A review by annastarlight
Escaping the Self: Alcoholism, Spirituality, Masochism, and Other Flights from the Burden of Selfhood by Roy F. Baumeister

4.0

Accessible and insightful. Argues that throughout the last two centuries, there has been an unprecedented emphasis on the self in Western society, which is a mixed blessing. Sometimes self-awareness becomes so overwhelming that it drives people to find means to escape the self, through alcohol, binge eating, or sado-masochism. Fascinating stuff, and I found Baumeister's style to be easily readable and his concepts understandable for a lay-person with passing interest in psychology.