Rob > Recent Status Updates

Saw the series, which seems to have stuck closely to the book, but the writing is so compelling, & so entertaining, that I’m greatly enjoying the “rerun in my head.”

Chapter 17 on Anxiety is great! The author has decades of experience dealing with political insanity.

Way too long.

I set this book aside, thinking it would probably fall into the “unfinished” bucket.

But recently I’ve been listening again. For about an hour.

Not sure why I’m still only 58% of the way through a 13 hour book. Must have made a maths error.

Anyway, there are parts that are worth getting through. But this book is overlong and repetitive.

Very dark, very inspiring. Very timely.

Immediately I see why someone recently said “1984 is supposed to be a cautionary tale, not a political playbook.”

The Ministry of Truth: Total manipulation of the press, what we see on TV, what we read…?

Just 40 years off the mark.

This novel swings from intrigue to deep philosophy to dull exposition to horrific exposition then back again. Not an easy read but I’m planning to finish it. Mostly by listening during long walks.

Did Audible make this available for free because it’s so timely? Mad kings tearing at their own civilization?

Not about meditation. Not a book on Buddhism (though there are a few Buddhist commentators quoted in the book here and there).

Also not a “self help” book…not exactly anyway. It takes the notion of self-help and turns it on its head. Gentle, humorous, and thoughtful; this book gets at the problem we have with problems.

I had to listen twice to the “reverse lampshade” comment to fully enjoy the author’s joke.

<spoiler>“And that works?”

“Better than you might think.”</spoiler>

🤣

The author must have got the message after Redshirts: far less “he said/she said” after every line of dialog. So far I cannot stop listening. Fast-paced, great dialog, very humorous.

That performance review at the very beginning? Like the Twilight Zone version of every performance review ever. Hilarious!