Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth/Healing the Mind

Page 12, "if the self is expanded to include the natural world, behavior leading to the destruction of this world will be experienced as self-destruction". I think I have been somewhat of an ecopsychologist for some time now, but haven't realized it. This book brought to an organized sense, ideas, thoughts and feelings I already had. More importantly it introduced me to MANY new insights and thoughts about our planet and how we view it and treat it as NOT ME, when in fact, not only is it part of ME, but moreso, we are part of it. This is a very comprehensive book that takes us from theory, into practice, then to cultural and political issues, and onward with over 150 titles of suggested reading. Ecopsychology is a growing somewhat underground movement, a movement however, that many believe will come to fruition in this day and age of our concrete jungles, addiction to science and technology, and our general detachment from our original mother, the Earth. There are approximately 25 contributors to this book, a few, I must admit offer very dry reading. Overall however, this is one of the most enlightening books I have read. If you have even a general interest in Nature or Psychology, you would enjoy this book.

Theodore Roszak - may he rest in peace - had a mind to envy. This book, in particular, inspired me to get a degree in Ecopsychology. It's fascinating, ever more relevant with each passing day, well written and just plain smart work.If you are at all interested in ecology, psychology, or issues of climate change, I highly recommend reading, and savoring every word.

This book Provides some interesting insights regarding psychology and connections with the natural world.

A must for those interested in the rise of ecology and psychology. This early piece becomes a primer for the works that expand and enrich the themes begun here. Its breath and depth sets a wonderful foundation, expansive not exclusive. This aspect for me is important since I find so many needed sources on ecology get stuck on one topic area of interest, which is fine. All I intend to report is that to be inclusive brings the desperate pieces together: connections become visible and relational ties to other areas, such as race, feminism and earth-centered spirituality are, as a result made stronger. It is an engaging read that certainly opens the door for further reading about vital topic for our times.

For anyone interested in ecopsychology this volume of essays will immerse you in this new field and really get you going.

This was less information on treating clients with ecotherapy and more a sermon on how humans are destroying the planet.

A very useful and pleasant compilation on a very heavy subject, high quality, nice presentation, very thoughtful! Definitely got me interested in the subject, as a first read.

Beautiful and refreshing

Sou estudante de psicologia e estou amando conhecer a Ecopsicologia mais a fundo!

Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth, healing the mind, edited by Theodore Roszak, Mary E. Gomes and Allen D. Kanner, Sierra Club Books, University of California Press, Berkeley, California, 1995, 366 ff.The psychology of Earth's exploitation - and its reversal?By Howard JonesEven though it was published more than a decade ago, during which our planet's resources have been further exploited, this book is such a mine of information and ideas that it is still highly relevant today. It is an expansion of the theme of Roszak's book The Voice of the Earth introducing the concept of ecopsychology. In its message it is complementary to books by other authors like Lester R. Brown, Thomas Berry, Thom Hartmann and Alastair McIntosh. Where this book is unique is in the concentration on human psychology that has led to the parlous state of the Earth and on suggestions for the kind of mind-set we need to adopt for the future.As the title indicates, this book is mainly about the interaction of ecology and psychology. Paul Shepard tells us we need now to have an environmental revolution to succeed the agricultural and industrial revolutions. The last of these was inspired by the dualistic philosophy of Descartes, separating mind from body, and the philosophy of Francis Bacon urging exploitation of the natural world. We need to feel a oneness with Nature as a child should feel at one with their environment, or lovers at one with each other. We must encourage what E.O. Wilson called biophilia, a love of Nature that goes far beyond romantic sentimentality.Both science and Judeo-Christian religion have rejected any concept of animism - soul or spirit in the natural world - and Freud mostly described the ego as bounded physically by the skin. These ideas have created a separateness of humankind with regard to other animals, trees or rocks. Because of our addiction to material acquisition, which Eastern mysticism acknowledges as the root of suffering, we are in denial about the havoc we are causing in Nature: `Our inability to stop our suicidal and ecocidal behaviour fits the clinical definition of addiction or compulsion: behaviour that continues in spite of the individual knowing that it is destructive. . .', as Alan Durning tells us in his chapter. Such consumerism has become the economic and philosophical basis of western society. Reversing this does not mean depriving people of essential goods and services: `To the contrary, life's most meaningful and pleasant activities [such as conversation, family activities, creative pursuits, appreciation of Nature] are often paragons of environmental virtue.' Allen Kanner and Mary Gomes see this need for continual material acquisition as a form of narcissism - one of the recognized personality disorders. These authors also have another chapter on feminist psychology.Stephen Aizenstat in his chapter deals with the relevance of Carl Jung's Depth Psychology to this ecocrisis: it is to Jung with his collective unconscious that we must turn for psychological counsel. Anita Barrows explores how developmental psychology can be used to `keep our children as sane as they were when they were born , , , there is no question but that the way the world shapes the minds of its male children lies somewhere close to the root of our environmental dilemma' and Betty Roszak believes `our compulsively masculine science and technology . . . lies at the root of our environmental disconnection.' Terrance O'Connor sees a connection between the breakdown of interpersonal relations and the bond we should have with our environment.This gives only a brief glimpse of a book that provides a useful if somewhat academic treatise on the relevance of psychology to our environmental crisis. Alas, no easy solutions are given, other than an exhortation to try to resolve these issues. The book might also have benefited from an index.Dr Howard A. Jones is the author of The Thoughtful Guide to God (2006) and The Tao of Holism (2008), both published by O Books of Winchester, UK. Outgrowing the Earth: The Food Security Challenge in an Age of Falling Water Tables and Rising Temperatures The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: Waking Up to Personal and Global Transformation The Great Work Hell and High Water: Climate Change, Hope and the Human ConditionOutgrowing the Earth: The Food Security Challenge in an Age of Falling Water Tables and Rising TemperaturesThe Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: Waking Up to Personal and Global TransformationThe Great WorkHell and High Water: Climate Change, Hope and the Human Condition

wie beschrieben

bom produto

I have loved reading this book. I haven't felt so moved by a non-fiction book for years. This collection offers a variety of perspectives on understanding ourselves as fundamentally connected to the world. It offers new intellectual understanding, but for me was also personally life changing. I am really excited by this way of seeing things and for the first time find I can face the ecological crisis with which we live without feeling so overwhelmed that I am unable to act...