Living Life As If Thinking Matters

R. L. Wysong
Inquiry Press (2008)
ISBN 9780918112125
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (1/09)


R. L. Wysong challenges the reader to “Live Life As If Thinking Matters” in his book by the same title. He maintains that each of us have a latent power of independent thinking and personal responsibility. For the most part we have relinquished this to tradition, consumerism, political maneuvering, and educational systems.

Wysong calls on his readers to put aside the naiveté of unexamined beliefs to let evidence and reason rule. He provides over fifty specific ways to begin making healthy decisions. He offers the reader sage advice on assuming personal responsibility for health care and physical well being.

Four complete sections of the book deal with startling revelations regarding health, modern medicine, food, and mental health. Each topic provides eye-opening facts with thought-provoking suggestions for positive steps which will enhance your health and improve your well being.  Attitude and lifestyle changes can become proactive remedies for hopelessness and depression.

Wysong has cataloged an amazing compendium of logic in topics ranging from pets and self-improvement to environment and economy. Each topic opens up new vistas of thought perceptions with exciting opportunity for independent thinking for a greater sense of life fulfillment.

Observations on society, family, and ethics offer important considerations for self examination, honesty, and an opportunity to be true to self.

I found myself intrigued with Wysong’s comic satire evidenced in hundreds of clever cartoon quips and pictures included throughout the book.

Wysong writes with a direct, no-holds-barred approach that may cause reader reaction. For the reader willing to stay with the chapter to the end, the positive proactive steps and suggestions chosen will far outweigh the first negative reaction.

A look at the world through the eyes of Gandhi may bring a sense of despair. Gandhi saw: Politics without principle, wealth without work, commerce without morality, education without character, pleasure without conscience, science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice. Wysong contends that love, compassion, heroism, and intelligence can reverse this trend when we commit to truth, dare to depart from the crowd, and use the “solver principles of self responsibility, open thinking, long view virtue, evidence, and reason.”

A comprehensive bibliography acknowledging credits and additional resources for further study add to the value of this already significant work. A complete index is provided as well for easy access to topics for review, research, and future reference.

The title of the book and the accompanying subtitle says it all, “Living Life As If Thinking Matters: Why dissent is crucial to health, happiness, hope, and a better world.”  This is a veritable encyclopedia of thought-provoking guidelines for creative choices to a more satisfying lifestyle. I can highly recommend R. L. Wysong’s book to a broad spectrum of readers interested in self-improvement, sociology, health, and philosophy.

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