Understanding Human Nature

Rating:
Summary: UNDERSTANDING HUMAN NATURE
Review: ...The purpose of the book is first to point out how the misguided behaviour of the individual affects the harmony of our social and communal life; second, to teach individuals to recognise their own mistakes; and finaly, to show them how to adjust harmoniously to their social environment... This book is thus dedicated to the task of illuminating humankind`s progress towards a better understanding of human nature. {Alfred Adler}

As relevent today as when it was written. Realy pleasure to read.

Rating:
Summary: Very Good, yet somehow unsatisfying
Review: Adler is an excellent writer, and his simple language and the clarity of his thoughts make this a great read, but his advice and theories leave me with a bit of a hole. It seems that he too often illustrates all the negative aspects of certain types of human behaviour stemming from various childhood experiences without offering any type of solution to the problems. He might throw in a short paragraph of advice at the end of a passage but overall it is a negative message he seems to be sending out. With his thinking, it seems like any above-average human like an actor or a musician is not a gifted person, but someone who wasn't given enough attention when they were young and is now overcompensating for this. That is a very pessimistic outlook and I don't neccesarily think we can simplify it like that. All of this intellectual and scientific thinking only belittles the human spirit and drive and makes it seem like we are machines rather than souls. Overall, though this is a fine book, but dont look for any solutions of how to be a great social person, read it if you want to understand what kind of a person you don't want to be.

Rating:
Summary: Very Good, yet somehow unsatisfying
Review: Adler is an excellent writer, and his simple language and the clarity of his thoughts make this a great read, but his advice and theories leave me with a bit of a hole. It seems that he too often illustrates all the negative aspects of certain types of human behaviour stemming from various childhood experiences without offering any type of solution to the problems. He might throw in a short paragraph of advice at the end of a passage but overall it is a negative message he seems to be sending out. With his thinking, it seems like any above-average human like an actor or a musician is not a gifted person, but someone who wasn't given enough attention when they were young and is now overcompensating for this. That is a very pessimistic outlook and I don't neccesarily think we can simplify it like that. All of this intellectual and scientific thinking only belittles the human spirit and drive and makes it seem like we are machines rather than souls. Overall, though this is a fine book, but dont look for any solutions of how to be a great social person, read it if you want to understand what kind of a person you don't want to be.

Rating:
Summary: A must read book for students in the field of psychology.
Review: Colin Brett's translation of Alfred Adlers work is truly a gift to the field of psychology. "Understanding Human Nature" is a must read for up and coming Adlerian Psychologists.

Rating:
Summary: A must read book for students in the field of psychology.
Review: Colin Brett's translation of Alfred Adlers work is truly a gift to the field of psychology. "Understanding Human Nature" is a must read for up and coming Adlerian Psychologists.