On Being Human

An Operator's Manual

By: David V. White

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

If you have asked yourself questions like “How should I live?”, “On what shall I base my decisions?”, or “What is truly important?”, On Being Human will be a source of help and guidance.

Modern thought tends to divide life into categories, but in the process of living, all the currents mix and mingle, and worthwhile answers only come from finding a harmonious relation to the whole. Seeking holistic understanding, this book ranges through psychology, art, science, religion, relationships, culture, mythology, philosophy, and the world’s wisdom traditions. Although no one can be expert in all these areas, the living of life does not offer the choice of avoiding any of them. Whether expert or not, each of us must come to terms with the full scope of human questions, emotions, and possibilities. This wide-ranging book will provide assistance for those who wish to bring all these currents together in a coherent way.

Retiring at the age of 35 after successful involvement in business, politics, and education, David began to consider more carefully what was truly important in his life. Following several years of study, travel, practice, and experiences of many kinds, there came a deepening sense of what it means to live a human life. His understanding developed further through dialogue with hundreds of participants in seminars and workshops he has presented during the past 20 years. In this book, he shares the insights gained in the process of his personal exploration and exchange with others.

©2013 David V. White (P)2022 David V. White

Critic reviews

"I have followed David White's work for more than a decade, and have attended many of his lectures and participated in several discussion groups he has organized. What makes this book unique is that it presents a cohesive, wonderfully-crafted summary of more than 30 years of reading, introspection, and inner work. The book will be invaluable to those who are either beginning, or have already embarked on, a journey of self-discovery." (Rafael C. Gonzalez, PhD, Distinguished Service Professor, Emeritus, electrical engineering and computer science department, The University of Tennessee; author of the best-selling textbook Digital Image Processing)

"When you read On Being Human, you acquire a wise new friend who respects and cares for your well-being and is devoted to increasing your understanding of yourself and how to overcome life's complexities. To clarify how we can make the best decisions for living, David combines the rational, emotional and spiritual dimensions in considering what makes life worthwhile. In reading this book you will gain much insight and feel dignified by what you have come to know." (Phillip Moffitt, past editor in chief of Esquire Magazine and author of Dancing with Life and Emotional Chaos to Clarity)

Book and Author have changed my life

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to look at the truth inside of themselves, see the tools at your disposal use them to have some control over your choices

Beautifully written and deeply enriching

A book filled with gems of wisdom. Gems from across the world and across time. Every corner you turn, there’s a light shining on the path to the next opening. Not a GPS. But a dance between the writer and the reader (listener). A dance to the music of meaningful questions and examined reflections.
The exercises make the book more than just a philosophical treasure. They bring it home. Down to the very earth on which we walk. Really walk. Here and now. Like Dante following Virgil through the dark. To see better. To hear more clearly. To live more consciously.
Thank you for this gift!

Transformative

Chapter by chapter in this transformative book, as David White carefully explores the human journey toward meaning, you will witness the eloquence of dawn rising.

David’s intellectual and spiritual journey does not dictate the way; rather, his work helps you discover your own way. It is a meticulous inner journey he describes, where wisdom teachers of the ages become dear travelling companions. Scientists. Psychologists. Philosophers. Poets. And many more.

You’ll find that you cannot speed through On Being Human: An Operator’s Manual. David connects the dots from the enculturation of childhood, then college, then career, then years of lived experience. He does not hand out glib answers to the questions of meaning but offers the largest truth he has found and inspires listeners to find their own truths. He sets some parameters, though, encouraging conscious relationship to The Transcendent and acknowledging The Source of human values.

Brilliant. Deep. Challenging, yet accessible. David’s book compels dedication to a blend of knowledge and reflection. In this beautifully rendered recording of On Being, you’ll find yourself letting go of stale or stereotypical thinking as you imagine a fresh vision of what your life can mean and why you are here.

Better ways to ponder life's questions

It's a rare author who can write a survey of the world's religious and spiritual traditions in a way that is not only palatable but pulls you in for more. In his first published book, David White has managed to do just that. Most of us have been taught to look at our life through a certain set of lens. On Being Human: An Operator's Manual provides you an entire set of lenses, broadening and strengthening the ways you can look at your life. By the end of this book you've gained the ability to see your life from many different perspectives and think about your hard questions in new ways. Books tell us stories. The best books teach us as they tell us stories. And the very top books tell, teach, and help us change our own stories. This book is one of those.