Pramod Vemuri > Recent Status Updates

[Listening only to 1984]
I am well familiar with the story of 1984, its dystopia and the likes. But to actually read (listen) to the story is disturbingly timeless.

It's not just a story about the perils of totalitarianism. It's about the gaslighting insanity of living under a totalitarian government, one which rewrites all objectivity of taste, thought and history through propaganda and persecution.

Peterson said when writing this book that he was operating at a fraction of intellect, and unfortunately, it shows. His circumabulating style of prose which I previously enjoyed in "12 Rules" is severely weak here, and the half the rules don't strike me as all that profound. I feel like the book should've been proof-read and edited for far longer; it would've been better if it's a smaller book.

I may not be the right audience to this book. But it's definitely frustrating every time I see the author rely on Occidentalism to combat Orientalism. I find myself nodding when he talks about how Hindu intellectuals acted in good faith, but then shaking my head when he accuses Western intellectuals of plagiarism. You can't make a strong accusation if it's an unorthodox opinion without detailing enough evidence.

I got to this book too late, and I see that many of the scattered pieces of advices and insights have all been systematically laid out by in the book. What's great (part 1) is that the author doesn't waste much time quoting studies or anecdotes - he understands well that people who read this book, have a hard time focussing.

I haven't read Gaiman before - however I have watched Doctor's Wife, Stardust, and the first season of American Gods. I feel Gaiman shines most when he takes detours into smaller, beautiful stories. The story is so well written, I was constantly surprised at first that it's set in the DC universe.

This (audio) book is EXHAUSTIVE! But it's deeply interesting all the same.

I listen to this book how I listen/read to non-fiction these days, which is to start with introduction and conclusion, then pick out chapters of interest until I finish. Yet the more I listen, the more it's enthralling - the author certainly hit a note on what it "feels" like modernity is lacking, and that is community and intuition.