This book claims to be an "International bestseller phenemenon" and is apparently targeted towards male youth. I picked it up at the library because the title and cover caught my interest.
Actually well written, with interesting characters, exotic setting, and plot that moves steadily along, nevertheless this book left me feeling upset. What upset me was the underlying message it sends to young boys about girls/women. That and the fact that the author--and international readers--appear to be oblivious to that message.
Bottom line is that the story leaves no room for girls/women to put themselves into the protagonist/hero's role. No, not only was there no indication that girls/women would have a dream or "personal legend" of their own, but the female characters in the story were all used to advance and support the young man's interest with no concern for them and their interest.
Why couldn't the author have written this little story with room for girls/women to identify with the deep power within them and in the universe supporting them? At one point the value of Tradition is raised by way of explaining how a desert society/community functioned/survived in harsh conditions. On the one hand this was positive, but on the other hand a young girl probably fell victim to that Tradition yet the author showed no concern. Just prior to departing for the last leg of his journey to the pyramids to find his treasure, the young man did something against the taboos of Tradition. He then blythely departed and the author neglected to reflect on the consequences of this action for the young woman who would have been forced to suffer the harsh backlash from the community (for surely this action would not have gone unnoticed) for her innocent role in the actions taken.
It just saddens me that this type of story could still be written today. If it's true that it was read by millions, then it speaks to me of the failure for the plight of girls/women to advance beyond this myopic point of view after so much work and suffering endured for so long so many.
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England
Author: Ian Mortimer
From the page cover: "Welcome to Elizabethan England. This is your guide to the sceptered isle, a handbook for the intrepid tourist that covers everything from what to wear and where to eat to navigating the complex and contradictory Elizabethan attitudes toward violence, class, sex, and religion."
A masterful piece of work! Full of details gleaned from historical documents about life in Elizabethan England. Some of my favorite bits of insight follow:
1. Although the total size of the population is rapidly increasing, its structure is hardly any different from that of the Middle Ages....There are five times as many children in relation to old people as there are in the modern [21st century] world. The effect on the social makeup is striking: the median age is twenty-two years...in the modern world, the median age is almost forty. What is more, the men look younger too: the age at which beards naturally begin to grow is considerably later than in the modern world--most men have no more than a few hairs by the age of twenty-two. Men look more like boys and behave more like reckless youths--with all the greater energy, violence, eagerness, and selfishness that you would expect. (26-27)
2. The one area in which some women can claim a degree of parity [with men] is in literature. The educated ladies of Elizabethan England are making their biggest impression through translations, for noble and gentry families choose to educate their daughters in languages and music above all other things.....The fullest exposition of this new female freedom to write and publish is to be found in poetry...Women are starting to use their position as published writers to rail against against their secondary status in society. It will take another three hundred years to make any significant progress against patriarchy, but the roots of feminism can be found in the public voice that women acquire in the reign of Queen Elizabeth....Even though Elizabeth herself does nothing directly to advance the cause of women, she clearly inspires her female contemporaries. (57-59)
3. It is precisely the level to which Elizabethans do question their place in the world that sets them apart from their medieval forebears...In Elizabethan England, the focus begins to shift to the individual: the responsibility for a man's achievements is increasingly attributed to the person himself. God is more of a facilitator than the architect of his successes and failures. One of the clearest manifestations of how this growing individualism permeates the lives of ordinary people can be found in personal writing. There is practically no such thing as a diary in 1500; people write chronicles about major events, which are structured predominantly to reflect the will of God. But by 1558 the old tradtion of the chronicle is beginning to way to a new literary genre. (78-79)
4. Another character trait that will strike you is the depth of people's courage. (79)
5. Violence and cruelty permeate all areas of life in Elizabethan England.... Some of the extreme cruelty that we usually associate with the medieval world is in reality more common in Elizabeth's reign....You do occasionally come across official acts of mercy, but they are rare. (80-81)
6. ...the increasing availability of books in English encourages many people to teach themselves to read, including women....Printing is often described as one of the greatest inventions in human history. It certainly sets the Elizabethan world apart from the medieval. But it is the mass production of books in English that prompts the shift to a more literary culture, not printing itself. (84-85)
7. Elizabethan people have a heightened awareness of their place in history, unlike their medieval forebears....Anyone in England can see that the old way of life has gone. The great abbeys are in ruins; farmers now pile their grain in monastic granges; and merchants stock their goods in the empty halls of the friaries....Society's conception of itself develops over the course of Elizabeth's reign--and its character changes accordingly. At the end it is still violent and charitable, corrupt and courageous, racist and proud. But it has seen that it has broken away from its medieval roots and that there is no going back. And with that sense of being different from the past comes a vision that things will be different in the future....The poets working at the end of the reign also understand the uniqueness of their position in time, referring to "the age" in which they live as distinct from other ages. That self-consciousness is one of the most striking features of the Elizabethan character, made more so to the time traveler by its absence in earlier generations. (107-109)
This book is a fascinating and absorbing read. I like that the author provides great detail about all varieties of people, living conditions, activities, and environments. The perspective he brings to all these aspects helps the "time traveler" to get the sense of being 'in the time period but not of it'.
-18Aug13
From the page cover: "Welcome to Elizabethan England. This is your guide to the sceptered isle, a handbook for the intrepid tourist that covers everything from what to wear and where to eat to navigating the complex and contradictory Elizabethan attitudes toward violence, class, sex, and religion."
A masterful piece of work! Full of details gleaned from historical documents about life in Elizabethan England. Some of my favorite bits of insight follow:
1. Although the total size of the population is rapidly increasing, its structure is hardly any different from that of the Middle Ages....There are five times as many children in relation to old people as there are in the modern [21st century] world. The effect on the social makeup is striking: the median age is twenty-two years...in the modern world, the median age is almost forty. What is more, the men look younger too: the age at which beards naturally begin to grow is considerably later than in the modern world--most men have no more than a few hairs by the age of twenty-two. Men look more like boys and behave more like reckless youths--with all the greater energy, violence, eagerness, and selfishness that you would expect. (26-27)
2. The one area in which some women can claim a degree of parity [with men] is in literature. The educated ladies of Elizabethan England are making their biggest impression through translations, for noble and gentry families choose to educate their daughters in languages and music above all other things.....The fullest exposition of this new female freedom to write and publish is to be found in poetry...Women are starting to use their position as published writers to rail against against their secondary status in society. It will take another three hundred years to make any significant progress against patriarchy, but the roots of feminism can be found in the public voice that women acquire in the reign of Queen Elizabeth....Even though Elizabeth herself does nothing directly to advance the cause of women, she clearly inspires her female contemporaries. (57-59)
3. It is precisely the level to which Elizabethans do question their place in the world that sets them apart from their medieval forebears...In Elizabethan England, the focus begins to shift to the individual: the responsibility for a man's achievements is increasingly attributed to the person himself. God is more of a facilitator than the architect of his successes and failures. One of the clearest manifestations of how this growing individualism permeates the lives of ordinary people can be found in personal writing. There is practically no such thing as a diary in 1500; people write chronicles about major events, which are structured predominantly to reflect the will of God. But by 1558 the old tradtion of the chronicle is beginning to way to a new literary genre. (78-79)
4. Another character trait that will strike you is the depth of people's courage. (79)
5. Violence and cruelty permeate all areas of life in Elizabethan England.... Some of the extreme cruelty that we usually associate with the medieval world is in reality more common in Elizabeth's reign....You do occasionally come across official acts of mercy, but they are rare. (80-81)
6. ...the increasing availability of books in English encourages many people to teach themselves to read, including women....Printing is often described as one of the greatest inventions in human history. It certainly sets the Elizabethan world apart from the medieval. But it is the mass production of books in English that prompts the shift to a more literary culture, not printing itself. (84-85)
7. Elizabethan people have a heightened awareness of their place in history, unlike their medieval forebears....Anyone in England can see that the old way of life has gone. The great abbeys are in ruins; farmers now pile their grain in monastic granges; and merchants stock their goods in the empty halls of the friaries....Society's conception of itself develops over the course of Elizabeth's reign--and its character changes accordingly. At the end it is still violent and charitable, corrupt and courageous, racist and proud. But it has seen that it has broken away from its medieval roots and that there is no going back. And with that sense of being different from the past comes a vision that things will be different in the future....The poets working at the end of the reign also understand the uniqueness of their position in time, referring to "the age" in which they live as distinct from other ages. That self-consciousness is one of the most striking features of the Elizabethan character, made more so to the time traveler by its absence in earlier generations. (107-109)
This book is a fascinating and absorbing read. I like that the author provides great detail about all varieties of people, living conditions, activities, and environments. The perspective he brings to all these aspects helps the "time traveler" to get the sense of being 'in the time period but not of it'.
-18Aug13
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Designing for beneficial profusion
Book: The Upcycle : beyond sustainability--designing for abundance
Author: William McDonough and Michael Braungart
"The goal of the upcycle is a delightfully diverse, safe, healthy, and just world with clean air, water, soil, and power--economically, equitably, ecologically, and elegantly enjoyed."
Who wouldn't want that? This book explores this mission statement and emphatically asserts that this is an attainable goal! With fascinating examples and plenty of new ideas to chew on along with a powerfully positive approach.
Here are 10 points that the authors want readers to remember:
1. We don't have an energy problem. We have a materials-in-the-wrong place problem. Toss out the idea of a nurturing "Mother Nature"--it is not exclusively benevolent, BUT it is fairly intelligent after millions of years of evolution. We can look to Nature as our teacher. Let's redesign.
2. Get "Out of Sight" Out of Mind. You don't have a garbage can--you have a nutrient rest stop. Next time you want to use the word "waste", bite your tongue. Worms consume food and, through the system of their bodies, produce richer nutrients. You, through the system of your intelligence, can create richer nutrients, too.
3. Always be asking "What's Next?" We want you to think of every component of a design as being borrowed--it will be returned one day to the biosphere or technosphere. It is your role to return it in as good a condition as you found it, as a good neighbor would. Design for your particular use period, always with its next reuse and its next reuse and its next reuse in mind.
4. You are alive. Your toaster is not. Technical products do not have a life cycle--they are not alive, they are inert. They don't die and vanish--this is the problem and the opportunity. We must learn to design products as technical nutrients; after they are used for one purpose, they should be repurposed for re-use over and over again. People ARE alive. They should not be considered a "resource" like a commodity owned by the company--goods to be used. We should rename our "Human Resources" department to "Human Relations" department; focus on how the company is relating to the needs and desires of the people who work so hard for them, so as to create an optimized relationship.
5. Optimize, optimize, optimize. Speak to the world in positives. "We will run on 20% renewable power by 2020 and 100% as soon as it is cost-effective." You are doing good. Enjoy it. Say it. We like to hear it. Upcycle your descriptions of your work and progress--don't be a pessimist. But don't just be a passive optimist either. "The glass is half full". Start with inventory; take scientific stock of your situation. "The glass is full of water and air." Then signal your intention for design. "I want the glass to be bigger."
6. You can and you will. Change is possible, beneficial, profitable. The city CAN look into creating biogas plants as the local dump to create free energy; the company WILL resell its used paper to a nutrient manager who uses the materials for other key products and pays the company back. This is a joyful project before us--let's speak that way, too.
7. Add good on top of subtracting bad. Let's find a way to honor people's intentions. No one can get to perfection overnight, but people can be honored, recognized, and encouraged for having begun in earnest. Starting is important and creating additionality is essential. Think small, think big, think adding good on top of subtracting bad. There is always room for more additionality. We can add on, not just pile up.
8. Gaze a the world right around you...then begin. Get specific about your locality. You will arrive at more ingeniously indigenous solutions if you let the locality guide you. Start where you are. All sustainability, like politics, is local.
9. The time is now. We--all of us--have a lot to do. We know that this work requires all of us and it will take forever, but some of this work is urgent. Rebuilding soil in general is as important right now to our future as converting to renewable energy. We need to focus on indoor air quality. We can immediately stop introducing unknown chemicals and materials into our biosphere. The precautionary principle is and is about being alive and well.
10. Go forward beneficially. You have one life and, like a tree, you can create abundance, a profusion. You can celebrate your emissions. Every year of your life, you are accumulating more potential for good for the world. We know that with your intelligence, your talents, your intent, you will make life for your contemporaries and for future generations better. You are a known positive. You can contribute. You are part of the ever-upcycling path of life. Accept that deep in your hert and mind. Then go forward. Be successful. We hope to enjoy all that you share. And tell your children that things are looking up.
I like the attitude of this book and appreciate how it is applied to help us approach the important challenges we all face.
-14Aug13
Author: William McDonough and Michael Braungart
"The goal of the upcycle is a delightfully diverse, safe, healthy, and just world with clean air, water, soil, and power--economically, equitably, ecologically, and elegantly enjoyed."
Who wouldn't want that? This book explores this mission statement and emphatically asserts that this is an attainable goal! With fascinating examples and plenty of new ideas to chew on along with a powerfully positive approach.
Here are 10 points that the authors want readers to remember:
1. We don't have an energy problem. We have a materials-in-the-wrong place problem. Toss out the idea of a nurturing "Mother Nature"--it is not exclusively benevolent, BUT it is fairly intelligent after millions of years of evolution. We can look to Nature as our teacher. Let's redesign.
2. Get "Out of Sight" Out of Mind. You don't have a garbage can--you have a nutrient rest stop. Next time you want to use the word "waste", bite your tongue. Worms consume food and, through the system of their bodies, produce richer nutrients. You, through the system of your intelligence, can create richer nutrients, too.
3. Always be asking "What's Next?" We want you to think of every component of a design as being borrowed--it will be returned one day to the biosphere or technosphere. It is your role to return it in as good a condition as you found it, as a good neighbor would. Design for your particular use period, always with its next reuse and its next reuse and its next reuse in mind.
4. You are alive. Your toaster is not. Technical products do not have a life cycle--they are not alive, they are inert. They don't die and vanish--this is the problem and the opportunity. We must learn to design products as technical nutrients; after they are used for one purpose, they should be repurposed for re-use over and over again. People ARE alive. They should not be considered a "resource" like a commodity owned by the company--goods to be used. We should rename our "Human Resources" department to "Human Relations" department; focus on how the company is relating to the needs and desires of the people who work so hard for them, so as to create an optimized relationship.
5. Optimize, optimize, optimize. Speak to the world in positives. "We will run on 20% renewable power by 2020 and 100% as soon as it is cost-effective." You are doing good. Enjoy it. Say it. We like to hear it. Upcycle your descriptions of your work and progress--don't be a pessimist. But don't just be a passive optimist either. "The glass is half full". Start with inventory; take scientific stock of your situation. "The glass is full of water and air." Then signal your intention for design. "I want the glass to be bigger."
6. You can and you will. Change is possible, beneficial, profitable. The city CAN look into creating biogas plants as the local dump to create free energy; the company WILL resell its used paper to a nutrient manager who uses the materials for other key products and pays the company back. This is a joyful project before us--let's speak that way, too.
7. Add good on top of subtracting bad. Let's find a way to honor people's intentions. No one can get to perfection overnight, but people can be honored, recognized, and encouraged for having begun in earnest. Starting is important and creating additionality is essential. Think small, think big, think adding good on top of subtracting bad. There is always room for more additionality. We can add on, not just pile up.
8. Gaze a the world right around you...then begin. Get specific about your locality. You will arrive at more ingeniously indigenous solutions if you let the locality guide you. Start where you are. All sustainability, like politics, is local.
9. The time is now. We--all of us--have a lot to do. We know that this work requires all of us and it will take forever, but some of this work is urgent. Rebuilding soil in general is as important right now to our future as converting to renewable energy. We need to focus on indoor air quality. We can immediately stop introducing unknown chemicals and materials into our biosphere. The precautionary principle is and is about being alive and well.
10. Go forward beneficially. You have one life and, like a tree, you can create abundance, a profusion. You can celebrate your emissions. Every year of your life, you are accumulating more potential for good for the world. We know that with your intelligence, your talents, your intent, you will make life for your contemporaries and for future generations better. You are a known positive. You can contribute. You are part of the ever-upcycling path of life. Accept that deep in your hert and mind. Then go forward. Be successful. We hope to enjoy all that you share. And tell your children that things are looking up.
I like the attitude of this book and appreciate how it is applied to help us approach the important challenges we all face.
-14Aug13
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