OF, BY, AND FOR THE HANGED MAN: The Antidote to The Age of Misinformation

by A.M. Pfeffer

If, in this Age of Misinformation, you find yourself exhausted by the divisiveness, sickened by the dissent, poisoned by the discord, you are not alone. OF, BY, AND FOR THE HANGED MAN is indeed a memoir equal parts hilarity and vulnerability, but just as important, it is a declaration for navigating our post-truth world. Because as the 21st Century deepens and humanity fails to keep pace with the rapid advancements, any further divergence will be costly. Now, we must all turn inward and face our personal contradictions the likes of morality, tolerance, faith, loyalty, mortality, prosperity, and even equanimity to name only a few. Author A.M. Pfeffer has chronicled this journey into an uproarious and riveting blueprint specific to discovering a 'Hanged Man' inside each of us. By daring to suspend yourself upside down--by facing your own paradoxes from an enlightened vantage point--the truths revealed will illuminate a prominent roadmap through these extraordinary times. And though truth is not always kind or easy to swallow or even so readily apparent these days, facing your inner conflicts offers the strength, solace, and laughter we all seek to steer humankind in an improved direction. But we don't have to face them alone. A beacon of reason helps us navigate through the din. A guide stands ready to lead anyone with the fortitude to confront their contradictions through to victory on the other side. Come meet this harbinger of good fortune. Come thrive well into the future. Come experience the incredible power of your own Hanged Man.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2019

About the author

A. M. Pfeffer grew up in Westchester County, New York, and Denver, Colorado. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly twenty years. He is at once a devoted husband and father and a ruthless recreational tennis player. In Los Angeles, he worked in the entertainment industry before starting his own real estate related businesses.

Reviews

[Albert Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the past couple years the world has only seemed to get crazier and crazier. Regardless of your political bend, the country is divided, our economy is growing and yet we all seemed to be stretched thin in terms of money, time, attention, and well being. The problems seem insurmountable and while the answers can not be found to these problems in a book, this is a book that helps you emotionally navigate this craziness with a dose of humor and optimism. This book was recommended to me by my husband who read it and loved it and I wasn't sure how it might apply to a woman but I loved it. It helps you hold a mirror to yourself and gain a better understanding of who you are regardless of the world around you. It is a wonderfully refreshing read and not the drab boring non-fiction book you might expect. This is a whimsical, fun look at our times and I plan to recommend this to my book club!

[Andrew E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great debut from a talented writer. Am excited to see what else A.M. Pfeffer writes in the future

[John Schoenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evoking the concept of Odin's Hanged Man (later represented as the Twelfth Trump of a Tarot Deck), Pfeffer explores some of today's most widely-discussed topics (e.g., science/religion, gun control, taxation, race, economics, and the reach of government). In doing so, he attempts to arrive at a greater societal truth and promotes the continued exploration for a better human one.

'Of, By, and For The Hangman' is an important read in the midst of the current American socio-economic-political environment. One which has the potential of elevating its readers above the miasma that seemingly pervades the country and, especially, its politics. It is a worthy addition to both institutional and personal libraries.

[Lincoln · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was a fun easy to digest book written in the form of an autobiography the specific writing style feels very similar to Eliezer Yudkowsky book Inadequate Equilibria where both authors offer commentary on the events happening in the book. The topics are very wide ranging meaning most readers will have things they agree as well as disagree on.

Some sections had me wanting more whereas other sections left me wanting less but honestly speaking I did not find the book to be a waste of time, I particularly liked that Pfeffer did not stick to topics or events for too long.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book defies categorization insofar as it is part memoir, part essay collection, part humor, and part political treatise. But despite its uniqueness, the author's friendly demeanor and authenticity and willingness to be vulnerable make it something everyone can find something to which they can relate. The book is very comforting in that regard. How often do we get to sit down and learn about a person - the sort of genuine learning that seems to be so rare today. I liked learning about Mr. Pfeffer. I like knowing there is someone who, like me, is doing the best he can to be a human being and not ashamed to acknowledge his mistakes and the things he does not know along the way. Acknowledge them? He celebrates them with writing that is often laugh out loud funny and always always very honest. And great.

[George Crowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This compact book of chapters built on paradoxes was thoroughly engaging and will need to be re-read to be better absorbed. Highlights for me included the author's personal history of ups and downs in Hollywood, finance, bartending, and more, along with the lessons learned along the way. One particular insight in the chapter regarding climate change (an urgent threat) will always stay with me: the planet will be fine, but the human species will NOT.