Every tradition has its story - oral or written. Tapu finds the story above and beyond spiritual and materialistic traditions and turns it into a vision for tomorrow. This book introduces a new approach to some old individual and social issues, an approach based on both wisdom and science, on philosophy as well as religion. Its teachings are presented in the form of reflections and poems, speeches and dialogues, strategies and techniques for individual and collective use. The book is the fruit of humanity's millennia of thought and practice and of author's decades of experience and research. It will surely provide valuable insights for the lifestyles of believers and non-believers alike.
Tapu emphasizes the difficulty of truly knowing anything—all his teachings are rooted in belief, as, he argues, are all ways in which people operate in the world. While he encourages openness to diverse opinions, that overarching conviction may leave readers uncertain about how deeply to engage with Tapu’s individual arguments, as they are ultimately a matter of faith. Although Tapu includes some references to external sources, the work would benefit from deeper engagement with other spiritual literature and a reference list for readers who wish to explore further.
Teachings on Being could also benefit from clearer structure to organize its wide-ranging advice. Tapu is an enigma within the text, laying out his ethics and philosophy but revealing little of himself as a person. Still, these fresh, humane, open-minded reflections are worth consideration. A dedicated reader exploring big questions of life and death will find much here to contemplate.
Takeaway: Original thinking on big questions of life, death, and the future.
Comparable Titles: J.M.E. McTaggart’s The Unreality of Time, James Tarpey’s The Meaning of Life.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: B+
Awards & Accolades: Our Verdict ✓ Get It
An engrossing, nuanced reflection on what it means to be human.
A psychologist explores the intersection of faith and material life in this nonfiction philosophical rumination.“To overcome the challenges of past, present, and future,” writes Tapu in this book’s opening lines, “we need new stories, new guides, new ways.” While careful not to judge the spiritual beliefs of readers (“Your beliefs are important”), the volume urges them to consider the author’s version of a “new faith” that embraces diversity of thought beyond mere tolerance, arguing that “the love of the different will make the world reborn.”
"The New Faith is not yet another faith. It is a new way of living the old faiths." This admonition opens Teachings on Being and presents the very basic premise of a book designed to bring together faiths; not alienate based on tenants or differences.
Rating: Five Star Review
Teachings on Being is a collection of sayings, reflections, and poetry that covers a multitude of topics. Bound together by a thematic undercurrent on world peace and unity, Tapu’s debut book is a profound vehicle for deep introspection on humanity.
Recommended by the US Review of Books
"God is not a thing or a person that you can think about or say something precise about. We can't know Him, and we can' even feel Him. The important thing is not to forget that He is not 'all or nothing'..."This book is short and satisfying. Composed by Codrin Stefan Tapu, Romanian professor of psychology, it is intended to engender positive thoughts, feelings, and actions. The "teachings" comprise a universal view of deity that even encompasses atheism.
