President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan’s new book titled “Wisdom Vaccination for the Family” has met readers through Üsküdar University Publications. Consisting of 12 chapters, the book focuses not on problems that threaten the family, but on awareness that strengthens it, serving as a solution oriented guide against the pressures modern life places on family structures.
Prof. Tarhan stated, “While writing this book, my aim was to offer a kind of ‘family vaccine’ that would protect the family without deterioration, exhaustion, or burnout. What functions as a vaccine for protecting the family is family wisdom.”
A contribution to the Century of the Family
Üsküdar University, guided by the understanding that if the state is the mind of society then the family is its heart, has brought together readers with the work “Wisdom Vaccination for the Family” written by Prof. Nevzat Tarhan in order to strengthen families and contribute to the Century of the Family.
The new book by President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, aimed at reinforcing the institution of the family, is now on shelves.
Published by Üsküdar University Publications with editorial work by Fatma Özten, the book stands out as a solution oriented guide against the pressures of the modern world on families.
The first home of the human heart, the shelter of the soul, the safest harbor of life’s journey
In the preface, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan defines the family as “the first home of the human heart” and draws attention to the direct relationship between family bonds and fundamental psychological needs. Prof. Tarhan states, “Family is the first home of the human heart, the shelter of the soul, the safest harbor of life’s journey. The moment a person opens their eyes to this world, they first feel a heart, hear a voice, and encounter a touch. At that very moment, the family is planted in the human heart like a seed.”
Emphasizing that modern life challenges family structure in many ways, Prof. Tarhan notes that individualization, digitalization, and emotional fatigue weaken family bonds. He adds, “Time passes and technology advances, but the deep human need never changes: to be loved, understood, and to belong somewhere. When the roots are shaken, the entire tree trembles.”
Stressing that he does not address the family merely as a social structure, Prof. Tarhan places it at the center of the process of self knowledge and meaning making. For this reason, he explains that the first chapter is devoted to the individual’s inner journey, stating, “Without knowing oneself, one cannot truly love. Without understanding emotions, empathy cannot be developed. Without questioning the meaning of life, it is not possible to sustain a family.”
Mevlana’s teachings hold an important place in the book
Prof. Tarhan notes that Mevlana’s approach to love, compassion, and self discipline offers powerful guidance for today’s families, stating, “Families today need Mevlana’s timeless language of wisdom more than ever.”
At the center of the book are themes such as marriage, balance within the family, empathy, emotional hygiene, and anger and stress management.
Drawing attention to invisible risks that silently wear down families, Prof. Tarhan says, “The greatest investment to be made before a family deteriorates is strengthening the emotional infrastructure of the relationship.”
In chapters devoted to child and adolescent psychology, the effects of the digital age, privacy education, sense of responsibility, and psychological resilience of young people are addressed.
At this point, Prof. Tarhan emphasizes, “A healthy society can only emerge from healthy families and properly guided children.”
Strong family bonds are an important protective factor against trauma
The book also discusses Viktor Frankl’s approach to the search for meaning alongside concepts from neuroscience such as the Default Mode Network and the Salience Network.
Prof. Tarhan highlights that strong family bonds serve as an important protective factor in the face of trauma, stating, “Individuals and families who can attribute meaning to pain gain psychological resilience more easily. This functions as a vaccine that protects the family.”
The final chapters address social issues such as values, kindness, solidarity, a culture of mutual support, aging, loneliness, and disability.
Prof. Tarhan underlines that the family institution is not only an individual structure but also the fundamental source of social peace.
What is the purpose of writing the book?
Prof. Tarhan explains the purpose of writing the book with the following words:
“My aim in writing this book was to offer a ‘family vaccine’ that would protect the family without deterioration, exhaustion, or burnout. What serves as a vaccine for protecting the family is family wisdom.”
Wishing the book to leave a lasting impact on readers, Prof. Tarhan concludes, “Family is not merely a roof over one’s head. Family is the heart of humanity. Protecting the heart means protecting society as a whole and future generations.”
The book “Wisdom Vaccination for the Family” consists of 12 chapters and focuses on awareness that strengthens the family rather than problems that threaten it.