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Theory of Irony: How Jesus Led to Moon Golf
Ever wonder why so much makes no sense? Why is there an inverse proportion between the size of the print and the importance of the message? Why do washed-up actors and athletes end up as Governors and Congressmen? Why do they pay out millions of tax dollars for anti-smoking campaigns, and to farmers to grow more tobacco? Why did Missouri send thousands of men to fight on opposite sides at the Battle of Vicksburg? Why was it that Pope John XII died while making love with a married woman? Why can't we separate art from obscenity and why, oh why, do armies destroy towns to save them? Erik Von Norden (writing under a pen name) processes the world with an odd, well-caffeinated kind of logic and answers in an eccentric, corkscrewed sort of way. Always funny, sometimes scholarly and no sacred cows. He calls this eccentric thinking the Theory of Irony.
262 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 8, 2016
This history of the ridiculous is an extremely interesting and irreverent look at the antics of our ancestors. As I read I didn't get the theory bit, because historical action seems to defy any theorisation. Well, yes, that is kind of ironic! And it is certainly ironic that so often an action has the opposite effect to that intended. However, as for the word 'irony' in the title, far from all the happenings mentioned in the book, or even a majority, really coalesce around irony. As I progressed, it appeared to be the absence of logic, the incongruity of the action, the paradox, rather than the sometimes irony that was significant in the books subject matter? Though, I found some of the best material to be in passages where true irony was immediately clear to me. With a nod to the sub-title pf the book, it's certainly deeply ironic that the high point of the 'one small step' on the moon presently seems to distilled down to the swinging of a golf club in one sixth of Earth's gravity rather than in a 'giant step' into a God given future for mankind.
The history of man is certain overflowing with the absurd. Hindsight allows us to see tragic irony in so much of the pattern of historic incongruity. At finish, the point of the book for me finally emerged as the irony in the fact that it is impossible to find any consistency in history other than total inconsistency, chaos. Perhaps if I was less stupid I would have concluded that before I reached the end notes, or have I yet missed something deeper?
Norden imparts a great deal of information, all of which is referenced for those that wish to find out more, or to question his irreverent points. The historical events and often whimsical anecdotes are strung together in a logical chronology, with an occasional leap into the experiences of Norden himself. Usually these injections are amusing, though sometimes distracting. I definitely felt a strain between Norden as an academic thinker and him leaning towards writing an adult version of Sellar and Yeatman's humorous "1066 And All That". Personally, I couldn't get enough of the entertainer in Norden in his most cynical and humorous deductions. I look forward to reading more hapless history, or illogical law or pothead politics, all of which I'd be less than surprised to see appearing in print from Norden. I very much enjoyed this non-fiction that points out that fact is often more absurd than most fiction.
The history of man is certain overflowing with the absurd. Hindsight allows us to see tragic irony in so much of the pattern of historic incongruity. At finish, the point of the book for me finally emerged as the irony in the fact that it is impossible to find any consistency in history other than total inconsistency, chaos. Perhaps if I was less stupid I would have concluded that before I reached the end notes, or have I yet missed something deeper?
Norden imparts a great deal of information, all of which is referenced for those that wish to find out more, or to question his irreverent points. The historical events and often whimsical anecdotes are strung together in a logical chronology, with an occasional leap into the experiences of Norden himself. Usually these injections are amusing, though sometimes distracting. I definitely felt a strain between Norden as an academic thinker and him leaning towards writing an adult version of Sellar and Yeatman's humorous "1066 And All That". Personally, I couldn't get enough of the entertainer in Norden in his most cynical and humorous deductions. I look forward to reading more hapless history, or illogical law or pothead politics, all of which I'd be less than surprised to see appearing in print from Norden. I very much enjoyed this non-fiction that points out that fact is often more absurd than most fiction.
March 6, 2016
I was given an e-version of The Theory of Irony: How Jesus Led to Moon Golf in exchange for a review.
Author Erik Von Norden has written a history book, which had it been in my high school history classes, would have made them a lot more interesting. The crux of the book is that "The best laid plans..." well, you know the rest. He highlights how the plans of men more often than not wind up with, if not opposite outcomes, at least unintended outcomes which have greatly shaped the world as we know it.
Von Norden focuses mostly on European "Royalty" and a succession Catholic Popes who strained the idea of "Christian" actions well beyond the bounds of decency and brotherly love. The stories did sort of drop off after the Industrial Revolution (probably because too many of the imbeciles he highlights are still around and too powerful to piss off), but it does show that the status-quo of current political sleaziness is no new aberration, merely business as usual. Politics and politicians have inhabited a cesspool for as long as politics and politicians have been around.
The research alone for this work must have been staggering. I cannot vouch for the veracity of the history shared here (the author does provide copious references, but to be completely honest, I didn't do any fact checking), but if not true it should be. It seems to me to be way too much trouble to go to for a lie. Very entertaining and enlightening stuff to say the least.
The author has a great way of imparting his lessons. He appears to possess a singularly dry wit which I greatly enjoy, as I have been accused of the same.
The Theory of Irony meticulously traces European and Eurasian history developing the premise that mankind has survived and even flourished in spite of itself and its penchant for doing the stupidest possible thing at the worst possible time. Fear not, there are examples of American screwups as well.
You might get the idea that The Theory of Irony is a spoof or at least a lampoon. I assure you it is not. It is told by an author who has an eye for the absurdity and just plain goofiness of human behavior and a humorous way of sharing it.
I do not usually review non-fiction works (you've probably noticed this by the dearth of non-fiction books listed here in my blog). I believe this is only the second (the first was my wife's book, so there you go) I've actually reviewed. I'm glad I took the risk of stepping out of my fictional world to read The Theory of Irony by Erik Von Norden, it's too weird to be fiction, so it must be true. Enjoy!
Mike
Author Erik Von Norden has written a history book, which had it been in my high school history classes, would have made them a lot more interesting. The crux of the book is that "The best laid plans..." well, you know the rest. He highlights how the plans of men more often than not wind up with, if not opposite outcomes, at least unintended outcomes which have greatly shaped the world as we know it.
Von Norden focuses mostly on European "Royalty" and a succession Catholic Popes who strained the idea of "Christian" actions well beyond the bounds of decency and brotherly love. The stories did sort of drop off after the Industrial Revolution (probably because too many of the imbeciles he highlights are still around and too powerful to piss off), but it does show that the status-quo of current political sleaziness is no new aberration, merely business as usual. Politics and politicians have inhabited a cesspool for as long as politics and politicians have been around.
The research alone for this work must have been staggering. I cannot vouch for the veracity of the history shared here (the author does provide copious references, but to be completely honest, I didn't do any fact checking), but if not true it should be. It seems to me to be way too much trouble to go to for a lie. Very entertaining and enlightening stuff to say the least.
The author has a great way of imparting his lessons. He appears to possess a singularly dry wit which I greatly enjoy, as I have been accused of the same.
The Theory of Irony meticulously traces European and Eurasian history developing the premise that mankind has survived and even flourished in spite of itself and its penchant for doing the stupidest possible thing at the worst possible time. Fear not, there are examples of American screwups as well.
You might get the idea that The Theory of Irony is a spoof or at least a lampoon. I assure you it is not. It is told by an author who has an eye for the absurdity and just plain goofiness of human behavior and a humorous way of sharing it.
I do not usually review non-fiction works (you've probably noticed this by the dearth of non-fiction books listed here in my blog). I believe this is only the second (the first was my wife's book, so there you go) I've actually reviewed. I'm glad I took the risk of stepping out of my fictional world to read The Theory of Irony by Erik Von Norden, it's too weird to be fiction, so it must be true. Enjoy!
Mike
December 28, 2016
This is a history of Western Civilization on speed. Let me first say that the author is apparently extremely intelligent and well-educated, and can spout off facts and historical references with ease. I have to only give it the 2/5 "it was ok" rating. The book reads as an unstructured rant, a merciless succession of fact-laden sentences which occasionally hint at, but never reach, an overarching point. The supposed carrot before his cart seems to be that history is nonsensical, or at least full of nonsensical happenings. This reader will stipulate.
Fun reading for anyone seeking a bird's-eye flyover of history.
Fun reading for anyone seeking a bird's-eye flyover of history.
February 1, 2016
Entertaining, amusing and sometimes laugh out loud funny as author, Erik von Norden, explores the irony of the development of ‘western’ civilization and system of religious beliefs. I am sure that there will be people up in arms about the author’s observations on both history and matters of faith, but in all honesty it’s a case of “sad but true”. If this were a work of fiction it would be rejected because the tale is absolutely preposterous. Humanity has succeeded in spite of itself. Well researched, well structured and well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews