Title: Living a Human Life: Coping with What Comes Before Us
Author: Edward Averill
Publisher: Readers Magnet LLC
ISBN: 978-1955603782
Pages: 154
Genre: Politics & Social Sciences / Philosophy
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers

Read Book Review

One thing which is constantly being debated in our world is what it means to truly be human. For some, it’s as simple as basic biology, with humanity being the natural evolutionary stage that has brought us from apes and Neanderthals to modern day Homo Sapiens. For others, humanity is more intricate and complex, dealing with both the mental and emotional development a person goes through and how they interact with the rest of society to determine whether they harbor within themselves the basic building blocks of humanity. As the Dalai Lama once said, “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”

In author Edward Averill’s Living a Human Life: Coping with What Comes Before Us, the author shares the lessons on how we, as individuals, help make up the overall health and wellness of humanity as a whole. Showcasing how people make up the emotional and behavioral responses they have to the ever-growing sequence of events that make up daily life, the author showcases how the individuality and emotions we make up for ourselves help develop societies content and both the collective resolution, to fractured conflicts, which arise thanks in large part to that individuality.

The author did an amazing job of providing a clear-cut, thought-provoking read. The author’s study of human behavior and how it impacts society as a whole was remarkable to delve into. The focus more on the philosophical study of these behaviors than the scientific ones was great to read, as it helped drive more conversation and allowed for more open discussions that show both sides of thinking. The early pages that highlight the ways in which habit and conditioning can lead to human behavior known as “robotic thinking” was so fascinating to read, and added an immediate connection for readers to understand the author’s point of how we interact with one another as a whole.

This is the perfect read for those who enjoy philosophical, social scientific, and non-fiction reads which focus on self-help work for readers. As someone who enjoys philosophical reads and discussions, I loved the thoughtful approach to the author’s themes and the writing style, allowing readers to dive deeply into their own minds long enough to take the messages the author had into their thoughts.

Captivating, thought-provoking, and engaging, author Edward Averill’s Living a Human Life: Coping with What Comes Before Us is a must-read self-help and philosophical book. The short yet powerful read had a great balance of the author’s own personal experiences and life journey with more social and philosophical discussions, allowing the reader to expand their mind and gain a better understanding of their own role in how society plays out each and every day.