A Way Of Being: Carl Rogers' Profound Collection of Essays on Humanistic Psychology, Personal Growth, and the Power of Empathy

I really suggest everyone to read this book. It's very eye opening! I feel like Carl Rogers has so much empathy as he speaks about it in this book. He truly cares for people. I really think it is beautiful.

I believe Carl Roger is the most empathic therapist of all time. This book, is amazing for teachers, therapists and parents. He describes, the Rogerian process, emphatic listening, being non judge mental and genuineness in details and all the benefits. Life changing book!

I was and am a Carl Rogers admirer, big time admirer! The world so needs an alternative to the carrot-and-stick, reward-and-punish style of parenting, business creating, classroom management and so-called motivation. Carl Rogers taught a clear way of thinking about relationships and how they might be used effectively to influence change, true democratic change. Ah, the world has much to learn. Go ahead and start here, then move to other of Rogers's seminal books and writings. Four Stars because I want you to go for his FIVE-STAR stuff as soon as you can.

Actually I'd forgotten I had it. I don't normally order books from Kindle--I spend entirely too much screen time--but I need something to read at various appointments and I don't want to lug a book there. I gave it 5* because that was the consensus, it's not controversial that this is a historic book, and I agree with Rogers theoretically. Sometimes the Kindle version is "off"--I've read enough of it to know that that's not the case. I do have it teed up as my next read behind The Handmaid's Tale.

I loved this book as there are some really beautiful ideas reflected in it. It is a treat to read.

Carl Rogers, one of the fathers of humanistic psychology, had a deep respect for the human being - not as something that had to be fixed or even improved, but could be the very best by simply being oneself. His trust in human nature had a great impact on me. Besides other things he encouraged me to be non-judgmental about my feelings and to think for myself - to exercise free choice in everything I did. T. Gallwey

Do you talk to people from time to time? Do you like understanding others and having them understand you? When was the last time you made the leap and told someone the one thing you've been scared to say, especially to that one person? This book says all of these things are incredibly important to being a human. Most would agree. But how often do we objectively take someones perspective into consideration? How often do we take the time to really listen instead of waiting for our turn? A Way of Being is a book written for folks who want to connect, with others first, then eventually themselves.

Carl Rogers, like Carl Jung, are effective at exploring ideas that other scientist would automatically dismiss. This is why their writings are so impactful. There were a few boring parts where he talks about his achievements and goes on too long. But the writings of his experiences are profound. My favorite chapters is the first about communication and the final chapter where Rogers talks about the new man of the future. If you liked Jung’s work, Rogers writings will sit well with you.

I have read a huge amount of material to improve my mental health, and to improve my ability to support others; CBT, DBT, ACT, Transactional Analysis, Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic, amongst many others. Carl Rogers’ approach, in my opinion, is so much superior to every other method I have read that there is truly no comparison. I do not mean to slight other approaches-they may well help others-but for me, the Rogerian method is by far and away the best. Why do I think so? For example, Rogers’ method emphasises a humanistic method of listening to others, and, as much as possible, trying to be completely honest with yourself and others about exactly what you think and feel (what he terms Congruence). The listening style he teaches has VASTLY improved my ability to communicate with literally everyone I meet in my life; encouraging people to be honest, and to try and understand what they mean/believe in THEIR OWN words and from THEIR OWN perspective can and very often does quickly form bonds between you and others. Not to mention opening your mind to someone else’s ‘universe.’ As to Congruence, I have to be brave to practise this one! Being honest when you suspect or even know that your thoughts/feelings will be rejected is incredibly hard, but I have found it to be far better than hiding my true self, or pretending to be happy when I am sad: I think the trick is to gently, politely reveal any thoughts and feelings that you know are likely to meet with resistance (or even hostility), and to commit to not reverting back to ‘going along to get along,’ hiding your true feelings etc. This honesty improves depth in relationships, and makes it much easier to grow and progress in life. There is a LOT more to his teaching, and I would highly recommend this to absolutely everyone. Finally, as incredible as it seems, I agree with the title of this book; this can truly be a way of being, a way that is not artificial, or restrictive, or false, or mechanical. Rather, a way of enabling you to continually develop as a person in every way that you can possibly imagine. PS sorry for all the capitalisation (I couldn’t find a way of italicising the words I wanted to emphasise)…

Esse livro traz à consciência aspectos que definem e avançam o desenvolvimento da consciência humana como um processo de auto aceitação e compaixão pelo próximo. Se você vê o mundo de hoje adotar como moda as palavras empatia e tolerância, então talvez descubra uma parte de onde veio essa nova onda (não que eu abomine essas duas ideias, apenas não acredito na sinceridade que se pretendem transmitir ao usá-las - por isso chamo isso de moda, desviando as palavras dele tanto do significado inicial que chegam a fazer pouco e as vezes ate nenhum sentido correspondente às ideias originais do livro.)

Für Interessenten an Roger's klientenzentrierter Methodik und alle in den psychosozialen Berufen tätigen ein spannender Einblick in Rogers Gedankenwelt. Hier findet man weniger die theoretischen Abhandlungen, die man in anderen Büchern zum Thema ohnehin findet, sondern seine persönlichen Gedanken, Erfahrungen, Gefühle zum Thema Therapie, Wissenschaft, Lebenswelt, Menschlichkeit, etc. Es hat mich sehr berührt, wie spirituell er seinen Zugang eigentlich selbst gesehen hat und wie wichtig ihm die Menschen und die Menschlichkeit immer waren. Es war eine großartige Leistung, diese Herangehensweise gegen das damals (und eigentlich auch heute noch) vorherrschende direktive Behandlungparadigma von Experte/Arzt vs. Laie/Patient zu etablieren und salonfähig zu machen. Es steckt sehr viel Tiefe und Philosophie in den paar Schlagwörtern "Kongruenz, Empathie, Akzeptanz", mit denen der personen/klientenzentrierte Ansatz oft verkürzt abgehandelt wird. Und es gibt keine Therapierichtung und keine Kommunikationssituation, wo dieser Ansatz nicht relevant wäre.

This book contains many inspiring stories and insights human nature. I enjoyed most of it. Some parts seem now to be overly optimistic visions of a future as Carl saw it. I’d like to know to what extent his teaching methods have taken root, I don’t work in education, but I’ve not heard of them so I assume they have fallen by the wayside. I hope I’m wrong because they sound wonderful. On the other hand, his ideas of “leaderless groups” appears to exist in a modern software development team methodology known as Scrum, so perhaps his ideas have found expression there. I hope so. This book presents a very positive view of human potential and ability.

If you're wanting an introduction to Roger's approach and philosophy, this is not it. The collection of mostly autobiographical essays cover his challenges, his achievements and very little on detailed patient outcomes. Was hoping for something more but perhaps it's my mistake.