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Look for Our Mother and Our Father
Imagine you have spent your life in the middle of a dust storm, and the air finally clears. Suddenly you see that every step you thought was a step forward was actually a step backward, and you are not where you thought you were. Imagine you can clearly see things now that you had not even realized were distorted, because you were accustomed to the way everything looked in the middle of that cloud of dust... Here is a sad tale of a culture that thought it was the most advanced, enlightened culture ever - but wasn't. The author takes a concrete look at our lifestyle, our values, our spirituality, and our beliefs and shows us that we are not where we think we are. Wouldn't you like to be able to see your life clearly, without clouds of dust blocking your view? This book provides a new perspective that will allow people to re-evaluate their lives and re-think everything they think they know. Ignorance is easy, but our responsibility is to seek wisdom. For all those who feel disconnected, who wonder about the meaning of life, or who feel like there must be something more, this panoramic view of our culture will provide some interesting answers and a whole new way to see the big picture. Many people examine one aspect of our society and find fault - our politics, our educational system, or our treatment of mental diseases (for example) - but no other book looks at the whole and shows how everything works together. Here is your invitation to step outside of the dust storm, to see a view you never imagined. The author makes no claim to objectivity, but, as you'll see, a subjective view can offer great insight. So come along on a journey to look for our Mother and our Father...
412 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2010
1 person is currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Anonymous
791k books3,369 followersBooks can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:
* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 24, 2011
When I received this ebook from the Librarything Giveaway program, I was curious to see what I would get from its controversial subject.
Well, little more than headaches and ill humor. I don’t know what’s worse: the author’s belief that cancer could be easily cured by a primitive culture’s medicine man, or that technology is a useless and evil invention. Remember this is an ebook, the author did not write this on banana leaves but probably on a laptop, to be read on a handheld ELECTRONIC device. The hypocrisy is disgusting.
Yes, of course, we the PEOCs, (as the author calls all European descendants or those who have adopted that way of life) have done a lot of negative things to the planet, but to say something so ridiculous as that the ancient non-European civilizations understood the value of life better, that they did not have murderers or rapists, that they lived a peaceful life, is absurd. Human sacrifice, anyone? Native Americans waged territorial wars all the time, as did all the other ancient civilizations. It is not a PEOC disease, just human nature. We are just like any other animal, aggressive, territorial, and opportunistic. Ancient civilizations had many of the same cultural issues, with hierarchies of power, with people in charge and people beneath them who worked. Ok, so they weren’t getting paid with checks or direct deposits, but they were getting food for their work.
I was just astounded and frustrated by the time and effort it took for the author, who remains anonymous, to write something so concisely ludicrous, and I do regret spending my time in between its *cough cough* e-pages.
Well, little more than headaches and ill humor. I don’t know what’s worse: the author’s belief that cancer could be easily cured by a primitive culture’s medicine man, or that technology is a useless and evil invention. Remember this is an ebook, the author did not write this on banana leaves but probably on a laptop, to be read on a handheld ELECTRONIC device. The hypocrisy is disgusting.
Yes, of course, we the PEOCs, (as the author calls all European descendants or those who have adopted that way of life) have done a lot of negative things to the planet, but to say something so ridiculous as that the ancient non-European civilizations understood the value of life better, that they did not have murderers or rapists, that they lived a peaceful life, is absurd. Human sacrifice, anyone? Native Americans waged territorial wars all the time, as did all the other ancient civilizations. It is not a PEOC disease, just human nature. We are just like any other animal, aggressive, territorial, and opportunistic. Ancient civilizations had many of the same cultural issues, with hierarchies of power, with people in charge and people beneath them who worked. Ok, so they weren’t getting paid with checks or direct deposits, but they were getting food for their work.
I was just astounded and frustrated by the time and effort it took for the author, who remains anonymous, to write something so concisely ludicrous, and I do regret spending my time in between its *cough cough* e-pages.
Read
June 28, 2011* I received this book free through a First Reads Goodreads Giveaway*
And would like it even more if I could mail it right back to where it came from without wasting my own hard earned, culturally tainted money. Yup, I think that about sums up what I thought of the book. It takes cynicism to a level that I didn't even know was possible. 0 Stars
And would like it even more if I could mail it right back to where it came from without wasting my own hard earned, culturally tainted money. Yup, I think that about sums up what I thought of the book. It takes cynicism to a level that I didn't even know was possible. 0 Stars
September 16, 2013
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First-Reads program...two years ago.
That's right. It took me two years to finish this book. The only reason I did finish was because I had a sense of obligation--I am one of those people who hates, hates, hates to leave a book unfinished, no matter how bad it is. And I feel that disliking a book isn't legitimate unless you finish the book, because then you don't even give it a proper chance to improve. So I finished it.
I should have given up on this one anyway. Let me say this clearly: This book is the worst book I have ever or will ever read.
I originally signed up for the Goodreads giveaway despite all the negative reviews because, well, there were a couple positive reviews and maybe it just takes a person with an open mind (and I count myself rather open-minded) to appreciate the book.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
Seriously, the only way I could possibly see someone giving this book 5 stars is if that person is the author himself or his family. (Hmmm...so which of you is responsible for this atrocious book??)
The author basically wrote 400 pages about his/her hatred towards Western culture. There is nothing that escapes his wrath (I will refer to the author as masculine for simplicity's sake). I found that every time I read this book, it made me angry: not at Western culture, which the author probably wanted, but at the author himself. I think we can all agree that our society is not perfect, that we've done and continue to do some terrible things, but even when I was on the same side as the author--as during discussions about pollution and immigration, for example--I disliked being on the same side as such a hateful person. And although there were a few somewhat good points (like, maybe three sentences in the whole book), the hatefulness of the rest of the book overpowered them. I've forgotten what they were, and it is certainly not worth it to dig through a mountain of daggers to look for a few shards of pearl.
Beyond that, the book was incredibly misinformed. Pages and pages of "facts" were lies, which should be obvious to anyone with a brain. One "fact" that sticks out in my memory is that at one point near the very end of the book, the author claims that "that's what goes into the 'nutritionally balanced' and 'scientifically formulated' products you feed your pets: road kill that's been lying around for 2 weeks." Excuuuuse me? Can I see some citations here, a little proof for what you're saying? Because I have never seen Iams trucks driving around scraping possums off the road. More than likely the author got this supposed "information" from some unreliable source he found off Google. I did the same Google search and found a ton of conspiracy theories and urban legends about how roadkill and euthanized pets are ground up, flea collars still on, into dog food, but not one reliable source could say the same. And practically ALL his "facts" are like this: uncited and illogical. His "selected bibliography" is laughable. And I spent most of my time wishing the author was there in front of me so I could point out just how wrong, and sometimes blatantly idiotic, he was.
Of course, I'm sure the author would just attribute my arguments to my being a part of a Western, "PEOC" (his invented word) culture, which would obviously render me and everyone else who disagrees with him blind to the facts that he, the benevolent elder, is trying to teach us.
So, to conclude, I would heartily recommend that no one waste their time and brainpower reading this book. It's not worth the pages it's printed on. Seriously, I would even recommend this series over this book, and that is saying a LOT.
That's right. It took me two years to finish this book. The only reason I did finish was because I had a sense of obligation--I am one of those people who hates, hates, hates to leave a book unfinished, no matter how bad it is. And I feel that disliking a book isn't legitimate unless you finish the book, because then you don't even give it a proper chance to improve. So I finished it.
I should have given up on this one anyway. Let me say this clearly: This book is the worst book I have ever or will ever read.
I originally signed up for the Goodreads giveaway despite all the negative reviews because, well, there were a couple positive reviews and maybe it just takes a person with an open mind (and I count myself rather open-minded) to appreciate the book.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
Seriously, the only way I could possibly see someone giving this book 5 stars is if that person is the author himself or his family. (Hmmm...so which of you is responsible for this atrocious book??)
The author basically wrote 400 pages about his/her hatred towards Western culture. There is nothing that escapes his wrath (I will refer to the author as masculine for simplicity's sake). I found that every time I read this book, it made me angry: not at Western culture, which the author probably wanted, but at the author himself. I think we can all agree that our society is not perfect, that we've done and continue to do some terrible things, but even when I was on the same side as the author--as during discussions about pollution and immigration, for example--I disliked being on the same side as such a hateful person. And although there were a few somewhat good points (like, maybe three sentences in the whole book), the hatefulness of the rest of the book overpowered them. I've forgotten what they were, and it is certainly not worth it to dig through a mountain of daggers to look for a few shards of pearl.
Beyond that, the book was incredibly misinformed. Pages and pages of "facts" were lies, which should be obvious to anyone with a brain. One "fact" that sticks out in my memory is that at one point near the very end of the book, the author claims that "that's what goes into the 'nutritionally balanced' and 'scientifically formulated' products you feed your pets: road kill that's been lying around for 2 weeks." Excuuuuse me? Can I see some citations here, a little proof for what you're saying? Because I have never seen Iams trucks driving around scraping possums off the road. More than likely the author got this supposed "information" from some unreliable source he found off Google. I did the same Google search and found a ton of conspiracy theories and urban legends about how roadkill and euthanized pets are ground up, flea collars still on, into dog food, but not one reliable source could say the same. And practically ALL his "facts" are like this: uncited and illogical. His "selected bibliography" is laughable. And I spent most of my time wishing the author was there in front of me so I could point out just how wrong, and sometimes blatantly idiotic, he was.
Of course, I'm sure the author would just attribute my arguments to my being a part of a Western, "PEOC" (his invented word) culture, which would obviously render me and everyone else who disagrees with him blind to the facts that he, the benevolent elder, is trying to teach us.
So, to conclude, I would heartily recommend that no one waste their time and brainpower reading this book. It's not worth the pages it's printed on. Seriously, I would even recommend this series over this book, and that is saying a LOT.
January 24, 2011
I am still reading this but my first impressions are that the book was written by a conspiracy theorist trying to convert me to his (or her) beliefs. It reeks heavily of opinion based on little fact. I see myself as a fairly open minded person but I take heed not to be so open minded that my brains fall out, I believe my brains will need to fall out for me to read much further. The book seems to cover every topic imaginable from science to politics, and, aside from the token nine entries in the bibiliography at the back of the book, all completely unreferenced
"Science has categorised, this, that, and the other as spinal cord injuries, from which recovery is virtually impossible. what this means is that 99.9% of people living in a culture which long ago lost the knowledge to heal, when told they will never walk again, will never walk again... If it weren't for the scientific fact that people cannot recover from spinal cord injuries and the blindness of our culture to other methods of healing, the ratios could be reversed"
When the first word on the first page in the first chapter is a contraction and a flick through the book reveals a hundred more, the book shows itself in clear need of an editor. The answer is obvious as the book is self-published.
I feel that, rather than being lucky enough to score a freebie book, I have been mailed a huge piece of conspiracy theorist propaganda.
"Science has categorised, this, that, and the other as spinal cord injuries, from which recovery is virtually impossible. what this means is that 99.9% of people living in a culture which long ago lost the knowledge to heal, when told they will never walk again, will never walk again... If it weren't for the scientific fact that people cannot recover from spinal cord injuries and the blindness of our culture to other methods of healing, the ratios could be reversed"
When the first word on the first page in the first chapter is a contraction and a flick through the book reveals a hundred more, the book shows itself in clear need of an editor. The answer is obvious as the book is self-published.
I feel that, rather than being lucky enough to score a freebie book, I have been mailed a huge piece of conspiracy theorist propaganda.
June 27, 2011
I received this book from the Goodreads First Reads program and I couldn't force myself to like this book at all. At first I was excited because the thought of exploring some ideas with new perspectives seemed really cool and eye opening, but instead I was dissapointed. The author, 'anonymous' hates everything about today's society and these were her/his opinions as to why today's society is terrible compared to indigenous cultures. In a way, I do agree with some of the downward spirals today's social society portrays today, but his other arguments aren't very argumentable. The author states that everything in science we do today isn't too worthy; especially in the medical field. While yes, medicines are NOT 100% able to cure everything due to side affects, but what if this medicine wasn't introduced to the world at all? It's better progress than nothing. I understand the author wanting to state how awful today's society is, but some the words presented were not convincing to me. There was an all around negative tone to this book which made me want to say negative things in return such as "there's nothing we can do about it anymore though!"
April 29, 2011
Don't know exactly how to shelve this book by Anonymous. It is interesting from several points. It forces you to take a look at some of the concepts that underlie our culture and realize that there are options or different ways in which our culture could have developed. The book is shallow in that it does not have the time to get deep into any concept but briefly says that our current culture is wrong and the earlier cultures are right. By earlier cultures he means native Americans and Africans etc. etc The old days were not as bad as our current days. He has some interesting things to say about the presuppositions or science and is somewhat misinformed about Christianity. However it is difficult to argue that what he sees is not to be found in some who call themselves Chrisstian. A good book to have read and to remember that our culture is not always right just because it is our culture.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
May 13, 2011
I believe the author's fundamental argument is untrue. European-centric cultures commit wrongful acts, but this has less to do with some inherent flaw in only European-centric cultures than with a basic flaw in powerful agrarian societies. The author constructs Native American culture as the opposite, and in doing so ignores their complexity and humanity. The author just generally has an inability to tell reasonable critiques of agrarian societies from nonsense. While I am aware, at it's heart, the argument that American society has problems is true, "Look for Our Mother Our Father" is a terrible critique of it. This book is little more than one disappointed individual complaining about their lives, and indiscriminately laying blame.
I struggled through 162 pages of this book, but now I'm just happy I've given up on it. It's a lovely day outside, and I'd much rather enjoy that.
More at: http://dragonldy.blogspot.com/2011/04...
I struggled through 162 pages of this book, but now I'm just happy I've given up on it. It's a lovely day outside, and I'd much rather enjoy that.
More at: http://dragonldy.blogspot.com/2011/04...
July 15, 2011
The author has a right to express his or her opinion and state it in this book and I did find many of the topics interesting. Some of the topics went right over my head. Other topics like the treatment of animals on our planet I could understand and I am sure many people I know would agree we are trying and should be more humane to animals. So I can agree with some things stated in the book. I also want to think that our doctors are doing the best they can to help people and my father is 92 years old and would not have lived this long if it were not for good treatment and doctors. So all of our medical care cannot be horrible. Anyway this book will make you think about a lot of problems on earth, but it is not worth it to become depressed over many details in life that I feel we have no control over although it would be nice if we lived in a perfect world. I received this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
August 5, 2011
Before even opening the book, I experienced a mixture of intrigue and diminished credibility for the author for publishing the book as Anonymous. I wondered what would cause someone to not acknowledge their own writing and wondered if the concepts presented were going to be incredibly controversial. The first thing the author tells the reader is that the book is not organized, but that by the end you'll understand that the disorganization has a purpose. Unfortunately, the disorganization seems to be the product of the author's thought patterns, rather than a tool with a purpose. The book comes across as a rambling diatribe from a bigoted person with hate for America and people of European decent. Rather than presenting new and controversial theories, the book hashes out the same tired and worn complaints that can be heard again and again by disenchanted people. I recommend you spend your time reading something more uplifting or educational.
September 19, 2011
I only had to scan the first lines of the introduction and the first few pages of the book itself to realize the author was simply making an uneducated, unsupported critique of western culture. Poor writing style aside, this book appears to be completely opinion based and completely negative. While I do agree with some of the points I think the author was trying to make (it's hard to say because there is no clear statement of purpose in the first 10 or so pages I read) there are much better books with intelligent research based arguments. I couldn't bring myself to read more than a dozen pages because the writing style was too much like that of a middle schooler just writing an essay of grievances.
Perhaps it picks up in later chapters but the beginning was so awful I just couldn't lower myself to the authors standards.
Perhaps it picks up in later chapters but the beginning was so awful I just couldn't lower myself to the authors standards.
March 17, 2013
This book was a win from Goodreads. Thank you.
First question. Why Anonymous?
Well, I would say it was Anon, because this is one persons opinion, that will make a lot of folks very unhappy. Diversity of peoples and their ideas and opinions in this world is good.
As I read, I thought possibly this was a paper written as an assignment for a first year college course, and the author got carried away, and wrote it as a book.
We do need to take care of mother earth a little better though...and that is my opinion!
First question. Why Anonymous?
Well, I would say it was Anon, because this is one persons opinion, that will make a lot of folks very unhappy. Diversity of peoples and their ideas and opinions in this world is good.
As I read, I thought possibly this was a paper written as an assignment for a first year college course, and the author got carried away, and wrote it as a book.
We do need to take care of mother earth a little better though...and that is my opinion!
July 2, 2011
While I am sure the book is fine for many readers, it just did not do it for me. My politics are main stream and this while has lots of thought and things to consider, I found them hard core. Yes, I do agree that the Europeans came to the states and took over native Americans and pushed their religion and life on them and no good came of it. As it is said, no good dead goes unpunished.
Yes, I know there are some extreme left/right thinking people that will love this, but I could not agree with much if anything.
This was a win from EarlyReviews, other wise I would not have read it.
Yes, I know there are some extreme left/right thinking people that will love this, but I could not agree with much if anything.
This was a win from EarlyReviews, other wise I would not have read it.
January 25, 2011
* I received this book free through a goodreads gievaway*
Okay.... I read as much of this as I could. I tried really hard to get into it,and pay attention to the message in this book, but I just couldn't focus. It felt like homework. I am a person that reads for pleasure. I am going to pass it along to my brother because this kind of this is right up his alley! So thank you for the book, but it just wasn't for me.
Okay.... I read as much of this as I could. I tried really hard to get into it,and pay attention to the message in this book, but I just couldn't focus. It felt like homework. I am a person that reads for pleasure. I am going to pass it along to my brother because this kind of this is right up his alley! So thank you for the book, but it just wasn't for me.
July 28, 2011
* I received this book free through a goodreads giveaway*
It was good that I received this book as a giveaway, otherwise I wouldbe upset that I spent money on it. I did not like it. The description of the book hypes it up much more than it is. I also did not care for the style of writing in the book either. Some of the ideology of the book seems like it comes from nowhere or from some sort of self mind thought gibberish.
It was good that I received this book as a giveaway, otherwise I wouldbe upset that I spent money on it. I did not like it. The description of the book hypes it up much more than it is. I also did not care for the style of writing in the book either. Some of the ideology of the book seems like it comes from nowhere or from some sort of self mind thought gibberish.
June 2, 2013
I honestly don't know what to say. All of the other reviews of this book have already said what I would. This book is in fact racist, hateful, and stupid. Yes I am a white male American (PEOC= person of European-oriented culture as the author states) but this is trash. I am offended, but I do find it funny that he/she has the audacity to make these statements and then hide behind the word "anonymous".
April 10, 2011
She brakes things down for you and aware of are flaws. It makes a lot of sense but I could not handle all the negative of the book and i was going to a place that i did not want to go too. plus have a doctors appointment tomorrow. So I chose to keep my blinders on for now. maybe a different time in my life I could better put to use this book. she is easy to read and it all flows together.
July 18, 2011
Hypocrisy to the max. Condemn technology and use the technology to write a book - the way you start your book, hiding under Anonymous, is appalling. Hopefully you are living in a teepee made yourself without tools - and you wrote the book without tools - good luck - you are delusional and you wasted the good paper it was printed on.
July 31, 2011
It was ok. I found alot of the writing interesting but not really my cup of tea. I thought to start with it might be I have true feeling for mother earth and the native people but it just could not keep me interested.
June 22, 2011
This book was an excellent win from Goodreads.com. The author simply wrote on her views about life in general but made it very interesting. Had a hard time putting it down once I got started on it.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews