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Back to Sanity: Healing the Madness of Our Minds
Have you ever thought that there might be something wrong with human beings, even that we might be slightly insane? Why is it that human history has been filled with endless wars, together with brutal oppression and inequality, and that so many of us are filled with a restless discontent and an insatiable desire for status, success and material goods?
In this ground-breaking and inspiring book, Steve Taylor shows that we do suffer from a psychological disorder, which he refers to as ego-madness, or egomania. This disorder is so close to us that we don't realize it's there, but it's the root cause of all our dysfunctional behaviour, both as individuals and as a species. This book explains the characteristics of ego-madness, where it stems from and how it leads to the madness of materialism, status-seeking, warfare, inequality and other symptoms of our insanity. But equally importantly, Back to Sanity shows how we can heal this mental disorder, and how to allow the fleeting moments of harmony that we all experience from time to time to become our permanent state of being.
In this ground-breaking and inspiring book, Steve Taylor shows that we do suffer from a psychological disorder, which he refers to as ego-madness, or egomania. This disorder is so close to us that we don't realize it's there, but it's the root cause of all our dysfunctional behaviour, both as individuals and as a species. This book explains the characteristics of ego-madness, where it stems from and how it leads to the madness of materialism, status-seeking, warfare, inequality and other symptoms of our insanity. But equally importantly, Back to Sanity shows how we can heal this mental disorder, and how to allow the fleeting moments of harmony that we all experience from time to time to become our permanent state of being.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2012
41 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
Steve Taylor
232 books127 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Steve Taylor is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Leeds Beckett University, UK. His latest books in the US are The Calm Center and Back to Sanity: Healing the Madness of the Human Mind. He is also the author of The Fall, Waking From Sleep, and Out Of The Darkness. His books have been published in 19 languages. His research has appeared in The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, The Journal of Consciousness Studies, The Transpersonal Psychology Review, The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, as well as the popular media in the UK, including on BBC World TV, The Guardian, and The Independent.
Steve Taylor is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Leeds Beckett University, UK. His latest books in the US are The Calm Center and Back to Sanity: Healing the Madness of the Human Mind. He is also the author of The Fall, Waking From Sleep, and Out Of The Darkness. His books have been published in 19 languages. His research has appeared in The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, The Journal of Consciousness Studies, The Transpersonal Psychology Review, The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, as well as the popular media in the UK, including on BBC World TV, The Guardian, and The Independent.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 31, 2020
This books seeks to answer the question: why are modern, affluent humans so unhappy despite all we have? What explains the insatiable need for more money, status, power, even though our craving is the seed of our discontent? Taylor calls this a uniquely Western human madnesss: "humania." It is characterized by "ego-separateness," the isolating sense we are different from others, and "cognitive discord" — the unrelenting, often negative inner mental chatter that we try to escape through distraction rather than understand.
It is a fascinating paradox. We go through life believing we could fill a void if only we met the right person, or made enough money, or achieved a certain level of success, instead of getting to know ourselves. At the same time, we maintain a protective barrier that isolates us from transcendent connection with others because of our ego-separateness. It's a tragic recipe for perennial dissatisfaction and internal disharmony that many of us have experienced. And it is most of all an affliction of societies in North America and Europe, and Westernized societies. Indigenous people are more in touch with the Earth and less isolated from one another. Even death is less scary, because they see themselves as part of a larger whole.
Despite the scope of his diagnosis, Taylor's doesn't prescribe that we change our lives dramatically; rather he suggests meditation, mindfulness, and gaining perspective so we learn to be with ourselves, which does seem like the necessary first step. With society at a point where our problems are caused by abundance rather than scarcity, Back to Sanity gives us the tools to heal our humania, be content with "enough" and develop a richer inner life and a deeper connection to the natural world and to others that can help us become the people we need to be to build a better world in a challenging age.
It is a fascinating paradox. We go through life believing we could fill a void if only we met the right person, or made enough money, or achieved a certain level of success, instead of getting to know ourselves. At the same time, we maintain a protective barrier that isolates us from transcendent connection with others because of our ego-separateness. It's a tragic recipe for perennial dissatisfaction and internal disharmony that many of us have experienced. And it is most of all an affliction of societies in North America and Europe, and Westernized societies. Indigenous people are more in touch with the Earth and less isolated from one another. Even death is less scary, because they see themselves as part of a larger whole.
Despite the scope of his diagnosis, Taylor's doesn't prescribe that we change our lives dramatically; rather he suggests meditation, mindfulness, and gaining perspective so we learn to be with ourselves, which does seem like the necessary first step. With society at a point where our problems are caused by abundance rather than scarcity, Back to Sanity gives us the tools to heal our humania, be content with "enough" and develop a richer inner life and a deeper connection to the natural world and to others that can help us become the people we need to be to build a better world in a challenging age.
June 24, 2012
Damn you London Sunday Times Style section ... you recommended this book, WHY!!!! You know when you have a paper to write and you only have a very flimsy thesis to base it on, but you go ahead anyway, well this book is like that, but IT'S A BOOK! The author (who apparently is charged with the responsibility of educating young minds at a university somewhere), has a basic premise that basically pretty much every negative thing in the world is caused by 'humania', or basically our inability to get beyond surface mental chatter, and that if we were all mindful and meditated etc etc we wouldn't be in the situation we are in. Now I buy this premise in part, but not to the lengths that he chooses to extrapolate it to. Half of the 254 pages is an explanation of how this 'humania' has caused pretty much every bad thing that has happen in history. The second half is pretty much your standard mindfulness/slow-down solution to the problem that has been written about in many many books. The best I can say is that it is a quick read, so you should not waste too many hours of your life should you choose to read this tome.
January 17, 2020
This book speaks out for everyone who is disappointed with misdirection of modern society. Materialism, consumerism, meritocracy ... restless fulfilling of our desires causes many psychological and environmental issues. so called humania is described in first part. Second part brings solutions for this problems.
The book is easy to read even if english is not your first language.
it’s something between psychological and self-help book.
I think I will get back to certain points in the future but don’t use it as a reference in argumentation.
The book is easy to read even if english is not your first language.
it’s something between psychological and self-help book.
I think I will get back to certain points in the future but don’t use it as a reference in argumentation.
January 18, 2014
A good book for understanding the madness of what I call our 'monkey mind', you know- that constant chatter going on inside our head..
Simply written and easy to comprehend and a good guide to get clear of the ego demands that causes the chatter. What meditation can do for you and the wellness that nature and exercise can give you.
Eckhart Tolle is the main man for this subject but I like this guy's approach to it, it is simple and attainable.
Simply written and easy to comprehend and a good guide to get clear of the ego demands that causes the chatter. What meditation can do for you and the wellness that nature and exercise can give you.
Eckhart Tolle is the main man for this subject but I like this guy's approach to it, it is simple and attainable.
January 11, 2015
Perfect descriptions of the madness with which I live my life... This book is a great eye opener that says how crucial it is live on the present moment and inside ourselves, especially in today's digital and connected world
January 3, 2022
Top, easy read
February 12, 2022
A simple yet powerful book we should all read.
April 20, 2025
Excellent. I think Steve Taylor is spot on with his analysis and the past few years are demonstrating his premise in spades. As a species I have long thought humanity to have evolved incredible intellect but stayed back in the trees where emotional/spiritual/ psychological evolution is concerned. That is of course a slur on all tree dwelling species, so I apologise- they are probably saner than us.
The actions of those who have fought for dominance over others through history can only be thought of as a type of mental disorder. And when I look out from my couple of acres here in Wales at what is happening in the so-called civilised world I am glad I have no TV, don’t read papers, don’t use social media, and limit my awareness of what is happening to a scant half hour every now and then. Enough to understand the turmoil, the suffering, the injustice, starvation, cruelty and psychopathy that is being touted. And to seek out groups and volunteer in organisations that act respectfully to others and to the planet.
Certainly worth a read. Yes, it’s been said over and over again by hundreds of thinkers and activists. But we still ignore it. So yes, it needs saying again and again and we need to LISTEN.
The actions of those who have fought for dominance over others through history can only be thought of as a type of mental disorder. And when I look out from my couple of acres here in Wales at what is happening in the so-called civilised world I am glad I have no TV, don’t read papers, don’t use social media, and limit my awareness of what is happening to a scant half hour every now and then. Enough to understand the turmoil, the suffering, the injustice, starvation, cruelty and psychopathy that is being touted. And to seek out groups and volunteer in organisations that act respectfully to others and to the planet.
Certainly worth a read. Yes, it’s been said over and over again by hundreds of thinkers and activists. But we still ignore it. So yes, it needs saying again and again and we need to LISTEN.
September 24, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Makes you realise just how important a simple/uncomplicated life is, and how powerful the mind is. Despite having it all, so many of us are depressed, anxious and mentally unwell. But if we truly go back to basics we have the power to clear the clutter in our minds and heal ourselves. If only we all lived like some of the world's most peaceful indigenous tribes do!
August 5, 2019
Pretty straight forward book on how we can understand the madness that goes on in our minds.
March 17, 2024
best $0.50 thrift store find ever. thought I would find this corny at the start but actually really liked it. gonna see if I can implement some of this stuff but it's easier read than done.
October 11, 2016
I wasn't very fond of how chatty the book was, many things were being rephrased over and over just in a different way. The book is mostly a sum-up of what all we do when we try to fill some "void".
But what I appreciate is that in some of those examples (stories etc.) it points out a couple of "bad" habits of everyone and what possibly led them to such a lifestyle. In my eyes the main thought of the book was that you can live better especially by focusing on the presence (instead of the past or the future) and it points out how much we try to run away from things by being materialistic or escaping to alternative realities, etc. The second part of the book is about seeking harmony.
But whether "humania" is the cause of all of the mentioned problems (as the book claims), is up to everyone's own judgement.
But what I appreciate is that in some of those examples (stories etc.) it points out a couple of "bad" habits of everyone and what possibly led them to such a lifestyle. In my eyes the main thought of the book was that you can live better especially by focusing on the presence (instead of the past or the future) and it points out how much we try to run away from things by being materialistic or escaping to alternative realities, etc. The second part of the book is about seeking harmony.
But whether "humania" is the cause of all of the mentioned problems (as the book claims), is up to everyone's own judgement.
July 28, 2012
Best interessant en heel herkenbaar (vb. onophoudelijke 'mind-chatter' die ons gemoed beïnvloedt) maar te enthousiast en te verreikend uitgesponnen. Zo wijt hij werkelijk alle problemen waar de mensheid ooit mee te maken had aan onze overactieve, egocentrische hersenen. De vooropgestelde remedie voor 'humania' (zo doopt hij de imaginaire ziekte waar mensheid aan schijnt te lijden) is dan weer erg beperkt en/of voordehandliggend (mindfulness, meditatie, rustig blijven,...)
March 29, 2013
Enjoyable read. Picked this up because I loved his previous book The Fall, which is fascinating and I suggest anyone interested in Back to Sanity check out first.
October 21, 2021
Great book, worth reading
great book, well written and interesting. recommended for those looking for a calming headspace in a tumultuous and stressful world
great book, well written and interesting. recommended for those looking for a calming headspace in a tumultuous and stressful world
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews