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The Interior Castle by St.Teresa of Avila (translated by Mirabai Starr)
This simply worded, simply wonderful account of St. Teresa's spiritual journey to her "Beloved" opened my eyes (and my heart and my soul) to a different way of life -- the contemplative life.
Well, not so much in a philosophical way or "vision of life" way, but
David Mamet's "True and False" is a spunky, little 125-page quick read about the acting profession in relation to higher education. He's very direct, hard-hitting, and accurate. Coupled with wit.
When younger I remember "Gifts From the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindberg. Ought to read it again to see why I recall it's sincerity and depth.
C.S. Lewis' "The Four Loves" is deep.
Charlotte Joko Beck's two books (she's a realist) - forget the exact titles and she'd be glad I can't recall; would view that as "just fine"
Mary Baker Eddy's "Science and Health" (will stretch your thinking)
Also want to re-read from way back:
The Summing Up by Maugham
The Emply Space (Peter Brooks (?) I think)
Oh, and "An Actor Prepares" by Kostantin Stanislavski
and
"Acting: The First Six Lessons" by Boleslavski (great short book!)
I am so thankful for Hesse because he has sought to reconcile many conflicts I share including: academic life versus political ('real-world') life.Quote:
Originally Posted by subterranean
I didn't take the time to get my head straight in my last posting. But, I think i wanted to point out two things:
1) How does Hesse explain concepts?
Hesse's works are filled with moments where he makes u feel the concept that everything is ultimately connected. In otherwords, his writtings are so special because they confer an inuitive understanding of the universe and infinity. Paradoxicaly, it is as if he uses emotions to explain something intellectual. This aspect may be subtle and auxilary to the main themes of his writtings but this aspect really resonates with my own beliefs.
2) How does Hesse reconcile 'everything'?
The way I see it, in "Glass-beads Game", Hesse's view of purely academic versus "real world" life can be thought of as Darwinism. In the book, Castalians emerse themselves in this purely intellectual persuit isolated from the world outside; where as, the outside world of non-Castalians live real lives with real problems, shaping history. Castalians exemplify that which seeks to trancend being shaped by world history and vice-versa. In a sense, that which is immortal. However, non-castalians are the muck of the real world ever struggling to survive and reproduce like any other organism. Mortal life. Through Joseph Knecht's battle with Plino Designori and consultations with the Benedict monk, Hesse develops this conflict between those striving for immortality and those embracing an instinctual mortal life. The concept of universiality is championed by Castalians alone; therefore, a reconcillitation of this conflict between mortals and immortals is also an answer to the question, "How do u reconcile the universial link between all that we know?".
In the novel, 'the game' is a metaphor for pure intellectualism and the fact that the basis of the game is that all disciplines are connected. For example, relationships between philosophy and music can be drawn, "The game began with a rhythmic analysis of a fugal theme and in the center of it was a sentence attributed to Confucius". That is, the basis of the game is unversiality of knowlege. Now, the first attempts at reconcilliation (intellect vs instinct) are abstract. First, the fact that the game was originally played with [breakable] glass beads suggests the fragility of the innocent and purely intellectual endeavor; second, is the idea that dwelving into the essence of the game is dangerous, when Knecht expresses his fears of being retarded by disillusionment and that ignorance is infact more conducive to ones performance in life,
" I imagine that one can be an excellent player, even a virtuoso...without having any inkling of the real mystery of the Game and its ultimate meaning. It might even be that one who does guess or know the truth might prove a greater danger to the Game, were he to become a specialist or Game leader. For, the dark interior, the esoterics of the Game, points down into the One and All, into those depths where the eternal Atman eternally breaths in and out, sufficient unto itself. One who had experienced the ultimate meaning of the Game within himself would by that fact no longer be a player, he would no longer dwell in the world of the multiplicity, and would no longer be able to delight in invention, construction, and combination."
(Richard and Clara Winston, translated from Das Glasperlenspiel, Hermann Hesse)
The 'truth' about the nature of the crux of the Castalian existence is detrimental to a player's livelihood. In bold is an example of Hesse's hinting at the circular nature of intuitively understanding the universe. From a Darwinian point of view, ignorance and mulitiplicity are virtues for survival.
Knetch actions toward the end of the book are a crossover to the "real-world". Not to spite Castalian life! But to protect it.
Therefore, to cut this short (like the book does), the persuit of a Castalian life isolated from the "real world" is exemplified by the seeking out of the ultimate truth in the universiality of all knowlege. Hesse, maybe suggesting that striving for the 'truth' is not sustainable nor desireable in view of survival in a mortal world.
Which word was it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rumi_Shams_One
hello all...
well, the book that comes to mind when you say "made you change your perspective" was Sophie's World, by Jostein Gaarder. it's LOOOOOONG, and yes, it's about the history of philosophy, but it was amazing. not only did it stretch my mind (it does have philosophy in it, after all) but it was just...amazing. just read it...i don't know how to describe it.
Notes from the underground...All of Dostoevsky's books actually...any defence seems impertinent in the case...
I'll only say that Dostoevsky never leaves any illusions for "outsideness" of the world...you are always inexorably dragged into the shared responsibility...of the society you live in/this is a possible explanation of his often stated "thoughness" in reading/...one has to be a brave person to read Dostoevsky... and of course his writings have changed my worldview
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is one of the most provoking books that I have ever read. Each page I read made my jaw drop. I don't think that I had ever seen human nature spelled out so clearly as it was in the demon's letters to his nephew.
Lewis's observations really affected me and made me refocus on how I looked at other people, understanding behavior and motivations. A truly amazing book.
"The Awakening" by Kate Chopin has completely changed my idea of love and marriage...I experienced the same awakening lived by the main character and now I'm fully aware of the social meaning of being a woman. I think that all women should read it...it could change their life.
Metch Albom's writings just make me stop and think. and re-evaluate my whole life. (The Five People You Meet in Heaven) and (Tuesdays with Morrie) are very inspiring.