The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

Growing up, we learn to view ourselves as distinct and separate from the world around us. But this sense of alienation — from other peoples places, and things — is dangerous. It makes us naturally skeptical of that which is not “us” and drives or need to violently subjugate the natural world to our wishes. Here, Alan Watts draws on the ancient Hindu philosophy of Vedanta to explain what “self” really means, showing that we are part of the world, not apart from it. An essential work of philosophy, The Book makes clear that our sense of separation is a myth — and that the self is, in fact, the root and ground of the entire universe.