The Saturated Self: Delimmas of Identity in Contemporary Life

by Kenneth J. Gergen

Book Overview

Today's ever-expanding communications technologies force us to relate to more people and institutions than ever before, challenging the way we view ourselves and our relationships. This powerful and provocative book draws from a wide range of disciplines--from anthropology to psychoanalysis, from film and fiction to literary theory--to explore these profound changes in our understanding of self-identity and their implications for cultural and intellectual...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0465071856
• ISBN13: 9780465071852
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Incredible

This book is, simply put, an incredible accomplishment which deserves more 5-star reviews. The book is relevant to anyone's life, as it is addressing widespread social phenomena brought on by the internet, air travel, and other technologies that are basically taking the obstacles of space and time and reducing them mere hurdles. To me, the book treads between sociology and philosophy, as the author creates new terms to explain his ideas. It can be a bit disturbing reading about our society on the path to a "multiphrenic" consciousness, while later on it is pleasant to be reminded of some of the benefits of contemporary life. Gergen often dips back into the how things were in the "face to face" community of the romantic era, or during the times of machine obsessed modernity, for comparisons. As a result, this book teaches you not just about the current state of society, but about where it's been, where it is, and most importantly where it may be headed. Before I read this book, I only knew "postmodern" as a term to describe anything contemporary. Now I know what it actually is and what causes it. It gives you plenty of things to wonder about and discuss with friends who are also interested. A college student in any related field of study will find this book a handy source for a paper on just about any topic. The first edition was written almost 20 years ago, and it's still very relevant, and will be for a long time.

un libro fantastico para entender nuestro tiempo

Reviewer: LUIS MENDEZ (luismendez@codetel.net.do) from DOMINICAN REPUBLIC este libro es fantastico, nos descubre, nos indaga, nos hace curiosos y participes de las cosas de nuestro yo, que se encuentra atiborrado de cosa, de pensamientos, de acciones, de traumas, espero que lo lean y que lo disfruten tanto como lo he disfrutado yo. LUIS MENDEZ crazzyteacher@hotmail.com

A Brilliant Portrait of Postmodern Culture

Ken Gergen does an amazing job of painting the picture of fragmented contemporary in this well-written and compelling book. A definite must read for anyone interested in social psychology or technology and postmodern culture.

un libro fantastico para entender nuestro tiempo

este libro es fantastico, nos descubre, nos indaga, nois hace curioso y participe de las cosas de nuestro yo, que se encuentra atiborrado de cosa, de pensamientos, de acciones, de traumas, espero que lo lean y que lo disfruten tanto como lo he disfrutado yo.LUIS MENDEZ

Shocking journey through the modern forces shaping "self"

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the forces shaping the concept of "self" in our post-modern society (or for anyone who thinks that he or she is above being shaped!) It is easy to read, very enlightening, and very well documented. I highly recommend it!