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Journey of the Adopted Self: A Quest for Wholeness
by
Betty Jean Lifton, whose Lost and Found has become a bible to adoptees and to those who would understand the adoption experience, explores further the inner world of the adopted person. She breaks new ground as she traces the adopted child's lifelong struggle to form an authentic sense of self. And she shows how both the symbolic and the literal search for roots becomes a
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Paperback, 328 pages
Published
May 6th 1995
by Basic Books
(first published May 17th 1994)
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I haven't read an adoption book in many years, but decided I should increase my awareness and familiarity with the issues, as I'm currently writing down the story of, as Joseph Campbell would put it, my 'hero's journey' to find out who I was 'born to', which I believe is necessary if we as individuals wish to also learn more about who we were 'born to be', something which is neither about the family we are raised by nor the one we are biologically related to, but that in-between place, where we
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I was advised to read this (because it was by a professor at Yale???) after being reunited with my son who I had had to give up for adoption when I was 20. (What a glorious day it was to hear his voice and meet him!) The year that followed was an emotional rollercoaster: It was so very painful (I cried for months) yet simultaneously glorious (I couldn't wipe the grin off my face.).
That being said, I found this book to be totally presumptive. I don't think anyone can take an emotional process an ...more
That being said, I found this book to be totally presumptive. I don't think anyone can take an emotional process an ...more
This book was so helpful to me that I would gladly swap or recommend this book to anyone who is in the adoption circle. I read this book as an adoptee, and plan to reread it again, as a mother who has adopted.
This helped me work through some adoption issues that related to self acceptance and what I was created for.
Adoption
I highly recommend this book to better understand adoptees(what they go through and how best we as adoptive families can play our role in their healing & our healing as well). What an eye- opening experience for me as an adoptive parent.
I highly recommend this book to better understand adoptees(what they go through and how best we as adoptive families can play our role in their healing & our healing as well). What an eye- opening experience for me as an adoptive parent.
Aug 21, 2012
D. J.
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Adoptees, Adoptive Parents, Adoption Searchers, Memoir Writers
Recommended to D. J. by:
Myself :)
(Actually, I need a shelf called "To Re-Read" as I'm pretty sure I started this but never finished. Mentally, I've been writing a memoir about my adoption experience, and 20+ year search for my Original Family. At the beginning, in my 20's and alone in my first "real" apartment on Staten Island, with no phone nor television, I could not get my hands on enough adoption writing. I'm pretty sure this book is on a shelf somewhere, waiting.)
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May 23, 2011
Mary
added it
As an adoptee myself and also and adoptive parent I can say that it has been one of my favorite. It is easy to read and understand. As because the author was adopted herself she know the feeling and thing that an adoptee gose though. If a person is stuggleing with thier own adoption; thinking about adopting; or have adopted children with quetions I recomed Jorney of the Adopted Self A Quest for Wholeness. Very well writen and a great book for anyone interested in adoption.
I realize that this book has helped many people, but it just did not speak to or for me as an adoptee.
I am so thankful for this book; it should be required reading for any adopted person.
I. Love. This. Book. Yes. It. Is. Allways. About. The. Journey. Betty.
Every adoptee should read this. Everyone close to adoption in any way should read this. Read this.
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