Sometimes I get a book because I like the title. This is one of those books - and am I glad I liked it. What a wonderful exploration of philosophy touSometimes I get a book because I like the title. This is one of those books - and am I glad I liked it. What a wonderful exploration of philosophy touching on many areas of interest to modern Americans but quite humorously and through the eyes of children - Hershovitz' children, specifically. But it's more than philosophy; it's an approach to raising thoughtful and curious children through respecting what THEY think and exploring their curiosities with them. I learned a lot; about the framing of ideas and arguments and the histories of both (and so much more.) I really think every curious person ought to read this book - and be amazed and amused. I lent it to a friend who mad a special trip to see me an thank me for recommending it. Nasty, Brutish and Short... can't go wrong....more
I am not sure where I found The Anomaly. We were traveling and, of course went to several bookstores in the places we visited. I think I found it in SI am not sure where I found The Anomaly. We were traveling and, of course went to several bookstores in the places we visited. I think I found it in Santa Fe. I'm so glad I did. I enjoy books that explore scientific and philosophical ideas novelistically. I especially enjoy them when they are true literature. This is one of those books. The translator, Adriana Hunter did a terrific job (as far as I can tell.) Le Tellier really understands the world around him and the different ways that we humans explain the world to ourselves. He makes all of this interesting without resorting the tricks of thrillers or any other genre. The story involves an airliner that encounters BAD WEATHER. It lands. Four months later, it lands again. The issues that are confronted by the politicians who have to ensure that this is not a threat to life as we know it are explored. But even more interesting are the issues confronting the passengers who ow have another "self" inhabiting the world who knows and responds to things exactly the same. Very interesting and entertaining. REally a good book and worth reading....more
I gave this book - and the author - five stars, not because I'm sure that it is without fault but because Viren addresses issues I have pursued since I gave this book - and the author - five stars, not because I'm sure that it is without fault but because Viren addresses issues I have pursued since I was seven years old. No mistake, she does it well! Especially in that Viren questions her own "reality," truth, and meaning. So much courage it takes to do that, even in private, but this woman puts it out there for all of us to see; To The Best Of Her Ability. I say that because,of course, that's all we can do. I the 60++ that I have pursued these questions, I've not come across anyone who has so publicly and honestly grappled with "what it all means," and who still has the courage to not provide an answer. I love this book. But to bring beautiful writing and excellent stoytelling to the examination of truth, lies and reality is create art and to offer her own spirituality as shaped by her art and her questions. It is to bring to the reader a model for how to look for one's self in a world where the very fabric of being is called into question. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in "what it all means."...more
It takes courage to share one's spirituality with the world. It takes a bold spirit to engage with Thomas Merton and Ms Scott is bold but - she is notIt takes courage to share one's spirituality with the world. It takes a bold spirit to engage with Thomas Merton and Ms Scott is bold but - she is not arrogant. She treats Thomas Merton like a friend. He's a much older friend with a decidedly different world view that can bump up against a modern sensibility. Sophfronia Scott engages with Merton like a great granddaughter with a treasured forebear. They don't always see eye to eye but she does her best to understand this genius of a man and cut him some slack when he can't possibly know what her experience has been. And of course, he can't really engage in a way that differences could be reconciled. Ms Scott is on a journey much like Merton's I think and her words, her way of engaging with the world will be a useful guide to those setting out on their own pilgrimage and it will give readers the courage, I hope, to trust their own spiritual instincts as Sophfronia Scott trusts hers. Worth the read for sure....more
I clicked on the choose shelves button and then chose more shelves for this book than I have ever chosen for any other book. Weber is new to me but hiI clicked on the choose shelves button and then chose more shelves for this book than I have ever chosen for any other book. Weber is new to me but his ideas about the our relational life, our aliveness, expressed in the title as Matter and Desire, are explored in depth. And what I like about this book is that Weber EXPLORES aliveness using all the tools at his command, including science, theology, psychology, spirituality, language in both prose and poetry. Weber understands the world as relational, thus he works hard to focus on the unity within diversity, the ecology of life rather than separate pieces of life thus reducing it to parts the sum of which does not create a greater whole. Perhaps he is trying to help us experience the ecology of life rather than think about it. That would fit with his description of life - and death - as poetry. I found it to be well written and profound as well as beautiful and simple; like good poetry. I highly recommend Matter and Desire to anyone open to the OTHER....more
I've read two or three of Wills' other books and thoroughly enjoyed them - mostly because they are so down to earth, well researched and within the s I've read two or three of Wills' other books and thoroughly enjoyed them - mostly because they are so down to earth, well researched and within the scope of my own beliefs. Wills is a first rate historian of the Catholic Church and he understands its issues personally, professionally and theologically with his own spirituality based on The Creed of the Apostles as a base for himself. My own Catholicism comes from a different place but it helped greatly by reading this book. The man knows that there is room for all under the Catholic umbrella and that makes us kind of soulmates. Some people may wonder why Wills doesn't address the issue of sexual abuse and I can't answer that but, it seems to me, that showing how the Papacy has been used and abused and has used and abused many over the millennia covers that issue. I remain a Catholic in spite of the sexual abuse issue because I know that this kind of thing happens in every organization where there is an imbalance of power. Wills correctly advocates that the voice of the laity be more prominent and attended to - in all areas where there is a disconnect. I would encourage anyone to read this book because it is well written, well researched and shows the Churches flaws. I think that doing that made Wills' sharing of his own faith and the reasons he remains Catholic much more poignant and powerful. I would say that there are many other reasons to be Catholic but Wills made the main points....more
What a sweet little book. Ms Chambers has given us a very hopeful look at a future that I would love to be a part of. Sibling Dex, a gender fluid monkWhat a sweet little book. Ms Chambers has given us a very hopeful look at a future that I would love to be a part of. Sibling Dex, a gender fluid monk, who becomes disenchanted with their life in the monastery and decides to become a traveling tea monk and then decides to go into the wilderness where they meet a robot. The interactions that Dex has with Mosscap, the robot, nicely illuminate the paradoxes of being human. Very wise and gentle, I highly recommend this book....more
I am a fan of Ilia Delio. I became interested in her work with her exploration of Teilhard De Chardin's thought. I find Delio's writing to be clear anI am a fan of Ilia Delio. I became interested in her work with her exploration of Teilhard De Chardin's thought. I find Delio's writing to be clear and concise and her exploration of Teilhard helpful to me in improving my understanding of his thought and spirituality. She does the same for Bonaventure. The best part, for me, is tying Bonaventure into a theology/spirituality for today that also embraces Teilhard. Bringing the best of Catholic thought of the past into today is a true service. The past is tied to the present to the future. Having a systemic approach that makes the intellectual connections is so important. This is the genealogy of Catholic thought and spirituality that, whether we know it or not, informs who we are and who we will become....more
I have read as many of Robinson's Callahan books as I could get my hands on. My life changed, I moved around a lot and as a reader lost track of SpideI have read as many of Robinson's Callahan books as I could get my hands on. My life changed, I moved around a lot and as a reader lost track of Spider Robinson. Someone reminded me of him, I found this book hoping to be dazzled. Perhaps if I'd read very the last essay first I would have had a more positive response to the rest of the book. But I didn't. Reading two or three of these essays at a time allowed me to pick up on Mr. Robinson's inconsistencies - which he appears to not see for himself. There are some whoppers here too. I take exception to the idea, that Robinson states in a very presumptious way that people like him have figured it all out and if the rest of us meatheads would only pay attention the world would not have any problems. All of that said, Robinson is a good writer and his ideas are worth considering. ...more
I love to read books like this: very smart scientist author explains the science in a way that I can nearly understand it. I will read another and I wI love to read books like this: very smart scientist author explains the science in a way that I can nearly understand it. I will read another and I will understand it a little better. What stands out about "Fundamentals" is that Wilczek describes a spiritual experience of "being born" again that has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with being open to the mysteries of the Universe, the mysteries of God. He is a very good writer, a Nobel prize winner who grew up Catholic and can still quote Augustine and the bible. But his world has expanded the way the world of the mystics expands when they have their experience of God. Don't get me wrong, Wilczek is all about the science. He is not equating his work as a physicist with the work of the mystic. And yet, as I read Fundamentals, I recognize the same movement of Spirit within the author. As a bonus I begin to understand the physics that underlies the dynamics of the Universe. I recommend it - even if the science just make you scratch your head. Wilczek does a good job of making it nearly intelligible even to people like me....more
Most of us only know of Scotus because we know about dunces and dunce caps. Most of us are not much interested in philosophy or theology. It is remarkMost of us only know of Scotus because we know about dunces and dunce caps. Most of us are not much interested in philosophy or theology. It is remarkable that a 13th century philosopher/theologian would have so much to say to people today. Scotus is a very difficult read but Ingham has been able to make clear his core thought an d show how it is meaningful for us today - especially those of us who have not thrown away our religious/spiritual life. Ingham shows how Scotus can provide a foundation, based on reason, for living in the world we know today that will carry us to the world of the future. Scotus knows that reason and faith are not opposed but complementary aspects of human being and brings them together with deep and intricate reasoning. Others, smarter than me, are making good use of Scotus' ideas to formulate a powerful base for progressive ideas to bring humanity to the nest stage of human evolution. Check out Ilia Delio....more
I have been in love with Teilhard's vision of reality since I first heard of him in college (a long time ago.) His reconciliation of Christianity withI have been in love with Teilhard's vision of reality since I first heard of him in college (a long time ago.) His reconciliation of Christianity with science has inspired me and focused my own approach to spirituality/life/the world. I am not that smart though so I really like this book in which 13 authors give us a perspective, explaining concepts that are difficult and answering objections to Teilhard's vision more than I can say. Some of the writing is a bit tedious but the expansion of my own awareness regarding how we fit into Creation and relate to God is totally worth the effort. I especially appreciate the absence of dogmatism since each of the authors realizes that this is a work in progress. Equally, I appreciate the enthusiasm of the authors for this totally original approach to spirituality and the reconciliation of Christian Spirituality with the science that God gave us to further understand the world and ourselves. I am not sure that this is the place to start for those unfamiliar with Teilhard but want to know what he says. The editor, Ilia Delio, has written extensively on Teilhard so I would recommend her books as the starting place....more
I read Abram's first book: The Spell of The Sensuous. It was a wonderful examination of how humans related to the natural world and that relationship I read Abram's first book: The Spell of The Sensuous. It was a wonderful examination of how humans related to the natural world and that relationship informed every aspect of human life; aspects that we have lost as we have become less related to the natural world. Becoming Animal is sort of a story about how to begin to form a new relationship with the natural world. Abram shares his own experiences and in doing so offers a kind of guide for how anyone might begin to form and grow as a person in relation to the world around them. The Spell of The Sensuous was captivating to me, I could barely put it down. Here the author seems to get bogged down. Or perhaps it's more that I was in a different space but I found the book somewhat tedious. I'm still glad that I read it because I learned some things that I can put into place in my own life that will make me more whole as a person through a more deeper relationship with the natural world....more
This is the Wilber book I should have started with but... who knew? A grounding in this book would have helped me understanding his The Future of ReliThis is the Wilber book I should have started with but... who knew? A grounding in this book would have helped me understanding his The Future of Religion. It would probably helped me to understnad his Integral Psychology better as well. Too late. For those of us who think that evolution is ongoing but that the future of evolution is less in integrating digital technology into ourselves and more in developing the humanity within to higher and higher levels of consciousness Wilber's theories make a lot of sense and they do not require letting go of any of my history - in fact they reassure me that my history is important to my future development - and to the future development of humanity. This book is probably the most clear exposition of Wilber's ideas so I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in their personal development, especially if that development includes a person's spirituality. I will not try to explain Wilber's ideas I would only encourage reading what he has to say....more
I will start by saying that people ought to read this book because Harari gives the clearest exposition of anthropology, capitalism, culture and how wI will start by saying that people ought to read this book because Harari gives the clearest exposition of anthropology, capitalism, culture and how we got where we are as a species on this planet that I have ever read. And I've read a number of them. Caveat: clear exposition often leaves out nuances and other un-orthodox expositions but that's okay because Harari is taking the reader on a journey that it's best to not get sidetracked from. That said, I want to say that I was reading Barry Lopez's "Horizon" simultaneously which speaks to many of the same topics but in a much more spiritual way. And spirituality is what Harari leaves out of his exposition and it is a major flaw. The lack of spirituality does not take away from the brilliance of what is in the book at all. This is a brilliant effort. But it does mean that an important part of what it means to be sapiens is not even addressed leaving the reader to understand that, as a species, homo sapiens has the ability to plot our own course and that we are now capable of doing so rising above any of the errors that we make in regard to our place in the ecology of the planet and the universe. That's a lot of hubris. None-the-less, this book should be read for the brilliance that it offers....more
Dr. Harris has written a well balanced, well researched (both empirically and subjectively) book about Ayahuasca and the experience of drinking it. I Dr. Harris has written a well balanced, well researched (both empirically and subjectively) book about Ayahuasca and the experience of drinking it. I do find it rather amusing that a person as intelligent and open as Dr. Harris is seems to have so much difficulty reconciling her views as a scientific materialist (my term) with her spiritual experience. Everyone has a different journey, though and, I suppose, that for as long as we exist people will debate whether spirituality is more than just chemicals firing in our brains. Personally, I feel (and think) that there is more to the universe than we can possibly know and many things that seem incompatible in the universe exist in it together anyway. Go figure....more
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