Reviews and Comments

This book is a compilation of interviews of Terence McKenna as he is being asked by different people about the plethora of ideas McKenna was known to joust for. As a transcription of said interviews, these lose quite bit by being rendered in text, since Mckenna was mostly a very good conversationalist — the spoken word was his most unique quality; the text presented here becomes much drier than any recording on the same topic.

In any case, this is a good showcase of McKenna’s inventiveness and ease with making new and surprising connections. Since this book is organized by interviews standing for chapters, even if the book lacks some overall coherence making it a bit harder to take it as a whole work, this also allows you to read it as what it is, a compilation, something to be read in many sits, not necessarily tying the whole reading together.

If you are deeply interested in McKenna’s ideas and you’re looking to dig deeper to their origins and developments, inevitably you have to go through this book. However, if you’re just curious and not very prone to waste your time away reading, you’ll be much more satisfied by listening/watching to the many McKenna’s lectures available online, where you’ll not only learn about his ideas, but you’ll the get the full package of having the bard himself saying them, where he’ll delight you with his unmatchable skill in guiding your imagination through the power of his mastery of words.

Só [re]conhecendo Vieira pelo nome, por lhe ver aqui e além alguma citação sem nunca lhe conhecer o contexto, resolvi ler este sermão para finalmente sentir o pulso de uma obra deste autor.

Devo confessar que fiquei agradavelmente surpreendido com o que aqui encontrei. Sem outra expectativa além de saber que me encontraria, obviamente, diante de um sermão, cedo fui arrebatado pela facilidade do discurso e pelas vivas retóricas invocadas por Vieira.

No elogio e crítica que faz aos peixes, inspirado em Santo António, este outro António desdobra e identifica o tanto de errado que identifica entre aqueles que o escutam. Com mestria e muito tato, sai Vieira puxando as muitas orelhas dos que têm perspicácia para se descobrir nos humildes peixes que a ele quiseram ficar ouvir.

Vale também este texto pelo retrato de uma época e de uma realidade histórica tão importante como foi a colonização e evangelização do Brasil. No sermão, o instantâneo de um cotidiano complicado, de uma sociedade nova já tão cheia de velhos vícios e do quão difícil foi, e é, lutar por devolver alguma sanidade àqueles que, tendo tanto poder, tão pouca sanidade parecem de facto ter.

I stumbled upon this book by roundabout way. I’ve watched a documentary where D.C.A. Hillman was featured, and saw him labeled as the author of this Chemical Muse work on the drug use and the roots of western civilization.

For quite some time now, I’ve had this intuition (for lack of better word) that history classes were somewhat lacking in regards to acknowledging the role drugs played in whatever was happening back then. I got that feeling (stressing it was just a feeling, for I lack expertise on the subject) just by reading some of the works of the Greco-Roman period, since they seemed to hint that the author had had his mind altered in order to have the kind of view presented in his writing. Nevertheless, my intuition could easily be dismissed for lack of any expert view on the matter, so, if anything, this was just one of those things I kept on the back of my head for lack of further evidence.

And here is why finding this book struck me as such an interesting proposal. For here it was the expert’s opinion on this particular topic promising to dig up that forgotten (or hidden) aspect of our culture’s past. So I read it eager as I was to find out how the author would argue in favor of that thesis.

The book opens with a very engaging presentation of the main reason why Hillman chose to write this book. For those of you who have had college experience, his description of what happened during his doctoral cross examination in regard to his research findings concerning recreational drug use in Ancient Rome will not come as a surprise. He had to remove his findings from the overall work or his doctoral degree would be rejected. Having done so, he remedied the removal by publishing his findings in the form of this book.

And here is where things get interesting. I was expecting a different kind of approach; well, not that I had a particular map in mind, but what I mean is that Hillman’s approach surprised me positively. For he starts to describe how terrible and miserable was life back then in the ancient Greco-Roman world. Too much suffering, disease and death for those poor wretched people forsake plant medicines just for the sake of some abstruse morality. And it makes sense. Plants were needed for they provided at least some comfort and assurance where little to none was to find. That also meant that they stumbled upon the mind altering effects of those same plants. And knowing them, they surely used them. It makes more sense if you think as Hillman points out the way.

In the following chapters, the author continues to guide us through what amounts to a congruent view that the use of recreational drugs was not only a reality but a necessary one in the context of those living back then. Taking bits from different sources, Hillman mounts his case by showing that different authors in antiquity, both Greek and Roman, were not only familiar with the various aspects of the possible uses of medicinal plants, as they seem to hint they also knew by first-hand experience the recreational uses of those very same plants.

In one really interesting chapter, The Pharmacology of Western Philosophy, Hillman presents a good case stressing the importance of mind-altering substances in promoting the development of Greek philosophy in ancient Pre-Socratic times.

Overall, the book tries to speak with different people, with very different views and specialization concerning the subject of Greco-Roman civilization. On the one hand, Hillman is very critical of most Classicists stance in regard to the specific topic of drug use in antiquity; but on the other hand, he is also speaking to the larger public that may be open to understand the past through this new perspective.

In spite its many strengths, the book is a little short on hard evidence to support its case — that is, there are too few references to actual texts that could make a stronger case for those who are not convinced by his overarching argument. But that could easily be justified as this book is not intended to be a specialists book only. Instead of offering the passages, Hillman points to where one can find them, if one is so inclined to do so.

If, like me, you’re partial to this subject; that is, if you already are favorable to the view that drug use and human history go side by side wherever you look, you’ll find this book very enlightening and pleasing. But if you oppose this view, I’m not sure if you’ll find the whole argument compelling. Nonetheless, if you have in you some spark of curiosity to allow yourself a different understanding of what might have happened in the past, you probably will find this book very engaging.

Quando julgava eu que mais à vontade tinha com a obra poética de Herberto Helder, eis que me vejo quase que na situação inicial de espanto, sem saber de facto que opinião ter. Agora a poesia é prosa, prosa poética que traça mais caminhos que as frases soltas da poesia de Helder; mas nesse mapa com mais caminhos, a sensação paradoxal é a que é mais fácil nos perdermos por entre a floresta de palavras.

Nem todos os textos aqui reunidos têm a mesma qualidade. Alguns há que parecem realmente tocar aspetos concretos da vida (ou vidas) do poeta, outros como que divagações, e um aqui e outro além que parecem ter sido escritos de forma pouco inspirada.

Seja como for, e dada a posição em que me encontro, a de me ver mais como turista a percorrer as ruas de uma cidade que mal conheço e da qual só tenho opiniões superficiais, pouco do que diga reflete realmente a qualidade da arte da perspectiva do autor. O que quero dizer é que, apesar de me permitir a estes curtos comentários sobre o que me restou da leitura deste livro, estes meus comentários refletem apenas o meu olhar ao olhar essas paisagens que Herberto Helder ali me oferece—e só vejo o que vejo só. Passo tão rápido que mal me sobra tempo para no que vejo descobrir mais do que ali se me oferece nesse primeiro olhar.

De qualquer das formas, e posto perante a possibilidade de recomendar a leitura destes “Passos em Volta”, teria algumas reservas em o fazer. Apontaria a direção doutros livros mais curtos, talvez mais emblemáticos do estilo característico do autor. Se este fosse o único livro de Helder disponível numa biblioteca, dele apenas recomendaria a leitura de um ou outro texto (Escadas e metafísica, Aquele que dá a vida). Isto é: pelo menos por agora, acabado que estou de chegar de viagem dessoutra viagem que foi viajar pelas paisagens surreais deste poeta.

This is a rather straightforward account of the many ups and downs of the Greek peoples since the dawn of their civilization (of our civilization?) to the time Isaac Asimov wrote this book (ca. 1963).

If you’re looking for an overview of that long history, this book probably fits your bill. Given the scope of the subject matter and the inherent complexity of all the events, characters, and developments of such long history, Asimov makes a great job in keeping the narrative streamlined and coherent. Given the length of the book (only 320 pages), where it fails it just goes to prove that Asimov’s intention was to keep it simple and readable: it sacrifices narrowing too much on historical precision to provide a much needed broader overview of the whole of that history.

Here and there Asimov goes a little bit overboard in making his personal fancies known, by criticizing this or that character, this or that people (mainly the Spartans, of whom he doesn’t hide his dislike), this or that event. But, on the whole, those little subjective snippets do not harm the main narrative. If anything, these just give a quaint flavor to the text, making it somewhat outdated and queer.

So, if you’re already acquainted with the subject, if you are familiar with Greek history, and its manifold characters and accomplishments, this probably isn’t the book for you. This book is for those who, knowing little, are curious to learn about the incredible civilizing journey of the Greek peoples, how they came about and how they came to be what we now know them to be. Therefore this is not a book for experts; rather this is much more a beginner’s book. And since it succeeds in this task, it deserves its positive reviews and ratings.

Não sei o que dizer. Não sei o que comentar. Não sei o que li nem o que pensar. Se este fosse o único livro de Herberto Hélder a que tivesse acesso e que me fosse dada a oportunidade de ler, não ficava com grande opinião sobre o poeta. Quero com isto dizer que não me sinto competente para criticar esta obra, estando confinado a uma opinião superficial e imediatista. Que sobra então?

Gostei eu de ler esta coletânea? Acho que não; não gostei. Mas ao afirmar que não gostei, não quero com isso dizer que desgostei. Na verdade, creio que a sensação que mais destaco após ter lido este livro é a da indiferença. Não me pesou; mas não também não me enriqueceu—não agora, pelo menos.

Se me pedissem para resumir a minha opinião numa possível recomendação desta coletânea, o mais certo é que me abstivesse de o fazer. Não recomendo, portanto; mas apenas por não me sentir capaz de a expressar numa opinião fundamentada.

Sobra pelo menos isto: o livro é curto, como curtos são os poemas. Ou seja, havendo tempo e curiosidade para conhecer este poeta, pouco sacrifício se nos exige para que possamos ter um contato direto com esta pequena parte de sua obra. Leva pelos menos esse tanto de positivo.

António Aleixo e Este Livro que Vos Deixo: até no título a rima fácil, fruto de uma sabedoria duramente conquistada pela vida sofrida, da qual resulta este testemunho único, retrato característico de uma época não há muito ida, mas de nós já tão distante.

António Aleixo é imagem fiel da inteligência dum povo que, ciente da sua miséria, responde à injustiça pela pilhéria. Bem sabe Aleixo que a sua fraca sorte na vida se deve sobretudo à injustiça do meio meio que o envolve, meio esse que premeia não as qualidades intrínsecas dos indivíduos, mas a posição social em que nascem.

E por detrás de [quase] toda a poesia de Aleixo, o tom crítico à sociedade de fachada, de gente mesquinha que valoriza sobretudo a aparência e que tudo faz para manter cada qual no seu mundo estanque. E é precisamente nesta crítica, neste cantar contra a injustiça, que Aleixo, de baixo vindo, se mostra cimeiro com os outros grandes da grande literatura portuguesa.

You know pot? Have you tried it? Are you familiar with it? If yes, this book is pretty much useless to you. Here and there you may find some factoid you’ve missed, maybe a thing or two about the how trendy cannabis is becoming, and how the general perception of this plant and its effects is slowly, but steadily, changing for the better. Overall, if you fit this case, maybe you can skip this book altogether without any loss. However...

If you’re new to pot, if you never tried it, or if you have no familiarity with it, this book can come pretty handy. You’ll learn a lot about the history of the plant, how it has gone from a indispensable natural remedy throughout most of human history to become one of the major vilains of the 20th century. You’ll also learn the many uses cannabis has, the possible health benefits its use provides and how it can help you boost your life’s experiences overall. You’ll get to learn some of minuciae of the underground cannabis culture, the different ways you can consume cannabis, and, as the title indicates, maybe you’ll learn “How to Smoke Pot (Properly)”. Overall, if you want to get deeper into your newly found passion for cannabis, this book is probably a good starting point.

What does it mean to be a pragmatist? How come an actual attitude towards knowledge becomes a philosophical school? This is what William James develops throughout eight one hour lectures given at the Lowell Institute (Boston) in 1906.

Throughout these lectures, James explores different aspects of the pragmatic thinking, how it relates to different schools of thought and how it distinguishes itself in terms of its results. Be it in the domain of the classic philosophical disciplines, such as metaphysics or epistemology (in its striving to come up with a workable definition of truth), be it dealing with more down to earth matters, such as common sense and even religion, James guides his listeners/readers through a superbly reasoned journey in defense of pragmatism as a genuine philosophical school of thought worth of study and practice.

If you’re interested in learning what makes pragmatism one of the great contenders in the philosophical arena, this is an essential book, one of the best introductions to this topic. Give it a try and maybe you’ll discover how much philosophy has to offer on a practical level.

This is a quite good book if you’re interested on learning more about fasting in all its aspects, be them the benefits, the physical processes behind it, and even to learn how to try different approaches to fasting.

If you’re already onto this subject, this book may not bring much onto the table, so to speak. Nonetheless, here and there you’ll learn little bits that may be helpful on your efforts to cope with and deal with the many quirks of fasting.

But truth be said, at least from my perspective: the book is a little repetitive. It could be much shorter without loss of vital information, but probably it wouldn’t look as much as a book, but more like a brochure. In any case, if you’re fast reader, or you’re listening to it on an audiobook, the size of the book won’t be much of a problem.

Overall, and notwithstanding some flaws (whatever they may be), this book can be a great source of inspiration to take the right steps onto fasting. Also, if you’re reading it/listening to it during one of your fasts, it may also provide you with that much needed motivational energy to keep you on the path to reach your goal.

The pun, although nice, was unintended.

I have to confess I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Judging only by the title, I read it thinking I was about to learn more about the evolution of our genus, and thus enhance my understanding or our own evolution. By reading it, I was taken into a completely different journey, one that took me to the heart of the complexities of life’s dispersion, challenging my many assumptions on the subject. And this makes the book interesting in two ways.

First, if you, like me, are unaware of biogeography as a scientific endeavor, this book will not only show you the history of the discipline, but also map its controversies, its main characters, and the current state of the art as far the author goes.

The second may be implicit, and not immediately obvious, but it relates to the way we tend to think about evolution and the development of life in general on our planet. Maybe it’s something unavoidable and that it relates to the way we humans tend to think in generic terms. We tend to prefer neat explanations, preferably simple and narratively compelling. However, that’s not how things happen or have happened to life. Deep is the deep history of time, and life, having been around such a long, long time throughout that history, makes what seems impossible at some point not only possible, but factual. Elaborate way to say that life, in all its complexities and long history, has managed to find innumerable ways to keep on going, to keep on striving, notwithstanding the many geological pressures it had to cope with.

So this book had the merit of making me rethink a lot of things I thought I understood, and many of my presuppositions about how life has spread about and occupied the whole of earth. If you, like me, have any interest in these topics, maybe you’ll find it as interesting as I did.

I didn’t want to pass the opportunity to review a book I have read and that gave me more food for thought in an increasing understanding of how important is the issue treated on this book.

If you are familiar with Edward O. Wilson’s work, you don’t need much to understand its subject matter, for the title says it all: The Future of Life. And if you are aware of the ongoing pressure we humans have been putting against life’s continuation on this planet, this book will just be another reminder of how big a blow ours have been.

Published in 2003, the book hasn’t aged too well. Not that it contains incorrect information, it’s just that the many let’s say less optimistic predictions haven’t fared well with the accelerating downward trend the world has followed. So it’s not E. O. Wilson’s fault that we haven’t taken heed of his advice and that we, as a whole, continued to act blindly to warnings such as these.

If you are acquainted with E. O. Wilson’s work and you are pondering about reading this book, maybe you can devote your time to more recent publications, for maybe your time will be better spent. If you are new to the author, don’t waste your time here, and choose some other of his best known works, for this is not his best. In any case, if you enjoy E. O. Wilson’s writing style and the clear way he presents his subject matter, this book won’t weigh you down.