Any book which focuses on father - son relationships pulls on my heartstrings which will be forever taut. But not every book makes it to my thoughts and resonates with my beliefs so thoroughly. The purpose of Speaker for the Dead, is stated by the author: to make a book which would tell the truth about someone's life, not a saint, but someone who is utterly cruel and evil. Of course that's paraphasing and the book is about way more than I feel like writing tonight but it's interesting anyway. Why would an author want to write the truth about someone cruel? He said because the cruelest thing someone can do after a person dies is lie about them in order to remake their life to how you see fit. That erases who they are which truly kills them. The hardest thing to do is tell the truth even though you know it will cause much pain and possibly much suffering to do it. He describes the pain like unto a hot iron which cauterizes a wound. The truth will eliminate the lies and the cycle or patterns of life we've set up to carry those lies will also be eliminated. This book is about exactly that. The truth will eliminate destructive patterns. Why? The author explains that as well. Knowing the truth allows love to take form. We were not made to love lies, we were made to love the truth. It is our foundation and so knowing a truth is really recognizing what we already knew to be true, it is knowing ourself, and it is knowing our Maker. Try it out sometime, if there is anyone or anything you feel anger and hate towards, spend sometime getting to know the truth about them. I bet you come away much richer from the experience than if you decided to build that hate into your life.
"Whoso seeketh out a thing with zeal shall find it."
Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card
Any book which focuses on father - son relationships pulls on my heartstrings which will be forever taut. But not every book makes it to my thoughts and resonates with my beliefs so thoroughly. The purpose of Speaker for the Dead, is stated by the author: to make a book which would tell the truth about someone's life, not a saint, but someone who is utterly cruel and evil. Of course that's paraphasing and the book is about way more than I feel like writing tonight but it's interesting anyway. Why would an author want to write the truth about someone cruel? He said because the cruelest thing someone can do after a person dies is lie about them in order to remake their life to how you see fit. That erases who they are which truly kills them. The hardest thing to do is tell the truth even though you know it will cause much pain and possibly much suffering to do it. He describes the pain like unto a hot iron which cauterizes a wound. The truth will eliminate the lies and the cycle or patterns of life we've set up to carry those lies will also be eliminated. This book is about exactly that. The truth will eliminate destructive patterns. Why? The author explains that as well. Knowing the truth allows love to take form. We were not made to love lies, we were made to love the truth. It is our foundation and so knowing a truth is really recognizing what we already knew to be true, it is knowing ourself, and it is knowing our Maker. Try it out sometime, if there is anyone or anything you feel anger and hate towards, spend sometime getting to know the truth about them. I bet you come away much richer from the experience than if you decided to build that hate into your life.
Life in a Day
What an amazing film! I can't believe I hadn't heard of this. Basically this film was made from citizens around the world and what they recorded on July 24th, 2010. The directors took this footage (over 4,500hrs) and wove a story about us and what our lives reflect all over the world on the same day. Looking into the lives of all these people I couldn't help but to feel a deep connection and appreciation for the diversity we represent. From race, religion, expressions, thoughts, behaviors, routines, jobs, there's so much in this film that the directors don't explain which adds to the viewers experience and interpretation. We are truly a complex and beautiful race. Life in a day.
Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
This book was a totally new experience compared to the one I had in 8th grade or so. My ideas of who the creature that Frankenstein created were completely erroneous. This book is genius and written in genius form. Please forget everything you think you know from your middle school encounter and re-explore this masterpiece again. Make sure you are not reading some dumbed down version. The prose should flow like this:
"Begone! I will not hear you. There can be no community between you and me; we are enemies. Begone, or let us try our strength in a fight, in which one must fall."
"How can I move thee? Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a favourable eye upon thy creature, who implores thy goodness and compassion? Believe me, Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity: but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow-creatures, who owe me nothing? they spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days; the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to me, and the only one which man does not grudge. These bleak skies I had, for they are kinder to me than your fellow-beings. If the multitude of mankind knew of my existence, they would do as you do, and arm themselves for my destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor me? I will keep no terms with my enemies. I am miserable, and they shall share my wretchedness. Yet it is in your power to recompense me, and deliver them from an evil which it only remains for you to make so great that not only you and your family, but thousands of others, shall be swallowed up in the whirlwinds of its rage. Let your compassion be moved, and do not disdain me. Listen to my tale: when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me, as you shall judge that I deserve. But hear me. The guilty are allowed, by human laws, bloody as they are, to speak in their own defence before they are condemned. Listen to me, Frankenstein. You accuse me of murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice of man! Yet I ask you not to spare me: listen to me; and then, if you can, and if you will, destroy the work of your; hands."
A conversation between Victor Frankenstein and his creation before the novel truly unfolds. Now go read this book.
"Begone! I will not hear you. There can be no community between you and me; we are enemies. Begone, or let us try our strength in a fight, in which one must fall."
"How can I move thee? Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a favourable eye upon thy creature, who implores thy goodness and compassion? Believe me, Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity: but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow-creatures, who owe me nothing? they spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days; the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to me, and the only one which man does not grudge. These bleak skies I had, for they are kinder to me than your fellow-beings. If the multitude of mankind knew of my existence, they would do as you do, and arm themselves for my destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor me? I will keep no terms with my enemies. I am miserable, and they shall share my wretchedness. Yet it is in your power to recompense me, and deliver them from an evil which it only remains for you to make so great that not only you and your family, but thousands of others, shall be swallowed up in the whirlwinds of its rage. Let your compassion be moved, and do not disdain me. Listen to my tale: when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me, as you shall judge that I deserve. But hear me. The guilty are allowed, by human laws, bloody as they are, to speak in their own defence before they are condemned. Listen to me, Frankenstein. You accuse me of murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice of man! Yet I ask you not to spare me: listen to me; and then, if you can, and if you will, destroy the work of your; hands."
A conversation between Victor Frankenstein and his creation before the novel truly unfolds. Now go read this book.
What is Ego?
People of Passion #2
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/is-organic-better-ask-a-fruit-fly/?smid=fb-share
If it works for fruit flies, it works for me =)
If it works for fruit flies, it works for me =)
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