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Title: The Psychology of Spirituality: From Divided Self to Integrated Self by Hossain B. Danesh ISBN: 3-906726-02-9 Publisher: Landegg Academy Press Pub. Date: 01 July, 1997 Format: Paperback List Price(USD): $19.95

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Average Customer Rating: 4 (4 reviews)

Rating: 1
Summary: So far this book is disappointing
Comment: I picked up this book very excitedly hoping to learn more about living a purpose-driven life, but the author quickly squeezed the excitement from me. Although he admirably aims to unify humanity in peace, he at the same time strongly promotes some of the very misconceptions that divide us.

He explains that materialists view humans as either purely mechanistic or purely driven by "animal" instincts "motivated by greed and selfishness, empowered by aggressive and sexual drives." On the other hand, spiritual people believe in soul and Creator and do "good rather than evil." (Chapter "On Human Nature.")

The author is making the same error that many friendly fundamentalists have made at my door: "My religious views incline me to do good, therefore if your views differ, you can't be doing good." There are countless motivations to do good: the product of doing good is a better world, and who doesn't want a better world? Come on!

The author is promoting misunderstandings between people of different beliefs, when what the world needs most right now is more respect for other worldviews.

My concern also extends to the author's view of animals. In his view, animals are purely instinctual and never find themselves in a moral quandary. He lists actions that he says are unique to humans, when I personally know of animals that have done each of them, including dogs that won't share their food with a starving dog, and including a cat that starved itself to death seemingly in protest of the owner's having brought home another cat (no, the new cat didn't starve the old). The author even unabashedly states, "these are all unique to human behavior."

It's like he has he never come to know a dog or cat and yet has no qualms about telling his readers the universals of their behavior. How can I trust anything he says after such a show of being an expert on something he's so patently ignorant of?

I've only read the first 50 pages, but the author has lost so much credibility with me that I don't know if I can continue. In my mind this book does not reflect the breadth of experience and wisdom I expect of someone with this author's background.

Rating: 5
Summary: Why not a best seller?
Comment: Just ordered a third copy to give to a friend. This book makes the complex process of "why life" easier to understand. The analysis of death of self from this existance and birth into a new reality will help anyone concerned with the process of death, either self or loved one.

Why not a best seller? However, if I read the Amazon sales figures correctly, at least a quarter million copies have been sold...so it seems to be of interest to a small but growing number of readers.

Forever Jung....: - )

Rating: 5
Summary: Danesh generates thought and reflection
Comment: The book seems to offer new insight into the apparent conflict between the material and spiritual self. I enjoyed the introduction where the author looked at the material philosophies of life such as Skinner, Marx, Freud, and Sartre.

On the surface, it is an easy read, but upon reflection it touches on many of the "heavy" issues that have challenged individuals in a search for "who am I and why am I here". It has the potential to be a base line for a "spiritual" based reference to life vs. the traditional "material" reference to life.

The book is good in that it generates thought and reflection. I've found myself rereading passages to see if a second wave of thought might be launched.