The Inconsequential Child: Overcoming Emotional Neglect

by Anthony Martino

The Inconsequential Child is an intimate memoir of one man's journey of self-discovery. The book is written in the form of a letter where each chapter conveys one of the lessons the author has learned during his journey toward emotional well-being, love and hope. The book centers around a series of memories which were the basis of the author's personal psychoanalysis. The memories are written as he remembers them; in his voice, often in first-person, present tense. The author also offers both real-time and post analysis of the memories that have guided him through his journey. As such, the Inconsequential Child is not a self-help book. Instead, it is a book of possibility. The possibility that you too can heal as you walk along your path toward self-discovery. Also, please note that the author is not a medical professional and he is using a pseudonym.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Biography Memoir, Mental Health

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2016

About the author

Anthony Martino is not my real name. To protect the privacy of those I love, I have written this book under a pseudonym and have changed the names of my family members, friends, geographic locations and other potentially identifiable facts. I wish there were another way to preserve my family’s privacy and simultaneously be true to you. But, unfortunately, there is not. I can tell you that I am a relatively typical guy in my mid-fifties. I’m industrious and compassionate. I live with my wife and twins in a suburb of major east coast city. Most people enjoy my company. I mention this simply to say that I am not much different than you. Maybe older, maybe younger but very much the same.

Reviews

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really looks at the subconscious and all its power over us

[Nick Rossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've all been there. Some of us have visited those dark places - those sensitive locales - more than others, but we've all at some time or another tasted the bleakness that accompanies the negative. What sets us apart from one another is how we handle the harrowing.

In the brave "The Inconsequential Child", author Anthony Martino deftly but strongly tackles the emotional bellows that comprises the psyche. Presenting the reader with a stream of consciousness writing style, Martino writes with a sense of abandon that makes him endearing and vulnerable - a difficult combination to achieve.

The book unfolds like a moment in time. The reader quite literally is unsure what the next chapter will bring. What will Martino share with the reader now? What light will be shed on this courageous soul's decision to share his true life?

You can't change the past, no matter how hard you try. The facts that comprise the past are objective, but the subjective mind just won't stop revisiting them, trying to alter the ultimate outcome. Martino attempts to overcome his vast emotional neglect as a child with his mature, adult mind and all of the resources that the young just don't have. The book itself is comprised of chapters that individually tackle lessons that the author has learned. Cumulatively, these lessons help to shed light on the constant quest for balancing one's past with one's present and future, and how the achievement of balance can be attained.

Sharp and enlightening, "The Inconsequential Child" might be the chronicle of one's man's psychology, but it's the subtle complexities behind every carefully selected words that makes Martino a voice for us all.

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[Vincent A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I saw this book 5 years ago, I would not have read it; I was not ready. I was in a very different place in my life. Today however, I am searching for 'more' out of life because career, social position and financial status are no longer that important to me. I now know that 'more' begins from the inside. It is about healing oneself, becoming self-actualized and having healthy, meaningful relationships. The author recounts his journey toward that goal. My life is very different from his, my journey toward individuation will also be very different, but the author has shown me I am on the right track and it is possible.

[Eric Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Inconsequential Child is a memoir written as a letter to the reader explaining how the writer began to acknowledge his emotions and connect them to memories in order to become an integrated and individuated self. The narrative is very readable and fairly relatable and is a good companion to or case study for Running on Empty by Jonice Webb.

[Henry Kougeaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

To quote the Amazon UK review that peaked my interest in this book... "A beautiful adult and also a beautiful child - thank you for sharing your insight... Je suis forte - this book is testament to that philosophy."

[Maria]

An interesting memoir about a man's experience in therapy and what he learned from it. In some ways, it is helpful, in other ways, missing the Gospel, but it is also interesting to see how so many common grace insights from it could be understood within the context of the Gospel. It's very true that because of the Gospel, we need not fear knowing ourselves, and because we know God designed people to be very good before the fall, our emotions, which are a part of our biology and not a product of the curse, are also good (though not the whole picture). All in all, some very useful common grace insights, some premises that I disagree with, and some that I feel like are close to the truth but not quite right. I don't know how I would rate it on a scale, though.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago and found myself going back to it many times. I am writing this review because I finished Martino's other book a few weeks ago and wrote a review for it. Both of these books caused me to do a lot of self-reflection. They are not light reads. This book helped me to realize I was not the only person who was disconnected from my emotions and feelings. I am now much more aware of my emotional state and how I feel on a moment by moment basis. This has allowed me to have more joy in my life and also feel sadness rather than nothing or anger.

[Kay Smeal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some glimpses of good information

I honestly kind of feel like this is a self-help book for himself. I was able to grab a few sentences and think hmmm that makes sense. Other than that I feel like it was just reading his journey and how he came to where he is. He says he hopes the same for us, but it seems more he just wanted to share his journey rather than empower us to begin ours.

[Keri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible

[Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seems to be intended as a letter for someone else to read. It is more of a self view of one man with no useful insights for others.

[Rich Castles · Rating 3 out of 5]

All makes lovely sense for a journey of self-discovery and growth, but offers little more than good intentioned wishful thinking for those dealing with the trauma of serious childhood neglect that the title implies.