual Buddhist it offers some explanation of Buddhist terms and thought, but for that purpose other books would be better suited. For the therapist simply interested in new techniques there is some food for thought, but generally the book challenges Western ideas of psychotherapy.

With that introduction, I’d be surprised if many are still reading this review.

It took me a good while to finish the book. This was partly due to my schedule teaching five courses, but was also a result of finding the text a bit …

Recently I was recommended a movie called TiMER in light of the book I am working on with a peer. The premise is that in some alternative universe of now, people are able to buy timers which are mounted in their wrists and count down to when you will meet your soulmate. The story follows a family consisting of stepsisters and their half brother, as well as his parents (one daughter’s mother and the other daughter’s father). They all have timers, and the movie follows their feelings and behavior about their “timers.”

As a beginning to a general review of the movie, there are no big stars evident. There is some typical …

At the insistence of a client (and her lending me the video) I watched “What the Bleep Do We Know” tonight (now last night). It marries the theories of quantum physics with neurobiology and spirituality as well as some psychology. The movie contains interviews with scientists in various areas with some animation and cinematography as well as dramatic scenes starring Marlee Matlin. The theme of this movie is our interconnectedness and the unknown reality that lies underneath the reality we perceive. In addition to these themes is the importance of the messages we send ourselves and the part they play in the …

During the break between Spring Semester and Summer B, while I wasn’t teaching for the first time in years, I read the book “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” It’s actually a strange story how I came to read it.
Most of my readers know I rarely read fiction. But this book was a long time in coming. I have been into Zen, to various degrees, for more than 20 years. When I was relative neonate to Zen, having only read one or two books, people would always ask “Have you read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?” I would always answer “no” of course. Then the next time …

I took my 16 year old out for his birthday (his actual birthday was a while ago, but with our schedules it was tough to schedule a full night alone with him before now). After dinner and some shopping, we discussed seeing a movie. He wanted to see “Get Him to the Greek.” I had read some pretty poor reviews, but had no problem seeing it. The reviews indicated the movie tried to do too much. They felt it aspired to be a comedy in the “Hangover” style but also tried to squeeze in weightier issues like a substance abuse problem and parent issues.
I had recently read another …

I initially picked up this book because the back cover presented it as a theory that explained how we create God and spiritual realms to combat our fear of death. As an existential therapist I found this intriguing. In this regard the book did not disappoint.
The book begins with a brief summary of evolution (what argument that did not denounce the existence of a supreme being would be complete without some sort of recognition of evolution?) I found this short (in relation to the amount of years it took for it to occur) history an adequate review, but a bit lengthy. I suppose I assume that any person willing …