The Art of Being

How can we realise and actualise love, reason and meaningful, productive work?

If the Art of Being - the art of functioning as a whole person - can be considered the supreme goal of life, a breakthrough occurs when we move from narcissistic selfishness and egotism - from having - to psychological and spiritual happiness - being. The Art of Being remains one of the most important and sought-after works in the Fromm canon.

Fromm here offers a path to true wellbeing and a way of living based on authentic self-awareness that comes only through honest self-analysis. He warns of the pitfalls of our attaining enlightenment without effort, or believing that life can be lived without pain. The tantalising 'spiritual smorgasbord' offered by our consumer-oriented world, Fromm maintains, only feeds our illusions of 'easy awareness'. Confronting the psycho-gurus who preach these shortcuts to enlightenment, Fromm offers another way to self-awareness through meditation rather than material gain.

This volume is a sequel to one of Erich Fromm's most popular works, To Have or to Be. In this book, Fromm examines the true paths - as opposed to false directions - that will lead us to self-knowledge and enlightenment. This edition, commemorating thirty years since the first English publication of The Art of Being, features an updated introduction from editor Rainer Funk.