The Human Dilemma: With Rollo May, Phd; Transforming Awareness

Both of these videos are from the PBS-aired talk show Thinking Allowed hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Mishlove. As a host, Mishlove is both amiable and well-informed about his subjects, and comes across as sort of a thinking person's Dick Cavett. In The Human Dilemma, Mishlove talks with noted psychotherapist and popular psychology author Rollo May (Love and Will, The Meaning of Anxiety, etc.) about what May calls the "basic human dilemma": our knowledge of our own mortality. May takes modern society to task for its endless pursuit of banal pleasures as a means of avoiding anxiety. He is very critical of the "new age" movement (EST, rolfing, and many other Southern California pastimes) which he describes as "soft-pedaling our problems." The second part of the May interview (both on one tape) spends a bit too much time playing with the joys of being a psychotherapist (since both Mishlove and May are psychotherapists, the conversation has the occasional feel of shop talk rather than philosophical exploration.) This minor flaw aside, the discussion with May is a stimulating, thought-provoking excursion into the soul of this, our modern age. The second video, Transforming Awareness, is a compilation of four half-hour programs (which are also available separately). Although each has its pluses and minuses, these programs are overall both interesting and entertaining. Virginia Satir has some very enlightening things to say about the human capacity for change (historically, an arguable concept). James Fadiman makes some eye-opening remarks about transcending limitations. (Why, if we received a "C" in an algebra course in 8th grade, do we today as adults say we cannot do math? We've changed in so many other ways as adults, but we cling to the belief that we are not math persons-because of a grade received decades ago. A good point.) Ralph Metzner, who co-authored The Psychedelic Experience with Timothy Leary, discusses metaphor and myth in terms of how we look at life and death. The weakest section is with Charles Taft, psychologist and author of Waking Up, who lauds the benefits of self-observation. We're talking Navel Watching 101, here. Mr. Taft embarked on this self-help program after he realized that he had a conscious desire that people who tailgated him should die. As in bite the dust, go for the big sleep, put out the permanent "closed" sign ...etc. (We can't help but wonder if "self" is really the best "observation" program for Mr. Taft.) Both of these videocassettes are recommended. (Available from: Thinking Allowed, 2560 Ninth St., Suite 123, Berkeley, CA 94710.)