The Eros of Everyday Life: Essays on Ecology, Gender and Society

by Susan Griffin

In her award-winning examination of the nature of war, A Chorus of Stones , critically acclaimed author and feminist Susan Griffin showed new ways of thinking about society and war, about private and public lives. In The Eros of Everyday Life , she once again takes readers on a startling journey, showing the profound connections between religion and philosophy, science and nature, Western thought and the role of women, and the supremacy of abstract thought over the forces of life. Featuring the brilliant original title essay that is nothing less than an intellectual and emotional exploration of the nature of Western society itself, as well as Susan Griffin's best previously published essays of the past decade, The Eros of Everyday Life combines the beautiful lyricism and sensibility of a poet with the intellectual rigor of one of the finest and most original minds writing today.

Genres: Feminism, Essays, Nonfiction, Gender, Ecology, Philosophy, Politics

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

About the author

Susan Griffin is an award winning poet, writer, essayist and playwright who has written nineteen books, including A Chorus of Stones, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Named by Utne reader as one of the top hundred visionaries of the new millenium, she is the recipient of an Emmy for her play Voices, an NEA grant and a MacArthur Grant for Peace and International Cooperation. Her latest work, Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy, on being an American Citizen has been called "fresh, probing" and "incisive" by Booklist.

Reviews

[Buster Cheeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

In light of a looming ecological catastrophe and a disenchanted everyday life, Griffin makes the case for a revalorisation of sensual experience. With poetic elegance and an almost prayer-like quality to the prose, Griffin discusses ecology, gender, science and more. The book is not without its flaws (e.g. the "heavy-handed" remarks on modern physics and mathematics) but still a stimulating read, replete with lyrical phraseology and of course even more relevant today, 25 years after release.

In my opinion, the second half is of marginal interest compared to the titular first half.

Fans of this book would likely enjoy the fantastic Ecology Of Everyday Life by Chaia Heller of the Institute for Social Ecology (in which Susan Griffin is referenced). Or perhaps the 13th sonnet to Orpheus... [https://www.sonnetstoorpheus.com/book...]

[Maryjoamani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am simply astounded by Susan Griffin and surprised I hadn't encountered her before. Such eloquence....A Chorus of Stones may be the most moving book I have read in years. Now that I'm reading The Eros of Everyday Life, I am astounded by the wisdom and rigorous intellectual analysis with which she interprets and sheds light on the drama of our personal life, the meaning of our journey on this earth, and humankind's relationship to broader society, in particular in this book, to the natural world. What joy! Next on my list is her latest book, Wrestling the Angel of Democracy.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terribly important book by Susan Griffin. I have trouble getting to other books as I keep rereading her to learn more deeply how my worldview/my mind has been structured by European thought that demeans nature--and by weird extension--woman/women.
I long for the day we can put misogyny behind us but it will be a long struggle as it is the basis of most western thought/philosophy.
Thank you Susan Griffin for helping open my eyes.

[Kara Powis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Susan Griffin is one of my all time favorite writers. She explores the human condition with a poetic fortitude. She boldly and courageously confronts human and organizational systems with critical thought and deep compassion. She is the kind of writer I wish to emulate.

[Ingrid]

This is a brilliant collection of essays by feminist Susan Griffin.
The last chapters of her book are devoted to CFS reflections.
What a joy, to read about someone else fighting for his life!

[Melissa Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary!

[Astrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an inspiring read, what with narcists like Trump and Erdogan having become leaders of important parts of the world; and Griffin has an interesting way of explaining narcism. The dissociation practiced by modern society of our deep needs of care, of bonds, is a subject for her, and I didn't find many authors that are talking about this. I also find that this kind of protective narcism, and the illusion of "independence" are so frequent, that a lot of people don't even notice any more that they practice this kind of dissociation from our real living conditions.
I don't always agree with Griffin about the reasons, but at least she gives it a look. Certainly too much romanticising of rural life (which she takes as an ideal in a way), and sometimes a way of talking about men that generalizes too much. And I'm not sure capitalism is responsible for all that mess; rural societies are often even more patriarchal and disregarding of the care work (mostly) women do.
I also read the book with an interest for reasons of sexual violence and abuse, because I always thought that dissociation from our needs of empathy, solidarity, stabilising structures were a reason for them. Astonishingly, Griffin doesn't get to that subject at all.
But some of her analysis is really enlightening. And I like the way she talks about the Eros of everyday life. It makes narcissism a really poor looking thing.