Scan barcode
insearchof_wonder_'s review
4.0
This book was not quite what I expected, but I was nonetheless pleasantly surprised. I was expecting more of a discussion or deep dive into the psychology behind groupthink or mob behavior, but instead found a humorous and insightful look at the various follies that have afflicted mankind (or that mankind has afflicted on itself) throughout history.
I disagreed on some aspects of his worldview, namely that I believe there is a spiritual world beyond our natural realm and the two sometimes mix. I think it requires discernment and caution before ascribing anything to spiritual forces, but I won't discount the fact that they exist. His analysis of various potentially other-worldly experiences is a strict adherence to a very scientific approach that nothing on earth happens without a natural cause. I think that is most often the case, to be sure, but not always.
I started drawing little LOL emojis next to the passages that literally made me laugh out loud. Let me tell you, I have laughing emojis all over this book! Most of the humor requires the entire context in order to be truly funny, but here are a couple quotes:
"The credulity of that age had a wide maw."
"Robert Kerr, a Scottish youth, was early taken notice of by James I, and loaded with honors, for no other reason that the world could ever discover than the beauty of his person."
Regarding a work by George Ripley, canon in Yorkshire in 1477, about the "twelve gates" leading to successful alchemy: "These gates he described to be calcination, solution, separation, conjunction, putrefaction, congelation, cibation, sublimation, fermentation, exaltation, multiplication and projection; to which he might have added botheration, the most important process of all."
I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.
Aside from his humor, he was very insightful into human nature. I offer these quotes for your consideration:
"Every age has its peculiar folly."
"When men wish to construct or support a theory, how they torture facts into their service!"
"If two or three persons can only be found to take the lead in any absurdity, however great, there is sure to be plenty of imitators. Like sheep in a field, if one clears the stile, the rest will follow."
"The bonds of reason, though iron-strung, are easily burst through; but those of folly, though lithe and frail as the rushes by a stream, defy the stoutest heart to snap them asunder."
I disagreed on some aspects of his worldview, namely that I believe there is a spiritual world beyond our natural realm and the two sometimes mix. I think it requires discernment and caution before ascribing anything to spiritual forces, but I won't discount the fact that they exist. His analysis of various potentially other-worldly experiences is a strict adherence to a very scientific approach that nothing on earth happens without a natural cause. I think that is most often the case, to be sure, but not always.
I started drawing little LOL emojis next to the passages that literally made me laugh out loud. Let me tell you, I have laughing emojis all over this book! Most of the humor requires the entire context in order to be truly funny, but here are a couple quotes:
"The credulity of that age had a wide maw."
"Robert Kerr, a Scottish youth, was early taken notice of by James I, and loaded with honors, for no other reason that the world could ever discover than the beauty of his person."
Regarding a work by George Ripley, canon in Yorkshire in 1477, about the "twelve gates" leading to successful alchemy: "These gates he described to be calcination, solution, separation, conjunction, putrefaction, congelation, cibation, sublimation, fermentation, exaltation, multiplication and projection; to which he might have added botheration, the most important process of all."
I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.
Aside from his humor, he was very insightful into human nature. I offer these quotes for your consideration:
"Every age has its peculiar folly."
"When men wish to construct or support a theory, how they torture facts into their service!"
"If two or three persons can only be found to take the lead in any absurdity, however great, there is sure to be plenty of imitators. Like sheep in a field, if one clears the stile, the rest will follow."
"The bonds of reason, though iron-strung, are easily burst through; but those of folly, though lithe and frail as the rushes by a stream, defy the stoutest heart to snap them asunder."
More...