John Harvey, author of The Mirror We Worship
At the core of “The Mirror We Worship” lies a deep examination of identity and how we perceive ourselves. John, raised in Joplin, Missouri during the segregation era followed by marching during the Civil Rights movement delves into the layers constituting our self-image, dissecting the influences of culture, media, and firsthand experiences. The Viet Nam War era and his induction into the United States Army provided poignant anecdotes and insightful analysis of the times and the individual and cultural effect upon people and society. Readers are invited to question the mirrors they worship and look for a more authentic understanding of who they truly are. The seventies led him into the corporate world, and where the military had not removed his naivete, corporate life extracted more and caused deeper reflection. At the time, the result was external rather than internal. A degree in Group Dynamic Psychology paved the way for future exploration into his own psyche and that of his fellow beings. His life as an educator, career counselor, student of the divine as well as orator/presenter, participant in theater arts and avid reader led him to the depths of his internal world. The 1980s opened the door to his inner structure by first introducing him to his wife, Sharon and secondly by presenting him to the works of Joseph Campbell, Robert Bly, Carl Jung, and everyone from James Hillman to Jonathan Lear. The 1990s taught him the benefits of success and the value of failure. Writing classes helped him expand and grow during those years, sometimes advancing in position and authority, sometimes losing position and authority. The last fifteen years of his professional life prior to retirement allowed him to instruct underprivileged youth in social and employability skills, and to realize the value of looking in their own mirror.
Even now the question of who he is prevails as he struggles with his attempt at understanding the human condition and the human reaction to it. John’s journey began with two simple yet profound questions: What do we see when we look into the mirror? What do we do with what we see?
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