Monday, July 30, 2012
Updated book list...
Updated book list (Given my current situation with Team
Giardia, I have the time…)
Note: the first three books on the list reflects my current
interest in proving to myself (and more importantly, my daughter) that when a society blindly adopts any and all
“technological innovation” that society is heading for catastrophe. Furthermore, the
even greater tragedy is that in this 'post modern', interrelated world, this blind
adoption has vast negative world-wide implications not only for humankind but
for all living things. The sad truth of the matter is that most of the time we simply accept new technology without any thoughtful discourse or qualitative analysis. Even if you believe that a particular technological advance is counterproductive to the quality of ones life (or to society), the resounding conclusion is that once the device is available there is absolutely nothing anyone can do to stop its use. This seemingly inability of a society to control the "advancement" of any and all technology represents what Durkheim would surely call an "anomie." Essentially we have become slaves to our technology and we don't even realize it...so strange. For a very significant percentage of kids living in this country (and increasingly in many other countries as well) the majority of their waking hours is spent as passive spectators zoned into either a TV or computer screen. These people are either sleeping, or being entertained by a TV/computer...surely this cannot be a good thing, but...of course there is nothing we can do about it...itz just the way things are now...
In the Absence of
the Scared: The Failure of Technology & the Survival of the Indian Nations
by Jerry Mander. This five star read was
recommended to me by my old friend, Scotty Kylander-Johnson. While it is dated having been written in the
early 1990s, in my estimation it is spot on.
If you have not been to a high school or college campus in the last five
to six years take the time to seek one out and walk around a bit. The first
thing you will notice is that kids do not interact anymore, instead that are
all tied into their own little cyber worlds. Mander saw it coming, even in the
early 90s. Basically these are two books
in one. Book one is a general critique of our zombie-like obsession with
technology and how we simply go along with what the mega-corporation market to
us…Of course the military leads all technological advance…the art of killing is
the most progressive followed by the art of extracting natural resources. The second book applies Mender’s theories to
the native cultures and what has happened to the modern tribes that have adopted
TV into their homes. A chilling, but spot-on work.
Empire of
Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle by Chris
Hedges. Another great and shocking
effort by Hedges. I saw him interviewed on PBS (Bill Moyer’s show) and
immediately ordered his new book. The title says it all. He uses several
aspects of our modern culture to make the point that the vast majority of us
are living in tailor made fantasy worlds. The chapter, The illusion of Love
provides too much raw, disconcerting info about the X-rated movie business and
I found myself wondering if he had fallen victim to his own illusions. Overall
its good stuff!!!
The Righteous
Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan
Haidt. As with Hedge’s book, I saw Haidt
on the Bill Moyer’s show and was both impressed and captivated. I am only about
forty pages into a three hundred page textbook-like read, but it is very
interesting. Haidt is much more hopeful
than either Hedges or Mander. Basically he argues that the two political
parties are duping us all. He also
maintains that we want to do the right thing, but group loyal always trumps
logic, so we tend to go with the group even when it is counterproductive to our
own lives…Case-in-point: The family guy that is working hard but barely making
it and yet he still is against some form of universal healthcare.
Andrew Jackson in
the White House: American Lion by Jon Meacham. This book has been
highly touted, winning the Pulitzer Prize, but I thought that it was pretty
lame. It seems most of Jackson’s time in the White House was spent fighting
with his in-laws and sticking it to the hapless Native Americans. I came away
unimpressed with both Jackson and Meacham.
Inside of a Dog:
What dogs see, smell, and know by Alexandra Horowitz. Horowitz makes a
big deal in the introduction that we should be really really careful not to
engage in “anthropomorphism” (attribution
of human characteristics to nonhumans) and then she spends the rest of the book
doing anthropomorphism. I was pumped to read this book especially given our
recent love affair with Loki (who was killed by a car a few months ago and now
our new Man-puppy, Hondo), but I was disappointed. Note: A better book that is really old (from
the 1960s) but provides great practical insights into training a dog is Richard
Wolter’s Family Dog.
The Last
Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazanizakis. This amazingly complex,
historic, and important literary classic was given to me by Ari of the Slender
Fungus. I am through Chapter Seven and
even though I am not yet one-third through it, I am both confused and humbled
by the weight of the story. I will need to finish it and then re-read parts of
it to make a comment that is worthy. For now, I can see why it’s publication
caused such a stir in 1960, when it was first published. Wow!
Into the Silence:
The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest by Wade Davis. This
is an awesome re-telling of the life and times of George Mallory. Five stars
and a Must READ for any aspiring DBDer…I have a signed copy from the author,
Wade Davis! It was a gift to me from my heroes, Lindsay Gauld and Andy Lockery…I
treasure this book…Go get this book and treasure it too!
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Just ordered the Mallory book.
ReplyDeleteHope the recovery is going well.