Review: Meditations on First Philosophy: With Selections from the Objections and Replies

Meditations on First Philosophy: With Selections from the Objections and Replies by René Descartes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A good edition of the Meditations and the Objections. The Objections have been organized by topic, which was helpful as it allowed me easier comparison of the complaints as well as consider the Replies. The footnotes provide some interesting notes on the translation. I can't comment too heavily on how well it captures the original because I have not read and cannot read the original (which is why I used a translation).

A very important text, historically speaking. A bit of a challenge to wrap around the logic of all the arguments, but still quite interesting from a literary perspective.

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Review: Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Contentious in some ways, but a seminal work in terms of moral philosophy, the foundation of a lot of thought today.

The introduction and brief analysis was definitely helpful, added a lot of clarity to my reading.

All in all, a pretty decent read.

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Review: Survivor

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not want to finish this book in a day. I did finish this book in a day because it does a semi-decent job of building just enough mystery to keep you reading if you have nothing better to do.

It's very sardonic and cynical in some ways, but weirdly optimistic in other ways. There are moments that are surprising and moments of anti-climax where you go, "Oh" and realize that maybe the book did that on purpose but you can't be sure that it did. It's dark and terrifying, entertaining but just a little thoughtful. It's uncomfortable, but not too disturbing. It's a very conflicted book, which makes a lot of sense because of the themes it deals with.

The themes it deals with are cynicism, modernity, purpose and everything else, but also not really.

It's paradoxical.

In some ways, the writing is almost juvenile, but I can't tell if that was satire that I did not understand or bad writing. That's never a good sign. I think the payoff was lacking, but the same thing stands. And I don't mean, "I thought it was bad, but maybe I didn't get it." I just don't know.

There were some really good bits.

There were some not-so-great bits.

It's a flawed novel, but I liked reading it.

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Review: Theogony / Works and Days

Theogony / Works and Days by Hesiod
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Disclosure: I did not read Work and Days. This is a review of the 30 or so odd pages that make up Theogony.

Theogony is fun to read. With the awareness that this is an ancient text, the characterisations of the immortals and mortals, the larger themes and the incredible details in terms of names and lineages is an experience of its own. It is difficult to liken it to other books I have read, and in that, it is refreshingly direct. If you know a little Greek Mythology, you will find this a rich experience of delving into a historical source to catch a glimpse of how Greeks may have viewed their own gods. Further, it makes for a good comparison and contrast with Homer.

As a bonus, you get absolutely metal phrases like "Achilles Lionheart, breaker of men". Awesome phrases and sentences that give the entire thing a sense of power and gravitas.

Good book.

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Review: Batman: Damned

Batman: Damned by Brian Azzarello
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Absolutely beautifully drawn with an ok story.

The art is incredible. Every frame is a painting and it's a joy just flipping through and slowly absorbing the panels. I loved that.

The story is strange, not too bad. Constantine's rhymings and puns got some cheap laughs, but also coloured the larger story in a very unsettling tone. Not unsettling in the "Oh, creepy" way, more, "I have no idea what the tone is" way. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just strange.

The supernatural elements actually work quite well with the whole Batman mythology aesthetic. Almost reminiscent of some of the more incredible Batman comics in the way our titular character becomes a force of nature almost.

The plot is hard to follow, lending itself to some interpretation. It was ok. Nothing too special in the end. The twist can be seen coming a mile away. Not too many props granted there.

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Review: The Odyssey

The Odyssey by Homer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not expect the book to be as beautiful as it ended up being.

The Odyssey is an epic, especially in conjunction with the larger story of Troy. From the beginning to the end of the book, there is a powerful sense of scale and wonder. The journey of the titular hero is long and arduous, the ending bloody.

This book is enjoyable in multiple layers. The story itself is one of family, friendship and blood, but at the same time, you can enjoy the larger cultural exploration that is done when reading a book from a culture so far away. The way the Homeric Greeks looked at Gods, monogamy and loyalty is very interesting. The characters are nuanced, fun to try and decipher within Homeric lyric.

The style of writing, the way the original has been translated, is beautiful. It is intense when it needs to be and poignant when it needs to be. It is not the easiest to get used to, but past the first few chapters, I found myself enjoying it (though I struggled through some of the later ones).

All in all, definitely worth reading. If for nothing else, then for the cultural value the text has.

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Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I finished this book because severe loss aversion would not let me abandon it. Once I had started reading it, I kept thinking, “Oh, I have already suffered through some of it, might as well read the rest”. That is time I am never getting back.

First, I want to touch on the Seven Habits themselves. They aren’t “Habits” per se, they’re more ideas and principles which can be applied and internalised in various ways. Most of it is obvious stuff presented as motivation. “Be Proactive”, “Sharpen the Saw” and “Begin with the End in Mind” are basically complex ways of telling you to take action, take care of yourself and be focused on goals. At best these are motivation, but the book is SO LONG that it is hardly necessary. The “Quadrant II” idea is a common one these days, perhaps the most interesting of the lot BUT explained so half-heartedly compared to so many better books. Then we have “Synergize” which is just confusing and a badly presented Rogerian Argument.

At it’s core, this is horribly written. The advice is badly phrased, the examples are all over the place and the book could have been a fourth of the current length and lost nothing. It is rambly, it shifts gears abruptly and sometimes the advice seems to overlap so much that you forget which of the different habits you were reading about. Today, a hundred and one books and websites teach all of these principles better than this book can.

I wish I’d read an online summary of this book instead of reading the actual book.

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Review: Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World by William H. McRaven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Short, engaging and solid. It’s a good book, it’s a strong reminder of the things that are easy to forget.

The first piece of advice, “Make Your Bed” is the only one that was new to me as a concept. Finish a task every morning. It seems like a good suggestion and I want to try it out.

The rest of it is more generic ideas like not giving up, making strong connections and inspiring hope. However, they are well presented, with examples that are short but interesting. It is personal, it is direct and it does not beat around the bush. It is what it is.

Frankly, it is refreshing. They are not actionable per se, but they are good reminders. They are things we are likely to forget, pieces of information that need to be engrained to make sure you can always get back on your feet.

Good. Worth reading.

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