Official Review: Climbing Higher by Robert Wheeler
Post by ciecheesemeister » 31 Dec 2019, 19:14
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “Climbing Higher” by Robert Wheeler.]
4 out of 4 stars
Climbing
Higher by Robert Wheeler, Ph.D., is a speculative work
combining philosophy, psychology, and anecdotes about mountain climbing as it
relates to the need for human beings to realize what Dr. Wheeler refers to as
“the ontological imperative.” Dr. Wheeler describes ontology as: “the branch of
philosophy that studies reality at its most basic level, involving the meaning
of existence and purpose of life.” In Climbing Higher, he attempts
to provide evidence that the ontological imperative is “a personality trait
innate to all thinking humans,” using mountain climbing as a metaphor for the
human need to challenge oneself to reach for goals that may, on the surface,
seem impossible.
Climbing Higher is not a self-help book, it is an academic
examination of human psychology and the need to strive for experiences beyond
the self and everyday troubles and concerns. The book examines the need for a
belief in a transcendent force, even in a world that has come to see the idea
of mysticism as quaint. Dr. Wheeler postulates an attitude of nognosticism,
meaning that a person can believe in the possibility of a transcendent force
while doubting the existence thereof. It is his theory that such an attitude
has positive benefits for the human psyche.
The thing I liked best about the book was its novel presentation of the human
need to find something of importance beyond our own daily lives. I resonated
with the material presented in Climbing Higher and give the
book an enthusiastic four out of four stars. It is not often that
I, as an agnostic (or nognostic, as Dr. Wheeler suggests), find a book
addressing the idea that there very well could be a higher power or powers, but
we just don’t know. While I appreciate the works of some of the more liberal
theistic thinkers and some of the more tolerant atheist philosophers, it is
rare to find a book that closely aligns with my beliefs. Dr. Wheeler has given
me that book, and I profoundly appreciate it.
The book was professionally edited. It has a few minor typos but nothing which
would distract from the overall enjoyment of the thoughtful and well-executed
text. The pictures of the mountains are striking. If Dr. Wheeler were to release
a book of his photographs from his various adventures, I believe it would find
an appreciative audience.
Climbing Higher is a good choice for those who are interested in
the studies of philosophy and psychology. It would not be a good choice for
someone seeking a fast-paced thriller. Although there was nothing that I really
disliked about the book, some of the explanations about various personality
tests and academic theories did bog down a bit for a layperson. Overall,
however, the pace of the book flowed well. It is filled with fascinating and
thought-provoking ideas