'Responsibility Matters'

ASSOCIATE Professor Diyanath Samarasinghe is well known to many of us who work in the area of wellbeing and mental health, even if we do not know him personally.

It is always inspiring to see a person of his professional background and experience find the time to write on topics which are part of the everyday and which shape our lives as well as the lives of those around us in meaningful but often unnoticed ways.

'Responsibility Matters', the latest book by Associate Professor Diyanath Samarasinghe, is exactly such a book that stimulates thinking and personal reflection the those who would read it. It is also a book that would help us to lead better and perhaps more rewarding lives.

The book seems particularly pertinent in an age where the primary consideration often appears to be self interest. Associate Professor Diyanath Samarasinghe asserts the value of social relations and the interconnectedness of behaviour.

He emphasises the need to re-engage with the world and with what is happening around us and sounds a note of caution regarding the price we have to pay in terms of our personal happiness as well as the social consequences of choosing to look the other way.

He also moves between the personal and the political, examining responsible action at broader and higher levels where people who make decisions affect the lives of many people rather than immediate friends and family and the additional burden of responsibility this carries.

What is in addition appealing is the style in which the book is written. It is not meant to lecture, advise or instruct. Associate Professor Diyanath Samarasinghe writes in a personal and reflective manner, inviting the readers to engage in such reflections about their own behaviours and attitudes.

In fact, I often found myself mulling over different points made in the book during the course of the last week when I was reading it.

Hopefully, it is already making me a more responsible person! The book is also concise and easily read, even in the midst of a busy life.

'Responsibility Matters' is the rare example of a busy practitioner caring enough and taking the time to share his experiences with the larger community and helping in a significant way to promote better wellbeing amongst all of us. It is a must read for those who are looking for ways to make their own lives and the lives of those around them more rewarding.

- Maleeka Salih