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A review by solaireastora
Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Murakami
5.0
A fascinating book. It is divided into 2 main parts, with 2 essays from the author as well. The first part consists of interviews with survivors of the Tokyo Subway gas attack in March 1995. The second part consists of interviews with 61 Aum Shinrikyo members (who were not involved directly with the attack, but still had insight into the cult itself)
Some of the stories almost made me cry, especially the one where the author interviews a woman who has severe brain damage from the sarin gas. She has lost motor functions and memory but is gradually, very slowly trying to recover. It is tragic that her life would be destroyed in such a way.
Probably, a better job could not be done in terms of trying to understand all the human aspects of this monstrous event.
“In the final analysis, logic doesn’t play a strong role in people’s motivations.”
pg 354
“However, we need to realize that most of the people who join cults are not abnormal; they’re not disadvantaged, they’re not eccentrics. They are people who live average lives… who may live in my neighbourhood. And in yours.”
pg 364
Some of the stories almost made me cry, especially the one where the author interviews a woman who has severe brain damage from the sarin gas. She has lost motor functions and memory but is gradually, very slowly trying to recover. It is tragic that her life would be destroyed in such a way.
Probably, a better job could not be done in terms of trying to understand all the human aspects of this monstrous event.
“In the final analysis, logic doesn’t play a strong role in people’s motivations.”
pg 354
“However, we need to realize that most of the people who join cults are not abnormal; they’re not disadvantaged, they’re not eccentrics. They are people who live average lives… who may live in my neighbourhood. And in yours.”
pg 364