🕯️ Occult Philosophy

Back to Sanity: Healing the Madness of Our Minds

✍️ Taylor, Steve
Reader Score
4.6
(7 reviews)
$16.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

An analysis of egomania as the root cause of human conflict and materialism.

Steve Taylor presents egomania as an unrecognized psychological condition responsible for personal discontent and global turmoil. The text details how this hidden mental disorder drives humanity toward warfare, oppression, and status-seeking. Taylor connects individual psychological dysfunction with broad historical patterns of violence and social inequality. Rather than treating these problems as separate issues, the work attributes them to a shared internal cause. The author then provides practical instructions for shifting away from this dysfunctional mental state, guiding readers toward sustained internal peace and healing.

Key Themes
ego-madness and egomania causes of warfare and inequality healing human psychological disorders
Literary Context

This 2012 Hay House paperback fits within modern Mind, Body, Spirit literature and New Thought self-help traditions. It reflects contemporary efforts to address personal unhappiness, materialism, and global violence by diagnosing a shared psychological disorder within human consciousness.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Eckhart Tolle · Louise Hay · Deepak Chopra · The Power of Now
🕯️
Occult Philosophy
🏛 Hay House 📖 256 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781848505476
Fun Fact
Taylor excels at naming the ineffable ache of modern alienation, making abstract spiritual concepts tangible. It will disappoint readers seeking rigorous academic critique or clinical treatment plans. However, for the spiritually curious bookstore patron, it sits comfortably between self-help and esoteric philosophy, offering a compelling diagnosis for the age.
📚 This Book in Collections

📝 Description: Back to Sanity: Healing the Madness of Our Minds

Steve Taylor identifies a widespread psychological disorder called ego-madness, or egomania, as the underlying driver behind collective human dysfunction and individual discontent. Published by Hay House in a paperback format spanning 256 pages, the text examines how this psychological condition manifests through war, social inequality, relentless status-seeking, and the endless pursuit of material possessions. The author explains the core traits of this mental disorder, traces its historical roots, and breaks down the specific ways egomania generates systemic conflict and personal restlessness across human societies. Beyond analyzing these harmful behaviors, Taylor outlines concrete methods to correct this internal imbalance. The work focuses on turning occasional moments of inner harmony into a stable, lasting state of being, offering a roadmap to heal individual and collective psychological suffering. Readers seeking an analysis of human conflict rooted in New Thought and Mind, Body, Spirit frameworks will find value in Taylor's perspective, whereas those looking for traditional clinical psychiatry or strict academic history may find the spiritual self-help approach unsuitable.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
Taylor provides a compelling, albeit somewhat simplified, critique of modern psychological distress. The strength lies in its accessibility; it translates complex ideas about ego disconnection into actionable steps for healing. However, readers seeking rigorous academic psychology or deep theological debate may find the content lacking in nuance. It is not suitable for those who prefer dense, scholarly analysis over practical spiritual application. While the diagnosis of collective egomania is insightful, the proposed solutions rely heavily on personal introspection rather than systemic change. Ultimately, it serves as a gentle, accessible manual for those ready to prioritize inner sanity over external validation.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is an essential guide for individuals who feel perpetually anxious, disconnected, or overwhelmed by the modern world's relentless focus on status and material accumulation. If you have struggled with what the author calls 'ego-madness,' this work offers a compassionate diagnosis of your suffering and a practical roadmap to reclaim your mind's innate equilibrium. Readers seeking to transform fleeting moments of peace into a permanent state of inner harmony will find immense value in its clear analysis of egomania. It is particularly beneficial for those tired of superficial fixes, offering instead a profound shift toward sanity through understanding the root causes of global conflict and personal discontent.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
Readers feeling disconnected from their true nature or disillusioned by modern materialism will find this a vital guide. It appeals to those seeking practical steps to overcome anxiety, status anxiety, and the pervasive sense of lack that defines contemporary life.

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 7 reviews
5
4
4
3
3
0
2
0
1
0
S
Sofia F.
April 30, 2026
A serious text

Long-time student of the esoteric here. The material is presented clearly and the structure makes it easy to revisit key passages. Recommended if you're ready to do the work.

J
June F.
February 8, 2026

Long-time student of the esoteric here. It connects ideas I'd only seen treated separately elsewhere. My only quibble is the cover feels thinner than expected.

J
Jasper A.
December 24, 2025
My new favorite

Bought this as a gift for my sister and ended up ordering a second copy for myself. It connects ideas I'd only seen treated separately elsewhere. Deserves a place on any esoteric bookshelf.

S
Sage B.
November 27, 2025
My new favorite

First purchase from this shop. Some chapters demand a slow, careful read, and that's exactly the point. It connects ideas I'd only seen treated separately elsewhere. Great value for what you get.

E
Ethan K.
September 28, 2025
Deep and rewarding

Arrived faster than expected and well packaged. It reads better in small doses — a chapter at a time with notes. The language takes some getting used to, but it becomes part of the charm.

L
Liam L.
October 1, 2024
Worth the read

Perfect companion for my morning study sessions. The historical context alone makes it worth the price. Some archaic spellings slow things down. Recommended with reservations.

E
Esoterica Books editorial team

Taylor provides a compelling, albeit somewhat simplified, critique of modern psychological distress. The strength lies in its accessibility; it translates complex ideas about ego disconnection into actionable steps for healing. However, readers seeking rigorous academic psychology or deep theological debate may find the content lacking in nuance. It is not suitable for those who prefer dense, scholarly analysis over practical spiritual application. While the diagnosis of collective egomania is insightful, the proposed solutions rely heavily on personal introspection rather than systemic change. Ultimately, it serves as a gentle, accessible manual for those ready to prioritize inner sanity over external validation.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, it is a philosophical and spiritual exploration. It uses psychological concepts metaphorically to describe spiritual disconnection rather than offering medical diagnosis or therapy.
Yes, the book outlines methods to recognize ego-driven patterns and cultivate the 'fleeting moments of harmony' into a lasting state of being.

📖 Who should read this

Readers feeling disconnected from their true nature or disillusioned by modern materialism will find this a vital guide. It appeals to those seeking practical steps to overcome anxiety, status anxiety, and the pervasive sense of lack that defines contemporary life.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Ego-madness

Psychological healing

Collective consciousness

📜 Historical context

Taylor situates his argument within the lineage of New Thought and transpersonal psychology, challenging the dominant narrative of human progress. By framing societal ills as a symptom of mental illness rather than evolutionary success, he bridges esoteric wisdom with clinical observation, offering a counter-narrative to the ego-centric models that have shaped Western philosophy for centuries.

📚 Glossary

Ego-madness
Egomania
Sanity

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. When do you feel most disconnected from your authentic self?
  2. What current pursuits are driven by ego rather than genuine need?
  3. How can you extend moments of peace into your daily routine?

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