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द लिटिल वॉइस
“Can you remember who you were before the world told you who you should be?”
Dear reader,
My character has been shaped by two opposing forces; the pressure to conform to social norms, and the pressure to be true to myself. To be honest with you, these forces have really torn me apart. They’ve pulled me one way and then the other. At times, they’ve left me questioning my whole entire existence.
But please don’t think that I’m angry or morose. I’m not. Because through adversity comes knowledge. I’ve suffered, it’s true. But I’ve learnt from my pain. I’ve become a better person.
Now, for the first time, I’m ready to tell my story. Perhaps it will inspire you. Perhaps it will encourage you to think in a whole new way. Perhaps it won’t. There’s only one way to find out…
Enjoy the book,
Yew Shodkin
"The most thought-provoking novel of 2016" - The Huffington Post
"Radical... Warm... Whimsical..." - The Canary
"Remarkable" - Buzzfeed
Dear reader,
My character has been shaped by two opposing forces; the pressure to conform to social norms, and the pressure to be true to myself. To be honest with you, these forces have really torn me apart. They’ve pulled me one way and then the other. At times, they’ve left me questioning my whole entire existence.
But please don’t think that I’m angry or morose. I’m not. Because through adversity comes knowledge. I’ve suffered, it’s true. But I’ve learnt from my pain. I’ve become a better person.
Now, for the first time, I’m ready to tell my story. Perhaps it will inspire you. Perhaps it will encourage you to think in a whole new way. Perhaps it won’t. There’s only one way to find out…
Enjoy the book,
Yew Shodkin
"The most thought-provoking novel of 2016" - The Huffington Post
"Radical... Warm... Whimsical..." - The Canary
"Remarkable" - Buzzfeed
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 23, 2016
304 people are currently reading
690 people want to read
About the author
Joss Sheldon
9 books184 followersJoss Sheldon is a scruffy nomad, unchained free-thinker, and post-modernist radical. Born in 1982, he was raised in one of the anonymous suburbs that wrap themselves around London's beating heart. Then he escaped!
With a degree from the London School of Economics to his name, Sheldon had spells selling falafel at music festivals, being a ski-bum, and failing to turn the English Midlands into a haven of rugby league.
Then, in 2013, he stumbled upon McLeod Ganj; an Indian village which is home to thousands of angry monkeys, hundreds of Tibetan refugees, and the Dalai Lama himself. It was there that Sheldon wrote his debut novel, 'Involution & Evolution'.
Eleven years down the line, he's penned eight titles in total, including two works of non-fiction: "DEMOCRACY: A User's Guide", and his latest release, "FREEDOM: The Case For Open Borders".
With a degree from the London School of Economics to his name, Sheldon had spells selling falafel at music festivals, being a ski-bum, and failing to turn the English Midlands into a haven of rugby league.
Then, in 2013, he stumbled upon McLeod Ganj; an Indian village which is home to thousands of angry monkeys, hundreds of Tibetan refugees, and the Dalai Lama himself. It was there that Sheldon wrote his debut novel, 'Involution & Evolution'.
Eleven years down the line, he's penned eight titles in total, including two works of non-fiction: "DEMOCRACY: A User's Guide", and his latest release, "FREEDOM: The Case For Open Borders".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
February 9, 2017
Note to self. If I ever start hearing from a voice in my head called "egot" I should probably not listen.
Yew is a very difficult character in many ways. I rarely understood or agreed with him. He was frustrating and hard to relate to.
This novel comes off as less Fiction and more "memoir" or "biography". It is written in the first person narrative.
This novel spans quite a bit of time. You get to watch this character grow and while he does not always grow in a good way, you do see change in him brought on by many different circumstances.
I liked the out of the ordinary perspective we were given. If you take a step back and not think about yourself or what you would do in Yew's place, it does have some great takeaways.
Who are you living your life for? Yourself? Or Someone Else? I think that is ultimately the lesson here. While Yew did not go about it in the best way, he was fighting to be true to himself and live for himself and for that I can commend him for.
Yew is a very difficult character in many ways. I rarely understood or agreed with him. He was frustrating and hard to relate to.
This novel comes off as less Fiction and more "memoir" or "biography". It is written in the first person narrative.
This novel spans quite a bit of time. You get to watch this character grow and while he does not always grow in a good way, you do see change in him brought on by many different circumstances.
I liked the out of the ordinary perspective we were given. If you take a step back and not think about yourself or what you would do in Yew's place, it does have some great takeaways.
Who are you living your life for? Yourself? Or Someone Else? I think that is ultimately the lesson here. While Yew did not go about it in the best way, he was fighting to be true to himself and live for himself and for that I can commend him for.
November 20, 2016
A deeply thought provoking read and under two-hundred pages. The Little Voice is told from the perspective of Yew who recounts his childhood and is questioning the status quo. The narrative is a blend of childlike innocence mixed with a constructive social critique that leaves you reflecting on your own choices.
The story takes us through Yew’s inner struggles with the egot during childhood, his eventual conformity and his ennui as he feels his life following the ‘rules’ has left his empty and unhappy.
I really liked how Yew was going back over his younger years with the wiser and self-aware consciousness that he got through all of his struggles. There is a heavy emphasis on education and what that means to individuals as we are given academic studies to reinforce Yew’s self-evaluation. You can’t help but learn from Yew’s experience and find yourself questioning your life and the path you have taken. Why did settle for that job I didn’t want? Why did I go to university? It was provocative in every way to cause a twenty-something reader to have a quarter life crisis about the path they are on, but the insightful and whimsical Lao Tzu quotes quell the need to immediately re-evaluate your own life and keep reading to find out where Yew ended up after his epiphany.
Overall, The Little Voice is an challenging, and stimulating read that leaves you with a thousand questions which you have to find the answer to on your own.
The story takes us through Yew’s inner struggles with the egot during childhood, his eventual conformity and his ennui as he feels his life following the ‘rules’ has left his empty and unhappy.
I really liked how Yew was going back over his younger years with the wiser and self-aware consciousness that he got through all of his struggles. There is a heavy emphasis on education and what that means to individuals as we are given academic studies to reinforce Yew’s self-evaluation. You can’t help but learn from Yew’s experience and find yourself questioning your life and the path you have taken. Why did settle for that job I didn’t want? Why did I go to university? It was provocative in every way to cause a twenty-something reader to have a quarter life crisis about the path they are on, but the insightful and whimsical Lao Tzu quotes quell the need to immediately re-evaluate your own life and keep reading to find out where Yew ended up after his epiphany.
Overall, The Little Voice is an challenging, and stimulating read that leaves you with a thousand questions which you have to find the answer to on your own.
January 25, 2017
The Little Voice is the story of Yew Shodkin, told in his own words, from his early years as a rebellious child to his current days. Rather than a prosaic retelling of events, it's an exploration of the psyche. Sheldon takes you on a journey through the mind of his character, his desires, his hopes and his dreams.
It's a story of self-discovery and self-reflection, wherein Yew first fights against his true nature before attempting to embrace it.
Sheldon's writing talent is unquestionable and his style distinctive. The narrative is addressed directly to the reader and this gives a personal note to the revelations within. It feels like Yew is confessing directly to you and this invokes a more direct empathy with the character.
He also uses an interesting mechanism of repeatedly quoting earlier segments of the book. Sometimes the narrator informs you of this, drawing your attention to something he wrote earlier, sometimes it is constructed more subtly with the reuse of phrases and descriptions taken word-for-word from earlier sections. The author uses this to draw parallels and contrasts between the narrators state at different points. This was a brave decision, with a lot of room to become cliche or even worse lazy. But the device is used with precision and really adds to the emotional effect of the novel.
The politics, or perhaps philosophies more be a more accurate description, within the book are very clearly influenced by Sheldon's own views and experiences. The journey of discovery that he takes us on seems analogous to his own, more literal, journey around the world, to the point where I'm led to wonder if this novel isn't, at least to some extent, autobiographical.
Sheldon rages against the structures of modern western society, taking swipes at the stifling nature of the education system, the monotony of trudging to an uninspiring nine-to-five and the crushing qualities of societies expectations of normality. His words are, however, not just angry ramblings but rather a series of pointed questions that will lead you to question your own beliefs and influences.
The author refers to a number of psychological studies, often in detail, to support the points that he, or the narrator, is making. Constantly questioning the accepted constructs of the world that we have created around ourselves. He is heavily, and blatantly, tied to the philosophical teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher and "Father of Taoism" Lao Tzu and the text is peppered with quotations. At no point does the book descend into a lecture, quite the contrary as I was gripped from start to finish.
Sheldon treads a fine line with this work. It's difficult to maintain that balance between being overbearingly preachy and hammering home his points with the passion that he clearly holds for his subject matter. In my assessment he pulls it off with ease, but I can see it grating on some.
It really is a marvelous work and while none of the conclusions are earth-shatteringly new ideas, it will make you question some of your own preconceptions. What more can you ask for from a book?
I've found myself a new author to count among my favourites, I urge you to do the same.
It's a story of self-discovery and self-reflection, wherein Yew first fights against his true nature before attempting to embrace it.
Sheldon's writing talent is unquestionable and his style distinctive. The narrative is addressed directly to the reader and this gives a personal note to the revelations within. It feels like Yew is confessing directly to you and this invokes a more direct empathy with the character.
He also uses an interesting mechanism of repeatedly quoting earlier segments of the book. Sometimes the narrator informs you of this, drawing your attention to something he wrote earlier, sometimes it is constructed more subtly with the reuse of phrases and descriptions taken word-for-word from earlier sections. The author uses this to draw parallels and contrasts between the narrators state at different points. This was a brave decision, with a lot of room to become cliche or even worse lazy. But the device is used with precision and really adds to the emotional effect of the novel.
The politics, or perhaps philosophies more be a more accurate description, within the book are very clearly influenced by Sheldon's own views and experiences. The journey of discovery that he takes us on seems analogous to his own, more literal, journey around the world, to the point where I'm led to wonder if this novel isn't, at least to some extent, autobiographical.
Sheldon rages against the structures of modern western society, taking swipes at the stifling nature of the education system, the monotony of trudging to an uninspiring nine-to-five and the crushing qualities of societies expectations of normality. His words are, however, not just angry ramblings but rather a series of pointed questions that will lead you to question your own beliefs and influences.
The author refers to a number of psychological studies, often in detail, to support the points that he, or the narrator, is making. Constantly questioning the accepted constructs of the world that we have created around ourselves. He is heavily, and blatantly, tied to the philosophical teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher and "Father of Taoism" Lao Tzu and the text is peppered with quotations. At no point does the book descend into a lecture, quite the contrary as I was gripped from start to finish.
Sheldon treads a fine line with this work. It's difficult to maintain that balance between being overbearingly preachy and hammering home his points with the passion that he clearly holds for his subject matter. In my assessment he pulls it off with ease, but I can see it grating on some.
It really is a marvelous work and while none of the conclusions are earth-shatteringly new ideas, it will make you question some of your own preconceptions. What more can you ask for from a book?
I've found myself a new author to count among my favourites, I urge you to do the same.
December 30, 2019
Bir çırpıda okuduğum romanın "doğa yoksunluğu sendromu"ndan muzdarip, uyum sağlaması
için edimsel şartlandırmaya kurban edilmiş kahramanı Yew Shodkin'in son cümleleri;
İçimdeki çocuğu beslemiştim. Ona istediğim her şey vermiştim; özgürlük, alan ve doğa gibi. Hiç ihtiyaç duymadığı şeylerden kurtarmıştım: iş, hırs ve açgözlülük gibi.
Bir tırtıldım ve kelebek oldum.
Bir tohumdum ve bir çiçek oldum.
İçimdeki çocuk büyüyüp içimdeki yetişkine dönüştü. Kendim gerçek benliğim olmaya; bir olmaya başladım.
için edimsel şartlandırmaya kurban edilmiş kahramanı Yew Shodkin'in son cümleleri;
İçimdeki çocuğu beslemiştim. Ona istediğim her şey vermiştim; özgürlük, alan ve doğa gibi. Hiç ihtiyaç duymadığı şeylerden kurtarmıştım: iş, hırs ve açgözlülük gibi.
Bir tırtıldım ve kelebek oldum.
Bir tohumdum ve bir çiçek oldum.
İçimdeki çocuk büyüyüp içimdeki yetişkine dönüştü. Kendim gerçek benliğim olmaya; bir olmaya başladım.
December 31, 2017
This book tells the story of a white middle-class male, Yew Shodkin, from childhood to adulthood. It is a riches to rags to riches or coming of age sort of piece, wherein the main character enjoys the freedoms of childhood, but then becomes entrapped and frustrated by feelings of enforced conformity in late childhood and on into adulthood. Yew is stricken by low self-esteem, and consequently makes poor choices as he goes through life, particularly regarding friends and employment; and this eventually sees him succumb to depression, followed by a series of activities, including activism and drug use, designed to reignite the feelings of freedom that he remembers from his youth. A near-fatal overdose causes him to cross paths with a nurse-come-personal saviour, who shows him how to recapture his inner-child in its now-adult form, and to follow an alternate path to [alleged] happiness. It is a simple, not particularly novel plot. However it has the potential to convey important philosophical ideas regarding life, education, and how to retain individuality in actions and spirit in a world that rigorously imposes conformity.
This is a difficult style to master, and unfortunately, I did not feel that the book lived up to its potential. Rather than making his point using engaging narrative and nuance, which would have the ideas arise organically out of the main character, the author rather heavy-handedly imposes moral authority upon the reader. A more effective method may be to allow the reader to discover the main points by way of the character’s discovery of himself.
I did not feel that Yew was convincing as a regular person. These are everyday common themes, and yet the character reports them as though they are unique to him, like he is sharing some fantastical series of situations that could only happen to him. Consequently, the work does not entertain multiple points of view, much less attempt to evaluate them, except in the most superficial way. Making common cause with the audience may have been a more useful approach, as it would have made the character much more convincing. Also, I felt that the addition of more than one developed character may have been useful in this respect, as it would have given more robust dialogue and aided in further development of the main character as well as different perspectives.
The main character is self-centred and self-righteous, and conveys the opinions and values of others somewhat pretentiously. This is fine, as it is the writer’s prerogative to make his main character whatever he likes. However, the narrative construction unfortunately made the main character seem strikingly similar to what one might imagine the author to be. This is particularly evident in the incessant narrative interruptions/asides for lessons in Taoism and incorrectly interpreted pop psychology that litter the book, notably not to its benefit. Thus, because the division between author and main (only) character is not maintained, the book is uncomfortably autobiographical to the reader; and rather than telling a story, the book appears as a catalogue of the author’s values and opinions. There may have been some merit in the author backing away slightly from his convictions, in order to let the narrative flow from the main character more effectively/convincingly. I feel that such an approach would have been more effective, giving rise to a more mature narrative structure that would engage and instruct, and perhaps even enlighten, the reader.
Thus, although full of potential, The Little Voice was too preachy and lacked the maturity of literary style necessary to engage me and convey the message the author desired.
This is a difficult style to master, and unfortunately, I did not feel that the book lived up to its potential. Rather than making his point using engaging narrative and nuance, which would have the ideas arise organically out of the main character, the author rather heavy-handedly imposes moral authority upon the reader. A more effective method may be to allow the reader to discover the main points by way of the character’s discovery of himself.
I did not feel that Yew was convincing as a regular person. These are everyday common themes, and yet the character reports them as though they are unique to him, like he is sharing some fantastical series of situations that could only happen to him. Consequently, the work does not entertain multiple points of view, much less attempt to evaluate them, except in the most superficial way. Making common cause with the audience may have been a more useful approach, as it would have made the character much more convincing. Also, I felt that the addition of more than one developed character may have been useful in this respect, as it would have given more robust dialogue and aided in further development of the main character as well as different perspectives.
The main character is self-centred and self-righteous, and conveys the opinions and values of others somewhat pretentiously. This is fine, as it is the writer’s prerogative to make his main character whatever he likes. However, the narrative construction unfortunately made the main character seem strikingly similar to what one might imagine the author to be. This is particularly evident in the incessant narrative interruptions/asides for lessons in Taoism and incorrectly interpreted pop psychology that litter the book, notably not to its benefit. Thus, because the division between author and main (only) character is not maintained, the book is uncomfortably autobiographical to the reader; and rather than telling a story, the book appears as a catalogue of the author’s values and opinions. There may have been some merit in the author backing away slightly from his convictions, in order to let the narrative flow from the main character more effectively/convincingly. I feel that such an approach would have been more effective, giving rise to a more mature narrative structure that would engage and instruct, and perhaps even enlighten, the reader.
Thus, although full of potential, The Little Voice was too preachy and lacked the maturity of literary style necessary to engage me and convey the message the author desired.
February 21, 2017
"Can you remember who you were before the world told you who you should be?"
A Little Voice by Joss Sheldon is a fast paced, thought provoking and totally absorbing story!
The author tells the story of a man, Yew Shodkin, who looks back on his major life-bullet points and analizes them, after finally embracing his true self. Yew begins his tale at the age of six, which is when he first hears the voice of the "Egot", encouraging him to rebel against social norms and pursue his real desires.
He found that disobeying his authorities (teachers, parents, bosses, etc) only resulted in him being punished. Whether it was disownment, being fired, rejected, having to write lines in class or being confined in his bedroom, he decided to behave accordingly to avoid the pains of punishment. Instead of being true to hiself, he chose to conform to society's standards in hopes of being accepted and reaching happiness.
By denying his personal inner needs and wants, Yew felt that he had lost his identity and fell into a depression. He spent 5 years in a university at his parents request (and against his real wishes) just to obtain a degree that never really aided him in life, and with out thanks. He worked at dead end jobs, where he followed his 'team leaders' rules to a 'T', but was never promoted for being a good employee. He worked hard at trying to be an acceptable citizen of society and despite giving his best efforts, never felt successful. Eventually, Yew hit rock bottom, and it was there that he finally learned to let go of his fears of rejection and give into his uniqueness.
This is a story of individualism verses conforming to social norms. This is a story of Pursuing happiness and achieving freedom of self.
I loved all the philosophical quotes and psychology theories Joss Sheldon used in this story; very informational and entertaining. At times this story is humorous, dark and even strange, but mostly it's thought provoking, honest and raw.
**** I received an eBook copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Booktasters for introducing me to this author, and thank you to Joss Sheldon for allowing me the opportunity to read and review his novel. ****
A Little Voice by Joss Sheldon is a fast paced, thought provoking and totally absorbing story!
The author tells the story of a man, Yew Shodkin, who looks back on his major life-bullet points and analizes them, after finally embracing his true self. Yew begins his tale at the age of six, which is when he first hears the voice of the "Egot", encouraging him to rebel against social norms and pursue his real desires.
He found that disobeying his authorities (teachers, parents, bosses, etc) only resulted in him being punished. Whether it was disownment, being fired, rejected, having to write lines in class or being confined in his bedroom, he decided to behave accordingly to avoid the pains of punishment. Instead of being true to hiself, he chose to conform to society's standards in hopes of being accepted and reaching happiness.
By denying his personal inner needs and wants, Yew felt that he had lost his identity and fell into a depression. He spent 5 years in a university at his parents request (and against his real wishes) just to obtain a degree that never really aided him in life, and with out thanks. He worked at dead end jobs, where he followed his 'team leaders' rules to a 'T', but was never promoted for being a good employee. He worked hard at trying to be an acceptable citizen of society and despite giving his best efforts, never felt successful. Eventually, Yew hit rock bottom, and it was there that he finally learned to let go of his fears of rejection and give into his uniqueness.
This is a story of individualism verses conforming to social norms. This is a story of Pursuing happiness and achieving freedom of self.
I loved all the philosophical quotes and psychology theories Joss Sheldon used in this story; very informational and entertaining. At times this story is humorous, dark and even strange, but mostly it's thought provoking, honest and raw.
**** I received an eBook copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Booktasters for introducing me to this author, and thank you to Joss Sheldon for allowing me the opportunity to read and review his novel. ****
December 28, 2017
When I started this book I was hoping for something that would open my eyes a little bit and change the way I view things and maybe even the way I think about things, but all it did was make me think the author needs professional help.
He goes through his life story starting when he has a young boy in school talking about how he didn't want to sit still in class and a creature inside of his head told him to misbehave and do things like throw chairs across classrooms and look up girls skirts, and yet he couldn't seem to understand why his teachers/parents did not approve of this behavior. It was infuriating at times and just whiny at others. If you can suffer though this phase of the book, you get to his young adult life, which is a less eye-roll inducing portion where he talks about not being satisfied in the various jobs he takes and his relationships with co-workers. As a college student I was especially angered by the part in this book where he complains that his parents did not thank him for going to school and going to school for free I might add (he says his father paid for all of his schooling including living expenses). If anyone paid for my schooling I definitely would not then be expecting them to thank me for the mere fact of attending!
The character in this book came off to me as a self-entitled brat that wanted to do whatever he wanted to do and for society to pay for him to do it and praise him. I think he was trying to compare societal expectations to the reality that not everyone fits in to the "norm," but there are far better ways he could have gone about doing this rather than complain that he had to follow rules such as "don't look up girls skirts."
One positive I can say is that this book does move along at a steady pace, so as to keep things changing and not lose the reader in boredom or irritation.
He goes through his life story starting when he has a young boy in school talking about how he didn't want to sit still in class and a creature inside of his head told him to misbehave and do things like throw chairs across classrooms and look up girls skirts, and yet he couldn't seem to understand why his teachers/parents did not approve of this behavior. It was infuriating at times and just whiny at others. If you can suffer though this phase of the book, you get to his young adult life, which is a less eye-roll inducing portion where he talks about not being satisfied in the various jobs he takes and his relationships with co-workers. As a college student I was especially angered by the part in this book where he complains that his parents did not thank him for going to school and going to school for free I might add (he says his father paid for all of his schooling including living expenses). If anyone paid for my schooling I definitely would not then be expecting them to thank me for the mere fact of attending!
The character in this book came off to me as a self-entitled brat that wanted to do whatever he wanted to do and for society to pay for him to do it and praise him. I think he was trying to compare societal expectations to the reality that not everyone fits in to the "norm," but there are far better ways he could have gone about doing this rather than complain that he had to follow rules such as "don't look up girls skirts."
One positive I can say is that this book does move along at a steady pace, so as to keep things changing and not lose the reader in boredom or irritation.
February 7, 2017
The little voice tells the story of Yewy Shodkin. In order to fit in to the society sometimes he must push aside his conscience and follow the rule. It begins with his childhood that has a creature called Egot. It lived inside of his mind and whispering Yew to do something that Yew really want to do although it’s a bad acts. After the punishment he turns into the obedient character until he grows up and live in a common life. He becomes a good studend and has been good for all the job he is taken but still there’s something missing. The success never come into his life and he never taste the happiness. So he decided to release his self from the mundane life and become free again.
Our society encourages us to obey authority. It’s a matter of Operational Conditioning; we’re rewarded when we follow authority’s rules and punished when we break those rules. Slowly but surely, we’re gently coerced into a state of total obedience.
This was an interesting book, has a lot good point that make we ask about our self and life. There are psychologies theories and quotes of great wisdom.
‘In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present’.
I received this book for free in exchange for honest review.
Our society encourages us to obey authority. It’s a matter of Operational Conditioning; we’re rewarded when we follow authority’s rules and punished when we break those rules. Slowly but surely, we’re gently coerced into a state of total obedience.
This was an interesting book, has a lot good point that make we ask about our self and life. There are psychologies theories and quotes of great wisdom.
‘In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present’.
I received this book for free in exchange for honest review.
November 24, 2016
What a strange book this turned out to be for me. I wasn't sure what to expect when I began it. I have a tendency to randomly pick books, or select review books, without knowing anything about them, ( or, in some cases, very little). I don't read reviews before I read the books either. I fear spoilers too much. I fear others opinions coloring my reading, especially if I respect their reviews. So I avoid and then let a relationship unfold as I read.
There is so much I learned and reflected upon while reading this book! This is the reason for the slow reading. This book was like spending time with a mentor that I highly respect. One who knows the best way for someone to grow is to share experiences and invite them to reflect on them. To bring forth questions for them to ponder upon. Each of us is on a different path with individual experiences, even if it resembles another's path. This is why we can empathize with another but never fully understand their situation.
In reading this story, I found myself thinking of children in my family with autism. Conforming to the world is very difficult for them. They see things in their individual ways. I have tried finding a balance with them. The world will not conform to them yet, if allowed, they have much to teach the world. I also reflected upon my experience with domestic violence. I accepted the training of conforming to another's vision out of fear. Even when the little voice inside was screaming at me, fear quieted it until it was nothing. One of the things I also found myself thinking on while reading this book was the election that just passed: the political correctness, the unwillingness to allow another opinion, the rebellion that has happened on both sides. The book allows for many opportunities to reflect upon life in all directions. This is what I love so much about it.
Can I say I was entertained while reading this book? Honestly, I have no idea yet. I will be thinking on this book for awhile. I expect to visit it more than once in the future. I expect it will probably affect me as much. I believe I will have different experiences to add to my reflections. I have already begun recommending this book in my life so it is easy to say here, I recommend this book.
I received an ecopy of this book through BookTasters for review consideration.
There is so much I learned and reflected upon while reading this book! This is the reason for the slow reading. This book was like spending time with a mentor that I highly respect. One who knows the best way for someone to grow is to share experiences and invite them to reflect on them. To bring forth questions for them to ponder upon. Each of us is on a different path with individual experiences, even if it resembles another's path. This is why we can empathize with another but never fully understand their situation.
In reading this story, I found myself thinking of children in my family with autism. Conforming to the world is very difficult for them. They see things in their individual ways. I have tried finding a balance with them. The world will not conform to them yet, if allowed, they have much to teach the world. I also reflected upon my experience with domestic violence. I accepted the training of conforming to another's vision out of fear. Even when the little voice inside was screaming at me, fear quieted it until it was nothing. One of the things I also found myself thinking on while reading this book was the election that just passed: the political correctness, the unwillingness to allow another opinion, the rebellion that has happened on both sides. The book allows for many opportunities to reflect upon life in all directions. This is what I love so much about it.
Can I say I was entertained while reading this book? Honestly, I have no idea yet. I will be thinking on this book for awhile. I expect to visit it more than once in the future. I expect it will probably affect me as much. I believe I will have different experiences to add to my reflections. I have already begun recommending this book in my life so it is easy to say here, I recommend this book.
I received an ecopy of this book through BookTasters for review consideration.
February 15, 2017
The author via Booktasters provided a copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest review.
The Little Voice by Joss Sheldon draws the reader into six-year-old Yew’s world immediately. Yew’s little voice also known as Egot, encourages him to do ‘things’ at home, at school and there are consequences to his actions. This read will challenge the reader to reexamine how one looks at individuals and the world. Yew’s world is filled with challenging obstacles, rules and expectations. He is determined from the start to become his authentic self. Brilliantly written from start to finish. I could not put The Little Voice down and read it in one enjoyable sitting. Sheldon has written an insightful book filled with hope for individuality. Yew has the courage to ask himself the question, “Is this what I really want?”
The Little Voice by Joss Sheldon draws the reader into six-year-old Yew’s world immediately. Yew’s little voice also known as Egot, encourages him to do ‘things’ at home, at school and there are consequences to his actions. This read will challenge the reader to reexamine how one looks at individuals and the world. Yew’s world is filled with challenging obstacles, rules and expectations. He is determined from the start to become his authentic self. Brilliantly written from start to finish. I could not put The Little Voice down and read it in one enjoyable sitting. Sheldon has written an insightful book filled with hope for individuality. Yew has the courage to ask himself the question, “Is this what I really want?”
November 12, 2016
“The Little Voice” by Joss Sheldon, is a surprisingly pleasant book.
At first, the story about a six year old boy who heard a voice inside his head, seems a bit cliché and boring, but just two lines after you find yourself reading it unstoppably and getting absorbed by the book completely.
IT was proven multiple times that a book written from a perspective of a kid has many chances to become a best-seller, like “Killing a mockingbird” was, and “the little voice” has a lot of chance of being a very soon-to-be best-seller, at least because it’s very entertaining, complex, beautifully written and extremely easy to read.
The evolution of the main character along with the quotes of Chinese philosophers and its unexpected turns, make you wish to spend more time with Yew, than just 150 pages, though, the ending is very pleasing. It felt like there’s nothing more to add, a feeling that I deeply appreciate after reading a good book.
Honestly, I loved it, and I could talk much more about it, but I’d like to avoid spoilers, better read it yourself.
At first, the story about a six year old boy who heard a voice inside his head, seems a bit cliché and boring, but just two lines after you find yourself reading it unstoppably and getting absorbed by the book completely.
IT was proven multiple times that a book written from a perspective of a kid has many chances to become a best-seller, like “Killing a mockingbird” was, and “the little voice” has a lot of chance of being a very soon-to-be best-seller, at least because it’s very entertaining, complex, beautifully written and extremely easy to read.
The evolution of the main character along with the quotes of Chinese philosophers and its unexpected turns, make you wish to spend more time with Yew, than just 150 pages, though, the ending is very pleasing. It felt like there’s nothing more to add, a feeling that I deeply appreciate after reading a good book.
Honestly, I loved it, and I could talk much more about it, but I’d like to avoid spoilers, better read it yourself.
April 13, 2017
I really liked this book, it had a lot to say for itself even though it was only a short read. Although at the beginning to me it was a little bit confusing when he was talking about his six year old self in the words of an adult i felt it was a bit jarring, but then i realised that he was looking back at his shelf as a child and so it all fell into place a bit more for me. I liked the message it was conveying in this piece of writing and i don't want to give anything away as this is type of book that you need to read for yourself and have the experience of having your mind and eyes opened. Enjoy!
May 13, 2019
You should read this book. I was identifying myself with the character in the 1st half of the book.
February 17, 2017
Disclaimer: I was approached by Joss Sheldon to provide a review and I promised him a fair and kind appraisal of his novel. It is not without consideration that I have given The Little Voice a 2 star rating.
**This review contains spoilers **
We meet Yew Shodkin at the age of 6 when he begins to hear a voice in his head inspiring him to carry out random acts of destruction or havoc in his suburban mundane infant world. The voice belongs to a creature he visualizes in his mind and whom he calls the "egot", described physically as a miniature Gollum. The narrator, Yew as an adult, salaciously retells the mischievous antics he perpetrated until the voice was silenced by a decision to conform. It is during these accounts that we gain early insight into the immature adult Yew would become. In one such episode, accompanied by an anodyne quote from Lao Tzu to "achieve greatness in little things" , young Yew convinces the girls in his class to stand in line whilst he lies on the floor and looks at their knickers. Describing what he saw, narrator Yew comments wholly inappropriately: "And Chantelle Stevens wore a slinky thong. She was only seven years old, the devious little minx!". This, and a couple of other glorified recountings of crude behaviour, made "The Little Voice" uncomfortable reading from the outset.
Nevertheless, there is a beautifully prosaic and lyrical moment when Yew eventually regrets having listened to the "egot", a moment described succinctly and powerfully as such: "My doubt mixed in with my shame. It created a maelstrom of acid in my stomach and a cyclone of blood in my heart". From this point onwards ensues a submission as "a white flag fluttered in the unenthusiastic breeze. A pen was in [his] hand. And a blank sheet of paper was filling up with the lines of [his] surrender".
Unfortunately what unravels is a life plagued by low self-esteem. We witness Yew consistently making poor choices, berating the world around him like a dispossessed teenager. What a self-involved and self-entitled individual he becomes! Furthermore the re-telling is peppered with wordy asides analysing his situation with the help of popular psychology which not only irritates but also hampers any enjoyment to be gleaned from reading this novel. At several junctures we are patronized by Yew the narrator allowing himself to furnish explanations to “dear reader”, either with examples of behaviour or – worse still – reminders of clues we may have missed in previous chapters.
Having been addicted to the highs he experienced as a young child following the “egot”’s advice to carry out misdemeanours, it was only inevitable that after finishing University and taking on a succession of unfulfilling jobs during which he tried to become infected by the “optimism-epidemic, [the] blind-faith pandemic [which] dulls our rational capabilities and encourages us to accept our unhappy lives”, Yew falls into activism and eventually starts taking drugs. It is precisely at this point where, had I been involved in editing this novel, I would have begun the narrative.
Struggling with depression, Yew the narrator quotes the well-known comment from philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti that it is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.
In my humble opinion, I would have begun "The Little Voice" in the “Natural Habitat” where adult Yew retreats to become a hermit. The retrospectives could have been interspersed with dialogue with Nurse Betty, his saviour. I would have created a conversation between Yew and Nurse Betty (not Renée Zellweger) who, by providing him with a copy of the Wisdom of Lao Tzu whilst recovering from the overdose, helps him unravel his psyche and overcome his narcissism. This nurse shows much grace and professionalism. The scene where she takes him out to play in the hospital grounds is incredibly moving. Astounded, Yew watches as Nurse Betty skipped: “She skipped! She skipped down that corridor with all the exuberance of a 5 year old”. Nurse Betty understands his need to be free from the world and provides him with a means to escape. The fact that Nurse Betty is the only character in the whole of the novel that gains more than superficial notice from the narrator is proof that she should have been given a more central role. Without her interference, I doubt Yew would have survived much longer and suppose he would have slipped into more dangerous drug use.
In a nutshell: I found “The Little Voice” preachy and naïve in equal measures; I was disappointed by the conspiracy theories about education and society; I was occasionally offended by Yew’s (unintentional?) sexism; but I found encouragement in Nurse Betty and her characterization. It is my opinion that Joss Sheldon may one day become a “once in a generation writer” but based upon “The Little Voice” I believe that this praise may have been slightly premature.
**This review contains spoilers **
We meet Yew Shodkin at the age of 6 when he begins to hear a voice in his head inspiring him to carry out random acts of destruction or havoc in his suburban mundane infant world. The voice belongs to a creature he visualizes in his mind and whom he calls the "egot", described physically as a miniature Gollum. The narrator, Yew as an adult, salaciously retells the mischievous antics he perpetrated until the voice was silenced by a decision to conform. It is during these accounts that we gain early insight into the immature adult Yew would become. In one such episode, accompanied by an anodyne quote from Lao Tzu to "achieve greatness in little things" , young Yew convinces the girls in his class to stand in line whilst he lies on the floor and looks at their knickers. Describing what he saw, narrator Yew comments wholly inappropriately: "And Chantelle Stevens wore a slinky thong. She was only seven years old, the devious little minx!". This, and a couple of other glorified recountings of crude behaviour, made "The Little Voice" uncomfortable reading from the outset.
Nevertheless, there is a beautifully prosaic and lyrical moment when Yew eventually regrets having listened to the "egot", a moment described succinctly and powerfully as such: "My doubt mixed in with my shame. It created a maelstrom of acid in my stomach and a cyclone of blood in my heart". From this point onwards ensues a submission as "a white flag fluttered in the unenthusiastic breeze. A pen was in [his] hand. And a blank sheet of paper was filling up with the lines of [his] surrender".
Unfortunately what unravels is a life plagued by low self-esteem. We witness Yew consistently making poor choices, berating the world around him like a dispossessed teenager. What a self-involved and self-entitled individual he becomes! Furthermore the re-telling is peppered with wordy asides analysing his situation with the help of popular psychology which not only irritates but also hampers any enjoyment to be gleaned from reading this novel. At several junctures we are patronized by Yew the narrator allowing himself to furnish explanations to “dear reader”, either with examples of behaviour or – worse still – reminders of clues we may have missed in previous chapters.
Having been addicted to the highs he experienced as a young child following the “egot”’s advice to carry out misdemeanours, it was only inevitable that after finishing University and taking on a succession of unfulfilling jobs during which he tried to become infected by the “optimism-epidemic, [the] blind-faith pandemic [which] dulls our rational capabilities and encourages us to accept our unhappy lives”, Yew falls into activism and eventually starts taking drugs. It is precisely at this point where, had I been involved in editing this novel, I would have begun the narrative.
Struggling with depression, Yew the narrator quotes the well-known comment from philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti that it is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.
In my humble opinion, I would have begun "The Little Voice" in the “Natural Habitat” where adult Yew retreats to become a hermit. The retrospectives could have been interspersed with dialogue with Nurse Betty, his saviour. I would have created a conversation between Yew and Nurse Betty (not Renée Zellweger) who, by providing him with a copy of the Wisdom of Lao Tzu whilst recovering from the overdose, helps him unravel his psyche and overcome his narcissism. This nurse shows much grace and professionalism. The scene where she takes him out to play in the hospital grounds is incredibly moving. Astounded, Yew watches as Nurse Betty skipped: “She skipped! She skipped down that corridor with all the exuberance of a 5 year old”. Nurse Betty understands his need to be free from the world and provides him with a means to escape. The fact that Nurse Betty is the only character in the whole of the novel that gains more than superficial notice from the narrator is proof that she should have been given a more central role. Without her interference, I doubt Yew would have survived much longer and suppose he would have slipped into more dangerous drug use.
In a nutshell: I found “The Little Voice” preachy and naïve in equal measures; I was disappointed by the conspiracy theories about education and society; I was occasionally offended by Yew’s (unintentional?) sexism; but I found encouragement in Nurse Betty and her characterization. It is my opinion that Joss Sheldon may one day become a “once in a generation writer” but based upon “The Little Voice” I believe that this praise may have been slightly premature.
January 12, 2017
Disclaimer: This book was given to me for free by the author in exchange for an honest review, in no way my opinion about the book was affected by this. I judge the books only not the authors.
This book from the very beginning to the very end felt real. Everything that the author wrote felt relatable and comprehensible. I loved everything about it especially the way it was written and the way it interacts with You the reader and involves you completely into the story.
If you enjoy books that have deep topics, topics that will tickle your brain and conscious this one is the right one for you. I literally finish this book in one sitting more or less 3 hours to be exact. I could not stop reading it, the pages were like flipping by themselves and I was so engaged it seemed like the time stopped and I was totally immersed into the author’s universe. His struggles, his pain it felt all palpable, as if he was an old friend of mine and I could understand him completely.
I am sure that you would be able to find at least one thing relatable to you in here.
The fact that Joss incorporated quotes of Lao Tzu through the whole read was really admirable and I totally appreciated it.
He gives you the chance to view things differently with another perspective without being judgemental so you can make your own ideas and opinions. The fight with the social norms and living up to someone else’s expectations hit me hard. The things that we tend to forget while getting older, the connection with our inner child and the people who we truly are deep inside.
While reading this book I had the same feeling and sensation while reading The little prince. Do not get me wrong it is completely different story and all, what I mean is that the emotions that The little prince triggered in me were the same that The little voice evoked and I mean The little prince is one of my favourite books of all time!
I gave this book a well deserved 5 star rating and would like to thank the author for his sincerity and writing such a beautiful book for us to read and enjoy.
Without giving too much away here are some quotes from the book that have become my favourites:
***My good behaviour made other people happy; I was becoming the person they wanted me to be. But I don’t think it ever made me happy. I don’t think anyone can be happy whilst they’re being coerced to act in an unnatural manner. Lao Tzu says; ‘When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be’. Well, I was certainly ‘letting go’. I was becoming what I ‘might be’. But it was tearing me up inside. Because I didn’t want to be what I ‘might be’. I wanted to be me***
***I became a new person; sucked into the neutrality of the abyss, comforted by social norms, and set free from the burden of individuality***
***I think Jiddu Krishnamurti got it right when he said; ‘It’s no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society’. Well, I wasn’t ‘well adjusted’ to my society. I wasn’t ‘well adjusted’ at all. But my society was ‘profoundly sick’***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joss Sheldon
Joss Sheldon is a scruffy nomad, an unshaven layabout, and a good for nothing hobo. Born in 1982, he was brought up in one of the anonymous suburbs which wrap themselves around London’s beating heart. And then he escaped!
With a degree from the London School of Economics to his name, Sheldon had spells selling falafel at music festivals, being a ski-bum, and failing to turn the English Midlands into a haven of rugby league.
Then, in January 2013, he went to McLeod Ganj in India; a village which plays home to thousands of angry monkeys, hundreds of Tibetan refugees, and the Dalai Lama himself. It was there that Sheldon wrote ‘Involution & Evolution’; a book about love in a era of hatred, truth in a era of lies, and peace in a era of war.
With several positive reviews to his name, Sheldon had caught the writing bug. So he travelled around Palestine and Kurdistan before returning to McLeod Ganj, where he wrote his second novel, ‘Occupied’; a dystopian ‘masterpiece’ unlike any other story you’ve ever read.
CONTACT DETAILS
Amazon / Twitter
A big thanks to BookTasters and Joss for this opportunity!
This book from the very beginning to the very end felt real. Everything that the author wrote felt relatable and comprehensible. I loved everything about it especially the way it was written and the way it interacts with You the reader and involves you completely into the story.
If you enjoy books that have deep topics, topics that will tickle your brain and conscious this one is the right one for you. I literally finish this book in one sitting more or less 3 hours to be exact. I could not stop reading it, the pages were like flipping by themselves and I was so engaged it seemed like the time stopped and I was totally immersed into the author’s universe. His struggles, his pain it felt all palpable, as if he was an old friend of mine and I could understand him completely.
I am sure that you would be able to find at least one thing relatable to you in here.
The fact that Joss incorporated quotes of Lao Tzu through the whole read was really admirable and I totally appreciated it.
He gives you the chance to view things differently with another perspective without being judgemental so you can make your own ideas and opinions. The fight with the social norms and living up to someone else’s expectations hit me hard. The things that we tend to forget while getting older, the connection with our inner child and the people who we truly are deep inside.
While reading this book I had the same feeling and sensation while reading The little prince. Do not get me wrong it is completely different story and all, what I mean is that the emotions that The little prince triggered in me were the same that The little voice evoked and I mean The little prince is one of my favourite books of all time!
I gave this book a well deserved 5 star rating and would like to thank the author for his sincerity and writing such a beautiful book for us to read and enjoy.
Without giving too much away here are some quotes from the book that have become my favourites:
***My good behaviour made other people happy; I was becoming the person they wanted me to be. But I don’t think it ever made me happy. I don’t think anyone can be happy whilst they’re being coerced to act in an unnatural manner. Lao Tzu says; ‘When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be’. Well, I was certainly ‘letting go’. I was becoming what I ‘might be’. But it was tearing me up inside. Because I didn’t want to be what I ‘might be’. I wanted to be me***
***I became a new person; sucked into the neutrality of the abyss, comforted by social norms, and set free from the burden of individuality***
***I think Jiddu Krishnamurti got it right when he said; ‘It’s no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society’. Well, I wasn’t ‘well adjusted’ to my society. I wasn’t ‘well adjusted’ at all. But my society was ‘profoundly sick’***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joss Sheldon
Joss Sheldon is a scruffy nomad, an unshaven layabout, and a good for nothing hobo. Born in 1982, he was brought up in one of the anonymous suburbs which wrap themselves around London’s beating heart. And then he escaped!
With a degree from the London School of Economics to his name, Sheldon had spells selling falafel at music festivals, being a ski-bum, and failing to turn the English Midlands into a haven of rugby league.
Then, in January 2013, he went to McLeod Ganj in India; a village which plays home to thousands of angry monkeys, hundreds of Tibetan refugees, and the Dalai Lama himself. It was there that Sheldon wrote ‘Involution & Evolution’; a book about love in a era of hatred, truth in a era of lies, and peace in a era of war.
With several positive reviews to his name, Sheldon had caught the writing bug. So he travelled around Palestine and Kurdistan before returning to McLeod Ganj, where he wrote his second novel, ‘Occupied’; a dystopian ‘masterpiece’ unlike any other story you’ve ever read.
CONTACT DETAILS
Amazon / Twitter
A big thanks to BookTasters and Joss for this opportunity!
December 13, 2016
'The Little Voice' is a novel that roars. If you have lived under the pressure of social norms - and who hasn't? - get ready for some of (or maybe a lot of) your own life snapshotted in this book.
The author's style affects you quickly. Small words, tiny paragraphs, followed by long sentences, big words, plus multiple references to several fields. Without further ado, the reader is promptly transported to the main character's psychological space. Descriptions in syncopated rhythm are used to show the irrationality of many systems in our world. Any minute now the tension builds up, but to help you savor every detail, the narrator presents the next scene in a way that makes you think you are watching a slow-motion clip. Yet, in a snap, the speed increases again.
The narrator briefs the reader on psychological and philosophical terminology, making those concepts less foreign to the reader. However, the style could resemble more of Irvin D. Yalom's 'When Nietzsche Wept' and 'The Schopenhauer Cure', in which psychology and philosophy are part of the story, but concepts are not explained straightforwardly.
The final chapters should have been a little longer though. They lacked verisimilitude, which could be fixed if the narrator had more pages to construct and show the reader the drastic changes the main character was subject to. The shifting of gears almost ruined the well composed preceding chapters.
Still, 'The Little Voice' is that kind of book which has that rare power. The power of breathing hope into those who may be undergoing the bitterness of a straitjacketed life. The power of educating people not to conform, to think for themselves, to stop being sheep.
The author's style affects you quickly. Small words, tiny paragraphs, followed by long sentences, big words, plus multiple references to several fields. Without further ado, the reader is promptly transported to the main character's psychological space. Descriptions in syncopated rhythm are used to show the irrationality of many systems in our world. Any minute now the tension builds up, but to help you savor every detail, the narrator presents the next scene in a way that makes you think you are watching a slow-motion clip. Yet, in a snap, the speed increases again.
The narrator briefs the reader on psychological and philosophical terminology, making those concepts less foreign to the reader. However, the style could resemble more of Irvin D. Yalom's 'When Nietzsche Wept' and 'The Schopenhauer Cure', in which psychology and philosophy are part of the story, but concepts are not explained straightforwardly.
The final chapters should have been a little longer though. They lacked verisimilitude, which could be fixed if the narrator had more pages to construct and show the reader the drastic changes the main character was subject to. The shifting of gears almost ruined the well composed preceding chapters.
Still, 'The Little Voice' is that kind of book which has that rare power. The power of breathing hope into those who may be undergoing the bitterness of a straitjacketed life. The power of educating people not to conform, to think for themselves, to stop being sheep.
December 24, 2016
"The Little Voice," not a great title. It didn't really make me want to read it but I got a free copy so I did.
At first I was pleasantly surprised. The creature generating the little voice, called an egot, was interesting although I did find its description to be somewhat nauseating. I wondered if we were looking at the early stages of schizophrenia, which is a topic I have great interest in. The child in whose brain the egot lives, acts out erratically based on suggestions the egot makes. This has profound effects on his relationships with everyone in his life. Finally he squashes and kills the egot in his effort to fit into society. This also kills his uniqueness and creativity. Over time he loses all sense of self but continues to strive for the thrill he had experienced as a child. His life devolves into pointlessness with him finally ending up as a hermit living in the woods.
I loved the insertion of psychological theories and quotations. Some of these were new to me and very appropriate to the story.
There are a couple of things I didn't like about the book. The first and most obvious is that as the main character, Yew, felt his life was worthless, I began to feel the same thing about reading the book. At the beginning, I thought we were going somewhere with this, but it turned out we weren't. There was no deep insight or revelation. That would be okay if it were a fun read, but I did not find it so.
The second issue I had was with the long-winded descriptions of Yew's experience of his moments of exhilaration. The first couple of times this was okay, after a while it became tedious.
Perhaps the book was just not my cup of tea. Your experience may vary.
At first I was pleasantly surprised. The creature generating the little voice, called an egot, was interesting although I did find its description to be somewhat nauseating. I wondered if we were looking at the early stages of schizophrenia, which is a topic I have great interest in. The child in whose brain the egot lives, acts out erratically based on suggestions the egot makes. This has profound effects on his relationships with everyone in his life. Finally he squashes and kills the egot in his effort to fit into society. This also kills his uniqueness and creativity. Over time he loses all sense of self but continues to strive for the thrill he had experienced as a child. His life devolves into pointlessness with him finally ending up as a hermit living in the woods.
I loved the insertion of psychological theories and quotations. Some of these were new to me and very appropriate to the story.
There are a couple of things I didn't like about the book. The first and most obvious is that as the main character, Yew, felt his life was worthless, I began to feel the same thing about reading the book. At the beginning, I thought we were going somewhere with this, but it turned out we weren't. There was no deep insight or revelation. That would be okay if it were a fun read, but I did not find it so.
The second issue I had was with the long-winded descriptions of Yew's experience of his moments of exhilaration. The first couple of times this was okay, after a while it became tedious.
Perhaps the book was just not my cup of tea. Your experience may vary.
March 17, 2018
"Die kleine Stimme" ist ein Buch eines Außenseiterautor, der sehr viel persönliches in dieses kleine Story einfließen ließ.
"Die kleine Stimme" - der Egot - wohnt wohl in jedem von uns in unseren Kindertagen. Er sorgt dafür. dass wir genau das Gegenteil von dem machen, was wir eigentlich sollen. Er lässt uns als Kind Dinge erleben, unsere Freiheit genießen , uns Verrücktheiten machen. Er sorgt dafür, dass unsere Kindheit mit Abenteuern bestückt ist, mit Irrsinn und Spass.
Alles Dinge, die für die Erwachsenen ein NoGo sind. Schließlich sind wir eine geordnete Gesellschaft und da funktionieren die Dinge halt anders. Also beginnen die Erwachsenen uns zu verbiegen, uns "zu formen". In Hundehalterkreisen heißt ein solches Verhalten "operante Konditionierung".
(Als operante Konditionierung wird ein Lernvorgang bezeichnet, bei dem ein bestimmtes (spontan gezeigtes) Verhalten von Mensch oder Tier durch ein nachfolgendes Ereignis verstärkt wird und in der Folge deshalb häufiger gezeigt wird. Man kann positiv oder negativ verstärken. Benimmt sich ein Hund gut, erhält er ein Leckerli - eine Belohnung. Tut er es nicht, bleibt das Leckerli aus.)
Dem Protagonisten Yew wird im Schulalter klargemacht, dass er nur dann Belohungen erhält, wenn er sich gut und gesellschaftskonform benimmt. Tut er es nicht, wird er bestraft.
Bsp. Sein Vater bezahlt ihm alle Ausgaben, wenn er es schafft auf eine Uni zu gehen. Tut er es nicht, fliegt er achtkantig raus und verliert sein zuhause
Seine Lehrer und seine Eltern tun alles, damit er sich in die Gesellschaft einfügt. Die inneren Kämpfe, die dabei ausgefochten werden, das sterben des Egots -der eigentlichen Persönlichkeit des Kindes - bleibt ihnen verborgen.
So wird aus dem freiheitsliebenden Kind nach vielen erfolglosen Berufsversuchen (Denn es kann ja nichts richtig. Wie auch. Es wurde ja immer ausgebremst beim Versuch, sich selbst zu finden.) ein Callcenteragent in einer Firma, die arme Omas um die wohlverdiente Rente bringt, in dem sie noch einen Euro mehr in einen Charityfond spenden.
Der Berufsweg von Yew ist unbefriedigend. Er ist immer auf der Suche. Bis ihm plötzlich durch die Schriften des Gelehrten Lao Tzu (Laotse) klar wird, wo die Reise hingehen soll.
Lao Tzu (Laotse) war ein Gelehrter im 6. Jahrhundert in China. Er war ein Vertreter der normativen individualistischen Theorie. Im Mittelpunkt dieser Theorie steht das Individuum mit seinen Belangen bzw. Interessen.
Yew wird bewusst, dass immer andere seinen Weg bestimmt haben. Von seinen Eltern und Lehrern angefangen bis zu seinen Chefs, die ihn durch den Besuch in einem Bordell (was der Protagonist verabscheut) zu einem aufrechten Mitarbeiter zu machen.
Yew wählt nun einen ganz anderen Weg für sich. Weitab von Gesellschaft und den Menschen die zu wissen glauben, was richtig und falsch ist.
********************
Ein großatiges, kleines Buch. Es ist ein Spiegel der heutigen Gesellschaft. Denn wir formen bis heute unsere Kinder nach unseren Vorstellungen, statt ihnen Raum zur selbständigen Entwicklung zu geben. Sie sollen "unsere" Anwaltskanzlei übernehmen, obwohl sie lieber Forscher oder Fussballer werden würden.
Warum vertrauen wir unseren Kindern nicht mehr in ihrer Entscheidungsfindung? Auch wenn sie noch klein sind, so sind sie eigene Persönlichkeiten, die ein Recht darauf haben, dass sie ihren Weg finden können.
Wie viele gescheiterte Persönlichkeiten es aufgrund unserer Erziehungsformen gibt, mag man nur zu vermuten.
"Die kleine Stimme" - der Egot - wohnt wohl in jedem von uns in unseren Kindertagen. Er sorgt dafür. dass wir genau das Gegenteil von dem machen, was wir eigentlich sollen. Er lässt uns als Kind Dinge erleben, unsere Freiheit genießen , uns Verrücktheiten machen. Er sorgt dafür, dass unsere Kindheit mit Abenteuern bestückt ist, mit Irrsinn und Spass.
Alles Dinge, die für die Erwachsenen ein NoGo sind. Schließlich sind wir eine geordnete Gesellschaft und da funktionieren die Dinge halt anders. Also beginnen die Erwachsenen uns zu verbiegen, uns "zu formen". In Hundehalterkreisen heißt ein solches Verhalten "operante Konditionierung".
(Als operante Konditionierung wird ein Lernvorgang bezeichnet, bei dem ein bestimmtes (spontan gezeigtes) Verhalten von Mensch oder Tier durch ein nachfolgendes Ereignis verstärkt wird und in der Folge deshalb häufiger gezeigt wird. Man kann positiv oder negativ verstärken. Benimmt sich ein Hund gut, erhält er ein Leckerli - eine Belohnung. Tut er es nicht, bleibt das Leckerli aus.)
Dem Protagonisten Yew wird im Schulalter klargemacht, dass er nur dann Belohungen erhält, wenn er sich gut und gesellschaftskonform benimmt. Tut er es nicht, wird er bestraft.
Bsp. Sein Vater bezahlt ihm alle Ausgaben, wenn er es schafft auf eine Uni zu gehen. Tut er es nicht, fliegt er achtkantig raus und verliert sein zuhause
Seine Lehrer und seine Eltern tun alles, damit er sich in die Gesellschaft einfügt. Die inneren Kämpfe, die dabei ausgefochten werden, das sterben des Egots -der eigentlichen Persönlichkeit des Kindes - bleibt ihnen verborgen.
So wird aus dem freiheitsliebenden Kind nach vielen erfolglosen Berufsversuchen (Denn es kann ja nichts richtig. Wie auch. Es wurde ja immer ausgebremst beim Versuch, sich selbst zu finden.) ein Callcenteragent in einer Firma, die arme Omas um die wohlverdiente Rente bringt, in dem sie noch einen Euro mehr in einen Charityfond spenden.
Der Berufsweg von Yew ist unbefriedigend. Er ist immer auf der Suche. Bis ihm plötzlich durch die Schriften des Gelehrten Lao Tzu (Laotse) klar wird, wo die Reise hingehen soll.
Lao Tzu (Laotse) war ein Gelehrter im 6. Jahrhundert in China. Er war ein Vertreter der normativen individualistischen Theorie. Im Mittelpunkt dieser Theorie steht das Individuum mit seinen Belangen bzw. Interessen.
Yew wird bewusst, dass immer andere seinen Weg bestimmt haben. Von seinen Eltern und Lehrern angefangen bis zu seinen Chefs, die ihn durch den Besuch in einem Bordell (was der Protagonist verabscheut) zu einem aufrechten Mitarbeiter zu machen.
Yew wählt nun einen ganz anderen Weg für sich. Weitab von Gesellschaft und den Menschen die zu wissen glauben, was richtig und falsch ist.
********************
Ein großatiges, kleines Buch. Es ist ein Spiegel der heutigen Gesellschaft. Denn wir formen bis heute unsere Kinder nach unseren Vorstellungen, statt ihnen Raum zur selbständigen Entwicklung zu geben. Sie sollen "unsere" Anwaltskanzlei übernehmen, obwohl sie lieber Forscher oder Fussballer werden würden.
Warum vertrauen wir unseren Kindern nicht mehr in ihrer Entscheidungsfindung? Auch wenn sie noch klein sind, so sind sie eigene Persönlichkeiten, die ein Recht darauf haben, dass sie ihren Weg finden können.
Wie viele gescheiterte Persönlichkeiten es aufgrund unserer Erziehungsformen gibt, mag man nur zu vermuten.
November 12, 2017
An oddly satisfying short novel which delves into a lot of serious themes: social conditioning, behaving as others think you must when you want to do the opposite, mental health, depression and that little voice in your head…
It’s an easy but thought provoking read, a story of a young man initially led by the little voice in his head that encourages him to do things which are not acceptable and slightly outside the norm. Social conditioning and the pressure to be accepted leads him into abandoning the inner voice which leaves him. He then spends his time bumping through life, unhappy and unfulfilled because he must configure his life to an ideal which is not his.
Eventually he sees the light, breaks from the norm and seeks a life which makes him feel happier.
Enjoyable and opens up your mind and thinking….
It’s an easy but thought provoking read, a story of a young man initially led by the little voice in his head that encourages him to do things which are not acceptable and slightly outside the norm. Social conditioning and the pressure to be accepted leads him into abandoning the inner voice which leaves him. He then spends his time bumping through life, unhappy and unfulfilled because he must configure his life to an ideal which is not his.
Eventually he sees the light, breaks from the norm and seeks a life which makes him feel happier.
Enjoyable and opens up your mind and thinking….
March 25, 2017
Something most of us take advantage of is Time. I think that Joss Sheldon has created a novel that really highlights this and shows the that we need to take a deeper look at our priorities. The
I enjoyed the pacing of the novel and the authors use of humor to cut through the amount of intense parts of the story.
Character development was very important in this novel. Yew is a very complex character especially in the most troubling parts of this novel. Joss does a great job of helping us feel like we know him.
I enjoyed the pacing of the novel and the authors use of humor to cut through the amount of intense parts of the story.
Character development was very important in this novel. Yew is a very complex character especially in the most troubling parts of this novel. Joss does a great job of helping us feel like we know him.
April 27, 2018
A real eye-opener. I had so much in common with the protagonist it was scary... If you're looking for a book to help you understand your place in the world, this is the one.
April 28, 2018
Amazing
Yew could be me, or maybe even you? A funny, charming, take of growing up and finding the life that suits is. Read this and maybe discover yourself
Yew could be me, or maybe even you? A funny, charming, take of growing up and finding the life that suits is. Read this and maybe discover yourself
January 20, 2018
It's so hard to put into words how much of a connection I had with this book.
I read it in one go and I read it so quickly. Usually I get distracted by other thoughts and I'll end up doing something else. Then I forget I started the book in the first place.
This book had me enthralled. Not because it made me realise anything new but because it put into words how I've always felt about things. Things I've never been able to express because I'm not that good at feelings or expressing myself.
I need to get a physical copy and then when I get in arguments with people I can just hand this to them. I think it would save a whole load of time.
It's so true as well. I know so many people on anti-depressants and having breakdowns and doing things just because that's what you're meant to do. I'm very thankful that I was never the person to just go along with what others wanted. But maybe if my misfit behaviour had tended towards the loud and messy then I would have been dealt with too instead of being ignored by adults. Peer pressure never worked on me because I never really connected with my peers. It's a scary look at how my life could have gone if I'd been conditioned the same as Yew. But what's even scarier is I'm way too close to getting stuck like he did. And the only thing I conform to is the you must have a job part.
This review is becoming too much about myself but I've never related to a character in a book this strongly before. So I'm going to save some thoughts for when I read it again and then I'll post it to my blog.
I really recommend reading this book if you've ever felt out of place and when you voice that opinion everyone else just looks at you like you're a different species and asks what you're talking about. Then they try to fix you by getting you to do normal things like going shopping for clothes you don't need or hanging around in a loud and crowded pub. You know the really important things.
I read it in one go and I read it so quickly. Usually I get distracted by other thoughts and I'll end up doing something else. Then I forget I started the book in the first place.
This book had me enthralled. Not because it made me realise anything new but because it put into words how I've always felt about things. Things I've never been able to express because I'm not that good at feelings or expressing myself.
I need to get a physical copy and then when I get in arguments with people I can just hand this to them. I think it would save a whole load of time.
It's so true as well. I know so many people on anti-depressants and having breakdowns and doing things just because that's what you're meant to do. I'm very thankful that I was never the person to just go along with what others wanted. But maybe if my misfit behaviour had tended towards the loud and messy then I would have been dealt with too instead of being ignored by adults. Peer pressure never worked on me because I never really connected with my peers. It's a scary look at how my life could have gone if I'd been conditioned the same as Yew. But what's even scarier is I'm way too close to getting stuck like he did. And the only thing I conform to is the you must have a job part.
This review is becoming too much about myself but I've never related to a character in a book this strongly before. So I'm going to save some thoughts for when I read it again and then I'll post it to my blog.
I really recommend reading this book if you've ever felt out of place and when you voice that opinion everyone else just looks at you like you're a different species and asks what you're talking about. Then they try to fix you by getting you to do normal things like going shopping for clothes you don't need or hanging around in a loud and crowded pub. You know the really important things.
January 7, 2017
The description of this book appealed to me on many levels. I was looking forward to a sort of left-of-center experience, within a relatable story about the struggles of being different in a society that expects you to conform. This book is that kind of story, to some degree, though it's also both more and less than what I expected.
Starting with the good stuff: The story moves at a good pace. The author's writing style is conversational and conspiratorial, bringing us into his world and sharing his secrets. We're right there with Yew's character, seeing what he sees and feeling his emotions.
Now the not-so-good stuff, which, for me, outweighs the good stuff. First, I did not like Yew's character at all. Since this book is written in first person, and we see the world only from Yew's perspective, liking the book becomes even more of a challenge because I didn't like my tour guide. He's self-involved, arrogant, and narrates as if he is the only enlightened one among a bunch of automatons.
We start out with Yew in early grade school. As a child, he's not much different than any other child in that he wants to play and explore, rather than sit and learn. Yet the narration treats his desire to be free as if it's a unique rebellion. His relationship with his parents is the typical push-pull, though here it's treated as if a horrible burden is placed on his shoulders to live up to his parents' expectations. He comes from a well-off family that treats him with love, and the poor pitiful me act simply feels shallow.
As an adult, Yew is no more likable. He flails about in his shallowness, while expounding on philosophy and touting Taoism as if he is superior in his mindset. At one point he states that he's angry because he sacrificed himself by going to college (free!), and his parents never thanked him for doing so. The dichotomy between the self-proclaimed enlightened free spirit and the egocentric ranting of the narrator is profound, and feels more like a parody than a serious statement.
Yew is the only character of substance within the book. We never really meet his parents. His friendships, for the most part, appear to be as shallow as he is. No dialogue feels genuine, and no relationships are explored to help us understand why he feels so out of sorts within his social circle.
In the end, I only felt irritation, as if I'd been forced to spend time with a particularly obnoxious person who believes himself superior while having absolutely no basis for that belief.
*I was provided with a free ebook copy in exchange for much honest review.*
Starting with the good stuff: The story moves at a good pace. The author's writing style is conversational and conspiratorial, bringing us into his world and sharing his secrets. We're right there with Yew's character, seeing what he sees and feeling his emotions.
Now the not-so-good stuff, which, for me, outweighs the good stuff. First, I did not like Yew's character at all. Since this book is written in first person, and we see the world only from Yew's perspective, liking the book becomes even more of a challenge because I didn't like my tour guide. He's self-involved, arrogant, and narrates as if he is the only enlightened one among a bunch of automatons.
We start out with Yew in early grade school. As a child, he's not much different than any other child in that he wants to play and explore, rather than sit and learn. Yet the narration treats his desire to be free as if it's a unique rebellion. His relationship with his parents is the typical push-pull, though here it's treated as if a horrible burden is placed on his shoulders to live up to his parents' expectations. He comes from a well-off family that treats him with love, and the poor pitiful me act simply feels shallow.
As an adult, Yew is no more likable. He flails about in his shallowness, while expounding on philosophy and touting Taoism as if he is superior in his mindset. At one point he states that he's angry because he sacrificed himself by going to college (free!), and his parents never thanked him for doing so. The dichotomy between the self-proclaimed enlightened free spirit and the egocentric ranting of the narrator is profound, and feels more like a parody than a serious statement.
Yew is the only character of substance within the book. We never really meet his parents. His friendships, for the most part, appear to be as shallow as he is. No dialogue feels genuine, and no relationships are explored to help us understand why he feels so out of sorts within his social circle.
In the end, I only felt irritation, as if I'd been forced to spend time with a particularly obnoxious person who believes himself superior while having absolutely no basis for that belief.
*I was provided with a free ebook copy in exchange for much honest review.*
February 7, 2017
What a powerful book!
I recived this ebook in exchange for an honest review thank you very much.
So how do I start? It has definitely made and impact in my life. Right now I'm still thinking and wondering about myself and all the choices i should take to be "my true self" and for a book to made me feel like that it's not that easy.
We follow the story of Yew, a man that feels like he doesn't belong to society and it's always looking for his true happiness. The story begins with him as a child who has this little creature called Egot that encourages him to do the things he wants to do but can't do because of society.
It was truly heartbreaking seeing him go down, seeing him change for what Society did to him. Sometimes i just wanted to get in and help him out but as the author says, all those experiences made us, us and he wouldn't be the same without them.
Also something I really enjoyed and also made me sad was the experiments parts, they were a great addition to the ideas the author was transmitting, like a more generalized point of view. I like to think i would do the right thing there, i hope i'm right. I trust I am.
Excellent book and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to read it and hope you all do too.
I recived this ebook in exchange for an honest review thank you very much.
So how do I start? It has definitely made and impact in my life. Right now I'm still thinking and wondering about myself and all the choices i should take to be "my true self" and for a book to made me feel like that it's not that easy.
We follow the story of Yew, a man that feels like he doesn't belong to society and it's always looking for his true happiness. The story begins with him as a child who has this little creature called Egot that encourages him to do the things he wants to do but can't do because of society.
It was truly heartbreaking seeing him go down, seeing him change for what Society did to him. Sometimes i just wanted to get in and help him out but as the author says, all those experiences made us, us and he wouldn't be the same without them.
Also something I really enjoyed and also made me sad was the experiments parts, they were a great addition to the ideas the author was transmitting, like a more generalized point of view. I like to think i would do the right thing there, i hope i'm right. I trust I am.
Excellent book and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to read it and hope you all do too.
January 31, 2017
Honest, fast paced, hilarious!
This book certainly inspires the egot in everybody's head to make a comeback. Sometimes you just have to find yourself, wherever that may be.
I enjoyed the quick pace the story delivers. Minor critique would be to simplify or merge certain chapters, as some repeat certain things already mentioned.
This book certainly inspires the egot in everybody's head to make a comeback. Sometimes you just have to find yourself, wherever that may be.
I enjoyed the quick pace the story delivers. Minor critique would be to simplify or merge certain chapters, as some repeat certain things already mentioned.
April 18, 2017
Saying that this book is relatable is an understatement.
"Because I didn’t want to be what I ‘might be’. I wanted to be me."
Everyone has experienced the feeling of restriction, by your parents by your teacher,by yourself, by social constructs. Whatever it is, it is almost always based on ideas that you are taught since you are born.
How many people do you know went to university only because their parents wanted them to? Or people who went along with whatever their friends did or said because they didn’t want to be that person?
School teaches you how to think, how to talk, how to speak. Friends and family often tell you how to act. And that has long-term effects.
The Little Voice by Joss Sheldon shows said effects. It is very nicely paced, covering the authors life from childhood to adulthood in 200? pages.
The author explains the psychology involved in a easy way to understand, not using difficult words or too-complicated sentences.
Everything came across nicely which is refreshing when you compare it with books who try too hard to be “eye-opening” and end up being more confusing than anything else. This book is nothing like that.
It did went off topic at certain points but those insights ended up giving a more specific idea of who Yew is. We were able to understand him more and thus relate to him more.
Being in his head, you feel exactly what he feels, because the struggles he goes through are so often struggles of our own.
If you enjoy psychology and well-written biographies then please give this a read. You will not regret it.
Thank you BookTasters for providing this great experience.
"Because I didn’t want to be what I ‘might be’. I wanted to be me."
Everyone has experienced the feeling of restriction, by your parents by your teacher,by yourself, by social constructs. Whatever it is, it is almost always based on ideas that you are taught since you are born.
How many people do you know went to university only because their parents wanted them to? Or people who went along with whatever their friends did or said because they didn’t want to be that person?
School teaches you how to think, how to talk, how to speak. Friends and family often tell you how to act. And that has long-term effects.
The Little Voice by Joss Sheldon shows said effects. It is very nicely paced, covering the authors life from childhood to adulthood in 200? pages.
The author explains the psychology involved in a easy way to understand, not using difficult words or too-complicated sentences.
Everything came across nicely which is refreshing when you compare it with books who try too hard to be “eye-opening” and end up being more confusing than anything else. This book is nothing like that.
It did went off topic at certain points but those insights ended up giving a more specific idea of who Yew is. We were able to understand him more and thus relate to him more.
Being in his head, you feel exactly what he feels, because the struggles he goes through are so often struggles of our own.
If you enjoy psychology and well-written biographies then please give this a read. You will not regret it.
Thank you BookTasters for providing this great experience.
February 7, 2017
"The Little Voice" is a quirky book that kept me engaged and constantly wondering about myself, as I read through the interesting journey of the lead character.
The book explores a life that has been encouraged, pushed and, in some respects, made to conform; but does not allow the individual to truly fulfil their life. This is a story of each of us, and helps us to consider our own lives and what is truly important.
This is summed up best in this quote ‘The snow goose does not need to bathe to make itself white. Neither do you need to do anything but be yourself… At the centre of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want’.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's quirkiness actually made it a special story; and what I mean by that is it incorporated philosophical statements and research, into a story that explores the world we live in, being its pressure to conform and follow, rather than to think and grow for yourself.
I am truly looking forward to reading Joss's other books.
Note: The "The Little Voice" was recommended to me by the author, however I do not know the author and had no incentive relating to this review.
The book explores a life that has been encouraged, pushed and, in some respects, made to conform; but does not allow the individual to truly fulfil their life. This is a story of each of us, and helps us to consider our own lives and what is truly important.
This is summed up best in this quote ‘The snow goose does not need to bathe to make itself white. Neither do you need to do anything but be yourself… At the centre of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want’.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's quirkiness actually made it a special story; and what I mean by that is it incorporated philosophical statements and research, into a story that explores the world we live in, being its pressure to conform and follow, rather than to think and grow for yourself.
I am truly looking forward to reading Joss's other books.
Note: The "The Little Voice" was recommended to me by the author, however I do not know the author and had no incentive relating to this review.
September 19, 2017
Rebellious novel????? Not at all.....more like a personal memoir of seeking the light.
I read this in one afternoon. It captivated me as Joss told his story. We all have our struggles. We have experiences of life at different levels. I plan to share this book with someone who has struggled through abusive relationships. I think this person makes herself a victim. She has not found her true spirit and set herself free. I see in this book things that may help her. I appreciate the author sharing his life experience and soul searching. I appreciate him adding scripture at the end. This is the truth. The words of God. The Bible is. the letter from God on how to live and to let go and let God. May peace come to all through :) faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! Thank you Joss for sharing your story. And as a teacher, mentor and health care therapist I thank your Angel Nurse Betty. God sent her to you. I give her my hugs. And to you Joss hugs.
I read this in one afternoon. It captivated me as Joss told his story. We all have our struggles. We have experiences of life at different levels. I plan to share this book with someone who has struggled through abusive relationships. I think this person makes herself a victim. She has not found her true spirit and set herself free. I see in this book things that may help her. I appreciate the author sharing his life experience and soul searching. I appreciate him adding scripture at the end. This is the truth. The words of God. The Bible is. the letter from God on how to live and to let go and let God. May peace come to all through :) faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! Thank you Joss for sharing your story. And as a teacher, mentor and health care therapist I thank your Angel Nurse Betty. God sent her to you. I give her my hugs. And to you Joss hugs.
February 9, 2018
This was a different kind of read to what I am regularly used to reading. The story of Yew and it coming from his Characters perspective made this story so much more real and drag you into it. The simplicity of how this all worked so well together nd how brilliantly it was written, made this an addictive read. For such a short read of under 200 pages, this book, did so much to incorporate so much into such a short amount of pages. To develop the main character,his story, and to highlight what he did.
While reading this book, I felt like it was a metaphor for society and conformity and how society is trying to force people, especially children from a young age in school, to conform and be raised to societal norms and what's expected.
While reading this book, I felt like it was a metaphor for society and conformity and how society is trying to force people, especially children from a young age in school, to conform and be raised to societal norms and what's expected.
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