Book Reviews
I am almost loath to recommend books. People tend to think that they can pigeon-hole one by the books that one likes. "You Are What You Read". I've had so much flack from the few essays I've put into the home-page I'm pretty certain that people also think that "I Am What I Write". What a load of cobblers !
I prefer to think of books as catalysts. One might not agree with what is written in them to gain something from them. I like books that are catalysts. They make me think. Rarely do I like books merely because they are entertaining. For entertainment in a book I am more likely to read Science Fiction than anything else. It's been about 25 years since I last read fiction as a habit so my recommendations tend towards non-fiction.
The Criminal History of Mankind : Colin Wilson
This book is less about man's criminality than about the development of his consciousness. The book covers every topic from Anthropology to Pop Culture and is intriguing in a very profound way. Some of my friends have objected to it's general overview and some of the sweeping statements that are made. I'm partial to sweeping statements myself so I don't find it a problem. More important is that the book is "unputdownable" ; with the sound of skulls popping in ovens mixed with speculations about the development of language in primordial man it becomes a potent brew to curdle your neurons.
Holidays in Hell : P J O'Rourke
P J O'Rourke goes to 3rd world countries and calls it as he sees it. What a giggle ! He has a stunning chapter on South Africa that really hits the nail on the head even though it was written before Mandela's release from jail. O'Rourke calls himself a Republican Party Reptile but the truth is that he is just an old cynic with a sense of humour. Great reading before bedtime...see also http://www.pjorourke.com/
The Great Shark Hunt : Hunter S Thompson
A collection of Thompson's articles and extracts from most of his books. For those of you who don't know the mythology surrounding Gonzo Journalism it will suffice to note that if one is attempting to meet Rolling Stone Magazine's deadlines and the odds are stacked, then consuming vast quantities of noxious substances and locking oneself away in a hotel room will result in the incisive and vicious sense of reality that comes to the fore in Thompson's best work. (Not to be attempted without parental supervision.) Some of my favourite memories are coloured by "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (soon to be a movie) and "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail" and I wasn't even there at the time.
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test : Tom Wolfe
The 3rd of my unholy trio of journalists that knock my socks off. Most people approached Tom Wolfe via "The Right Stuff" and "Bonfire of the Vanities" because they were made into movies. The movies did not capture his essence at all. For example "The Right Stuff" was written as a general piss-take on the space-race but the movie made it all very gung-ho Americana. Which is a pity. "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" remains my favourite of his works as it deals with that critical point in the universe when drugs and politics and music and culture all came together and gave us the mythology of The 60's. If you want to prep yourself before reading this then go read "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac. One of the Kerouac's characters who survives the 50's crops up in Wolfe's book.....see also http://www.tomwolfe.com/
What a writer ! A fiction writer I can sink my teeth into. I preferred the 1st Edition which is now out of print. Only the revised edition is now available. The ending has changed and the book is now less cryptic. Nevertheless, this book had a profound effect on me 25 years ago and was instrumental in me giving up reading fiction as a hobby. Head-games and philosophy. Meaty stuff. After this book one can read "Foucault's Pendulum" by Umberto Eco and kiss off the rest of the modern fiction writers.
A book about the music industry. How to do it and the pitfalls involved. After being involved in music for donkey's years I have found that everything said in this book is as relevant today as it was when it was first written. A real treasure-trove of advice.
All You Need is Ears : George Martin
From the 5th member of the Beatles. The title says it all really. A bit of gossip mixed with a lot of useful advice on recording techniques.
The Bible
I've read almost every book worth a damn in the past 35 years and some things are true and cannot be avoided. Firstly ; There is Nothing New Under The Sun. Secondly ; It's All Been Said/Done Before. I have had occasions where I have had nothing but a Bible to read (Talking about serious isolation here. No TV. No Magazines. No People. Don't Ask.) it became one of my favourite past-times to dip in and read at random. There is great stuff here that will intrigue even those who see the Bible as complete invention. Here are some of my favourites :
1/ The stories of Genesis. Is the Bible version just a retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh ?
2/ Why are we told to to eat the veggies but not the meat in Eden but this changes at a later stage ? Or does it ?
3/ What the heck is that bit about angels interbreeding with proto-humans to give rise to a race of giants ? Was Eric Von Daniken right ?
3/ "And God said, let us make man in our image." The use of the plural is way mysterious and definitely worth a double-take.
4/ Ecclesiastes. How's this for pessimism !! It reads like Jean Paul Satre in the middle of an existential crises.
5/ The Big Question of the New Testament is whether or not Jesus was just a good Jewish boy and whether or not Paul invented Christianity. (see "Paul, the Mind of the Apostle" by A N Wilson and "The New Jerome Biblical Commentary".)
5/ Textual comparisons. It is a great way to pass the time just comparing various translations of the Bible. The variations in meaning are astounding.
6/ The multiple names for God and the multiple names for Satan. A lot of Bibles just use the singular form of God or Satan. In truth, the early texts used many different names. This is a can of worms. The "Jerome Commentaries" goes into this in detail and will be mind-blowing to those who believed that the concept of a Unitary God existed for all time. (see also "The History of God" by Karen Armstrong.) Also ; the devil ain't satan ain't beelzebub etc.... Who the heck are these characters and how did it all get so simplified ?