Ethan Russell > Recent Status Updates

From love to electricity, and Intervening discoveries, Equality 7-2521 is fascinating, emotive. His complexity, both in reason and emotion, separate him from the sheeple; as, he is a peerless example of the spirit of dissent. Individualism's demise is his society’s most potent export. But, salvation has been birthed within him by the sacrifice i.e the Saint of the Pyre, Transgressor of the Unspoken Word. Brilliant!

Dystopia's easy allusions to Communism and the allure of its secular-religious values and lexicon are everywhere. Ritualizing the discipline of ideology while interrelating people into subjects is also present. The depiction of individualism as aberrant under the normalcy forged by social institutions is bleak. The rise of Nationalism left an indelible mark on authors of the period that does not escape Rand's pen.

Insightful and inciting, this treatise is exactly what both the Islamophobic Islamist worlds need to read. I'm not sure it will bring them together, but it may--if thoroughly understood--clear the air concerning liberal neutrality and how sinister that term can sometimes be. Additionally, the separation of church and state is vital to freedom from oppression.

He continues to instantiate his assertions in relevant historical events that shine light on the decontextualized and discontinuous nature of television entertainment. Just image if this book had been written in this decade. It would certainly be talking about fake news (by name) and the internet, and the impeding horror of corporation divvying up the internet (net neutrality). Cra...You should be reading this.

Very detailed account of how and why race is formed and used in a liberal political system. Revealing yet familiar.

Postman continues, prophetically, delineating the shift from the typographic mind to the telegraphic mind in public discourse. His concept is quite close to Simulacra by Baudrillard and I agree with his take on how TV has destroyed information by simulating and simultaneously decontextualizing it.

This book clearly addresses our culture's great detriment in terms of switching from a typographic means of thinking to a spectacle based means of thinking. Critical thinking and a complex understanding of reason and discourse are why our laws and gov trap us in what we think is freedom, but is really subjugation. You should read it.

This unrelenting tour de force exposes law's raison d'etre, its power, and its violence. Anyone curious how deep state policy operates? This book’s for you. Sheth is direct and concise, while elucidating the mystified methods used by political sovereigns to victimize groups by categories like skin color, religion, and class status, and how the jurisdiction of law abandons those categorized.

The presupposition of the speakers ideology is often masked in their discourse, obfuscating the deeper meaning buried in their speech. Politicians and media presenters often seek to conceal their motives, but Fairclough offers a means of interpreting what they say to find truth in those lies.

The presupposition of a speakers ideology often masks their meaning in public discourse; but, if one is aware of the interlocutor's ideological beliefs, the job of making meaning of esoteric orations becomes easier, especially considering politicians and media presenters often speak to conceal more then they seek to reveal. This is a powerful revelation from Fairclough. Like where this one's heading.

In clarity, Sheth identifies the shocking machinery of racializing and its heinous outcomes for those groups targeted by sovereign power. Race as technology is certainly in use in our current political system. Sheth distinguishes between sovereignty and the state, while showing their contemporary relationship—in light of the inconvenient truth that sovereignty has never left governance.

The introduction and first chapter are explosive while showing race as political technology. The author's assertions are thoroughly evidenced & internally consistent with the logical framework she constructs. Sheth is forceful, intricate when depicting the material fact: race is a technology that categorizes outgroups: The sovereign power protract its domination of them by using it.

I enjoy Klosterman’s contrarian disposition, his polemics, and authority. The argument against being certain of subjective facts is enthralling. Considering the apoplectic sentiment suffered by those impassioned pundits of suppositions, I believe those right amygdala types would find this book impossible to finish: It is too censorious of their basic assumptions, which are the content of much recent discourse.

Assuming we may be wrong is perfectly elucidated here. But being a little wrong isn't so bad. Allowing for the subjective to change, or to augment our current understanding of science and culture (counterintuitive as it seems) offers this reader some comfort. It's the difference between feeling you're right, when others say you're wrong, and those others actually being right. Klosterman's meditation is inspiring.

The suspense is whiplash between creepy build up and deflating spurts. Her sentences are often clunky and tautological; although, she avoids intricate hypotaxis. The punctuation in chapter 4 "All. The. Time." was comical and expressed the character's exasperation.

Brown's prose is clunky at times. At other times it feels almost arcane. Her use of non restrictive dependent clauses is undisciplined and indulgent. The suspense is fine, but the ambiguity of the relationship between her character, Emory and the nameless man is almost too stilted to be truly authentic. Emory is also quite flat, as are all of the characters presented by chapter 3.

Tautology (or a redundancy in sentence structure) as a means of discussing why Shakespeare is superior to his peers is a refreshing thought. Klosterman again amazes as he "unspools" his reflection on popular culture. I enjoy the way his sentences flow, like the babble of an agreeable brook accompanies the crackle of burning wood.

Creepy and engaging. The mystery is rapidly ripening. I enjoy Sandra Brown's liberal use of commas. It's quirky, but cool. The man in the cabin seems like a psychopath, but I wonder?

Klosterman’s shrewd analysis is sweeping. While noting sources whose debate is perpetual, his evidences and anecdotes reveal Rock’s identity. This debate authenticates his claims, saying “If experts can't decide whose name is most identical with the genre, how can anyone clarify what Rock signifies to future historians. But What if We're Wrong? brings clarity to the roiled task of prognosticating pop culture.

I enjoy the consideration of today's unrated authors becoming the future's Charles Dickens or Virginia Woolf! Maybe "commercial success will become an anchor," says Klusterman. Imagine the world where novels are marketed to niche communities rather than the reader at large. His prognostications are troubling but tremendous! I can't wait to read more.

Deceptively insightful! Klosterman’s contrarian views on how we oft misperceive the present due to personal biases—dead on. The idea of the "Contemporary Kafka" says, humanizing those minority groups who (while suffering injustice today) may define tomorrow’s sociopolitical sphere through literature is a prognostic necessity. The author wisely posits that hindsight is 20/20.

This book is fascinating and exciting; yet, it manages to keep an anecdotal, "Duh I knew that" feel, which (if you didn't pick up on it from context) is a good thing! I like the way Klosterman challenges long-held beliefs by pointing out that we've been wrong before. Challenging one's beliefs is like preening a bush—helps it grow. The more one reconsiders his convictions, the clearer they become.

Novel-esque in its execution, Rogue Justice now exhibits the government corruption when prosecuting terror suspects in the days and months following the 9/11 attacks, and its reliance on torture to procure leads for further investigation into their war on an idea, terror. Enjoying the information, chilled by the illicit pilfering of American's rights and freedoms. I suggest you read this one—it's necessary.

Shocking truths about illicit government oversteps in the wake of 9/11 and the Patriot Act are revealed plainly. This author utilizes brisk pacing, while making authoritative assertions. A few more secondary sources would be useful in bolstering her claims, but it's still early in the book.

This book is brisk and true. Most of it feels familiar, but that's how recent history is I suppose. When asserting her view's Greenberg is clear and direct. If you're at all concerned about privacy and democracy, you owe it to yourself to read this book.

This book is already filled with such symbolism. The allegory of the caged tiger as the Indian person struggling to gain acceptance in the world of the colonizer is palpable. I'll just have to keep reading to see the full narrative play out.

This collection is comprehensive. I really enjoy Doyle's style! His prose is direct but packed with such charm. Watson is an amiable everyman looking for connection--and apparently willing to put up with nearly any of Holme's rude and borderline sociopathic behaviors to achieve said connection; although, the bond he forges with Holmes is indelibly deep and poignant.

Great suspense! Swift's straightforward style is refreshing and the dialect, although different from contemporary English, holds up pretty well. Enjoyable read thus far.