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Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality #4
Hermione Jean Granger and the Phoenix's Call
385 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2012
10 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
About the author
Eliezer Yudkowsky
48 books1,938 followersEliezer Yudkowsky is a founding researcher of the field of AI alignment and played a major role in shaping the public conversation about smarter-than-human AI. He appeared on Time magazine's 2023 list of the 100 Most Influential People In AI, was one of the twelve public figures featured in The New York Times's "Who's Who Behind the Dawn of the Modern Artificial Intelligence Movement," and has been discussed or interviewed in The New Yorker, Newsweek, Forbes, Wired, Bloomberg, The Atlantic, The Economist, The Washington Post, and many other venues.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 28, 2024
Книжка така ж дратуюча як і попередні, але тут вже в 2 половині стали відбуватися дуже цікаві події. Замах на життя Драко, звинувачення в цьому Герміони, суд на нею, так і не зрозуміла хто ховається під особою Квірела, бо як виявляється це не він, тут ще якийсь другий фенікс з'являється. Перша частина для мене була скажімо не нудна, але там більшість це була їхня битва клубів? або армій, ну і як завжди Гаррі постійно дратував впродовж всієї книжки.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2018
The fourth book in the Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality brings Hermione more onto center stage than in previous books. After all, the title takes her name rather than Harry's: Hermione Jean Granger and the Phoenix's Call. I will again have to make a SPOILER WARNING right up front, as I am going to speak about key details of the plot that some readers may not appreciate.
I would say that the two central developments in this section of the book (the series doesn't have nearly as clean-cut endings and beginnings as the original Harry Potter books; it just keeps going. But there is a climax usually near the end) are (1) Hermione Granger determines that she wants to be a hero and not just somebody's sidekick and (2) Hermione is framed by an unknown enemy for the attempted murder of Draco Malfoy resulting in her trial before the Wizengamot. This covers one of the main themes of the book: what is a hero? Dumbledore claims it involves some twist of fate that no single person can choose, but Hermione claims being a hero is just choosing right even when it is difficult. But regardless of what a hero is, everyone seems to agree that they need a wizened old wizard to be there guide! The second theme I found to be central to the book was the idea of a greater good, whether it is OK to commit evil acts for a greater purpose-- the whole do the ends justify the means argument. Dumbledore in this book solidly answers that yes, the ends do justify the means. Dumbledore is apparently willing to sacrifice some people, and kill some bad people in order to preserve peace in the long run. Harry is never willing to make such sacrifices, and cannot be convinced otherwise. Harry guilts Dumbledore really badly for it too. Here is one example exchange:
"No," the boy said. The boy looked up, and his eyes were blazing like green fire. "I do not accept your answer, Headmaster. Fawkes gave me a mission, and I know now why Fawkes gave that mission to me, and not to you. You are willing to accept balances of power where the bad guys end up winning. I am not."
"That too is not an answer," the old wizard said; his face showed nothing of his hurt, he had long practice in concealing pain. "Refusing to accept something does not change it. I wonder now if you are simply too young to understand this matter, Harry, despite your outward airs; only in children's fantasies can all battles be won, and not a single evil tolerated."
"And that's why I can destroy Dementors and you can't," said the boy. "Because I believe that the darkness can be broken."
The old wizard's breath stopped in his throat.
"The phoenix's price isn't inevitable," the boy said. "It's not part of some deep balance built into the universe. It's just the parts of the problem where you haven't figured out yet how to cheat."
The old wizard's lips parted, and no words came forth.
Silver light falling on shattered wands.
"Fawkes gave me a mission," the boy repeated, "and I will carry out that mission if I must break the entire Ministry to do it. That's the part of the answer that you're missing. You don't stop and say, oh well, guess I can't possibly figure out any way to stop bullying in Hogwarts, and leave it at that. You just keep looking until you figure out how to do it. If that requires breaking Lucius Malfoy's entire conspiracy, fine."
The old wizard stood there silent, silent amid the ruins of the lives which his own life had left behind. His wrinkled hand rose, shaking, to touch at his half-moon glasses -
Dumbledore actually comes to ask at one point whether he is the Dark Lord that Harry is supposed to defeat, not Voldemort. The debates are very interesting to read. However, I again believe that Harry's self-righteous behavior in which he views others as lesser beings (he truly does say in several instances that he views others as NPCs in a video game) ruins any credibility in my eyes. I don't view him as a moral hero, and certainly not an example to emulate. Not that the version of Dumbledore in this book is any better. Again, it is a fan who is clearly mocking certain aspects of the original series, so perhaps not exactly the true feelings of the author. But still. I believe that yes, the ends do not and cannot justify the means. Those kind of moral compromises can end up twisting what you think is right and wrong. However, I do have to accept that there is some evil in the world that I have no control over. Harry, for instance, thinks that the very existence of Azkaban is reason enough for him to overthrow the British government. Evil exists and should be fought at every corner, but we have to accept that it does exist, even within ourselves.
I did appreciate the author's magnification of Hermione's role, and his intent on making her another protagonist with her own "quest" rather than just a Harry-sidekick. I liked observing her self-doubt, her fight against "the system" which has its pre-selected heroes and villains (and Quirrell's suggestion that we need more Dark Lady's too, not just heriones). Really well done.
I think Harry has a severe hero complex. Viewing others as NPCs is not acceptable. And just this quote from Godric Gryffindor:
No rescuer hath the rescuer, Godric Gryffindor had written. No Lord hath the champion, no mother and no father, only nothingness above.
I think it is actually Dumbledore who quotes it, but I don't think it is the best way to live. As a Christian, the only one who this could possibly apply to is Christ, and claiming you don't need your own savior or can't rely on one feels like utter hubris.
The developments on magic in the original series does keep occurring. Some interesting additions to the lore of the Sorceror's Stone, the history of the Wizengamot, the discovery of the essential rules of Potions, and some alternate background of Professor Quirrell. Another excellent read!
I would say that the two central developments in this section of the book (the series doesn't have nearly as clean-cut endings and beginnings as the original Harry Potter books; it just keeps going. But there is a climax usually near the end) are (1) Hermione Granger determines that she wants to be a hero and not just somebody's sidekick and (2) Hermione is framed by an unknown enemy for the attempted murder of Draco Malfoy resulting in her trial before the Wizengamot. This covers one of the main themes of the book: what is a hero? Dumbledore claims it involves some twist of fate that no single person can choose, but Hermione claims being a hero is just choosing right even when it is difficult. But regardless of what a hero is, everyone seems to agree that they need a wizened old wizard to be there guide! The second theme I found to be central to the book was the idea of a greater good, whether it is OK to commit evil acts for a greater purpose-- the whole do the ends justify the means argument. Dumbledore in this book solidly answers that yes, the ends do justify the means. Dumbledore is apparently willing to sacrifice some people, and kill some bad people in order to preserve peace in the long run. Harry is never willing to make such sacrifices, and cannot be convinced otherwise. Harry guilts Dumbledore really badly for it too. Here is one example exchange:
"No," the boy said. The boy looked up, and his eyes were blazing like green fire. "I do not accept your answer, Headmaster. Fawkes gave me a mission, and I know now why Fawkes gave that mission to me, and not to you. You are willing to accept balances of power where the bad guys end up winning. I am not."
"That too is not an answer," the old wizard said; his face showed nothing of his hurt, he had long practice in concealing pain. "Refusing to accept something does not change it. I wonder now if you are simply too young to understand this matter, Harry, despite your outward airs; only in children's fantasies can all battles be won, and not a single evil tolerated."
"And that's why I can destroy Dementors and you can't," said the boy. "Because I believe that the darkness can be broken."
The old wizard's breath stopped in his throat.
"The phoenix's price isn't inevitable," the boy said. "It's not part of some deep balance built into the universe. It's just the parts of the problem where you haven't figured out yet how to cheat."
The old wizard's lips parted, and no words came forth.
Silver light falling on shattered wands.
"Fawkes gave me a mission," the boy repeated, "and I will carry out that mission if I must break the entire Ministry to do it. That's the part of the answer that you're missing. You don't stop and say, oh well, guess I can't possibly figure out any way to stop bullying in Hogwarts, and leave it at that. You just keep looking until you figure out how to do it. If that requires breaking Lucius Malfoy's entire conspiracy, fine."
The old wizard stood there silent, silent amid the ruins of the lives which his own life had left behind. His wrinkled hand rose, shaking, to touch at his half-moon glasses -
Dumbledore actually comes to ask at one point whether he is the Dark Lord that Harry is supposed to defeat, not Voldemort. The debates are very interesting to read. However, I again believe that Harry's self-righteous behavior in which he views others as lesser beings (he truly does say in several instances that he views others as NPCs in a video game) ruins any credibility in my eyes. I don't view him as a moral hero, and certainly not an example to emulate. Not that the version of Dumbledore in this book is any better. Again, it is a fan who is clearly mocking certain aspects of the original series, so perhaps not exactly the true feelings of the author. But still. I believe that yes, the ends do not and cannot justify the means. Those kind of moral compromises can end up twisting what you think is right and wrong. However, I do have to accept that there is some evil in the world that I have no control over. Harry, for instance, thinks that the very existence of Azkaban is reason enough for him to overthrow the British government. Evil exists and should be fought at every corner, but we have to accept that it does exist, even within ourselves.
I did appreciate the author's magnification of Hermione's role, and his intent on making her another protagonist with her own "quest" rather than just a Harry-sidekick. I liked observing her self-doubt, her fight against "the system" which has its pre-selected heroes and villains (and Quirrell's suggestion that we need more Dark Lady's too, not just heriones). Really well done.
I think Harry has a severe hero complex. Viewing others as NPCs is not acceptable. And just this quote from Godric Gryffindor:
No rescuer hath the rescuer, Godric Gryffindor had written. No Lord hath the champion, no mother and no father, only nothingness above.
I think it is actually Dumbledore who quotes it, but I don't think it is the best way to live. As a Christian, the only one who this could possibly apply to is Christ, and claiming you don't need your own savior or can't rely on one feels like utter hubris.
The developments on magic in the original series does keep occurring. Some interesting additions to the lore of the Sorceror's Stone, the history of the Wizengamot, the discovery of the essential rules of Potions, and some alternate background of Professor Quirrell. Another excellent read!
October 8, 2020
| Reader Fox Blog |
DNF at 21%.
I just couldn't suffer through it any longer. I've been trying to read this book for almost three years now and every time I read a little further, I just find myself disgusted with everything the writer has done. Now here's the thing...the idea was brilliant in its own right. But the execution was not only grossly unrealistic, but it was just downright awful in general.
I'd been really excited to read this, in part due to the fact that it somehow managed to find its way onto Goodreads as a fan fiction. I must admit I am utterly baffled as to how that came to be now that I've read as much as I have. And here's something to understand about this book. It's massive. The number of pages I managed to force myself to read through would equate to a 400+ page novel.
And I personally don't think this book deserved even that much of my time.
I think it's thoroughly apparent that I wanted to like this fan fic. I truly did. There is a lot to be praised from intelligence and rationality, but instead of actually telling an important tale with themes of rational understanding woven in, Yudkowsky simply gives us asinine characters that are poorly written and a story that jumps around so much you wonder how anyone could say there's even a plot at all.
Now, I had expected that there would be a fair amount of differences in the novel, especially on the part of Harry's character. His entire backstory had changed, after all. But ultimately that doesn't account for how an eleven-year-old boy never seems to have any of the traits of the young child that he is. Ironically, I think I might have been able to get past that--who doesn't want an immensely intelligent Harry Potter to read?--had it not been for how disgustingly out of character literally everyone else was.
And then, somehow along the line, Harry becomes disturbingly sociopathic and thus even more difficult to empathize with. I can't think of a single instance past the very first chapters of the tale where he didn't come off as a self-obsessed little jerk for absolutely no reason at all. He's manipulative and cruel on more than one occasion and does nothing to show intelligence in a positive light. This was immensely frustrating as it only furthered the often misconstrued notion that intelligent people are stuck up, snobbish assholes with no emotions whatsoever.
Harry's intelligence is also portrayed in a deeply unbelievable manner. Instead of needing to learn (as someone at eleven years old, even a very well read someone, would need to do) Harry simply thinks...and then somehow knows in a short period of time. Intelligence is not a trait that one simply has, but rather something someone has to work at constantly and Yudkowsky completely ignores this factor in favor of simply parroting his somewhat misguided beliefs through the mouth of his main character. In fact, Harry's solution to a great deal of events is simply to use a time-turner to travel back and re-do everything.
Disturbing jokes are made throughout the prose and the writing is mediocre at best, only serving to create more problems with the story as a whole. And to make matters worse, there is almost nothing going on at all aside from Harry acting like a little brat all the time and taking advantage of the people around him. I'm pretty sure that by the point I stopped, he was still in his first few months of classes in his first year. Which brings me to another issue I had. There is absolutely no continuity. The story arcs hop around idly at random as the author appears to simply fill in whatever idea he had at the present moment and say, "well, who cares if it fits?"
I just couldn't stomach how unrealistic the entirety of this story was or how Yudkowsky regularly butchered characters in order for them to fit his own personal view of them. It's not the first time I've seen Dumbledore portrayed as a bumbling fool, but it's the first time that I've been thoroughly disgusted by it. He regularly degrades and insults well loved and kind characters from the original novels and does a horrible job of it in the process. The blatant disrespect the author shows the original story and characters is exceedingly difficult to accommodate.
It's a real shame, because ultimately the idea was one I had been really interested in. But, I suppose I just have to say that if you're interested in reading Harry Potter fan fiction, definitely read something else rather than waste your time with this one. There are much better ones out there and it doesn't take too long to find them.
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DNF at 21%.
I just couldn't suffer through it any longer. I've been trying to read this book for almost three years now and every time I read a little further, I just find myself disgusted with everything the writer has done. Now here's the thing...the idea was brilliant in its own right. But the execution was not only grossly unrealistic, but it was just downright awful in general.
I'd been really excited to read this, in part due to the fact that it somehow managed to find its way onto Goodreads as a fan fiction. I must admit I am utterly baffled as to how that came to be now that I've read as much as I have. And here's something to understand about this book. It's massive. The number of pages I managed to force myself to read through would equate to a 400+ page novel.
And I personally don't think this book deserved even that much of my time.
I think it's thoroughly apparent that I wanted to like this fan fic. I truly did. There is a lot to be praised from intelligence and rationality, but instead of actually telling an important tale with themes of rational understanding woven in, Yudkowsky simply gives us asinine characters that are poorly written and a story that jumps around so much you wonder how anyone could say there's even a plot at all.
Now, I had expected that there would be a fair amount of differences in the novel, especially on the part of Harry's character. His entire backstory had changed, after all. But ultimately that doesn't account for how an eleven-year-old boy never seems to have any of the traits of the young child that he is. Ironically, I think I might have been able to get past that--who doesn't want an immensely intelligent Harry Potter to read?--had it not been for how disgustingly out of character literally everyone else was.
And then, somehow along the line, Harry becomes disturbingly sociopathic and thus even more difficult to empathize with. I can't think of a single instance past the very first chapters of the tale where he didn't come off as a self-obsessed little jerk for absolutely no reason at all. He's manipulative and cruel on more than one occasion and does nothing to show intelligence in a positive light. This was immensely frustrating as it only furthered the often misconstrued notion that intelligent people are stuck up, snobbish assholes with no emotions whatsoever.
Harry's intelligence is also portrayed in a deeply unbelievable manner. Instead of needing to learn (as someone at eleven years old, even a very well read someone, would need to do) Harry simply thinks...and then somehow knows in a short period of time. Intelligence is not a trait that one simply has, but rather something someone has to work at constantly and Yudkowsky completely ignores this factor in favor of simply parroting his somewhat misguided beliefs through the mouth of his main character. In fact, Harry's solution to a great deal of events is simply to use a time-turner to travel back and re-do everything.
Disturbing jokes are made throughout the prose and the writing is mediocre at best, only serving to create more problems with the story as a whole. And to make matters worse, there is almost nothing going on at all aside from Harry acting like a little brat all the time and taking advantage of the people around him. I'm pretty sure that by the point I stopped, he was still in his first few months of classes in his first year. Which brings me to another issue I had. There is absolutely no continuity. The story arcs hop around idly at random as the author appears to simply fill in whatever idea he had at the present moment and say, "well, who cares if it fits?"
I just couldn't stomach how unrealistic the entirety of this story was or how Yudkowsky regularly butchered characters in order for them to fit his own personal view of them. It's not the first time I've seen Dumbledore portrayed as a bumbling fool, but it's the first time that I've been thoroughly disgusted by it. He regularly degrades and insults well loved and kind characters from the original novels and does a horrible job of it in the process. The blatant disrespect the author shows the original story and characters is exceedingly difficult to accommodate.
It's a real shame, because ultimately the idea was one I had been really interested in. But, I suppose I just have to say that if you're interested in reading Harry Potter fan fiction, definitely read something else rather than waste your time with this one. There are much better ones out there and it doesn't take too long to find them.
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May 22, 2025
"Люди стають тими, ким мають стати, міс Ґрейнджер, коли вчиняють правильно, - голос старого чарівника був лагідний. - Тож скажи мені, міс Ґрейнджер, що видаєтьчя тобі правильним вибором? Адже саме це і визначає те, ким ти насправді є.
Багато що в цьому світі неправильно, питання в тому, що ТОБІ правильно робити з цього приводу"
"...але біда в тому, що було два різних варіанти правильного"
Герміона❤️🩹
Багато що в цьому світі неправильно, питання в тому, що ТОБІ правильно робити з цього приводу"
"...але біда в тому, що було два різних варіанти правильного"
Герміона❤️🩹
December 8, 2020
This book had a lot of good content. The only reason that I don't give it a full 5 stars is because I feel like Hermione's character did not have very deep motivations, they seemed rather surface level compared to many of the other characters. But overall, the principles and topics are interesting and there is an element of mystery that is woven throughout, lending to the overall interest for the reader.
December 6, 2019
Сейчас фанаты оригинального сюжета закидают меня тухлыми помидорами, но я должен сказать это: «По моему субъективному мнению, «ГП и методы рационального мышления» лучше оригинала. Нас��оятельно рекомендую к прочтению. И интересно, и полезно.
Это как прочитать «Гарри Поттера» в первый раз, только тут герои не делают совсем уж очевидных глупостей. Прям вот 9/10.
Это как прочитать «Гарри Поттера» в первый раз, только тут герои не делают совсем уж очевидных глупостей. Прям вот 9/10.
May 19, 2020
Прекрасная, неглупая и захватывающая книга, во многом лучше оригинала. Перечитал в переводе и в бумаге, что для меня нынче редкость, и перевод выполнен на весьма достойном уровне. Все нужные заметки от автора включены, ничего не упущено. Бумага тоже качественная :)
Однозначно рекомендую к ознакомлению для всех любителей мира Роулинг, и к тому же любителей подумать.
Однозначно рекомендую к ознакомлению для всех любителей мира Роулинг, и к тому же любителей подумать.
May 11, 2020
It's very odd to go from "breaking into Azkaban" to "a young girl takes on bullies at Hogwarts". If there was any misstep in Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, it's this. The series is still great though.
August 17, 2017
Started liking it more than the source material. A lot of growing up done in it. Love the way Eliezer explores the world.
December 24, 2024
for all the draco and Hermione shippers, the doubt persists
July 27, 2024
The entirety of the plot regarding S.P.H.E.W. underwhelmed me. It felt watered down that the girls had to discuss love interests at all, and even more so that Harry intervened in their endeavors.
The whole explicit femininity arc could have been fine. I was just so unsure throughout whether the author intended a display of successful feminism or unsuccessful activism. Knowing a little about the author I do not want to ascribe him anything else. The moral likely went right over my head—or it eludes me currently, as it has been some time since my read-through.
The second part of the book was just more of ‘naive Harry’. I understand its necessity for colloquially explaining a form of utilitarianism through Dumbledore. Still, it was not very satisfying.
Notice: This was written some time after my initial read.
The whole explicit femininity arc could have been fine. I was just so unsure throughout whether the author intended a display of successful feminism or unsuccessful activism. Knowing a little about the author I do not want to ascribe him anything else. The moral likely went right over my head—or it eludes me currently, as it has been some time since my read-through.
The second part of the book was just more of ‘naive Harry’. I understand its necessity for colloquially explaining a form of utilitarianism through Dumbledore. Still, it was not very satisfying.
Notice: This was written some time after my initial read.
January 7, 2021
Loved this!
(Also: It starts with if you're 5 hours past your bedtime can I suggest getting some sleep it will still be here tomorrow... unless you get a 404 error and regret forever that you didn't stay up to read more . Lol 😂 well! I just did get a 404 message when I tried to go to the first real chapter 😂 (it starts with other fanfiction you could have been reading some of which were really funny like the Kvothe/quothe the raven one and the Macbeth one was really cool. I only freaked out for a second. I almost wish they did it on purpose but the link worked eventually so I don't think they did 😂)
(Also: It starts with if you're 5 hours past your bedtime can I suggest getting some sleep it will still be here tomorrow... unless you get a 404 error and regret forever that you didn't stay up to read more . Lol 😂 well! I just did get a 404 message when I tried to go to the first real chapter 😂 (it starts with other fanfiction you could have been reading some of which were really funny like the Kvothe/quothe the raven one and the Macbeth one was really cool. I only freaked out for a second. I almost wish they did it on purpose but the link worked eventually so I don't think they did 😂)
January 10, 2022
This is Hermione's book. She takes center stage and this book, #4, really centers around her. Hermione wants to be a hero. Not just somebody's sidekick, but the hero. She doesn't want to follow in Harry's footsteps. So she takes on bullies at Hogwarts. A bit of mystery surrounds all this and as the story develops you see how this all came about. Hermione is framed by an unknown enemy for the attempted murder of a student at Hogwarts resulting in her trial before the Wizengamot.
December 11, 2023
Como estoy leyendo la traducción al español de Rhaidot juzgo más la traducción que la versión original, y aunque la historia sigue dando pasos interesantes hacia una dirección que creo que es buena, sigue teniendo muchísimos aspectos que mejorar y segmentos que recortar o matizar para que la historia tenga una mayor consistencia, no es el peor de la saga pero sin duda tampoco llega al nivel del primero.
November 4, 2024
Відгук по розділам 65-85:
Це - найгірша частина.
🔴 Фемінізм - сміховинний. Це очевидний стьоб. Капітан Марвел, в порівнянні, видається глибоким шедевром. А так як цій темі присвячена половина розділів - просто читала на автоматі, без емоцій.
🟢 Війни Квірела - єдине цікаве.
🔴 Ну і подальші події - це повний абсурд. Якби в мене не були куплені всі частини - тут би й скінчився для мене даний фанфік. Брєд.
🔴 Раціональність = ідеалістично-популістичним ідеям 😐
Це - найгірша частина.
🔴 Фемінізм - сміховинний. Це очевидний стьоб. Капітан Марвел, в порівнянні, видається глибоким шедевром. А так як цій темі присвячена половина розділів - просто читала на автоматі, без емоцій.
🟢 Війни Квірела - єдине цікаве.
🔴 Ну і подальші події - це повний абсурд. Якби в мене не були куплені всі частини - тут би й скінчився для мене даний фанфік. Брєд.
🔴 Раціональність = ідеалістично-популістичним ідеям 😐
January 27, 2023
Четверта книжка сього геніального фанфіку оповідає нам історію геройства Герміони.
Вона не була мені за відчуттями такою насиченою, як попередні.
Але розв'язка смакує. Смакує трохи гірко, бо завіса таємничости Квірела привідкривається, окреслюється примарне майбутнє стосунків Гаррі й Герміони, а історія з феніксом - це 😭
Вона не була мені за відчуттями такою насиченою, як попередні.
Але розв'язка смакує. Смакує трохи гірко, бо завіса таємничости Квірела привідкривається, окреслюється примарне майбутнє стосунків Гаррі й Герміони, а історія з феніксом - це 😭
November 13, 2019
Books with a driven purpose usually irk the heck out of me. Most of this, however, was a great deal of fun. And, later, still a whole pile of fun.
Kinda nifty reading this as individual books rather than one giant chonk, too.
Kinda nifty reading this as individual books rather than one giant chonk, too.
February 27, 2023
- way more drama / personality developments in this one vs the other books
- did not expect the Snape scene but it was very well written
- conflicts start to arise at a much grander scale, there is a good setup for escalation of events in the last 2 books
- did not expect the Snape scene but it was very well written
- conflicts start to arise at a much grander scale, there is a good setup for escalation of events in the last 2 books
September 16, 2019
This one dragged.
November 6, 2020
Никогда так не переживала о судьбе Драко Малфоя до этой книги
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2022
The Mahatma Gandhi reference was so on point.the series is going so rationally smooth that I am thinking of reading original ones again,but now with rationality keeping in mind.
June 9, 2024
I'm so confused
October 19, 2025
Rating: [A+]
Not one of my favorite arcs but still great overall. The last quarter or so was excellent.
Not one of my favorite arcs but still great overall. The last quarter or so was excellent.
January 24, 2016
My opinion about the book
Another book with even more problems for the young scion of the Potter House (which is noble). I, by the way, love how the writer of these series has come up with an entire social system of Noble Houses, Most Ancient Noble Houses, Wizzengamot and all those stuffy thingies. It makes that the story has a strong backbone, and it definitely gives foundation to think about more of the magical social structure of JK's universe.
In this book, Hermione Granger is found guilty of murder (WHUT!) and Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres [I do get tired of typing that name each time] might have his destiny of destroying . Read it!
My opinion about the series
First and foremost, this is a book that got my interest because of its nature. I love Harry Potter, I think J.K. Rowling has written an awesome series of books. However, they are not... rational. As the young Harry points out in these series, water cannot simply come to exist because of a simple aguamenti. That is partly the magic of the Harry Potter series, but to some people, especially those interested in science, it can be bothersome.
It actually never bothered me untill I started reading "Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality". Then, things changed.
Another book with even more problems for the young scion of the Potter House (which is noble). I, by the way, love how the writer of these series has come up with an entire social system of Noble Houses, Most Ancient Noble Houses, Wizzengamot and all those stuffy thingies. It makes that the story has a strong backbone, and it definitely gives foundation to think about more of the magical social structure of JK's universe.
In this book, Hermione Granger is found guilty of murder (WHUT!) and Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres [I do get tired of typing that name each time] might have his destiny of destroying . Read it!
My opinion about the series
First and foremost, this is a book that got my interest because of its nature. I love Harry Potter, I think J.K. Rowling has written an awesome series of books. However, they are not... rational. As the young Harry points out in these series, water cannot simply come to exist because of a simple aguamenti. That is partly the magic of the Harry Potter series, but to some people, especially those interested in science, it can be bothersome.
It actually never bothered me untill I started reading "Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality". Then, things changed.
August 1, 2015
This one wasn't really up to the standards of the previous instalments. It was still good, and still enjoyable, but it seems like a lot of exposition and set up for something, that doesn't ultimately go anywhere truly worth the amount of pages you read through to get to that point.
The first half of the book just went no where, to the point where I can't actually recall what the point of it was. Oh yeah, S.P.H.E.W! That section went no where really and was a rather butchered attempt at the political goals of that group.
The second half had a few interesting scenes, but then when it came to the big dramatic reveal they resolve it so bloody quickly that you are left wondering if the author just decided to end it because a realistic ending was going to take a long time to write and his version was much faster.
The first half of the book just went no where, to the point where I can't actually recall what the point of it was. Oh yeah, S.P.H.E.W! That section went no where really and was a rather butchered attempt at the political goals of that group.
The second half had a few interesting scenes, but then when it came to the big dramatic reveal they resolve it so bloody quickly that you are left wondering if the author just decided to end it because a realistic ending was going to take a long time to write and his version was much faster.
December 16, 2022
The focus on Hermione and some interesting moral debates makes this one, imo, a better read than the last volume and the next one. There's also some interesting puzzling things out that occurs in this volume and watching Harry attempt to outwit both known and unknown opponents continues to be fun. I believe this is also where we start to see Moody come in (although that may be the next volume, I'm reviewing them after reading all but the last 5 or so percent of the whole collection) and, while just a guest star type role, I always love him.
January 29, 2023
Prvá polka knižky ma neskutočne otravovala a myslela som si, že túto časť ohodnotím najhoršie (zo všetkých tých, ktoré som zatiaľ prečítala). Záverečné kapitoly boli ale geniálne a kompletne teda zmenili pôvodné hodnotenie, ktoré som knihe chcela udeliť.
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