What's Wrong With Us?: The Anthropathology Thesis [Hardcover]

"This book explores wide–ranging causes and manifestations of our wayward and destructive tendencies." (Journal of Mental Health, August 2008)

The product of an inquisitive spirit and a fine intellect. As sombre as the message is, I enjoyed reading it. (PsycCRITIQUES, February 2008)

"...a timely awakening, educative, reassuring or cathartic for those in the process of emerging from our culture′s trances of material progressivism..."  (Ipnosis, Winter 2007)

"...educative, reassuring or cathartic for those in the process of emerging from our culture′s trances of material progressivism..."  (Ipnosis, Winter 2007)

What’s wrong with us? Professor Colin Feltham believes that the current crises of the human condition are symptoms of a chronic wayward tendency which he terms ‘anthropathology’. This interdisciplinary look at the zeitgeist of crisis traces the roots of human suffering, exploring the contemporary issues of human violence, deceit, patriarchy, abuse, irrationality and greed. Our human anthropathology is placed at the heart of all such problems. Echoing the pessimism of Schopenhauer, Cioran, Beckett, Gray and others, Feltham nevertheless insists that answers may be formulated through confrontation. Challenging and enlightening for professionals, academics and students, What′s Wrong With Us?  is also a fascinating read for anyone with a general interest in our current social state.

What is the scope of the ‘human condition’? What are the origins of universal human problems? What is wrong with education, marriage, religion, and therapy? How likely are we, as humans, to correct these problems?

Colin Feltham, Professor of Critical Counselling Studies at Sheffield Hallam University, UK, and member of Crisis: Forum for the Study of Crisis in the 21^st Century, argues that the current crises of the human condition are merely symptoms of a chronic wayward tendency, otherwise branded in What’s Wrong With Us? as anthropathology. The origins of human suffering are traced with interdisciplinary adeptness, exploring the contemporary issues of human violence, deceit, patriarchy, rapaciousness, child abuse, irrationality and capitalist greed. Our human anthropathology is assessed as being at the heart of such problems.

This book breaks new ground in bringing many anthropathological themes together in a sustained frontal attack on dangerous human anachronisms. We cannot be sure that we can solve our problems but we can be sure that denying them will protract and worsen the situation for both ourselves and our descendants.   

A challenging and enlightening book for students and academics in counselling and psychotherapy, psychology, sociology, philosophy and religion. Also a gripping read for those with a general interest in our current social state.

Colin Feltham, MTheol, MSc, PGDipCouns, PGCE, PhD, FBACP, FRSA is Professor of Critical Counselling Studies at Sheffield Hallam University. He is course leader for the MA Professional Development in Counselling and Psychotherapy. He is a past editor of the British Journal of Guidance & Counselling. He has written or edited over 20 books and many chapters and papers. His publications include Psychotherapy and its Discontents (edited with Windy Dryden, Open University Press, 1992), Controversies in Psychotherapy and Counselling (Sage, 1999) and the Sage Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy (edited with Ian Horton, Sage, 2006). He is a member of Crisis:Forum for the Study of Crisis in the 21st century.