All Reviews by m.jones
A Theologico-Political Treatise part 1
by Benedict de Spinoza
This covers all parts of the treatise. This is essential reading for all who would understand the modern world.
It is pure genius. The treatise is a naural extention of Maimonides' M. Yorah and Guide for the Perplexed. Guide is on the internet translated from Judeo-Arabic. Maimonides' views are extentions of Akiba, best presented in the Commentaries of Nachmonides. However, one need not read any of this to see the stuff of Spinoza. "Rights" come out of power, not any abstration such as men created equal. Spinoza's view is that of the adult, not the child.
For those turned off by the logic of "Ethics" Spinoza's treatise is clear-cut.
The Call of the Wild
by Jack London
This is a great book for teens and pre-teens. I read it at that age, cnd I loved the book.
A boy, say, nine. would love the story.
Alice in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
I have noticed that reviewers have not mentioned the logical absurdities and moral mockeries of this wonderful book. Take the cat that disappears such that only his
"smile" is left: Logically impossible, since a smile is a behavior, not objects that are so behaving. The walrus and carpenter, eating oysters: speculation about the moral superiority of one over the other, as one eats more, but feels deeply sorry for the oysters, and the other eats less, but feels no sympathy. I hope that parents can read the original to children. The cartoon version should be put off until the original has been read to the kids.
Dracula
by Bram Stoker
This is a fun book. It has a frightening quality which movies miss. Teens will love it for book reports. No big words or esoteric ideas. Just fun.
On the Origin of Species
by Charles Darwin
On the Origin of Species is probably the only original and major work of science that can be read without special learning in math and other fields. It is a quite interesting book, much in the style and manner of Smith's Wealth Of Nations. One need know no deep theories to recognize the value of that book.
I suspect that people are pushed away from the book for religious reasons in some cases, but more because they think it dull and difficult. It is neither.
A recent movie (2008) attacks Darwin with some ill words about his character and this or that social view. One may like, hate or be indifferent to Darwin, but the validity of his ideas stand by themselves.
I hope that younger people who may read this review will give a bit of thought of just why do males have colorful feathers (in birds) and other displayts in other kinds of animals. Also, why do males only get sex-linked diseases. Both promote Darwinism, neither is obvious.
Chapters on Jewish Literature
by Israel Abrahams
For those unfamiliar with major non-biblical figures in Judaism this is an excellent introduction. The chapter on Maimonides, XIII, does little more than
suggest that he and Aristotle are in a class by themselves. Those who have not read M-Torah, his prime Hebrew Language work, the chapter provides inspiration to do so. It may be ordered in English and many university libraries will have it as research literature.
Reading tanach (Old Testament) without reading Maimonides (best) or RASHI (pretty good) will give a very false impression if one is interested in judaism.
The Concept of Nature
by Alfred North Whitehead
This is a lot of doubletalk. Whitehead's little booklet
entitled "The Aims of Education" is clear, not of great content, but it makes sense. This "The Concept of Nature" is worse than worthless. It came out in 1919, well over a decade after Eieinstein's Special relativity came out, and three years after Einstein's General Relativity came out, though the experimental verification was not to be for several years after 1919.
This work could have as well have been written in the Middle Ages. If it is intended to have any serious purpose, the purpose is well hidden.
The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer
by Arthur Schopenhauer
This is a wonderful, easily understood, readable
discussion of the difference between logic and
pseudo-logical argument tools and tricks to pull the wool over the eyes of the other persons.
This is important reading for young people.
Frequently, arguments which seem valid are false--tricks. This booklett tells how to recognize the phony and use it also.