This classic work by psychologist and social philosopher Eric Fromm builds upon his previous popular book, To Have or to Be? In The Art of Being, Fromm shows us to avoid the tantalizing illusions of our consumer-driven globe by understanding how to function as a complete person from circumstances of internal completeness or being. The transition from an identity of experiencing to being creates a state of enlightened emotional and spiritual happiness.

How do we realize and actualize love, reason, and meaningful, on the subject of The Art of Being productive work? Fromm’s proposed approach to life, based on authentic self-awareness, comes just through honest self-analysis. Wisely, he warns from the pitfalls of our attaining enlightenment without work, or believing that life can be resided without discomfort. The tantalizing “religious smorgasbord” offered by our consumer-oriented globe, Fromm maintains, just feeds our illusions of “easy awareness.” Confronting the psycho-gurus who preach these shortcuts to enlightenment, Fromm offers another method to self-awareness and well-being, one based on psychoanalysis and self-awareness through meditation. By learning to become centered in the personal, the individual is certainly less swayed with the limitless pressures and dissatisfactions of the culture of consumerism.

The Art of Being is one of Fromm’s most significant works.