Rogue Thoughts

by Neal Mason

Interested in abstract ideas, but aware that the word 'philosophy' can put people off, Neal Mason employs dramatic situations and events in a layered but entertaining way.

He feels that humour is one thing philosophy forgot and so adds it to his work coupled with a sense of the absurd.

The result is thought-provoking and profound poetry.

83 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2024

Reviews

[Madhura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rogue Thoughts is like sipping espresso laced with stardust—short, intense shots of verse that jolt the mind while leaving an aftertaste of mischief. Neal Mason gathers philosophy’s lofty clouds, pins them to a stage, and dresses them in absurdity’s bright feathers. His 28 poems are miniature plays—dramas of bleeding love, speculative thought, and sly, shadowy humour. Even the second poem, set in ancient Rome’s theatre of pride and abuse, feels like an archaeological find—dusty yet alive, echoing with paradox. Mason’s wit is dark, his humour a labyrinth, and the journey demands slow, deliberate steps. But for those willing to wander, these verses unlock trapdoors to strange gardens where thought blossoms in crooked colours, and laughter is a philosopher’s most unexpected gift.

Rating: 4.2/5

[Om Sen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently dove into *Rogue Thoughts* by Neal Mason, and it’s a refreshing, mind-bending collection of poetry that’s as entertaining as it is profound. Mason takes abstract ideas—philosophy’s playground—and weaves them into vivid, dramatic scenes that pull you in without feeling heavy or academic. His knack for blending humor with a touch of the absurd makes this book a unique gem.

What stands out most is how Mason makes big ideas approachable. He sidesteps the stuffiness often tied to philosophy, using witty, relatable scenarios to explore life’s deeper questions. Each poem feels like a mini-story, layered with meaning yet light enough to keep you smiling. The absurdity he sprinkles in—like unexpected twists or quirky imagery—keeps the tone playful, but never at the cost of depth. One moment, you’re chuckling at a clever line; the next, you’re pausing to ponder existence itself.

Mason’s strength lies in his ability to balance these elements. The poems are thought-provoking without being preachy, inviting you to question your assumptions while enjoying the ride. Whether he’s poking fun at human quirks or unraveling life’s contradictions, his words stick with you. I found myself rereading certain pieces, catching new insights each time.

The collection’s accessibility makes it perfect for anyone curious about life’s big questions but wary of dense philosophical texts. Mason’s humor and vivid imagery create a welcoming entry point, while the underlying profundity ensures you leave with something to chew on. *Rogue Thoughts* is a delightful, clever read that proves philosophy doesn’t have to be serious to be meaningful. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves poetry that sparks both laughter and reflection.

[Shifali B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poems encourage you to reevaluate your preconceptions while having fun because they are thought-provoking without being didactic. His words stay with you, whether he's making fun of human eccentricities or resolving conflicts in life. I kept rereading some of the pieces, and each time, I learnt something new.

Neal Mason gave it a sense of ease. Despite their profound content, his poems don't feel particularly weighty. There are humorous lines as well as many that cause you to pause and reflect.
While some poems made me laugh, others caused me to reflect more profoundly on the world and myself. Some of them felt real, but in a weird way.

A few verses that piqued me:

🌷"Heavy in heart
but compliant, obeying heaven
instead of conscience, common sense
or human compassion,
atmosphere tense,"

🌷It’s far worse if your mother believes and says
the wrong boy died.
This is a curse. If there’s no remedy soon,
the child’s development too
was on that hearse. To grow is healing? The child thinks, not
with logic or experience,
only with feeling, yet a strategy evolves:"

Overall, it's the type of collection that can be read all at once and offers rewards for returning time and time again, each time revealing something you missed the first time. The fact that whimsy and truth continue to collide in shockingly honest ways made me lean into the peculiar comfort of its contrasts.

[Bhartiya Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rogue Thoughts by Neal Mason is a poetic mosaic of raw ideas, fleeting emotions, and sharp observations that challenge the reader to slow down and listen. Each piece feels like a spontaneous spark—sometimes reflective, sometimes playful, but always tinged with honesty.

The collection moves with a natural rhythm, as if the poet is inviting you into private conversations he’s had with himself. There’s no pretension here—just thoughts laid bare, shaped into verse that is approachable yet layered. The beauty lies in its variety: some poems feel like gentle ripples across a quiet pond, while others hit like sudden gusts of wind, shaking loose hidden truths.

Mason’s language is crisp and unforced, never weighed down by unnecessary ornamentation. His words flow as though they were meant to be spoken aloud, making the reading experience both personal and immersive.

What stands out most is the book’s sincerity. Rogue Thoughts doesn’t try to impress—it connects. It reminds you that poetry can be both simple and profound, humorous and contemplative, light yet lingering.

This is the kind of book you can read in a single sitting, yet return to again, finding new meaning each time—a quiet, unassuming gem for lovers of genuine poetic expression.

[P.Reads.And.Clicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Rogue Thoughts by Neal Mason felt like finding a hidden gem. I didn’t expect poems about deep ideas to be so fun and easy to understand but they really were.
I’ve always liked thinking about life’s big questions, but I usually find philosophy interesting yet confusing. Neal Mason made it feel simple. His poems have deep meaning, but they don’t feel that heavy. There’s humour and many lines that just make you stop and think.
Some poems made me smile, while others made me think more deeply about myself and the world. Each poem felt like a short story easy to read, but with more meaning if you think about it longer. Some were strange somehow even they felt real.
What I liked most was that Mason doesn’t sound like he’s teaching or preaching it felt like he was just having a friendly chat with me about the things I feel but don’t always talk about. His writing felt real and human.
Rogue Thoughts didn’t just make me enjoy poetry it made me reflect in a quiet and surprising way. If you like thoughtful writing that’s not too heavy, I think you’ll really enjoy this book. It made me smile, think, and want to read it again

[Pallavi Kandibilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rogue Thoughts is not an ordinary poetry book. It takes complex and difficult topics and makes them accessible. It contains poems that are sometimes fun to read, sometimes serious, and sometimes quite funny too. You don't have to be a poetry expert to enjoy it.

What I really liked about Rogue Thoughts is the way that the poems combine interesting ideas with humor. I found that at times I was having a serious moment thinking about life, and then the poet would throw in a clever line or twist and I found myself smiling. It kept it interesting for me through and through.

Some poems really made me reflect about certain things going on in my life and the world around me. Others made me simply laugh. The mix of deep and light made this collection of poetry feel fresh and original.

You can read to simply enjoy or you can read to glean. I can guarantee that some of the lines will stick with you long after even after you have closed the book and moved on

If you are looking for poetry that is interesting but not boring, deep and yet still playful, I would certainly recommend Rogue Thoughts.

[Madiha Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neal Mason's Rogue Thoughts was like sitting down with a clever friend who can make you laugh and think at the same time. The poems deal with subjects that might otherwise seem weighty, but Mason makes them approachable. I liked how some of the pieces made me stop and reflect, while others surprised me with their humor. I was able to turn the pages without feeling overpowered by the mix.

One that particularly stayed with me was Alarm, which blends concepts of evolution and science fiction in an unexpectedly engaging way. It got me thinking about how life moves in cycles—yet it never felt like a lecture because of how imaginatively it was presented. The poem’s clever framing made complex ideas not just digestible, but entertaining, and I found myself revisiting lines in my head long after reading.

What I admired most about Mason’s work was his lighthearted approach to exploring big ideas. Each poem felt like its own little world, yet all shared his knack for crisp, deliberate phrasing. More than once, I found myself smiling, pausing to think, and smiling again—a rhythm that perfectly captures the charm of this collection.

[Sunita Dharaviya · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Crushing sodden logs and sand, hardcore for the future..." — from the very first poem, Mason’s worlds are alive with surprise, wit, and a sideways way of looking at life.

This collection is a delight for anyone who loves poetry that is both clever and unexpected. Mason moves easily from prehistoric cricket matches in First Test, to the cheeky self-portrait of a historical figure in Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell CB, to a sharp meditation on human bias in The Fallacy of the Positive Instance. His humour can make you smirk in one line and think deeply in the next.

What makes the book stand out is its variety — playful, satirical, reflective — all tied together by an ease with language and a knack for finding the unusual in the everyday. Mason doesn’t just write poems; he sets up little worlds and lets you explore.

As he says in one poem, “Life is nothing if not rich in confirming instances” — and this book is full of them. Or, as in another, when the inevitable rain begins, you can only smile and turn the page for more.

[Shweta · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a rare intelligence in weaving poetries. It challenges you gently and takes you to a deeper place, reminding you of never losing your sense of wonder.

Neal Mason's Rogue Thoughts is one such poetry book that bends your brain and lifts your mood at the same time.

All his poems are layered with wit, philosophy and deeper truths. There will be questions buzzing in your mind reading these poems, and their answers also can be found in these poems.

One of my favourite poems, titled Alarm, is a sci-fi combined with evolution philosophy and is deeply reflective, as it talks about the cyclical nature of evolution.

I would also like to highlight one more poem which is quite profound. It is titled Athlete, which talks about the continuous chasing of success and fear of failure in the metaphor of running.

If you’ve ever felt that philosophy is too heavy, too dense, or just not your thing—Rogue Thoughts might just change your mind.

[Booklover_rimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Rogue Thoughts" by Neal Mason is a collection of poems but not the conventional ones where the poet talks about their emotions and pain, but this is kind of a collection where the poet talks about some preconceptions we have and gives us a different look at them.

Each poem is deep and philosophical and yet simple and easy to read and understand. Another point is these poems are not rigid but fun, full of humor. Each poem is a story itself; some are weird to think about, and it will take some time to get a picture of it, but when you have a hang of it, it will be easy to picture and enjoy.

Among all the poems, I love enjoying reading Excavations of the Comedy Theatre, First Test, and Alarm. Alarm has a science fiction view in it, while the First Test animals are portrayed in a fun way. Apart from these, there are poems you will enjoy too. Overall it is a unique collection to read, and I highly recommend it to every poetry lover.

[Vanshi ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rogue Thoughts feels like opening a box of puzzle pieces where each piece is complete in itself but also hints at a bigger, invisible picture. Some are playful, almost mischievous, like a knowing grin slipped between the lines. Others are heavier, carrying a quiet weight that lingers after the page is turned. The beauty is in that unpredictability—you never quite know if the next piece will make you laugh, think, or stop altogether just to breathe it in.

There’s a distinct rhythm here, a flow that moves from the surreal to the sharply real without losing its voice. The language is tight yet textured, inviting you to find meaning in what’s said and in what’s left unsaid. It’s the kind of collection that can be read in one sitting but also rewards coming back to, each time catching something you missed before. I found myself leaning into the strange comfort of its contradictions—the way whimsy and truth keep colliding in ways that feel unexpectedly honest.