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adamlauver's reviews
300 reviews
Tapaus ihminen by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
3.0
Essential reading for anyone interested in evolution, theology, or philosophy in general. I personally approached it more interested in its spiritual concepts, so I found a fair portion of the middle of the text rather slow and inaccessible due to its focus on the scientific specifics of evolution (details that are probably outdated today anyway, which doesn't help). But there are enough interesting lines, images, and trains of thought throughout to make the whole read worthwhile, and the last third of the book in particular gets into some really interesting (if brazenly biased) spiritual territory.
In my opinion, Teilhard is at his best when he explores overtly the spiritual reality of mankind, describing it with a sense of optimism and purpose while couching it in the evolutionary framework that he presents (and, to be fair, that is essentially the crux of the entire book, it just gets lost in the mix at times). Even when he wears his Christianity on his sleeve (which, while definitely a flaw in his otherwise fairly comprehensive system of thought, is kind of cute), it is apparent that he has nothing but the best at heart for his species: a sense of spiritual well-being and a connection with something greater (i.e. The Omega Point in this case--a head-scratcher of a notion, but it almost seems like one of the more reasonable (albeit still arbitrary) defenses for Jesus-as-the-divine-entering-into-the-world that I've heard). Much like Kierkegaard, Teilhard (what's with these -ard guys anyway?) constructs a wildly intriguing system of ideas around his faith system, and in doing so gets at some really important truths while completely missing out on others.
I would recommend this book with the qualification that recent integral philosophers present a more tenable approach to its key points (i.e. the "within" of things, evolution as increasing consciousness, etc.) and a more comprehensive view of evolution in general.
In my opinion, Teilhard is at his best when he explores overtly the spiritual reality of mankind, describing it with a sense of optimism and purpose while couching it in the evolutionary framework that he presents (and, to be fair, that is essentially the crux of the entire book, it just gets lost in the mix at times). Even when he wears his Christianity on his sleeve (which, while definitely a flaw in his otherwise fairly comprehensive system of thought, is kind of cute), it is apparent that he has nothing but the best at heart for his species: a sense of spiritual well-being and a connection with something greater (i.e. The Omega Point in this case--a head-scratcher of a notion, but it almost seems like one of the more reasonable (albeit still arbitrary) defenses for Jesus-as-the-divine-entering-into-the-world that I've heard). Much like Kierkegaard, Teilhard (what's with these -ard guys anyway?) constructs a wildly intriguing system of ideas around his faith system, and in doing so gets at some really important truths while completely missing out on others.
I would recommend this book with the qualification that recent integral philosophers present a more tenable approach to its key points (i.e. the "within" of things, evolution as increasing consciousness, etc.) and a more comprehensive view of evolution in general.
Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution, Second Edition by Ken Wilber
5.0
An important and comprehensive work. Wilber provides vital insight into the development of Western thought--where it's opened up and where it's gone wrong. Understanding this history means understanding our roots as a culture and where we want to go as a species. Similarly, much insight is to be had into personal psychology and the development of world-views over time. Ultimately, Wilber presents an integral framework for reality that warrants serious consideration.
The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality by André Comte-Sponville
4.0
It's pretty good, but the entire last third of the book is so new-agey it's ridiculous (and this coming from someone who's usually sympathetic to new-age language). Overall it has a great message and preaches tolerance, respect, and love. It just doesn't dig incredibly deep into the issues, and, like I said, the third part is so out-of-character for the book as a whole. It's like the author dozed off and started sleep-writing... very odd. Again, I sympathize with new-age sentiments... but in this book it just seemed out of place and too much. All the same, it's a nice, short, inspiring read. I do recommend it.
The World to Come by Dara Horn
5.0
One of my favorites... An inspiring and heartfelt novel in the magic realist vein and rooted in the connections of family, spirituality, and love. Rejuvenates my belief in beauty every time I read it. Highly recommended.
Super in the City by Daphne Uviller
4.0
Won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
It's a very light and funny read. The narration exhibits remarkable cleverness and wit from a female perspective. It borders on being a "chick" book, but I enjoyed it quite a lot even though I'm a guy--but I have to say that it feels like a book that a lot of women in particular could appreciate (not to be sexist or anything).
The protagonist, Zephyr Zuckerman, is half Ellen Paige's Juno, half Tina Fey's Liz Lemon from 30 Rock--she's quirky, neurotic, imaginative, and very excitable (about everything, but especially about men--it seems like every man she meets, she immediately imagines what it might like to date or marry him). I laughed out loud at a lot of the narration, from one instance where she describes how her body changes in response to a single phone call, to another instance where having an unexpected visitor in her apartment makes her regret not having cut the teeth marks off of her cheddar cheese. I would say that there is a subtlety about the humor in this novel that might get overshadowed by the energy, vivacity, and apparent randomness of a lot of its prose.
The plot is enjoyable enough, if a tad bit anti-climactic. Although a more exciting climax might have been out-of-character for the novel as a whole... I'm not sure. From reading the blurb on the back beforehand, I thought that one point mentioned there (that Zephyr becomes entangled between the FBI and the mafia) could have been left out of the blurb (as it's something that's introduced pretty late in the novel itself). At any rate, the plot resolves curiously, but satisfactorily.
Overall, a very enjoyable read. I definitely highly recommend it!
It's a very light and funny read. The narration exhibits remarkable cleverness and wit from a female perspective. It borders on being a "chick" book, but I enjoyed it quite a lot even though I'm a guy--but I have to say that it feels like a book that a lot of women in particular could appreciate (not to be sexist or anything).
The protagonist, Zephyr Zuckerman, is half Ellen Paige's Juno, half Tina Fey's Liz Lemon from 30 Rock--she's quirky, neurotic, imaginative, and very excitable (about everything, but especially about men--it seems like every man she meets, she immediately imagines what it might like to date or marry him). I laughed out loud at a lot of the narration, from one instance where she describes how her body changes in response to a single phone call, to another instance where having an unexpected visitor in her apartment makes her regret not having cut the teeth marks off of her cheddar cheese. I would say that there is a subtlety about the humor in this novel that might get overshadowed by the energy, vivacity, and apparent randomness of a lot of its prose.
The plot is enjoyable enough, if a tad bit anti-climactic. Although a more exciting climax might have been out-of-character for the novel as a whole... I'm not sure. From reading the blurb on the back beforehand, I thought that one point mentioned there (that Zephyr becomes entangled between the FBI and the mafia) could have been left out of the blurb (as it's something that's introduced pretty late in the novel itself). At any rate, the plot resolves curiously, but satisfactorily.
Overall, a very enjoyable read. I definitely highly recommend it!