A nonfiction piece about the experience of shame turned toxic and its impact on the psychological and spiritual fate of mankind. This ten-chapter effort intertwines the literary substance of the book with a workbook component, designed to get the reader to move beyond a simple mental and intellectual endeavor and move toward an exercise of personal integration with the material. The experience of shame is universal, a human experience, but an experience that has the potential to turn toxic. Toxic shame can wreak havoc on the psychological development and well-being of the individual. But this author also purports that toxic shame can equally disrupt and damage the spiritual nature of the human experience.
Living in The Shadow of Our Fathers is a two-pronged approach, both psychological and spiritual, to understanding what this author believes is a devastating reality besieging the individual of our day. Specifically looking at the father-son relationship, the author focuses on this masculine relationship, his own relationship with his father, in a way to bring awareness and credibility to the author's insights into what plagues the fathers, the sons, and the men of our present-day societies. By focusing on shame turned toxic, its roots, its causes, its consequences, the author is seeking to draw attention to what he feels is a monumental threat to the fate of humankind. With special emphasis and focus on the spiritual, the author is challenging the reader to open their minds and hearts to a reality that remains unnoticed and unrecognized.
As a first-time author, I have selected a subject to write about, that reflects both my professional and personal experiences. My own personal story is one of shame turned toxic, and as a licensed clinical psychologist, I have witnessed the devastating effects of toxic shame on the individual, their families, and on their communities.