Erich Fromm, whose humanistic books have already made psychology and philosophy accessible to readers of several generations, here analyses the nature of Western society, seeks the origins of its problems and offers an alternative to its development. He describes two basic ways of living: while "having" deals with acquisition and competition, "being" focuses on inner contentment and harmony. Our society values possessions (property, status, success, enjoyment...), but growing ecological problems are forcing us to change our priorities and refocus on belonging to the world, developing creativity, personal responsibility and conscience. Fromm convincingly bases his vision of a new world on the teachings of such authorities as Buddha, Jesus, Master Eckhart and Albert Schweitzer. The book, first published in 1976, became Fromm's most famous work.
Czech edition