A formulaic memoir on Harris' discovery and implementation of meditation into his life. Each chapter follows the same pattern: Harris is skeptical aboA formulaic memoir on Harris' discovery and implementation of meditation into his life. Each chapter follows the same pattern: Harris is skeptical about some aspect of meditation, he explores the aspect, he's then not so skeptical. I found Harris' descriptions and insight into working for corporate media the most interesting aspect of the book, along with the appendix which includes some helpful information and instructions on meditation. ...more
"Here is where the rhetoric of modern conservatives (and I say that as one of them) fails to meet the real challenges of their biggest constituents. I"Here is where the rhetoric of modern conservatives (and I say that as one of them) fails to meet the real challenges of their biggest constituents. Instead of encouring engagement, conservatives increasingly foment the kind of detachment that has sapped the ambition of so many of my peers. I have watched some friends blossom into successful adults and others fall victim to the worst of Middletown's temptations - premature parenthood, drugs, incarceration. What separates the successful from the unsuccessful are the expectations that they had for their own lives. Yet the message of the right is increasingly: It's not your fault that you're a loser; it's the government's fault." (p.194)...more
Beautifully written and moving memoir on Lol's involvement with The Cure and his friendship with Robert Smith. So many fun, and poignant, stories and Beautifully written and moving memoir on Lol's involvement with The Cure and his friendship with Robert Smith. So many fun, and poignant, stories and reminiscences. A must read for die-hard Cure fans....more
A good, basic overview of numerous examples of political protest by American athletes. There's no real narrative or analysis tying all the examples toA good, basic overview of numerous examples of political protest by American athletes. There's no real narrative or analysis tying all the examples together so in that sense the book becomes a bit scattered, just jumping from one example to the next, but it's still a good reference book. I found it immensely helpful in giving background to and putting into context Colin Kaepernick's current protest....more
The simmering undercurrent of suspense throughout the whole book kept me riveted. I loved the main character, Cora. It ends perfectly set up for a secThe simmering undercurrent of suspense throughout the whole book kept me riveted. I loved the main character, Cora. It ends perfectly set up for a second book, and I really hope he writes one....more
"Americans are as unlike any other white people in the world as it is possible to be. I do not think, for example, that it is too much to suggest that"Americans are as unlike any other white people in the world as it is possible to be. I do not think, for example, that it is too much to suggest that the American vision of the world - which allows so little reality, generally speaking, for any of the darker forces in human life, which tends until today to paint moral issues in glaring black and white - owes a great deal to the battle waged by Americans to maintain between themselves and black men a human separation which could not be bridged. It is only now beginning to be borne in on us - very faintly, it must be admitted, very slowly, and very much against our will - that this vision of the world is dangerously inaccurate, and perfectly useless. For it protects our moral high-mindedness at the terrible expense of weakening our grasp of reality. People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who insists on remaining in a state of innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster." (p. 178)...more
"I have heard many people say: 'But I don't know enough! I don't have enough of the facts to be able to speak up about racism or anything else!' They "I have heard many people say: 'But I don't know enough! I don't have enough of the facts to be able to speak up about racism or anything else!' They are not alone. We have all been miseducated in this regard. Educating ourselves and others is an essential step in the process of change. Few of us have been taught to think critically about issues of societal injustice. We have been taught not to notice or to accept our present situation as a given, 'the way it is.' But we can learn the history we were not taught, we can watch the documentaries we never saw in school, and we can read about the lives of change agents, past and present. We can discover another way." (p. 204)
"What if I make a mistake?' you may be thinking. 'Racism is a volatile issue, and I don't want to say or do the wrong thing.' In nearly twenty years of teaching and leading workshops about racism, I have made many mistakes. I have found that a sincere apology and a genuine desire to learn from one's mistakes are usually rewarded with forgiveness. If we wait for perfection, we will never break the silence. The cycle of racism will continue uninterrupted." (p. 205)...more
I found the black and white photographs of the exercises in this book nearly impossible to understand. The photos are taken at strange angles, and it'I found the black and white photographs of the exercises in this book nearly impossible to understand. The photos are taken at strange angles, and it's hard to detect precisely what movements the author is making. The text is written simply and is easy to understand, and it seems like a good program to undertake, but since I couldn't be sure how to properly do the exercises, unfortunately the book is of no use to me. I recommend saving your money and instead pay to watch the video bundles on her website, or watch her free videos on YouTube (much shorter videos and not as extensive as the video bundles). It's much easier to watch her do the exercises rather than trying to comprehend how to do them from low quality black and white photos. ...more
An engaging, accessible, no-frills memoir about Jacques transitioning while also trying to continue going about her daily life. Interspersed throughouAn engaging, accessible, no-frills memoir about Jacques transitioning while also trying to continue going about her daily life. Interspersed throughout the memoir are side essays on trans history and culture ("A History of the Sex Change," "Conundrum: The Politics of Life Writing"), making this part memoir/part reference book. An important read. ...more
Not a pro-Hillary book...but not exactly an anti-Hillary book either. Recommended for those willing to look beyond the smear articles and Facebook memNot a pro-Hillary book...but not exactly an anti-Hillary book either. Recommended for those willing to look beyond the smear articles and Facebook memes who truly want an answer to the title question. ...more
"One bill that I introduced should become law in every state, but unfortunately it did not succeed even in New York. It would have made it mandatory f"One bill that I introduced should become law in every state, but unfortunately it did not succeed even in New York. It would have made it mandatory for policemen to successfully complete courses in civil rights, civil liberties, minority problems, and race relations before they are appointed to a police department." Shirley Chisholm, 1970....more
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