By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
Dr. Michel Listenberger O.D., has made a name for himself in Michiana throughout his career.
The senior partner of the Niles Vision Clinic, located 9 South St. Joseph Ave. has been helping his patients to see the world a little clearer through optometry and vision care since 1972.
And he has traveled around that world to help bring that gift of better, clearer sight to youth through various missions and Optimist International, which he recently servd as president.
Now, Listenberger has something else he wants the world to see – a new theory of how everything, from people to inanimate objects – works.
Listenberger's new book describes his theory on just that.
'Self-Utility: A Theory of Everything' has been a seven year odyssey for the Niles eye doctor – and the book is now available online.
"I guess it's a life's observation," Listenberger said.
That life's observation, he said, includes 20 years of traveling to different countries during those eye care missions and observing how people in other parts of the world live.
Listenberger said he's always had an interest in science and physics and the "methodical thought process."
He describes the theory of self-utility as "a new theory that brings a commonality to all things. It explains how things exist, interact and effect change."
It is one, solitary process, he explained that "exists whether it be in a person or a rock or a molecule or a social institution…"
Self-Utility is a method of understanding and in giving an example in relation to people, Listenberger said, "what you put forth, your energy, and what you attempt to do – understanding how things work, you can do it.
"Everyone has it," he continued. "Tapping into it is the question." To do that, Listenberger said it takes recognizing how they interact and applying it, recognizing what one's values are and the values of others.
The book explores the theory in relation to rational metaphysics and how things work, pragmatic existentialism and how people work, ethics of the greater good, religion and spirituality and the meaning of life.
Listenberger said within the theory of Self-Utility and how things work, there is "a cycle of influence. If you can get the cycles working together, it does work."
The book is written for those with an interest in science but Listenberger said while working on the material, he had a desire to make it understandable and relatable.
"I wanted to put form to the concept," he said. "And try to make it so it could be understood."
Though its a new theory, the Niles optometrist said that he believed people intrinsically exhibit elements of Self-Utility but that they may not realize that they are doing so.
Upon the book's completion, Listenberger was able to get in contact with a publisher through a friend.
Six months later, Listenberger's theory was a finished product.
The book is now available online at Authorhouse.com, Borders.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Listenberger said he's considering a book signing in the future, though no plans for that have been decided upon.
His hopes for the book? That it will help readers "change the way they feel about the world," something he said he has taken away from the process himself.
And he hopes readers will "understand ways to predict the future and affect change in other people and the world."