Great fun with lots of cock and bull. Part mystery story, part psychological case study: a biting invocation of the awfulness that follows upon a psycGreat fun with lots of cock and bull. Part mystery story, part psychological case study: a biting invocation of the awfulness that follows upon a psychotic solipsism permeated by religious extremism...more
I was a bit worried about the title - I thought it may be a pop psychology book. It isn't, and you'll possibly have a smoother read if you're acquaintI was a bit worried about the title - I thought it may be a pop psychology book. It isn't, and you'll possibly have a smoother read if you're acquainted with basic academic psychology.
There are, in fact, only a few 'new laws', in a nutshell the restoration or insertion of psychology into mental health practices based around a focus upon the idea that meaning and interpretation of experience is crucial.
Sir Kenneth Calman has held many distinguished positions including Chief Medical Officer posts in Scotland and England. He has much experience practisSir Kenneth Calman has held many distinguished positions including Chief Medical Officer posts in Scotland and England. He has much experience practising and teaching medicine.
This book is a delightful survey of Scottish literature in its relationships with health, seen in all its aspects to include, for example, poverty, alcohol abuse and the environment.
Sir Kenneth gathered much of the material in a 'commonplace book', and also materials used with medical students. He is a strong believer that literature can inform and stimulate the medical professions, policy makers, patients and everybody else since he gives emphasis to health and wellbeing rather than disease per se....more
OK. Howard Male (the author) contacted me on goodreads and asked me to read this book. I understand he's messaged others. These aren't generic messageOK. Howard Male (the author) contacted me on goodreads and asked me to read this book. I understand he's messaged others. These aren't generic messages; he's been through my reading lists and refers to them as preparing me for this book of his.
This wonderful, hilarious, surreal romp. Not quite finished but the highest compliment I can give it is it's precisely the sort of book some maladjusted inner readerly miser wants to keep for itself. It's satirical and contemporary, its targets are brilliantly intertwined music industries, architecture, big corporations, the corrupt insanity of new age cults (though 'new age' is too thin here: the age of the Knowing Unknowing Universe is the 'now age').
The KUU stems from the writings of faded crazy music star Zachary B, disintegrating before our eyes as his drug-fuelled soul wilts under the realisation that the public see him more as Gary Glitter than Bowie. The theses he left, or hypotheses to be unprecise in a theory of everything where 'maybe' is the basis of an existential edifice based totally uncertainty. What follows from the original sacred text is its mediation and appropriation etc. etc.
Alarmingly, I have found myself taking seriously some of the hypotheses of the KUU. It has made me think. Or unthink.
My guess is that someone will accidentally read this review, later in the day meet a cat called Zachary, and then read in the London Review of Books a long essay considering the ethics of re-releasing Gary Glitter's greatest hits. This 'cosmic nudge' will set in motion events without a cause.
I hope Male has a good legal team. There is a slimy businessman who has 'V' as his trademark. Started in music, went on to planes, trains and whatever. Had a building built to image the V trademark. A common foundation and two blocks leaning away from each other, it came quickly to be known as the 'Fuck You Building'. All a mere detail, a throwaway conceit in this cross-genre, cross-dressing cock and bull tale that is scalpel-sharp-modern and at the same time permeated with the spirit of Cervantes and Sterne. It will seriously mess with your head. Seriously.
I almost always have a little light reading on the go, invariably detective stuff. This, my introduction to Martin, is fine, the writing wuality high.I almost always have a little light reading on the go, invariably detective stuff. This, my introduction to Martin, is fine, the writing wuality high. Faber think so too which is why the publish him. I note a lot of negative reviews. I sympathise. The books are slow and thickly textured, and very thin on plot or narrative suspense. The quality lies in the beautiful depiction of Edwardian atmospheres, all held together by the railways themselves, the power and smoke. Very amusing too....more
Written some ime ago and dealing with the USA, Peele's message is even more relevant today. Extrapo;ating claims of the addictions industrusties it woWritten some ime ago and dealing with the USA, Peele's message is even more relevant today. Extrapo;ating claims of the addictions industrusties it would seem that there is a larger population of addicts in America than there is a population of people! We are all supposed to be addicts now, all victims of genetic or biological or brain disease. We all need help, and we will pay good money for it.
Addictio as a disease is a myth. Peele shows why. Throw away your snake oil. charms, higher powers amd live with yourself as a responsible agent....more
Clear and accessible. Throughout, I was thinking of the interplay between academic discourse (as power) and its treatment of discourse and power.
I thiClear and accessible. Throughout, I was thinking of the interplay between academic discourse (as power) and its treatment of discourse and power.
I think that for people unfamiliar with critical discourse analysis this book provides as good introduction which will achieve a 'leap' in the way texts are received.
In 1980 the philosopher strangled his wife. After a lifetime of mental illness, he was found unfit to plead and sent once more to an asylum. This autoIn 1980 the philosopher strangled his wife. After a lifetime of mental illness, he was found unfit to plead and sent once more to an asylum. This autobiography gives his side of things. I am 200 or so pages in, and promise you it's a fascinating read.
By this stage of his book he is discussing his philosophy. Many of the details I have to ignore - such as many references to names and publications around the 1968 Paris events - but the general thrust of his relationship with Marxism and theory is accessible.
Even if you read this only for the quality of its writing, the author's beautiful and profound contemplation of his self as a psychological entity, with its heavy freudian/Lacanian envelope, you will love it....more
A real teeth grinder. I'm sure there are those who will find this ultra-scholarly edition wonderful, but it's not doing much for me. I will persevere A real teeth grinder. I'm sure there are those who will find this ultra-scholarly edition wonderful, but it's not doing much for me. I will persevere though I don't know why (perhaps an appropriate project)....more
Loving this. Brief but super introduction too by Robert Hurley. He warns that the bokk may be 'difficult', and advises the reader to read lightly. I dLoving this. Brief but super introduction too by Robert Hurley. He warns that the bokk may be 'difficult', and advises the reader to read lightly. I didn't find ithard, I found it delightful and rich. Coming from Gilles it was easy!...more
Interesting series of short stories around 'noir'. Next up for me will be 'Dublin Noir'.Interesting series of short stories around 'noir'. Next up for me will be 'Dublin Noir'....more
Continuing my research into the writings of 'ordinary'/working class people in the nineteenth century. This one's a treasure trove of references. It iContinuing my research into the writings of 'ordinary'/working class people in the nineteenth century. This one's a treasure trove of references. It is also one of a growing number of books that suggest that amidst the poverty and suffering of industrial Britain, there were realised layer on layer better lives for individuals and reforms leading through to the 20th century. In a year or so when I have assimilated thing, I'll reflect upon the somewhat suspect ideology that motivates (in the present constructions of history) views such as this which have swung the pendulum way too far in the compensatory direction....more
'About' advertising of course, but mainly of interest to me is that advertising is the cultural form through which Lears mediates interpretations of c'About' advertising of course, but mainly of interest to me is that advertising is the cultural form through which Lears mediates interpretations of cultural signification and the control of imagery. He gets down quickly to suggesting that the superficial glitter and phantasmogoria of high-speed modern (1993) iconography barely conceals dominant ideology. Seems to me to chime well with Adorno's 'The Stars Come Down to Earth'.
It is an absolute joy to read. One of those books that get me so excited I have to go an burn off physical energy....more
Sometimes I just have to read Gray to get centred. This is largely an interpretation of the fairy stories inhabiting many of the key players in the diSometimes I just have to read Gray to get centred. This is largely an interpretation of the fairy stories inhabiting many of the key players in the disastrous and wicked decision to invade Iraq. As ever, the whole is interpenetrated with a hatchet job on neo-enlightenment myths ofprogress....more
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