WAREHAM'S WAY: Escaping the Judas Trap - Softcover

Wareham, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0979541514 ISBN 13: 9780979541513

Publisher: Flatiron Press, 2019

Synopsis

“The wry classic that inspired new age atheists.”Brian Sutton-Smith, Professor of Psychology, Columbia UniversityHOW TO SHUN SELF-SABOTAGE AND WIN YOUR OWN FREEDOM. Most people are paralyzed by unconscious forces that provoke acts of unwitting self-sabotage. John Wareham makes his point with chilling examples, then with clarity and acerbic wit, he shows how to break free."John Wareham possesses the cool, clear eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth."--New York Times.“Wareham’s psychological understanding and nicely tuned intuition show how to give up the life of fantasy and achieve our greatest satisfactions." —Leo Madow, M.D. Psychiatrist and author of Anger and Love.“Supportive yet disturbing, amusing yet deadly serious; a master key to unlock the mind, heart and soul.” —Jess Maghan, PhD. Psychologist; Director of Training New York Police Department. Most of us may not control our destinies. John Wareham shows us why. Wareham's Way shows what to do about it."—George Green, President, The New Yorker."Inspired, whimsical, philosophically savvy.”—Kirkus Reviews"Wareham's Way is wise, witty and uniquely insightful."—Booklist, American Library

About this title

From the Author:

FROM THE INTRODUCTION TO THE 2019 PRINTINGI wrote this little book forty years ago.
It didn't sell as well as we'd hoped," said publisher Pat Knopf, chief of Atheneum-Scribners. "But you have some zealous fans," he grinned, "so maybe you're ahead of your time."
Alas, bookstore sales didn't pick up. But, happily, a year or so later a couple of organizations were purchasing it by the carton. One such, as I recall, was the Seattle Center for Creative Living. I was so intrigued that I reached them on the phone.
"What other books are you using," I asked. 
"We teach only one other work," said a cheery voice, "A Course in Miracles."
 A Course in Miracles -- the bestselling religious tome that author Columbia Professor Helen Schucman claimed was dictated to her by no less an authority than Jesus Christ himself. I was astonished. Wareham's Way was the impious opposite, surely. Yes, I used biblical stories to make points. But such tales survive because they reveal profound truth about human nature and precious little about divine intervention.
We don't need to believe that Lot's wife really turned into a pillar of salt to readily appreciate that looking backwards can deaden the heart.
So, too, as existential philosopher Karl Jaspers observed, the stature of any philosopher, including Jesus, springs from the fact of his or her humanity.
Believing that Jesus was a divine being merely diminishes his achievements. To accept that he was a man is to acknowledge the profundity of his insights. 
My good friend, Professor Brian Sutton Smith, (also of Columbia University) paid me the compliment of suggesting that my book may have triggered the new millennium wave of atheists. 
Maybe. Who knows?
What I can say is that countless readers confided that they relished my take on biblical tales, and that my little book changed their lives.
I vividly recall fielding one such phone call in my Manhattan office from the late, great, sultry singer and sex kitten, Eartha Kitt.
"I'm just loving your Wareham's Way book," she purred.
I was flattered. "You bought it?" I asked.
"A fan gave it to me after a show," she said.
"What page are you onto?"
"I have it right here," she said. "I'm at the top of page one hundred and nineteen."
We chatted for some time. After I cradled the phone, I grabbed the book from my bookshelf and turned to page 119.
Ah, yes. So melancholy. And so timeless. 
I'm imagining you're holding these lines of mine in your hands right now. Needless to say, I hope you have as much pleasure reading them, as I did in writing and rereading them.With all best wishesJohn Wareham 

Review:

"A highly readable, often witty, and uniquely insightful guide to understanding the unconscious traps that keep us from having satisfying lives. There is much wisdom to be found here. A very worthwhile guide."--BOOKLIST, American Library Association

"John Wareham possesses the cool, clear eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth."--NEW YORK TIMES

"Wareham's psychological understanding and nicely tuned intuition show how to give up the life of fantasy and achieve our greatest satisfactions." --Leo Madow, M.D. Psychiatrist and author of Anger and Love.

"Supportive yet disturbing, amusing yet deadly serious; a master key to unlock the mind, heart and soul." --Jess Maghan, PhD. Psychologist; Director of Training New York Police Department. 

"Most of us have suspected that we may not control our own destinies. John Wareham helps us to find out why. Wareham's Way shows what to do about it."--George Green, President, The New Yorker.

About this edition

• Publisher: Flatiron Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 0979541514
• ISBN 13: 9780979541513
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 186