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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Illusions is a very gentle, inspiring book that has pushed me to do great things.
I won't be swimming around in soil, but I'm very capable.
I won't be swimming around in soil, but I'm very capable.
I was enamored with this book in my early twenties and read it every few years, each time discovering what at the time seemed like deep, powerful life lessons and philosophical gems. As time passed and with each new reading the principles became so much a part of my personal makeup that with each reading they felt less revelatory and more common sense.
This latest reading has evolved my... appreciation and interpretation further as I find many of the axioms and view points to be a bit naive and outright incorrect, particularly the principle that we are the ultimate arbiters of our destiny. The idea of some inner voice/self is such nonsense vs various biochemical interactions. Additionally the notion the author sells that each of us 'chooses' our limitations is nonsense as inequality and privilege/advantage courtesy of the global system are real.
Sure those familiar with the book will argue that my opinion is all illusion... yeah except you can't will or vision yourself out of extreme poverty or a system that is designed to prevent your mobility. Sorry but especially the "American Dream" is just that and mostly has been just that since the... founding of the country. Same goes for the world as prejudice and inequality are universal especially in our globally connected society. Essentially, what I've come to understand it's that the author writes from an incredibly privileged perspective yet it's infuriating and upsetting because he never acknowledges this! So odd that as I've grown older I've learned this about my own life and own it each day and with each interaction I struggle to tension mindful of it and work to give back, to appreciate and to not be a dick about it. Sadly, in reading Illusions this time I had to accept that Richard Bach might be a bit of a dick...?
All this said I still enjoy this book and find some valuable albeit simplistic and biased reminders about how to live, I'm just not so innocent to take all of it at face value and hope that this with each read it will continue to evolve the ideas as I gather more experience and knowledge.
That's just how I choose to see it presently... I of course may be wrong.
This latest reading has evolved my... appreciation and interpretation further as I find many of the axioms and view points to be a bit naive and outright incorrect, particularly the principle that we are the ultimate arbiters of our destiny. The idea of some inner voice/self is such nonsense vs various biochemical interactions. Additionally the notion the author sells that each of us 'chooses' our limitations is nonsense as inequality and privilege/advantage courtesy of the global system are real.
Sure those familiar with the book will argue that my opinion is all illusion... yeah except you can't will or vision yourself out of extreme poverty or a system that is designed to prevent your mobility. Sorry but especially the "American Dream" is just that and mostly has been just that since the... founding of the country. Same goes for the world as prejudice and inequality are universal especially in our globally connected society. Essentially, what I've come to understand it's that the author writes from an incredibly privileged perspective yet it's infuriating and upsetting because he never acknowledges this! So odd that as I've grown older I've learned this about my own life and own it each day and with each interaction I struggle to tension mindful of it and work to give back, to appreciate and to not be a dick about it. Sadly, in reading Illusions this time I had to accept that Richard Bach might be a bit of a dick...?
All this said I still enjoy this book and find some valuable albeit simplistic and biased reminders about how to live, I'm just not so innocent to take all of it at face value and hope that this with each read it will continue to evolve the ideas as I gather more experience and knowledge.
That's just how I choose to see it presently... I of course may be wrong.
Eh, it was okay. A little funny, a little charming, but mostly new agey philosophy that hits a lot of the same beats of the Word of Faith movement that I fundamentally disagree with. It was written by a cis white man and the privelege shows in his philosophy - most people who suffer aren't choosing to suffer. It's a philosophy lf victimn-blaming. But, yeah, points for being a decently enjoyable read, and the concept's kinda fun.
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wouldn't endorse this worldview.
Ok wise master + novice bits though
Ok wise master + novice bits though
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated