I've followed Sam Harris for years, but I find him to be strident, particularly in his ever-present theme of atheism.
I find that in our current time, the art of dissembling is an absolute necessity. I want to keep my literary and cultural friends and if ignoring the elephant-in-the-room, political identity, is necessary for maintaining those relationships, well, that is the price. And the price is a small loss of personal integrity. But at least I am aware of the equation.
I really must read McCarthy. Harold Bloom wrote of him being the heir to the American and Emersonian tradition of Melville.
Thank you for the update and the reminder, Friendo!
Interesting point on Harris. I guess I'm lucky I got introduced to his work through the meditation app, Waking Up, and subsequent conversations on his podcast. A whole range of topics from determinism, the implications of AI, Zionism, psychedelics, morals, effective altruism etc. I missed the whole 4 Horsemen of Atheism phase, but I can see that being rather one-dimensional.
Fair point on the balancing act ('equation') that's necessary to maintain relationships. I think it's important that everyone figures out the best way to approach the world and its nuances. 'Lying' came at a good time for me - a good corrective.
Let me know how you get along with McCarthy - his work is rather dark but I like how honest and matter-of-fact it is. No frills. Life is what it is.
Thanks for this John, some really interesting books to add to my reading wish list.
I’ve really enjoyed a few books by Cormac McCarthy, but I couldn’t find a way in to ATPH. I think it broke me when I stopped counting at 100-odd words in one sentence without punctuation. Might be time for a revisit.
Two that really struck me recently in unexpected places were Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar & My Struggle by Knausgaard. Both came highly recommended and rewarded me for stepping outside of my usual crime fiction comfort zone.
Cheers, thanks Gareth. Happy you enjoyed it. Keen to share some more curations in the coming months.
Fair point on the 100-word-punctuation-less sentences haha. I like the rhythm and style, but agree, it takes some getting used to.
Thanks for the recommendations. Memoirs of Hadrian sounds right up my alley. "Both an exploration of character and a reflection on the meaning of history, Memoirs of Hadrian has received international acclaim since its first publication in France in 1951."
Ok lying is going to the top of my to read list! That’s a lie, because I have to finish another book first. But I haven’t heard of it before your review and it’s something I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. Being more integrity sounds amazing, I love that you’re practicing it.
Haha 2nd on the list is also good. Happy it resonated, Michelle. My theory is that I like to be kind and please people, but this sometimes leads to half-truths (the path of less conflict). Hope writing and creating (and life in general) is going well.
John, such a great edition this week. Thank you as always. This spoke to me: “You are free to do whatever you desire, but you are not free to choose your desires.” Isn’t that the truth.
Jack Dixon recommended the book Shantaram to me. It’s 1,000 pages and I’m only 150 in, and GLAD that I have so much to go. It’s an engaging story and sooo beautifully written. As a writer (if I can call myself that) I find myself rereading passages to learn from the authors prose. While I’m only 15% of the way done, I can’t imagine disliking the remainder which is why I’m mentioning it.
Oh, and most importantly, I hope your wedding was fantastic!!
Thanks so much James. We had a wonderful weekend, surrounded by family and close friends.
Thanks for your comments on the reading update. I'm happy it resonated. Shantaram is one of my favourites. I remember reading it about 10 years ago and not being able to put it down. Such rich, descriptive writing and the message is beautiful. I'm excited to hear your thoughts when you're done - maybe worth a book review ;).
This was a heavyweight issue John. Really appreciated an intro to especially the first two books. I'm curious to know more about your anti-lying practice. Specifically I'm wondering how Sam Harris addresses the pretty much ubiquitous activity of lying to ourselves, looking at life through filters, conditioning, and belief systems that don't allow us to see life as it is. If you encourage people to stop lying without having a foundation of a lot of work on self and self inquiry, the person starts feeling empowered to hold forth with whatever seems true to them, perhaps feeling liberated by their "honesty" - but whether their expression is backed by true clarity, life experience, wisdom — that's another issue. At the very least there would need to be some training in taking responsibility for one's thoughts and experiences as being subjective and offering one's truth with the knowledge that it is so. I lead a series of personal growth workshops years ago and we used to employ a communication guideline that recommended using "I" statements, "I feel . . ." etc. rather than saying, "You are ...." etc. One particularly reactive participant in conflict with another member outright said, "I feel like you're an asshole" to another attendee and thought he was properly using the practice.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Rik. There's a lot to take in here. Harris starts off addressing "your own truth" in the first chapter. He makes the (big) assumption that someone's version of the truth is close to the 'real' truth and admits that there's a whole additional book that could be written on the difference between our version of reality and objective facts. His only plea is that you "play it as you see it". Agree training in self-inquiry should be entry to the game. Your personal growth workshop sounds great. Reminds me of Marshall Rosenberg's Non-Violent Communication, which you might have read already. It pairs well with Lying - almost like the "how to" guide for not lying. In your example, the participant did well to talk from their personal feelings but "you're an asshole" is a judgment, which again moves away from their inner voice and needs at play. Lovely topic, lots to talk about (and write about).
I suspected that Harris did accommodate for and address the need for self-awareness. Marshall Rosenberg is a great call-out in relationship to the topic of authentic communication that checks itself at the point of aggression. I also like the "play it as you see it" invitation, as long as you know that's what you're doing and are willing to "see it" differently if an update is in order.
Really interesting book summaries and insights John. What does spiritual enlightenment mean in McKenna's context? Every shaykh I know (personally and in real life) is a guy who bikes with his kids, has a wicked sense of humor and gets to truth of what you're saying with a few pointed questions. A shaykh is a Muslim equivalent of a spiritual teacher. They basically help me distinguish truth from falsehood, but obviously everyone is walking their own path but the spiritual teacher has walked the path before. I don't think anyone I know uses the word "enlightened" in my cultural context so I am curious about how it's defined and what it looks like in a secular sense.
Thanks for the comment, Sadia. I like your observation that a true spiritual teacher has walked the path before you and helps you distinguish truth from falsehood. This is in line with McKenna's view of a spiritual guide. His view on "enlightenment" (as far as I understand it and admittedly I'm still grappling with some parts of the book) is about deconstructing illusions. To see through the "veil of illusion" and see reality for what it is. For him, many spiritual seekers are more interested in feel-good experiences or states of bliss, which he refers to as spiritual entertainment or "comfort food." He has some candid (made-up) conversations with the Hindu goddess Maya, who symbolizes the veil of ignorance or illusion. Her actors (fake gurus and religious teachers) prevent individuals from seeing things as they truly are—keeping them trapped in a comfortable 'dream state'. A challenging book to say the least.
I've followed Sam Harris for years, but I find him to be strident, particularly in his ever-present theme of atheism.
I find that in our current time, the art of dissembling is an absolute necessity. I want to keep my literary and cultural friends and if ignoring the elephant-in-the-room, political identity, is necessary for maintaining those relationships, well, that is the price. And the price is a small loss of personal integrity. But at least I am aware of the equation.
I really must read McCarthy. Harold Bloom wrote of him being the heir to the American and Emersonian tradition of Melville.
Thank you for the update and the reminder, Friendo!
Drake, it's great to hear from you again.
Interesting point on Harris. I guess I'm lucky I got introduced to his work through the meditation app, Waking Up, and subsequent conversations on his podcast. A whole range of topics from determinism, the implications of AI, Zionism, psychedelics, morals, effective altruism etc. I missed the whole 4 Horsemen of Atheism phase, but I can see that being rather one-dimensional.
Fair point on the balancing act ('equation') that's necessary to maintain relationships. I think it's important that everyone figures out the best way to approach the world and its nuances. 'Lying' came at a good time for me - a good corrective.
Let me know how you get along with McCarthy - his work is rather dark but I like how honest and matter-of-fact it is. No frills. Life is what it is.
Hope writing and life are going well! Cheers man.
Thanks for this John, some really interesting books to add to my reading wish list.
I’ve really enjoyed a few books by Cormac McCarthy, but I couldn’t find a way in to ATPH. I think it broke me when I stopped counting at 100-odd words in one sentence without punctuation. Might be time for a revisit.
Two that really struck me recently in unexpected places were Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar & My Struggle by Knausgaard. Both came highly recommended and rewarded me for stepping outside of my usual crime fiction comfort zone.
Cheers, thanks Gareth. Happy you enjoyed it. Keen to share some more curations in the coming months.
Fair point on the 100-word-punctuation-less sentences haha. I like the rhythm and style, but agree, it takes some getting used to.
Thanks for the recommendations. Memoirs of Hadrian sounds right up my alley. "Both an exploration of character and a reflection on the meaning of history, Memoirs of Hadrian has received international acclaim since its first publication in France in 1951."
Ok lying is going to the top of my to read list! That’s a lie, because I have to finish another book first. But I haven’t heard of it before your review and it’s something I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. Being more integrity sounds amazing, I love that you’re practicing it.
Haha 2nd on the list is also good. Happy it resonated, Michelle. My theory is that I like to be kind and please people, but this sometimes leads to half-truths (the path of less conflict). Hope writing and creating (and life in general) is going well.
John, such a great edition this week. Thank you as always. This spoke to me: “You are free to do whatever you desire, but you are not free to choose your desires.” Isn’t that the truth.
Jack Dixon recommended the book Shantaram to me. It’s 1,000 pages and I’m only 150 in, and GLAD that I have so much to go. It’s an engaging story and sooo beautifully written. As a writer (if I can call myself that) I find myself rereading passages to learn from the authors prose. While I’m only 15% of the way done, I can’t imagine disliking the remainder which is why I’m mentioning it.
Oh, and most importantly, I hope your wedding was fantastic!!
Thanks so much James. We had a wonderful weekend, surrounded by family and close friends.
Thanks for your comments on the reading update. I'm happy it resonated. Shantaram is one of my favourites. I remember reading it about 10 years ago and not being able to put it down. Such rich, descriptive writing and the message is beautiful. I'm excited to hear your thoughts when you're done - maybe worth a book review ;).
This was a heavyweight issue John. Really appreciated an intro to especially the first two books. I'm curious to know more about your anti-lying practice. Specifically I'm wondering how Sam Harris addresses the pretty much ubiquitous activity of lying to ourselves, looking at life through filters, conditioning, and belief systems that don't allow us to see life as it is. If you encourage people to stop lying without having a foundation of a lot of work on self and self inquiry, the person starts feeling empowered to hold forth with whatever seems true to them, perhaps feeling liberated by their "honesty" - but whether their expression is backed by true clarity, life experience, wisdom — that's another issue. At the very least there would need to be some training in taking responsibility for one's thoughts and experiences as being subjective and offering one's truth with the knowledge that it is so. I lead a series of personal growth workshops years ago and we used to employ a communication guideline that recommended using "I" statements, "I feel . . ." etc. rather than saying, "You are ...." etc. One particularly reactive participant in conflict with another member outright said, "I feel like you're an asshole" to another attendee and thought he was properly using the practice.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Rik. There's a lot to take in here. Harris starts off addressing "your own truth" in the first chapter. He makes the (big) assumption that someone's version of the truth is close to the 'real' truth and admits that there's a whole additional book that could be written on the difference between our version of reality and objective facts. His only plea is that you "play it as you see it". Agree training in self-inquiry should be entry to the game. Your personal growth workshop sounds great. Reminds me of Marshall Rosenberg's Non-Violent Communication, which you might have read already. It pairs well with Lying - almost like the "how to" guide for not lying. In your example, the participant did well to talk from their personal feelings but "you're an asshole" is a judgment, which again moves away from their inner voice and needs at play. Lovely topic, lots to talk about (and write about).
I suspected that Harris did accommodate for and address the need for self-awareness. Marshall Rosenberg is a great call-out in relationship to the topic of authentic communication that checks itself at the point of aggression. I also like the "play it as you see it" invitation, as long as you know that's what you're doing and are willing to "see it" differently if an update is in order.
Really interesting book summaries and insights John. What does spiritual enlightenment mean in McKenna's context? Every shaykh I know (personally and in real life) is a guy who bikes with his kids, has a wicked sense of humor and gets to truth of what you're saying with a few pointed questions. A shaykh is a Muslim equivalent of a spiritual teacher. They basically help me distinguish truth from falsehood, but obviously everyone is walking their own path but the spiritual teacher has walked the path before. I don't think anyone I know uses the word "enlightened" in my cultural context so I am curious about how it's defined and what it looks like in a secular sense.
Thanks for the comment, Sadia. I like your observation that a true spiritual teacher has walked the path before you and helps you distinguish truth from falsehood. This is in line with McKenna's view of a spiritual guide. His view on "enlightenment" (as far as I understand it and admittedly I'm still grappling with some parts of the book) is about deconstructing illusions. To see through the "veil of illusion" and see reality for what it is. For him, many spiritual seekers are more interested in feel-good experiences or states of bliss, which he refers to as spiritual entertainment or "comfort food." He has some candid (made-up) conversations with the Hindu goddess Maya, who symbolizes the veil of ignorance or illusion. Her actors (fake gurus and religious teachers) prevent individuals from seeing things as they truly are—keeping them trapped in a comfortable 'dream state'. A challenging book to say the least.