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The Call of Character
Living a Life Worth Living
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The Call of Character
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This book is ideal for readers interested in philosophy, psychology, psychoanalysis, and those seeking a deeper understanding of human character beyond conventional positive thinking. It appeals to academics, therapists, and anyone willing to explore the complexities of a passionate, imperfect life.
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Description
Should we feel inadequate when we fail to be healthy, balanced, and well-adjusted? Is it realistic or even desirable to strive for such an existential equilibrium? Condemning our current cultural obsession with cheerfulness and "positive thinking," Mari Ruti calls for a resurrection of character that honours our more eccentric frequencies and argues that sometimes a tormented and anxiety-ridden life can also be rewarding.
Ruti critiques the search for personal meaning and pragmatic attempts to normalise human beings' unruly and idiosyncratic natures. Exposing the tragic banality of a happy life commonly lived, she instead emphasises the advantages of a lopsided life rich in passion and fortitude. She also shows what matters is not our ability to evade existential uncertainty but our courage to meet adversity in such a way that we do not become irrevocably broken.
We are in danger of losing the capacity to cope with complexity, ambiguity, melancholia, disorientation, and disappointment, Ruti warns, leaving us feeling less "real" and less connected and unable to process a full range of emotions. Heeding the call of our character means acknowledging the marginalised, chaotic aspects of our being, and it is precisely these creative qualities that make us inimitable and irreplaceable.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Praised for her clear and insightful prose, Mari Ruti is commended for translating complex philosophical and psychoanalytic ideas into accessible language. Amy Allen of Dartmouth College highlights the book's original and profound treatment of what constitutes a good life. Gail Newman of Williams College notes its powerful contribution to discussions of the self within psychoanalytic discourse. The book is recognised for giving voice to often disavowed human tensions and is recommended both for academic audiences and therapeutic practice.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780231164085
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 03 December 2013
Country: United States
Imprint: Columbia University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Width: 140.0mm
Height: 210.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 224
About the Author
Mari Ruti is professor of critical theory at the University of Toronto and visiting professor and director of graduate studies in the Program for Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Harvard University. Her Columbia University Press books are Between Levinas and Lacan: Self, Other, Ethics (2015) and The Call of Character: Living a Life Worth Living (2013).
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