Adages for Life

The Egyptians had a way of making things last a very long time. Some might believe the great pyramids will last long after our children's children are gone or even longer...

The mummification methods used way back in the time of King Tutankhamun, who was born in 1241 BC, have made DNA samples of people who lived on this earth a very long time ago possible. The unique type of work done on human remains can bring us back to a time way before the United States was born. To me, The Egyptians wanted things to last a very long time. They left articles for an after-life with mummified Pharaohs for them to use. We still search for clues by way of large excavations as to why they had such knowledge and foresight.

I truly believe that certain books are meant to be preserved and last long after they, the writers, are gone. Maybe they want a legacy of their time on earth. They certainly will not be mummified like 'Tut' was... Could that be a shame? Some writers may want to be held in high regard in the far off future. It may be some desire of self-gratification.

Through telephone conversations, I have come to know Arthur Tugman. During a conversation, adages will fly from his thoughts and make me smile. You just never know when this extremely witty man will sneak one in... In his book we can observe his clever way of interpreting life around him.

I see Art's writing as lasting through the ages as the Egyptian pyramids have... I can conceive of his book being put in a safe place to be remembered by all future generations. This is the type of book that will last forever because it has sayings that are sure to be used forever, never forgotten because they are important. Examples are, "The dictionary is the only place you can find success without actually working for it"and"The key to success is to give failure a rest and put work to the test."

Tugman's verses are a manifestation of the way the world perceives things today... His thoughts flow from one to the next in his references to common thoughts of today... These thoughts, put in writing in this book will be long lasting and you will never be able to forget them once you read them like this one, "don't let perfection stop you from being ordinary."

Arthur will leave his mark in society. His words will carry on even though is book may not be encased in glass to preserve it. 'People will remember his sayings or adages' as I prefer to call them... The human race will always have these thoughts written by Art because they are already in the minds of people. Arthur is simply reminding us in a very clever way like "Failing to try is no different than trying to fail."

If you read this book, 'Adages for Life' you are about to embark on an incredible journey in life. The words from Arthur Tugman will linger in your mind forever. Through the pages, you will see graphic art that is beautifully done. To me the graphic art represents the Egyptian way of preserving, by showing pyramids and references to the Egyptian society of the world long ago. It is my principle that all writers want to continue to be taken into account long after they are gone. Like Art, says in his book, "Be open to new ideas before life closes in on you."

It is my opinion that Arthur Tugman's words will linger in the minds of future generations until the end of the earth's existence.

Daveda Gruber, owner of Publishing with Passion and Poetry with Passion as well as, the author of fourteen books including: "Magical Moments," """""Steelers Cheers Death of Daughter, a," "Red Barn and Other Short Stories," "Cling to the, Bruised but Not Beaten "Castle of Ice""Tales of a Tiny Dog"The Blonde Who Found Jesus Magic Mortals, Mere,"" A Blonde View of Life,"" More Tales of a Tiny Dog,,"More Snapshots from my Family Album"and"Snapshots a Blonde View..." I am a professional graphic art designer and I produce professional video productions...

Daveda@Roadrunner.com
publishingwithpassion@gmail.com

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E Frankl

AppId is over the quota

Category: Psychology/Philosophy...
Target audience: General...
How challenging is it to read?: The first section, straight forward, the section on logotherapy, more challenging though not too technical.

It's not often I read a book that brings tears to my eyes, but Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl did just that. Frankl uses his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in Nazi concentration camps to illustrate his own branch of psychotherapy, which he terms Logotherapy. He postulates that we humans need meaning in our lives to exist... When meaning has gone we see little reason to stay alive any longer... If we have a clear reason to live, something definite to live for, then we can survive regardless of what challenges are presented to us. Frankl quotes Neitzsche;

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how."

This quote reverbarates throughout the book and illustrates the essence of Logotherapy beautifully... Frankl supports this theory by recounting fellow prisoners who lost their grip on what that meaning for them was... When these prisoners could find no meaning to their lives and no meaning to their suffering, many of them gave up the will to live. Frankl describes what often happened to these men, in this passage:

"Usually it began with the prisoner refusing one morning to get dressed and wash or go out on the parade grounds. No entreaties, no blows, no threats had any effect. He just lay there, hardly moving. If this crisis was brought about by an illness he refused to be taken to the sick-bay or to do anything to help himself. He simply gave up. There he remained, lying in his own excreta, and nothing bothered him any more... " V. Frankl p82-83

So how are these horrendous experiences of half a century ago relevant to us today and what can we learn from this book? I believe there is true value in reading in detail what it was like to live in the Nazi death camps. Frankl writes eloquently about the routines the prisoners had within the camp, the food shortages they had to endure and the punishing, seemingly endless work details the prisoners were sent on, and sometimes did not return from... The descriptions genuinely and significantly moved me... When Frankl describes the suffering and pain the prisoners experienced daily and the cruelty they withstood I feel shocked and deeply saddened that one group of humans could enforce such misery on another... It t forget the depths that human beings can descend to and make sure that such abhorrences are never repeated again's important we don'...

Frankl talks in his book about detaching himself from the misery of the every day existence in the camps and using the experience as a kind of live experiment in human psychology. Through this his life becomes more bearable and he learns much about human behaviour.

The second part of the book gives a summary of Logotherapy. Frankl discusses the importance of meaning in our lives and states that when it is missing we exibit "existential frustration". This could be outwardly displayed by the prisoner in the death camp letting life slip out of him or the unemployed person slipping into deep depression. Frankl recalls a client who had a high powered diplomatic position in the American government coming to see him because he felt discontented with life... The diplomat had undergone five years of psychoanalysis with little improvement to his condition. Frankl quickly deduced that the client was unhappy in his work and saw little point in it. With encouragement from Frankl the client changed careers into a job that he really wanted to do and though much more poorly paid, remained contented for the five years Frankl stayed in touch with him.

The idea that life needs meaning in order to give contentment fits in with the philosopy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy too. In ACT the focus is on leading a values focused life rather than a goal focused one. If we live by our values then we are rewarded with meaning continually... We don't have to wait until we have achieved a set goal in order to feel content.

I'm not sure "enjoyed" is a word I can use to describe how I felt about reading a book that details the events of the holocaust so vividly. Life is not always about enjoying things. The book reminded me of the atrocities that took place in the concentration camps and the lessons we could all learn from this... This book was my first insight into logotherapy. It explained it well and I can see the many links the modality has with my interests in TA and ACT... I will be reading more on the subject I'm sure...