inquiry_from_an_anti_library's reviews
658 reviews

The Schopenhauer Cure by Irvin D. Yalom

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Is This An Overview?

Julius is a therapist who received a grave diagnosis.  Having at best one year of health left, Julius evaluates one’s life.  Evaluates whether Julius was an effective therapist.  Although there were those who improved with the guidance of Julius, there were those who Julius could not help.  One person in specific, Philip, was the worst of Julius’s failures.  Julius could not help Philip even after spending years in therapy.  Wanting feedback, connects with Philip who seems to have been transformed.  Philip confirms that Julius’s therapy did not help, but that the transformation was caused through the philosophy of Schopenhauer. 

 

Phillip believes that Schopenhauer’s philosophy can also provide comfort for Julius’s metal state.  Julius wants to consider Schopenhauer, while Philip needs professional supervision hours to become licensed.  They make a contract that Julius will supervise Philip, and Philip will provide guidance on Schopenhauer to Julius, under the condition that Philip first attend Julius’s group therapy sessions.  The reason for the condition, is that Julius cannot accept Philip’s impersonal methods of therapy.  Can Julius’s group therapy help Philip or is Philip’s Schopenhauer cure the better type of therapy?

 

Caveats?

This book relies on psychology and philosophy.  No background knowledge of the fields is required, but interest in those topics depends on the reader.  Most of the book takes place in the therapy group, the discussions that the group has.  The experience and effectiveness of group therapy can differ for everyone. 

Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness by Steve Magness

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

Is This An Overview?

Being tough is culturally perceived by a lack of fear, emotions, and vulnerabilities.  Being tough means being callous.  Creating a variety of toxic behaviors that were excused for being portrayed as what tough people do.  Cruel training methods were used to develop this version of toughness, but had negative consequences.  Rather than build toughness, the cruel training methods sorted those who were or were not tough, but they failed at sorting.  Those who left did tough activities while those who stayed became more physically and mentally fragile.  Cruel training methods taught people to respond to external motivation of fear and power, to avoid being punished.

 

The perceived toughness is fragile, for the individuals tend to lose their emotional control, confuse power for respect, and take their frustrations and insecurities out on others rather than deal with their frustrations.  Real toughness is about having equanimity when facing adversity.  Real toughness is being able endure adversity with thoughtful action, rather than blindly powering through the adversity.  Those who are really tough keep their focus, embrace challenges, recover from errors, persevere, and are intrinsically motivated.  They use their emotions for feedback to guide behavior, as feelings provide valuable information to make better decisions.  They set appropriate expectations about their capacity to cope with a challenge, by embracing reality rather than being deluded by false confidence.

 

Caveats?

This book is filled with examples of the various types of toughness, and methods to develop toughness.  Interest in the examples depends on the reader.  

An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence by Zeinab Badawi

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4.0

Is This An Overview?

Humankind began in Africa, before migrating everywhere.  The story of Africa has often been told by foreign powers, that improve their perception of events at the expense of Africa.  This book is a counternarrative to the foreign power narratives.  This is a history represented by the people of Africa.  A history that represents the variety of societies that developed across the African continent.  The methods that states used to gain sovereignty, and how their sovereignty was lost.  The internal and external power struggles.  The different religious practices, and the ways religion effected societies.  The significant building projects and influential ideas.  When Africa was used for a supply of labor, the slave trade precipitated in conflicts as each community became suspicious of other communities for the victors sold the defeated.  Social disfunction fragmented economic activity and inhibited state development.  The end of slavery transitioned into exploitation of the various resources found in Africa.

 

Caveats?

This book covers a lengthy history of Africa, a history of many different African people, cultures, and states.  This book acts as an introduction to the societies, as there is not much information on each society.  To understand each society would require more research.  

Understanding Knowledge by Michael Huemer

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

1.0

Is This An Overview?

Epistemology are the methods by which beliefs are justified, the underlying thinking behind decision making.  All statements contain implied knowledge claims, with epistemology the study of that knowledge.  Knowledge that needs to be justified by rational beliefs, formed by a probabilistic account of evidence.  Which requires the individual to want to pursue truth and avoid errors.  There are many views of what is knowledge, and what are justified beliefs, but each has their own logical limitations. 

 

Belief systems can be internally coherent, but not externally valid.  Theoretic knowledge of principles needs to be tested by experience to be useful, as there can be missed information within the theoretic knowledge.  Most knowledge is obtained through other people’s testimonies.  Accumulated information that would be potentially impossible for anyone to verify all the knowledge in their lifetime.  Testimonies are a crucial source of knowledge, but cannot be trusted as they can confirm biases rather than understand reality.  Even knowledge that is obtained and used by the individual requires cognitive faculties, but the faculties have their own limitations. 

 

Caveats?

This book is a guide to epistemology topics and ideas, which uses a lot of jargon.  A reference book for those taking a course in epistemology, or for professional epistemologists. 

 

The methodology of the book is not tailored to facilitate improving decision making.  Rather the book is meant to find the logical limitations to claims.  Epistemology is supposed to be a study of knowledge, but as the author notes, epistemologists do not have an accepted and working definition of knowledge, as each attempted definition has logical limitations.  Neither knowledge nor any obtained belief can be proven, not even if someone is not a brain in a vat.   

The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017 by Rashid Khalidi

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense

5.0

Is This An Overview?

Palestine was governed by the Ottoman Empire until the end of WWI.  While various regions gained independence and sovereignty, Palestine was occupied by the British.  The British took over governance of Palestine.  To obtain influence in the region, the British enabled an autonomous Zionist para-state, facilitated Jewish immigration into the region.  Zionism was to take over the sovereignty of Palestine.  But Palestine was populated by a people, with a vibrant and developing Arab society.  Propaganda efforts made Palestine appear to be a barren and empty region.  A method of denying Palestinians political representation, cultural heritage, and existence. 

 

While Zionism was being politically represented, the Palestinians lacked official political standing which prevented the Palestinians from diplomatic ventures and gaining internal cohesion.  A Palestinian revolt failed due to a lack of direction and division among the Palestinians, a revolt which devasted the Arab population.  The events of WWII further reduced Palestinian control over the region, as there were many more Jewish immigrants. 

 

As global political power shifted after WWII, the United States and USSR favored dividing Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state.  Palestine was caught in a rivalry between the United States and Russia, with Israel supported by the United States and various Arab states supported by Russia.  The partition caused most Arabs in Palestine to be under the state of Israel. 

 

Many Palestinians were turned into refugees.  Palestinians had their movements restricted.  There was a Nakba, which was an ethnic cleansing, and destruction or theft of economic production capacity.  The Palestinian sovereign identity would emerge internationally after a first strike by Israel in 1967.  The resolution to the Palestine-Israel conflict would require mutual acceptance of each other’s existence.  Acceptance of each other’s sovereignty. 

 

Caveats?

This is a politically sensitive book, meant as a counternarrative to various claims about who the Palestinians are, and what has happened to the Palestinians.  While most of the book is a history of events, that feature harmful Israel actions, the references to Palestinian harmful actions are minimized and deflected away from. 

My Two Chinas: The Memoir of a Chinese Counterrevolutionary by Baiqiao Tang, Damon DiMarco

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5.0

Is This An Overview?

There are two Chinas.  One whose culture and generous people have influenced the world, and another that is an oppressive regime that violates human rights and punishes thinking.  One China promotes wanted values, while another China hides the consequences of the government’s decisions.  While equality is the declared virtue, there is drastic inequality.  Those who work for the government, the Chinese Communist Party, are rewarded with a quality livelihood, everyone else is shunned and suffers.  There is a lack of methods for people to express their disapproval and change the situation. 

 

In an effort to improve the conditions of China, Baiqiao Tang took to political activism, using peaceful methods.  Became a recognized student activist.  Baiqiao Tang was influenced by Hu Yaobang.  Hu Yaobang was someone the people recognized as wanting to help the people.  Hu Yaobang wanted democracy, transparency, open society, a culture of freedom.  Hu Yaobang would eventually lose the favor of the government.  Hu Yaobang’s death was trivialized by the government, but the people wanted to honor Hu Yaobang.  Students represented the Chinese people, entered Tiananmen Square to mourn Hu Yaobang.  A peaceful demonstration that ended with the government using violence, which included shooting protestors. 

 

After the events of Tiananmen Square, the government went after student leaders.  As a student leader, Baiqiao Tang was forced to flee, to become a fugitive.  Eventually was captured, and spent to prison.  A prison system that tortures the prisoners.  A political system that turns people into prisoners to use them for forced labor.  Prisoners are a cheap labor force given the lack of medical care, and provisions.  Prison labor is a source of profits for the state. 

 

What Lead To Tiananmen Square?

After Mao Zedong’s death, Deng Xiaoping gained power.  Hu Yaobang was Deng Xiaoping’s ally.  Deng Xiaoping and Hu Yaobang were critical of Mao Zedong, and gained popularity by encouraging people to vent their outrage.  Although Deng Xiaoping enabled China to become more international and provide local representation, Deng Xiaoping’s regime was as ruthless and cruel as that of Mao Zedong.  After Deng Xiaoping stopped criticizing Mao Zedong, people recognized Hu Yaobang as the reformer who wanted the change to favor the people. 

 

After Baiqiao Tang, students gathered at Tiananmen Square.  Hu Yaobang was a catalyst, but the event was for the people.  Although Tiananmen Square was a peaceful movement, the People’s Liberation Army was asked to uphold martial law.  The protestors overwhelmed the army with kindness.  Another brigade was sent, which opened fire on unarmed people.  A peaceful movement that the government reciprocated with violence.  The carnage would be described by the government as a riot. 

 

Caveats?

While parts of the book are historic events for which there are various corroborating claims, the book is primarily based on a single perspective.  There are accounts of conversations and other minute personal details which would be difficult to remember clearly, but this does not affect the quality of the sentiments shared. 

Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters by Brian Klaas

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Is This An Overview?

The methodology of cause and effect has enabled people to navigate a complex reality, to make reality understandable.  The problem is that cause and effect leaves out other causes of change, such as flukes.  Events occur not just because of a rational decision, but because of random events.  An outcome can be dependent on a series of contingent events, which just happen to coincide.  Outcomes might not be proportional to the cause, as small changes can drastically affect what happens through a cascade of influence.  A reason for failing to notice how flukes effect life, is due to how the brain processes information.  The brain operates by finding patterns, even in randomness.  The brain will rationalize the randomness into a coherent narrative of events, that discounts randomness and chance. 

 

The options that a person has, or does not have, depends on everything and everyone that came before, and contemporaries.  Everyone is linked, intertwined, for every moment is a composition of decisions and fluke events that affect others and oneself.  Small acts can wreak havoc or provide calm in the lives of others.  Individuals do not have much control over their own lives, but everyone influences everything. 

 

Caveats?

This book is filled with various examples of fluke events.  Interest in the examples depends on the reader.  The examples can be short, and can miss details which can produce a different evaluation of whether an event was a fluke or not.  A fluke can sometimes appear as an event that lacks an explanation, an event that needs to be studied more.  As the emphasis is on fluke events, on randomness, as they tend to be culturally dismissed by those seeking cause and effect explanations, the emphasis can seem to dismiss cause and effect. 

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Is This An Overview?

After gold was found, people needed strong dogs for hauling products, which had furry coats to protect themselves from the frost.  Buck was such a dog.  Buck was part of a loving family, and trusted familiar people.  Someone Buck trusted traded Buck for money.  Buck was proud but forced into submission by the thieves.  Joined other dogs who were forced into submission.  Buck was forced to be part of a sled dog team, used for hauling.  Buck had to learn to overcome the cold, hunger, and exhaustion.  Buck had to fight to stay alive.  Buck developed unscrupulous behavior as a method of survival.  Developed the primal instincts of Buck’s wolf ancestors.  How can Buck overcome the miserable situation?

 

Caveats?

The book can be difficult to read due to antediluvian references and language.  Language that is representative of the era. 

The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization by Peter Zeihan

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3.0

Is This an Overview?

Trade is fragile.  Trade needs people to want to exchange products for what others have.  As people became numerous due to advances in food production, more people were able to do something other than produce food.  Developing industries to manage, leverage, and improve agriculture.  Increasing specialization.  The development of cities had people encounter other people more often, which could provide alternative nonperishable products but also escalated conflicts.  Deepwater navigation reduced the costs to transporting products, making trade more accessible.  Alternative forms of energy to muscles, water, or wind made people less dependent on the weather for trade.  What made international trade possible was a negotiated peace, that each state would not compete militarily with other states. 

 

States have become dependent on global trade to function.  Trade has enabled specialization for which states cannot do without.  Without access to trade, the consequences are civilization shattering.  Very few geographies have the needed resources and access to industry to be self-sufficient. 

 

Causes of deglobalization are a byproduct of demographics, for most states have lower fertility with an older population.  Less people and future workers make economic integration too costly.  Trade would decline.  Less trade leads to less specialization, which reduces productivity that causes various shortages.  Shortages that are part of a cascade of social and economic breakdowns that drastically effect civilization.

 

Caveats?

A complex but simplified history is presented.  The simplification of historical references leads to various misleading assumptions that effect the analysis.  

 

The language of the book can make the book a more interesting, funnier read.  The consequence of the language is to reduce the quality of the analysis. 

 

Globalization has problems, which the author references.  There are alternative solutions that do not lead into a catastrophic future. 

The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life by Kevin Simler, Robin Hanson

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Is This An Overview?

While socially taboo topics, issues, and behaviors are elephants in the room.  The elephant in the brain is an introspective taboo.  The way the brain processes information is not something people want to think about, or are aware of.  What the brain does, is enable the pursuit of self-interest, without acknowledging the self-interested motivation. 

 

Humans are designed for hidden selfish motives, while appearing to be selfless to others.  People rationalize their behavior as being more socially acceptable, than the behavior actually is.  To better hide the selfish motives, people undergo self-deception.  Self-deception is a strategic act for improving the effectiveness of deceiving others. 

 

For social support, to gain the approval of others, people show conspicuous behavior.  A lot of wealth, resources, and effort is used for intra-group competitive signaling.  Resources used to show off rather than for useful purposes.  Although the resources are wasted, the institutions have enabled people to cooperate.  Enabled methods of interacting that improve society, not just the person. 

 

Caveats?

As the authors acknowledge, there are a variety of reasons for why people behave the way they do, not just because of hidden selfishness.  Most of the book is filled with examples of when more resources are spent on an activity than is useful, finding how people act selfishly while not appearing as being selfish.  Although the examples are diverse, the explanations can become repetitive, and interest in the examples depend on the reader.