What do you think?
Rate this book
Die Entdeckung des Selbstverständlichen
The Elusive Obvious deals with simple, fundamental notions of our daily life that through habit become elusive. Time is money is obviously a good attitude to have in business or work. It is not at all obvious that in love the same attitude is the cause of so much unhappiness. We often make mistakes. We carry over from one activity to another attitudes of mind that do not make life what it could be. romance is obviously a fine thing. Romantic love is enchanting, but not so good if one partner is money-minded and the other is romantic. In time, they will finish at the psychiatrist's or in court. Many troubled relationships come from inadvertently carrying over seemingly good habits of thought to where they do not apply. Somehow we behave as if good habits are always good. We think or rather feel that we need not bother about behaving otherwise. It is not so obvious that good habits can make us unhappy. It is an elusive truth. Yet habitual lack of free choice is often, nay, usually, disastrous. If you come across something obviously new to you, in its form at least, please stop for a moment and look inward. Working out new alternatives assists us to grow stronger and wiser. My editor tells me that I should free readers from having to think and look inward. I believe she knows what the average reader likes. I myself do not like predigested food. For you, the reader, I have added to the beginning and end of each chapter a short introduction and summary to facilitate your digestion so that you will find it easier to make what is elusive more obvious.
221 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1981
37 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 21, 2008
f the three books I recently "read" by Feldenkrais (see, however, How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read), this is the most accessibly written. It comes at a later stage in his career than the other two, I believe, when his systems of Structural Integration and Awareness Through Movement were pretty fully developed. So actual application of his ideas is presented, which is helpful to getting an idea of what he's all about.
The last 1/4 to 1/3 of the book gets into a basic Awareness Through Movement sequence. This is a good place to start to learn about the technique.
The last 1/4 to 1/3 of the book gets into a basic Awareness Through Movement sequence. This is a good place to start to learn about the technique.
November 26, 2018
It's obvious Feldenkrais is not a writer. The book is not engaging, but when you try out the method, the lessons, it opens up a whole new world. So not for reading, but for trying out yourself.
June 30, 2020
His best book!!!
March 8, 2023
Amazing, deep ideas. Great writer. Dense writing.
January 13, 2015
Chapter: Subjective and Objective Reality
This chapter states that subjective reality is bigger than objective. The main argument is that there are more neural connections that are handling internal processes than ones that process external ones. Much more.
Chapter: A Second Look
The opposite sides of our body learn from each other. Scientific research is too inexact to be applicable to specific cases.
The body reverts to old patterns when it faces a situation that can not be handled in leisure. New pattern require calm and resources.
Chapter: Biological Aspects of Posture
The nervous system has tremendous power to change our physiology. Posture is what put humans on top of the food chain, made man a king of the animal world.
A man holds energy while erect, meaning that any movement requires only a realie of that energy. Think about how easy it is to look different directions, and what a human is capable of (gymnastics, watch making, musical instruments).
All of this is thanks to our posture.
This chapter states that subjective reality is bigger than objective. The main argument is that there are more neural connections that are handling internal processes than ones that process external ones. Much more.
Chapter: A Second Look
The opposite sides of our body learn from each other. Scientific research is too inexact to be applicable to specific cases.
The body reverts to old patterns when it faces a situation that can not be handled in leisure. New pattern require calm and resources.
Chapter: Biological Aspects of Posture
The nervous system has tremendous power to change our physiology. Posture is what put humans on top of the food chain, made man a king of the animal world.
A man holds energy while erect, meaning that any movement requires only a realie of that energy. Think about how easy it is to look different directions, and what a human is capable of (gymnastics, watch making, musical instruments).
All of this is thanks to our posture.
January 7, 2009
This book contains some of the most practical approaches to understanding one's mind and body. Feldenkrais implores us to breakdown how and why we find something so "obvious". In doing so, we may become aware of what we do through movement and achieve what Feldenkrais refers to as "Functional Integration."
October 19, 2012
Great book. Some difficult concepts inside. Took me a couple of read-throughs.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews