Beyond the illusions, authored by: Erich Fromm

The book "Beyond Illusions" forms a kind of "intellectual biography of its author, Erich Fromm," in which he discusses some of the incidents and experiences he went through in his youth, which became important to him, especially regarding Marxist and Freudian theories and the connection between them. It was due to Fromm's interest in Marx's ideas, as he says, that he grew up in a devout Jewish family, reading all the Old Testament books, influenced by and fascinated by them. However, he was bored by "the story of the Canaanite tribes, the stories of Adam and Eve's disobedience, Jonah's sending to Nineveh, and other details in the Bible." Other things moved his feelings—greater and more sacred—such as the idea of global peace, harmony, and accord among all peoples... Perhaps the reason for his interest in the idea of peace and universality lies in the situation he found himself in at that time: a Jewish boy in a Christian environment... The narrow, biased individualism and discrimination by people of one race against others... His soul was filled with a strong desire to escape the emotional isolation of a spoiled, lonely boy. Anything could have been more beautiful and exciting than the prophetic vision of all humans being brothers and a comprehensive peace. In this sense, the book and its author seem to be a discovery of doctrines, philosophies, and visions about nature, humans, and human development. From this, the author raises some problematic questions such as: How can the division between humans and the outside world be overcome to achieve the experience of unity and union with others and nature? On what does human nature depend—on contradiction? or on the accompanying necessity of his existence? Anyway, the history of religion and philosophy addresses such questions. But what is important to the author is that the goal of humans is "the complete development of their human powers, meaning reaching a new harmony with other people and nature." The book consists of twelve chapters, covering topics including some personal preliminary notes from the author, the common ground of Marxist and Freudian theories, the concept of human beings and their human nature, the sick individual and the sick society, the concept of mental health, individual temperament, social temperament, social unconsciousness… and other titles. Number of pages: 240.