THE IDIOT GUIDE TO SANITY presents an outline for a sane and holistic, consciousness-based education. The author's educational approach starts from what is, not from what should be, not from an ideal, thus, but from the actual constitution of the human being, with all the complexity inherent in it. He contends that children are born sane and are rendered more or less insane by an educational system that till now considers the human being as the impossible human, that is, a creature that is basically faulty and has to be improved and upgraded by education, and morality. The present view view opposes this patriarchal educational paradigm and shows that traditional education brings about fragmentation, ignorance and widespread violence. The author shows in this guide that a sane educational approach is functional, and not moralistic, and that it must overcome the neo-platonic dualism that is rooted in the death instinct, rather than in our libido. As the child is whole by nature, education does not really need to do anything for raising healthy humans. It should rather restrain from doing many things it usually does and that are counter-productive to raising children sanely. The sane educator is one who is able to maintain a healthy balance between emotions and intellect. He will be an observer rather than a manager, a witness rather than a judge, a friend rather than a parent replacement. He accompanies the child, as a guide, a tutor.The audience for this guide are all those involved in educating children, as well as educational policy makers, also parents, educational associations, politicians, pediatricians and child psychologists, and also the lay public, especially those who are looking for a new way to educate children now and in the future.
About the Author: PIERRE F. WALTER is an international lawyer, researcher, author and lecturer. After finalizing his studies in German law and European integration with diplomas in both disciplines in 1982, he graduated in December 1987 at the law faculty of the University of Geneva as Docteur en Droit in international law. The doctorate was funded by scholarships from the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, Lausanne, and from the University of Geneva, as well as a Fulbright Travel Grant for an assistantship with Professor Louis B. Sohn at UGA Law School Department of International Law, Athens, Georgia, USA, in 1985. Pierre F. Walter also served as a research assistant to Freshfields, Bruckhaus, Deringer, Cologne, Germany in 1983 and to Lalive Lawyers, Geneva, in 1987. In his criminal law studies, he was specialized on elucidating the roots of violent crime and was for several years caring for prisoners who have been convicted for sexual crimes against children. Since 1994, he works as a consultant to government and industry, specialized upon service training and human resource development. In addition, he is a personal coach and has developed a self-coaching approach termed 'Life Authoring'. Pierre F. Walter writes, lectures and teaches in English, German and French; he has written more than ten thousand pages embracing all literary genres, including novels, short stories, film scripts, essays, selfhelp books, monographs and extended book reviews. Also a pianist and composer, he has realized 40 CDs with jazz, newage and relaxation music. Pierre F. Walter's professional publications span the domains International Law, Criminal Law, Holistic Science, Psychology, Education, Shamanism, Ecology, Spirituality, Quantum Physics, Systems Theory, Natural Healing, Peace Research, Personal Growth, Selfhelp and Consciousness Research. 110 Book Reviews, thirty-eight audio books and more than hundred video lectures were realized in the years 2005-2010. Besides, Pierre F. Walter is editor of a series 'Great Minds', which features scientists, artists and authors of genius from Leonardo to Fritjof Capra. Pierre F. Walter publishes via his Delaware firm Sirius-C Media Galaxy LLC and the imprints IPUBLICA and Sirius-C Media (SCM).