The Art of Loving

After some time reflecting, I’ve come to understand why this book is amazing in its own way. It captivates in an indescribable way, which might be the very charm that makes it so beloved by many. If I’m being completely honest, I was somewhat disappointed because it didn’t meet my expectations. I find the writing little worth highlighting.

Insightful book for its time. I think I was a bit too dumb at the moment to fully grasp it, but enjoyable and touched on relevant points in contemporary society.

Heteronormativity and strict gender roles aside, excerpts of this should be injected into the modern psyche.

Such a great way to realistically put what love is or the idea of what we as humans consider to be love. Although the philosophical stand point hold its ground today. I feel that due to the book being from the 50s some parts are dated yet could be up for discussion. It reminds me to always be kind and love unconditionally.

I have read the art of loving twice. Each time, I leave with a strong desire to love others and love them well. I believe Erich has achieved his goal by making me feel that way.

Must read for everyone

sevmeyi cok iyi bildigini iddaa eden yazarın eksiklerini arastırıyorum sadece :P

What is love? This question is yet so simple but so profound. Everyone wants it, everyone talks about it, and everybody will have a different definition, but no one knows it. Erich Fromm points out that love starts with ourselves and that specific childhood experiences (traumas or events) impact our choice and affection for partners. It goes deeper into different forms of god, culture, capitalism, socialism, and equality. If you look for a book to bitchslap your reality and reconfigure your mindset. Feelings are short-term, beauty fades, and how should we choose our partner? For those who have never thought about love. This is a great book to get a sense and brightness of what it takes to love and be loved. What I love, Fromm leaves no blueprint on how to specifically be loved or loved. There is no guidance on how to choose a partner, how to handle specific persons, and how to love. Why? Because love is an art. It is a verb, an active choice with decision and action. To master art, art must become you. Love is improving a skill. A mutual growth and independence. Don't make them as an extension of your ego with desire exceptions. See things as they are. If you truly love someone, you love them for who they truly are, not who you want them to be. Success, prestige, money, and power. If you are ever going to love, you need to be counter-culture and be alone. Love is about giving. Giving yourself - your art. As a judoist, you learn to care about the dojo, respect your opponent, and have rational faith to accept failures, which will be possible to master with discipline and build knowledge. Another example would be: Each morning when we wake up, we take the eyesight of the flower, we water the flower, we understand how it reacts through observing and sensing when we each day pay attention, we build knowledge and respect, and the flower blossoms. Loving starts with us. A commitment to be a better person.

A life-changing book I was introduced to Fromm by a good friend. Undoubtedly a life-changing book, and a must-read for those who wish to overcome the estrangement and solitude that come with living in this day and age.

I don’t know what I was supposed to get out of this book. The only chapter I remember was the last one. I ended up listening to it on 3x speed.

Definitely written in the 1950s but some gems in there especially regarding capitalism being the antithesis of love. “Love isn't something natural. Rather it requires discipline, concentration, patience, faith, and the overcoming of narcissism. It isn't a feeling, it is a practice.”

this book is packed with wisdom and knowledge so much so that it was hard to get into. the language was difficult for me to understand - that’s because english isn’t my first language tho so don’t b intimidated by that if it’s on ur tbr :) overall the message is really good and i liked it but in sum passages u can clearly sense the book being published in fifties. some mentions and examples were misogynistic and homophobic so b aware of that before reading! apart from that, the book was sympathetic and it deffo gave me a lot of new information and approaches to my relationships with people. i did have to concentrate sm on it when reading and it took a lot of my mental capacity - it is a difficult, psychological and old text afterall

Incredible. I'm changed, thank you.

Short, otherwise it would have been a bad idea to carry on detailing his last say chapter. I was interested in his first conceptualizations of love theories and how there are different types and then that many psychosis are caused by lack or exaggeration of say fatherly/motherly love. When he writes about spiritual love he is almost nearing Sufi thoughts except that he never mentioned anything about Islam in his analysis of monotheistic religions. I lost interest before finishing it! The idea of a rational and irrational faith didn't sit well in my head. But, cute attempt there...

Essential reading.

(The full summary: https://durmonski.com/book-summaries/...) Before I talk about the book itself, I want to talk briefly about why you need to read the book… Every month, when your salary hits your bank account. You immediately think about what new to get. What new cool gadget you can add to your collection of things. Not that you don’t have stuff. You do. Quite a lot, actually. But since the ones you already have are known and no longer provoke the pleasant sensations they once did. Seeking new things is what you want to ignite happy feelings. This type of behavior grows inside you. You reach a point where you associate both your identity and the state of happiness in general with the stuff you own. But for how long? How many things do you need to finally feel good? The answer is depressing: If stuff is what you seek, you will never be satisfied. Our modern society sends a clear message to the masses: Consume more and you will be more. But there is never an end to consumption. The more we get, the more we want. Therefore, unsurprisingly, we never feel content because there is always something new to get. The Art of Being is a masterpiece. Erich Fromm paves the way towards an alternative route of existence. Or at least an alternative to our current route. He helps us become aware of how the current sick world is infecting our mindset with consumerism. Full of sage advice and practices, this book can change the way you live and experience life. Key takeaway: Once someone realizes that not getting more, but being more is what matters, he feels like a sane man living in a sick society. But instead of feeling isolated and lonely, he should pursue his sane conviction. Not comply with the conventional “normal” belief the rest of the world follows.