Alice Strathern's Blog
December 5, 2022
The importance of diversifying your reading
This year, I decided to include non-fiction on my reading list. I'm glad I did it.
The most interesting non-fiction book I read was Sacred Pleasure by Riane Eisler, which was published in 1995. At the time, that book must have been revolutionary because of its reflections on sex, pleasure, religion, and the politics of the body.
However, even today, it's still a thought-provoking read. It's impossible to not change your perspective on the way you view those topics.
This is the beauty of books. They can change your life forever. You might be a different person after reading them. Isn't that magical?
Of course fiction books can be thought-provoking. They can also impact your being deeply. However, each one does it in unique ways. For me, non-fiction has a different meaning. I didn't know I could be challenged and inspired at the same time. There's wisdom waiting to be uncovered.
Some non-fiction books I'm looking forward to reading in the near future are:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Creative Calling by Chase Jarvis
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Gender Trouble by Judith Butler
The Myth of Monogamy by David P. Barash and Judith Eve Lipton
I invite you to expand your horizons and consider a completely different genre to read in the near future. Goodreads is an excellent place to discover gems.
Who knows, you might learn things you didn't know were possible.
The most interesting non-fiction book I read was Sacred Pleasure by Riane Eisler, which was published in 1995. At the time, that book must have been revolutionary because of its reflections on sex, pleasure, religion, and the politics of the body.
However, even today, it's still a thought-provoking read. It's impossible to not change your perspective on the way you view those topics.
This is the beauty of books. They can change your life forever. You might be a different person after reading them. Isn't that magical?
Of course fiction books can be thought-provoking. They can also impact your being deeply. However, each one does it in unique ways. For me, non-fiction has a different meaning. I didn't know I could be challenged and inspired at the same time. There's wisdom waiting to be uncovered.
Some non-fiction books I'm looking forward to reading in the near future are:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Creative Calling by Chase Jarvis
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Gender Trouble by Judith Butler
The Myth of Monogamy by David P. Barash and Judith Eve Lipton
I invite you to expand your horizons and consider a completely different genre to read in the near future. Goodreads is an excellent place to discover gems.
Who knows, you might learn things you didn't know were possible.
November 7, 2022
El libro que cambió mi destino para siempre
En mi infancia estuve siempre expuesta a un gran número de historias. A través de libros o películas, e incluso audio, tenía contacto con personajes, mundos y situaciones.
Una característica que me llamaba la atención era que el desenlace de la mayoría de esos relatos terminaba en “fueron felices para siempre.” A mí me causaba conflicto esa conclusión. ¿Por qué no había otro tipo de finales? ¿Por qué se asumía que todos estaban felices y contentos? ¿Acaso era eso posible? ¿No había otro tipo de sentimientos?
Entre más escuchaba esa frase sobre la felicidad, más me decepcionaba y más me urgía encontrar un tipo de cuento diferente. Uno que fuera más original y que se alejara de las utopías. Tenía que existir. Era sólo cuestión de tiempo.
No me equivoqué, pero sí pasaron varios años para que cayera en mis manos la obra que cambiaría mi vida literaria: La Metamorfosis de Franz Kafka. Estaba en la prepa cuando me dejaron leerla. Las primeras líneas de esta grandiosa historia me atraparon de inmediato:
Una mañana, tras un sueño intranquilo, Gregorio Samsa se despertó convertido en un monstruoso insecto.
Por fin algo diferente. Por fin una situación en la que las cuestiones utópicas no tenían lugar. Esto era un problema serio. Una situación de la que no había leído antes. Por fin podía hacerme de otras expectativas.
Más allá de las expectativas, otra idea cruzó por mi mente: “si alguien pudo inventarse una historia así, con características tan únicas, yo también puedo hacerlo. Voy a hacerlo.” A partir de ese momento, me propuse ser escritora.
Sí, fue en la prepa cuando lo decidí y a pesar de que la vida profesional me ha llevado a incursionar en diversas áreas de la comunicación, nunca he abandonado la idea de escribir mis propias historias.
A lo mejor nunca tendré el mismo impacto que Kafka, pero vale la pena esforzarse por ofrecer algo distinto a los lectores. Ojalá lo logre.
Una característica que me llamaba la atención era que el desenlace de la mayoría de esos relatos terminaba en “fueron felices para siempre.” A mí me causaba conflicto esa conclusión. ¿Por qué no había otro tipo de finales? ¿Por qué se asumía que todos estaban felices y contentos? ¿Acaso era eso posible? ¿No había otro tipo de sentimientos?
Entre más escuchaba esa frase sobre la felicidad, más me decepcionaba y más me urgía encontrar un tipo de cuento diferente. Uno que fuera más original y que se alejara de las utopías. Tenía que existir. Era sólo cuestión de tiempo.
No me equivoqué, pero sí pasaron varios años para que cayera en mis manos la obra que cambiaría mi vida literaria: La Metamorfosis de Franz Kafka. Estaba en la prepa cuando me dejaron leerla. Las primeras líneas de esta grandiosa historia me atraparon de inmediato:
Una mañana, tras un sueño intranquilo, Gregorio Samsa se despertó convertido en un monstruoso insecto.
Por fin algo diferente. Por fin una situación en la que las cuestiones utópicas no tenían lugar. Esto era un problema serio. Una situación de la que no había leído antes. Por fin podía hacerme de otras expectativas.
Más allá de las expectativas, otra idea cruzó por mi mente: “si alguien pudo inventarse una historia así, con características tan únicas, yo también puedo hacerlo. Voy a hacerlo.” A partir de ese momento, me propuse ser escritora.
Sí, fue en la prepa cuando lo decidí y a pesar de que la vida profesional me ha llevado a incursionar en diversas áreas de la comunicación, nunca he abandonado la idea de escribir mis propias historias.
A lo mejor nunca tendré el mismo impacto que Kafka, pero vale la pena esforzarse por ofrecer algo distinto a los lectores. Ojalá lo logre.
November 1, 2022
Decoding Kaleidoscope Eyes
What if your dream professional career isn't what you expected it to be?
This question might pop up at some point in our lives. It's scary to answer it.
When I wrote Kaleidoscope Eyes, I remembered when I was a recent graduate. I was full of dreams and hopes. I felt like I had chosen the right path, and that it would only lead me to the most amazing experiences.
Reality told me otherwise. As I started landing some jobs, I realized that I wanted something different; that my dream was somewhere else. It was difficult to admit it. I never saw that coming.
How could that happen?
Another memory came to mind: a conversation I had with friends who were also struggling to figure out their professional paths. We all questioned our choices and wondered what led us to the point we were at the time. We figured that maybe we needed more time to make big decisions.
I'll never forget what one of them said: "nobody can figure out what to do with themselves at age eighteen. They're just so young."
We all were that age when we went to university. We didn't think we would be unhappy as we entered the real world.
These memories motivated me to write Kaleidoscope Eyes. I thought of capturing the essence of this struggle and share its journey in two major scenarios: when choosing the career path and when experiencing it.
Even when there's a constant wave of emotions, something positive comes up. Like a kaleidoscope, after being shaken, new patterns reveal beautiful outcomes.
You never see the world with the same eyes, but your new view is also wonderful.
If you're looking for a short and thought-provoking read, you can find my book on Amazon.
This question might pop up at some point in our lives. It's scary to answer it.
When I wrote Kaleidoscope Eyes, I remembered when I was a recent graduate. I was full of dreams and hopes. I felt like I had chosen the right path, and that it would only lead me to the most amazing experiences.
Reality told me otherwise. As I started landing some jobs, I realized that I wanted something different; that my dream was somewhere else. It was difficult to admit it. I never saw that coming.
How could that happen?
Another memory came to mind: a conversation I had with friends who were also struggling to figure out their professional paths. We all questioned our choices and wondered what led us to the point we were at the time. We figured that maybe we needed more time to make big decisions.
I'll never forget what one of them said: "nobody can figure out what to do with themselves at age eighteen. They're just so young."
We all were that age when we went to university. We didn't think we would be unhappy as we entered the real world.
These memories motivated me to write Kaleidoscope Eyes. I thought of capturing the essence of this struggle and share its journey in two major scenarios: when choosing the career path and when experiencing it.
Even when there's a constant wave of emotions, something positive comes up. Like a kaleidoscope, after being shaken, new patterns reveal beautiful outcomes.
You never see the world with the same eyes, but your new view is also wonderful.
If you're looking for a short and thought-provoking read, you can find my book on Amazon.
