Title: Returning the Self to Nature: Undoing Our Collective Narcissism and Healing Out Planet
Author: Jeanine M. Canty
Genre: Non Fiction
Rating: 1.25
Pub Date: November 1, 2022

I received a complimentary eARC from Shambhala Publications, Inc. via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Contemplative • Dry • Academic

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Returning the Self to Nature is written for the person who no longer wishes to function in a world that revolves around selfish, disconnected identity models and yearns to step into healthy relationships with one’s self, one’s community, and our planet.

Seeing the suffering of the planet and that of humans as inseparably linked—the ecological crisis as psychological crisis, and vice versa—opens the door to a mutuality of healing between people and nature. At the heart of both chronic and acute forms of narcissism is a socially constructed false self—an isolated, damaged ego in a delusional cycle of selfishness.

💭 T H O U G H T S

With a recent interest in learning more about the benefits of the natural world, ecotherapy, and the concept of reciprocity, I was intrigued by the title Returning the Self to Nature. I thought there would be some practical advice and more evidence on the benefits of nature. Unfortunately, that was not the case and it ended up being a struggle to get through.

Despite what the title foreshadows, narcissism, as opposed to the natural world really is the central focus. The author herself says she isn't an expert on, nor is she qualified to diagnosis, Narcissitic Personality Disorder, yet she uses it in such a broad sense and as the central theme in her writing. I don't think there is a full understanding of the disorder, and she would have been much better off using terms more general terms like self-absorption and self-involvement to describe society's obsession with the self as a contributing factor in ongoing environmental issues.

Beyond the focus on capitalism driving the idea of 'me, me, me', there is little actual substance to the content. Ironically enough, the author focuses a little too much on her own personal experience and biases rather than on research and the experiences of others to back up what she is highlighting.

While the book started out strong, the writing got choppier as it progresses. I became bored as there is a lot of repetition as well. Maybe a little more time in the writing process would have been beneficial.

One aspect I did appreciate were the useful and creative meditation and visualization practices included throughout. The addition of these practices allowed for an extra layer in the reading experience and brought what Canty was trying to put forth into a broader light.

I definitely should have read more about what Returning the Self to Nature is before requesting it. While Canty brings up a lot of valid points and provokes self-reflection and thought, yet the title is deceiving and the writing gets repetitive. I could see this being a valuable resource for University classes on the topic, in my opinion, it isn't for the average reader.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• ecopsychology
• academic reading

This is an important book and would make a great resource for academics, but it was a little dry for me and hard to get through. This isn’t to say it’s not a valuable contribution, but it’s not necessarily a pleasure read. Still well recommended.

Canty exposes the insidious, tenacious nature of narcissism; it's taken root in how to construct our identities, organize our communities, and view our planet. This collective narcissism has led to great suffering--and is sure to lead to greater crisis if not addressed; therein lies Canty's work. She advocates for the possibility of a true, ecological self as an alternative to our false, delusional selves. Our ecological selves thrive on mutuality and pluralism, not individualism and selfishness, and disallow the narcissism that pervades our society.

Returning the Self to Nature provides a strong reminder that the return to nature is a choice we are free to make; while we are socialized to collective narcissism, we aren't doomed to perpetuate, nor are we irreparably scarred by it. This, for me, made the book ultimately hopeful, which is a much-needed component in the midst of a well-supported by jarring wake-up call about the depth and urgency of our ecological (or narcissistic) crisis.

While I can see this book being a meaningful addition to many a syllabus in courses spanning from ecology to sociology, I can't say it was the most gripping or engaging read-for-pleasure experience I've had,

Jeanine M. Canty is an ecopsychologist. She studies the narcissism that is an epidemic in modern mostly Western culture. Western society focuses more on the importance of the self at the expense of the group while Eastern cultures focus more on group health and what is best for the group in general. Narcissism has created a bunch of people acting like rude toddlers in our everyday lives. Jeanine presents ways to balance ourselves using nature and meditation.
However the narcissist individual must see they are part of the problem and seek to change. This can be difficult. Let us hope that getting back to nature and seeking a better balance can help our society get back to some semblance of normalcy soon.
Read this book and get your family back in nature to recharge your batteries and refocus your life.

I was really surprised when reading this book - I was expecting a book on tips on how to connect with nature, but found myself deeply engaged in a thoroughly-researched book on eco psychology. There are so many parallels to our current climate crisis that link to our society’s narcissistic behaviours that I had never thought about until reading this book; until we can learn to think and act collectively, it will be nature that suffers from our selfishness.

One of my favourite parts about this book are the reflection and meditation practices at the end of each chapter. Books like this can be overwhelming, when faced with the truths and culture shifts required to make significant changes. Having built-in strategies for reconnnection with oneself while learning about these large topics make it easier and motivating to read onto the next.

Returning the Self to Nature by Jeanine M. Canty takes a look at how we can heal our planet collectively. Canty talks about how the earth is a gift and for us to care for. By learning to care for the earth, we learn to care for ourselves and our communities.

I really liked this book. Unfortunately, the world struggles with narcissism. I was in a bad relationship with someone who was narcissistic. This really helped to calm my soul. Strongly recommend.

In this book, Canty explores the radical idea that narcissism is a societal ill that affects humanity as a whole, rather than individuals. Further, this narcissism is the leading cause of the ecological crisis facing our planet. The core of the argument is sound and is something I agree with. I felt that the book took a conversational tone that made it easy to follow. She often repeated arguments or pieces of information in different chapters which made it easy to follow without losing the train of thought.

I thought the book relied a lot on specific personal experience, and wondered at the reliability of a narrator/researcher with personal bad experience with individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. She did call for a lot of compassion to be shared with these individuals, which I think in a way made it easier for the reader to trust her, as she did not seem to hold grudges that could affect the research.

I think the ultimate difficulty that this book faces is the willingness of the reader to engage in difficult work, and the reader's ability to be self-reflective and honest with themselves. A lot of work around ego and narcissism relies one to walk a perilous line between giving up total control of the self and being taken advantage of by other people. There were times when I felt that what Canty was calling for would reduce some readers to thinking that they need to give up themselves entirely. While she tries to remind the reader that this delicate balance exists and is necessary (by bringing up negative and positive connotations of "ego" for example), this difficulty is one that will continue to exist when dealing with sensitive topics like these.