An older woman who was once renowned for her beauty becomes involved with a young gigolo after her husband dies. She soon finds that beauty is often aAn older woman who was once renowned for her beauty becomes involved with a young gigolo after her husband dies. She soon finds that beauty is often a facade to hide the ugliness that is hidden in the soul. Williams forces us to confront age old questions about the connection between beauty and goodness. ...more
Put aside all the zombie stuff...this book is terrifying because of the Pogo maxim: "We have met the enemy and he is us." What if the boys in Lord of Put aside all the zombie stuff...this book is terrifying because of the Pogo maxim: "We have met the enemy and he is us." What if the boys in Lord of the Flies ruled the world after the next nuclear war laid waste to civilization? I have had a nightmare about the 'mobile slaughter wagon' and I did not like it...a very powerful book....more
I have to be honest...did not get as much from this book as I could have because of my decayed math skills (not that there was ever much there to decaI have to be honest...did not get as much from this book as I could have because of my decayed math skills (not that there was ever much there to decay). But it was a "bucket-list" book that I thought was quite inventive. Think this would be a really good STEM book for 8th graders; if they can understand the concepts here then I think they are ready for high school math. ...more
Manga version of the Hagakure...read it at the same time you read the book. Give this book to someone who is starting out on their martial arts journeManga version of the Hagakure...read it at the same time you read the book. Give this book to someone who is starting out on their martial arts journey; it will help them focus on some of the more intangible aspects of MA that (so often) are ignored in todays 'get ready to test for your next colored belt' focus so many schools have today. ...more
The best exposition on bushido I have ever read. I have given this book as a gift to several friends who decided to start practicing martial arts; theThe best exposition on bushido I have ever read. I have given this book as a gift to several friends who decided to start practicing martial arts; the lessons transcend any given school or discipline. When I fenced competitively in college I would find inspiration in examples taken from this book - lessons that helped me to focus on trying to maintain a mental edge against my opponents. Was happy to read this concise translation finally....more
'The media is the message' in photographs...eye opening. I am going to say something I am not quite sure I am saying right: Garry Winogrand (in my opi'The media is the message' in photographs...eye opening. I am going to say something I am not quite sure I am saying right: Garry Winogrand (in my opinion) is an existential photographer. His ability to capture the existence (of a time and place) yet tap into the essence (of the universality of the moment) is why I say this. ...more
Who is looking at what? Are we a 'moving zoo' for the animals in the zoo? Once you see these pictures you will never see a zoo in the same way. If youWho is looking at what? Are we a 'moving zoo' for the animals in the zoo? Once you see these pictures you will never see a zoo in the same way. If you have not experienced the photography of Garry Winogrand then I would really encourage you to pick up this book. How I wish he and Charles Bukowski would have worked on a book together!...more
The dead tell their secrets where they are buried. With no reason to lie we find that all is not what it seemed to be: some of the 'pillars' of the coThe dead tell their secrets where they are buried. With no reason to lie we find that all is not what it seemed to be: some of the 'pillars' of the community were rotten to the core and some of the 'dregs' of the town were the best citizens. I think of this book every time I see a homeless person and wonder: has society abandoned this person while (somewhere) a CEO commits crimes that will never come to light?...more
Walker Evans took these pictures of people on the New York subway (1938-1941). Using a hidden camera Evans was able to catch them going about their daWalker Evans took these pictures of people on the New York subway (1938-1941). Using a hidden camera Evans was able to catch them going about their day to day existence...most never aware of the fact that their picture was taken. Truly amazing photos that will stay with you long after you have finished the book....more
One of the strangest books I have ever read...a kind of 'satori hell' where you find yourself only after everything is lost. Very unusual - but there One of the strangest books I have ever read...a kind of 'satori hell' where you find yourself only after everything is lost. Very unusual - but there are passages that are beautiful. If you like The Twilight Zone and the works of Samuel Beckett you will probably like this book: once disbelief is suspended it becomes a tale that transcends classification that will have a profound impact on you. ...more
Very inspirational book that looks at flight from two very different perspectives: physical flight in a plane and spiritual flight from inside. AntoinVery inspirational book that looks at flight from two very different perspectives: physical flight in a plane and spiritual flight from inside. Antoine de Saint-Exup茅ry has a haunting way of writing; it is as if he is drawing out you inner child and telling you that magic really does exist. I found this book very comforting and inspiring. ...more
I can think of someone running for high office right now that could use this book (you can fill in the blank). Or maybe...don't read this book; just kI can think of someone running for high office right now that could use this book (you can fill in the blank). Or maybe...don't read this book; just keep doing what you are doing! There is lots of wisdom here; wisdom that out elected representatives seem to have forgotten. This book will also be of great interest to those seeking to change public policy....more
I liked this 'song' until the last 'refrain'. The way Hiawatha left his people (and who he tells them to 'follow') did not make sense to me. Seemed toI liked this 'song' until the last 'refrain'. The way Hiawatha left his people (and who he tells them to 'follow') did not make sense to me. Seemed to me a hidden nod to manifest destiny; I am not a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow scholar so I will not make this a definitive statement. ...more
This was one of the most original books I have ever read. How Pushkin was able to accomplish this poem/novel is beyond me. The theme of rejecting loveThis was one of the most original books I have ever read. How Pushkin was able to accomplish this poem/novel is beyond me. The theme of rejecting love and then being rejected by that same love latter in life is masterful. Alexander Pushkin! - you are on my 'reading radar' and I will look for more of your works! ...more
Michael Henchard is the perfect example of being your own worst enemy - even after a second chance to redeem past mistakes he just will not see past tMichael Henchard is the perfect example of being your own worst enemy - even after a second chance to redeem past mistakes he just will not see past the toxic pools of power that spill over his life; he can never be happy with who he is and what he has been given - highest recommendation....more
One of the first references to PTSD I have ever come across. Powerful narrative about madness brought on by the horrors of war. Those who fight wars aOne of the first references to PTSD I have ever come across. Powerful narrative about madness brought on by the horrors of war. Those who fight wars are often overshadowed by those who instigate war; as such the narrative is distanced by concentric rings of command and control. This book looks at war from the perspective of those who must pay the price when the rings widen....more
How far would you go to catch a killer? Would you become involved with the mother of a child so that you could use the child as bait? And if you did tHow far would you go to catch a killer? Would you become involved with the mother of a child so that you could use the child as bait? And if you did that would there be questions asked about how and why you decided that this was the course of action you should take? Read the book before you watch the movie - many more layers here....more
Babbitt reminds me of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb - we spin a cocoon of "becoming" around ourselves and go about our life...but as time goes by the Babbitt reminds me of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb - we spin a cocoon of "becoming" around ourselves and go about our life...but as time goes by the cocoon is not transformative, but binding. At some point in everyone's life the cocoon of what we wanted to "become" becomes the web that traps who we "are". For most of us 'Comfortably Numb' sneaks up through the decades; only then do we realize our "butterfly summer" passed by us long ago. Babbitt is the 'everyman' who never ponders this: a Socratic warning to examine your life before the living becomes worthless....more
The way we judge others is the main focus of this book. The true 'Scarlet Letter' is affixed to our soul - causing someone to suffer because we do notThe way we judge others is the main focus of this book. The true 'Scarlet Letter' is affixed to our soul - causing someone to suffer because we do not want to tell the truth is more shameful than any fault we may judge....more
'Panglossianism' fails to take into account that the 'best of all possible worlds' may not be the best state of existence for everyone living in that 'Panglossianism' fails to take into account that the 'best of all possible worlds' may not be the best state of existence for everyone living in that world. The question of what makes the world 'best' and for whom that 'bestness' is reserved seems to me to be the core question of this book. Happy to have added this to my 'classics shelf'....more
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