Ordinary Grace: An Examination of the Roots of Compassion, Altruism, and Empathy, and the Ordinary Individuals Who Help Others in Extraordinary Ways

A psychotherapist explores the origins of compassion, grace, and altruism through studies of religion and science, showing the deep motivations of selfless behaviors and demonstrating how the good can cast out the bad. 12,000 first printing.

In an attempt to discover what motivates and inspires altruism in some people, Jungian-oriented clinical psychologist and psychotherapist Brehony (Awakening at Midlife) offers examples of human graciousness in matters large and small. She tells of organ donation between casual acquaintances, of organizations started by those in grief that now help thousands struggling with similar losses, of individuals who have devoted their lives to bringing aid to others. Unfortunately, no matter how heartwarming, her finding that people can choose to act helpfully and generously rather than according to their less benevolent instincts seems too simplistic: "Each of us has the power to determine what he or she chooses to tune in to." Brehony briefly discusses the Jungian concept of our shadow side, the dark opposite of our daily, public persona. In her view, finding grace in our own lives is possible by becoming aware of the presence of our shadow side and opening ourselves to others. Readers seeking reassurance that people can be good as easily as not will find inspiration in these personal stories; they may even be motivated to their own good deeds by Brehony's "strategies" for grace at the close of the book ("Be prepared for pain as well as joy," "Simplify and scale down"). Agent, Lisa Ross.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A heartening inquiry into why ordinary folks routinely go the second mile for others, by clinical psychologist Brehony (Awakening at Midlife: Realizing Your Potential for Growth and Change, 1996). What causes altruism in some people? Is it nature or nurture? The author makes a strong case for nature here, drawing from research on newborns and primates to argue for an innate, biologically based compassion. Such instincts are either reinforced or quelled by life experiences, though Brehony says that in some people, even truly horrifying childhood traumas only intensify the impulse to be kind to others. The quiet strength of this book lies in its storytelling, as Brehony draws upon field research, follows up on media stories, or even employs members of her own family to demonstrate that people can and do carry out tremendously empathic actions every day. We meet a New Jersey couple who have adopted four HIV-positive Romanian orphans, and a doctor who sacrifices all of his free time to procuring computers so that terminally ill children can communicate with one another in cyberspace. Brehony devotes a whole chapter to organ donation, describing incidents with both deceased and living donors (in two instances, people felt moved to donate a kidney to a casual friend). Another chapter explores how a couple who lost their child to a degenerative illness raised tens of thousands of dollars to design and build a ``wheelchair-friendly'' playground where all kids can play together, regardless of physical ability. Brehony writes that those who exhibit this kind of ``ordinary grace'' classically show an optimism about the fundamental goodness of humanity (``Anyone would do what I did''), as well as a conviction that they are the ones who have been blessed by the giving. A restorative tonic, more than mere chicken soup for the soulbecause it may well inspire readers to go out and do something good for somebody. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Clinical psychologist Brehony (Awakening at Midlife, LJ 10/1/96) presents an insightful, refreshing examination of compassion and altruism and how these behaviors manifest themselves in the lives of ordinary human beings. Her research into the nature of benevolence is based primarily on personal interviews conducted with people from across the United States. Brehony examines their beliefs and ideas in order to understand the underlying factors that have prompted them to help others. The inspiring stories she presents show the myriad ways in which compassion can be expressed. Brehony identifies seven important characteristics that people who exhibit altruism seem to share and presents 14 precepts to help the reader cultivate grace and compassion. Amidst the pessimism of modern society, Brehony makes a convincing case for the presence of an innate human goodness. The results of her study provide a wonderfully uplifting portrait of human potential.AElizabeth Salt, Otterbein Coll. Lib., Westerville, OH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.