tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.comments2023-10-20T16:24:05.707+02:00Critical Masses - discussing books and lifeTBlazehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02682676885235656490noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-47591673618045185082013-08-30T17:29:11.739+02:002013-08-30T17:29:11.739+02:00I'm only a third of the way through, but I don...I'm only a third of the way through, but I don't think I've read a book this ponderous. I mean that in a good and bad way. It reads like a social science textbook. I have to re-read passages, and sometimes that produces an Aha! Most of the time, however, I'm left with the feeling I used to have when reading college texts: I hope this isn't on the test. It's not a page-burner, but it occasionally sheds insight on the unconscious (fast-thinking) and conscious (slow-thinking) sides of our brain. I'm hoping the author will tell me eventually what I'm supposed to do with this information. <br /><br />Marlene Detierro (<a href="http://www.cashfund.com" rel="nofollow">CashFund</a>)Marlene Detierrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09035816972520443608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-51500686935533320912012-07-01T21:13:18.841+02:002012-07-01T21:13:18.841+02:00Hey bud, great review. Good to see Critical Masse...Hey bud, great review. Good to see Critical Masses is back in action. So, you want to keep the knowledge all to yourself, huh? You greedy bustard. <br /><br />I liked this book, too. Lotsa great insights.Nels Abramshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11080071498931697658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-56088820708620911052010-02-01T01:16:10.822+01:002010-02-01T01:16:10.822+01:00My local mystery bookstore had to move when the ow...My local mystery bookstore had to move when the owners of the complex decided last year in the midst of a recession to raise the rent. They moved to another location which is three times as far away from me, but ironically, I now visit it more often than before.<br /><br />It moved to a little shopping plaza that includes my favorite breakfast restaurant, a mom-and-pop place that I've been going to for over 20 years now. After breakfast or lunch, it's no trouble to simply walk about 20 yards and pop in. <br /><br />A f-t-f book group that I belong to scheduled _The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo_ several months ago. We were all impressed, even those who felt the violence level was a bit high. <br /><br />The second one in the series (name escapes me at present) is on my list.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-64930147516992958462010-02-01T00:58:46.126+01:002010-02-01T00:58:46.126+01:00Sounds like a great bookstore. I live well away f...Sounds like a great bookstore. I live well away from any bookstores so take full advantage of the local library. I've reserved "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02197440053108414394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-13716808090312766722010-01-31T21:29:19.523+01:002010-01-31T21:29:19.523+01:00I'm sorry to hear about your favorite book sto...I'm sorry to hear about your favorite book store. I don't know what I would do if my little neighborhood of serenity underwent any change. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on book prices, and I will be sure to check out The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.epiczombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15278755607558441355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-48687393692486647202010-01-26T17:23:56.236+01:002010-01-26T17:23:56.236+01:00TBlaze,
OK, I missed that point. However, I don&#...TBlaze,<br /><br />OK, I missed that point. However, I don't see secular humanism as a religion or a science either, and I don't think I've ever heard a secular humanist claim it's a science.<br /><br />I'm not certain what box people put me in, possibly secular humanism, but I don't see it as a religion, but more of an ethical/philosophical system.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-28051901603305200472010-01-25T22:51:56.634+01:002010-01-25T22:51:56.634+01:00Dear Fred,
The point Gray is making, which I perh...Dear Fred,<br /><br />The point Gray is making, which I perhaps was unsuccessful in explaining, is that humanism is not recent and dates back to the founder of European thought, Socrates. What is recent in humanism is the belief that "through science mankind can known the truth - and be set free". Even Socrates is said to have heard an inner voice and had some type of connection to the mystical powers of the world.<br /><br />The recentness to which Gray refers is when modern, secular, humanism disassociated itself from its Christian origins when in reality it itself is a religion and not a science.TBlazehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02682676885235656490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-71315840220430795962010-01-23T17:02:50.456+01:002010-01-23T17:02:50.456+01:00I haven't read anything by Nassim Taleb or Joh...I haven't read anything by Nassim Taleb or John Gray, although your review suggests that I should rectify that omission. <br /><br />I have read some of Armstrong's works and agree with Taleb's comments about her. She is impressive. <br /> I'm curious about Gray's assertion that progress and humanism are "recent." I suppose the question is what "recent" means to him.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-41186993529721394532010-01-22T12:27:28.380+01:002010-01-22T12:27:28.380+01:00sir its greatsir its greatmy experiencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01934475633157358245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-5362377376903880342010-01-22T12:26:28.068+01:002010-01-22T12:26:28.068+01:00sir its really greatsir its really greatmy experiencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01934475633157358245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-25547965559733527362010-01-17T16:56:55.321+01:002010-01-17T16:56:55.321+01:00Sherlock Holmes is still the king.Sherlock Holmes is still the king.Nels Abramshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11080071498931697658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-18989544287025289212010-01-07T09:39:39.888+01:002010-01-07T09:39:39.888+01:00I don't read much crime books but I read some ...I don't read much crime books but I read some good ones by Ken Follet and Dan Brown... I guess those are the "best sellers" among crime books. I will read "Crissement sur le tableau noir" next and I think its a crime book too... I'll let you know! :-D Oh Rushdie's Shalimar the Clown! I enjoyed that too!Curlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11639974437875505265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-57802255034044792662009-12-09T15:53:57.358+01:002009-12-09T15:53:57.358+01:00very interesting blog!!!! I'll follow you! (vi...very interesting blog!!!! I'll follow you! (virtually of course! ;-)))...)Curlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11639974437875505265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-65129493109408871842009-12-03T16:05:59.319+01:002009-12-03T16:05:59.319+01:00will definitely try to read this book.thanks a ton...will definitely try to read this book.thanks a ton for the wonderful reviewMajorsrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706761857383284861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-24640975479610864972009-11-29T19:04:21.598+01:002009-11-29T19:04:21.598+01:00I would love to be in a Henry James-only book club...I would love to be in a Henry James-only book club. I'm in three, but so far, no H.J. interest at all. You would think in the Washington, D.C., area, I might find someone with that interest.<br /><br />But then I am a hopeful sort. And patient.Glimmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02085124664342701611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-79205593167649677352009-11-20T03:39:26.700+01:002009-11-20T03:39:26.700+01:00Hey bro,
Another good insight into your reading. ...Hey bro,<br /><br />Another good insight into your reading. Well done. My sister recommended this book to me. The main thing that bothered me was that I kept picturing the author imagining herself as this really intelligent woman surrounded by her inferiors--like the protagonist. Is that too critical?Nels Abramshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11080071498931697658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-16426959271943285242009-10-30T16:11:32.131+01:002009-10-30T16:11:32.131+01:00Finding your blog was a great way to start the day...Finding your blog was a great way to start the day. I look forward to following your posts.Space Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02999151060350221353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-87063579827321273172009-10-21T23:20:13.515+02:002009-10-21T23:20:13.515+02:00hi
I enjoyed reading ur post.
I have a blog about ...hi<br />I enjoyed reading ur post.<br />I have a blog about cinema in Persian. can we exchange links? an honor for me.نون. ب.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10293630731550917114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-64591224961772021592009-10-13T19:37:05.047+02:002009-10-13T19:37:05.047+02:00Hello my friend,
going around on the web I've ...Hello my friend,<br />going around on the web I've found this blog<br />http://www.readallday.org/<br />what do you think? :)<br /><br />The elegance of the hedgehog for me has been fast, but not the best book ever. maybe too "french", in the sense that it is too elaborate in some parts and there would not be any reason for this, it could have been more direct and simple.<br />But it's anyway a matter of liking.<br />Tkae care, hug you&IvaFabio Del Sordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13673220011427258787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-70753961094039973242009-10-02T00:31:54.993+02:002009-10-02T00:31:54.993+02:00Oo I loved this book! I cried when Renee died. I&#...Oo I loved this book! I cried when Renee died. I'm reading Gourmet Rhapsody about Monsieur Arthens, you should look into it if you like The Elegance of the Hedgehog.McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09533394721673647468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-26797283163021253982009-09-04T17:42:08.711+02:002009-09-04T17:42:08.711+02:00Copyright issues are tough. One the one hand, you...Copyright issues are tough. One the one hand, you want to provide incentive for creative production. But on the other hand, overly protectionist copyright laws can act to inhibit development which benefits from the patent. Also, a patent creates a temporary monopoly on a product. Surely limiting the use of knowledge and monopolies aren't the most efficient way. <br /><br />But to address the problem requires international cooperation. And Russia and China haven't indicated they are willing to cooperate with intellectual property rights.Nels Abramshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11080071498931697658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-10187877863937878202009-09-04T17:22:22.313+02:002009-09-04T17:22:22.313+02:00That sounds like a cool show. Secret: my dream j...That sounds like a cool show. Secret: my dream job is to do interviews like Bill Moyer.<br /><br />I like your thoughts on the role of climate and geography. That phenomena is seen clearly in Colombia as well, with both the economy and culture of the mountainous region surrounding Bogota being completely different than the coast. My uninformed idea on this is that less hospitable regions require more organization, and ultimately engender success. It is similar to the oil crutch: nations with oil tend to cruise on easy street and not develop an effective, diverse economy.Nels Abramshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11080071498931697658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-72610469795478549322009-08-19T23:39:40.761+02:002009-08-19T23:39:40.761+02:00Thank you for this book review. I'm a poet who...Thank you for this book review. I'm a poet who doesn't read many short stories, but I once read "What we talk about when we talk about love"--not the whole book, just that story--and I was blown away. By the end of the story, there's just so much there. I don't even know how to explain it. There's just a lot of feeling and emotion and nothing concrete to say about the feeling and emotion. just very powerful...steve roggenbuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18365298081050960605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-2394083769212226512009-08-19T22:43:28.946+02:002009-08-19T22:43:28.946+02:00Great insight, TallTchr! Thanks. Seems your memo...Great insight, TallTchr! Thanks. Seems your memory is quite good after nearly thirty years.TBlazehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02682676885235656490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674908791069831557.post-4672377474454276352009-08-19T20:23:23.620+02:002009-08-19T20:23:23.620+02:00Hi,
Came by to say hello and wish you well.
Hope y...Hi,<br />Came by to say hello and wish you well.<br />Hope you are having a good day.<br />Love,<br />HerradHerradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13728207969811635579noreply@blogger.com