| Art of Becoming Human: Patterns of Growt Contributor(s): Mercer, Mary E. (Author) |
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ISBN: 1573921203 ISBN-13: 9781573921206 Publisher: Prometheus Books OUR PRICE: $25.64 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: February 1997 Annotation: The Art of Becoming Human considers not only the common experiences of human growth from birth to old age, but the profound influences that inborn talent, chance, necessity, and hope play in our development. Dr. Mercer's years of training and experience in internal medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry provided her the opportunity and privilege of witnessing the unfolding of every stage of human life. Rather than use anecdotes from her patients' personal histories, she has brought together a wealth of quotations from great works of literature to reveal the universal pattern that lies deeply buried beneath the economic, social, and political surface of individual lives. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Psychology | Personality |
| Dewey: 155.25 |
| LCCN: 96047874 |
| Physical Information: 0.71" H x 6.19" W x 9.29" (0.79 lbs) 145 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Becoming a human being is not easy. It's a creative process of self-development toward which we have to work. How we live; how we think; how we react to our experiences; and who we wish to be, rather than who we are, contribute to our humanness, or lack of it. Contrary to popular "how-to" guides for becoming a better person, no book holds the key to true humanness or real happiness. In The Art of Becoming Human, Dr. Mercer explains what is required for personal growth, details the aspects of life that touch us profoundly, and lays out the choices that can lead to the highest state of humanness attainable. Early childhood love is for things: milk, honey, blanket warmth. Our second love is for people. Eventually people become more important than the things they provide. This pattern of love and separation repeats itself throughout our lives until, if we're lucky, our desire to be loved becomes a desire to love. The person who truly loves, as opposed to being "in love", is able to take the first step toward becoming a genuine human being who embraces love and separation as they occur. The Art of Becoming Human is augmented with eloquent quotations from literary classics, revealing the universal self-creative pattern that lies beneath the surface of individual life. "Many of her word pictures will evoke moments of recognition from readers who have been or are children, lovers, parents, or elderly -- and all of whom can learn from Mercer.... a perceptive overview..". -- Booklist |