Look Me In My Eyes: Rethinking Care & Caring

Look Me in My Eyes is a reflection on what it truly means to see and be seen in the act of care. It explores care as both a moral responsibility and a shared human experience. Through thoughtful reflection, real-world insights, and portraits of care trailblazers, the book examines how care shapes individuals, institutions, and societies. It challenges readers to look beyond duty to the deeper invitation of connection, to meet another person's gaze with awareness and dignity. From the ethics of care to the art of receiving it, this book calls for compassion that is not sentimental but grounded, sustainable, and transformative. Look Me in My Eyes is both a mirror and a guide for anyone who wants to live with eyes open to the work and wonder of caring.- Praise for the Book -Reading through this book feels like sitting with a trusted friend who challenges you to think, to feel, and to act differently. Cornel does not preach; he invites. His words are not lofty abstractions but grounded reflections, shaped by experience and guided by a deep moral intelligence. He reminds us that to care is not a weakness, nor a luxury, but a form of strength, the quiet power that sustains humanity. For me, this book is more than a philosophical exploration; it is a mirror. It invites each of us to examine how we give and receive care in our daily lives, not as a profession or obligation, but as a practice of being fully human. In an age that often celebrates visibility but not vision, Look Me in the Eye teaches us again how to see.Eberechukwu Johnpaul Ihemezie, PhDResearch Associate in Social-Environmental-Technical IntegrationImperial College, London.In a world that increasingly preaches 'excessive self-love' to the detriment of basic human tenets such as care and kindness, a book such as this becomes an absolute gem. Written in an easy-to-read manner, the nine chapters dissects the concept of care and challenges our understanding of giving and receiving care. The book advocates for care beyond the surface, and makes the point that modern care begins from truly listening, seeing people for who they are and being present at all times. It is refreshingly didactic, incredibly reflective, and unequivocally compelling. A book for all times.Samuel OkonkwoHR Consultant, Shell Qatar