Ronin

À Sophoclean Tragedy for the times of the Climate Crisis

Revisado: 02-22-24

And what a wonderful performance. A pleasure to listen to, an inspiration to take in.

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Great book on yoga, but perhaps not an entry one

Revisado: 11-02-22

So far the best book on yoga I have come across. It beautifully interweaves the teachings of yoga through the ages with its anatomical underpinnings, explaining what is going on in the body and what the different elements of yoga signify. However, it might be a bit heavy for a first-time yogi. Stephen Cope's 'The Wisdom of Yoga' provides a gentler introduction. Finally, Tiffany Morgan's narration is a gentle song to start the day with.

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Everyone

Revisado: 08-03-20

should read this! Or listen to it. Really. Alongside the book it quotes and cites.

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"dangerous bullshit"

Revisado: 11-29-19

One online reviewer wrote that whilst Gladwell's premise is compelling, his rambling and digressing zig-zagging between cases contains a lot of "dangerous bullshit". I would agree.

The opening passages about how Cuban spies rode roughshod with the CIA are entertaining, the message that not everyone functions according to the same parameters is useful, and the observation that our brain is a bit lazy and defaults to the easiest option follows. The latter two points have been made more thoroughly, comprehensively, and knowledgeably by Daniel Kahneman in 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' and Lisa Feldman Barret in 'How Emotions Are Made' - both excellent listens on Audible.

Gladwell then goes on to say that to tackle sexual abuse on campuses, the excessive consumption of alcohol should be problematised, because it could lead to misreadings in highly sexualised environments such as frat parties. He off-handedly notes that respect for women could form part of that conversation, but that alcohol importantly inhibits our ability to read strangers. It is almost akin to opening a category of 'accidental sexual assault' because of intoxication. It is not like an orange juice could be spiked by someone who is sober and intentional...

He also concludes that Sandra Bland's arrest was in part due to her behaviour being 'mismatched' or 'intransparent' - an innocent person's annoyance misinterpreted to be a sign of guilt by a cop trained to do his job and be suspicious. He mentions briefly that the case formed part of what gave rise to Balck Lives Matter, but eschews institutional racism entirely.

In short, this is a book of a charlatan. He somewhat copies what serious scientists like Kahneman and Feldman Barrett have stated, and supports it with a meandering number of ill-fitting anecdotes that only work by selectively choosing perspectives or suspending better judgement, not to speak of any scientific rigour. And en passant, they undermine attempts to engage with institutional or engrained sexism, racism, and abuses of power. Dangerous bullshit.

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