Man's Search for Meaning is an epic and the essential therapy book for modern times. Frankl asserts, correctly, that with the growing use of automation man's free time has expanded leaving us plenty of leisure hours to contemplate our own meaning.
Frankl asserts that almost anything can have meaning and it is all up to our attitude. A survivor of several concentration camps, Frankl attests how much choosing the right attitude and having something to live forr saved people's lives in the camps. Attitude and spirit had a lot to do with survival.
This leads Frankl to suggest that man finds meaning through suffering as well as through joy and love. Very true, how often do people put the cause or cross in their life for what they are living as the meaning in their lives, and how often would they be lost without their jobs/families/possestions/causes etc... for which they sacrifice all and for which they create their identity.
More than that, people can capitalize on the little injustices in life as a growth experience. The person who cut you off in traffic, the guy at work who just loves taking pot shots at you. These are all times to exercise forgiveness and be the best person you can be. You have the choice to remain calm and be good and not let useless anger consume your life.
This is a must read for anyone feeling lost in their lives.
Wikipedia entry (with quotes):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27s_Search_for_Meaning
Friday, September 25, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
I had not read a C.S. Lewis novel before, and as I was looking up quotes from him I was quite struck by the Christian element in his writing.
And so Till We Have Faces appears to be a book quite a lot about faith, but in a new way, in that is doesn't just endorse blind faith as a way of life, but tries to show how it can help people deal with the trials and injustices of life. The book itself is based on the story of Cupid and Psyche.
Lest there be any confusion, I myself am agnostic, yet after reading this book I am seriously considering taking up some form of belief and faith, just because it helps sweep so much unnecessary guilt/fretting/worrying under the rug. How helpful it is to believe something greater is working for you, that is what every human needs. And that is what this book shows.
And so Till We Have Faces appears to be a book quite a lot about faith, but in a new way, in that is doesn't just endorse blind faith as a way of life, but tries to show how it can help people deal with the trials and injustices of life. The book itself is based on the story of Cupid and Psyche.
Silent Prayer is my greatest Weapon- Mahatma Gandhi
Lest there be any confusion, I myself am agnostic, yet after reading this book I am seriously considering taking up some form of belief and faith, just because it helps sweep so much unnecessary guilt/fretting/worrying under the rug. How helpful it is to believe something greater is working for you, that is what every human needs. And that is what this book shows.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
On Intelligence - Jeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is the founder of the palm pilot and invested a large portion of his wealth in an institute where he studies how the brain works. In On Intelligence Jeff suggests that the brain functions on memory, sequences, and prediction. This is why people can recognize a person after they have had a haircut, but a computer can't.
The Wikipedia article on the book explains it better than I could. I will say that the book was not too technically demanding, and while I did get lost at some places, most of the time I followed the material. Jeff has invented a lot of great analogies to visualize the concepts he is outlining. It is a good read to understand some past work on artificial intelligence, and how the brain works, as well as were the science might be heading...
The Wikipedia article on the book explains it better than I could. I will say that the book was not too technically demanding, and while I did get lost at some places, most of the time I followed the material. Jeff has invented a lot of great analogies to visualize the concepts he is outlining. It is a good read to understand some past work on artificial intelligence, and how the brain works, as well as were the science might be heading...
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Born Standing Up - Steve Martin
Born standing up is an autobiography of how Steve Martin broke into show business and became a comedy star. You always hear of stars living in their cars and feeling lonely on the road but Steve makes it vivid. He really shows how as a young man in his 20s he faced down his parent's advice to get a straight job and pushed through to success. It took a ton of work, to be sure. I am trying to make a go of it in publishing and entertainment now myself, and I can honestly say, it is a lot of work.
Steve also had a great way of showing how little accidental things in his life turned into great material. That really appealed to me since it is often not that which we do deliberately that has the biggest impact on our lives.
In closing I just read an Emerson quote that I think sums the book, and Steve's adventure to stand up, well:
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.
Steve also had a great way of showing how little accidental things in his life turned into great material. That really appealed to me since it is often not that which we do deliberately that has the biggest impact on our lives.
In closing I just read an Emerson quote that I think sums the book, and Steve's adventure to stand up, well:
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Genome War by James Shreeve
After reading the biography of Craig Venter which featured the race to sequence the human genome, I then read the Genome War to get an unbiased account, and possibly more information.
I do think that the genome war provides both, and gives a lot more background information of all the key players including those who worked for Venter and those who worked for the other side with the Human Genome Project. I learned of several new business men, and several new papers published at the time which I will follow up on. Particularly those which deals with all the new computer science, bioinformatics if you will, which was founded at the time.
As a final note I will say that Venter's account of the war is better written and easier to understand. Had I not read Venter's book first, this whole book would have made much less sense.
I do think that the genome war provides both, and gives a lot more background information of all the key players including those who worked for Venter and those who worked for the other side with the Human Genome Project. I learned of several new business men, and several new papers published at the time which I will follow up on. Particularly those which deals with all the new computer science, bioinformatics if you will, which was founded at the time.
As a final note I will say that Venter's account of the war is better written and easier to understand. Had I not read Venter's book first, this whole book would have made much less sense.
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