Psychology – Page 15 – Ryan’s Book Blog

Bible and Sword

December 10, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Bible and Sword is a history of the rise of Christianity in Great Britain and ultimately why and how modern day Israel came to exist.

My Thoughts

I’ve often wondered why so many countries have been so interested in Israel and why they have been willing to risk so much for little immediate benefit. I have read the biblical accounts about the return of the Savior and know the gathering of the 12 tribes is a big part of what comes before the 2nd coming. However, I didn’t really think that was was the driving force. Of course, it is much more complicated.

The plight of the Jews throughout the centuries has almost been unbelievable. We tend to think of such things as behind us at this point in time yet, with this history has a backdrop, it has vastly improved my understanding of the motivations of the interested parties.

Recommendation

I’m glad I was exposed to this information. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the histories of Europe and the Middle East.

Animal Farm

November 26, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

George Orwell made such a splash with this book it is still used as required reading in schools across the nation. Animal Farm is the bedrock of anti-totalitarian books and was published during the second world war.

The book is a story of the animals on a farm who throw off their oppressive masters and start living their lives as equals. As time passes, many things change and very quickly the animals learn that some are “more equal”.

My Thoughts

I’m so glad my daughter was given the assignment to read this book as it had been far too long since I had even thought of it. I remember the phrase “more equal” being quoted to me while I lived in Bulgaria and was being told about where the “party members” lived. The Bulgarians were very familiar with the concepts of communism and much of the story rung true their experience.

I think the story does a great job of showing even how the best of intentions can go astray. How the best of us can be corrupted and misused if we are simply given something we can believe in. The horse Boxer’s mottos of, “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right” are good examples of this. He had the ability to stop what was happening but he clung to the ideals and ended up working himself to death.

Recommendation

A good quick read. No one has put it better than Orwell.

12 Rules for Life

October 29, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

12 Rules for Life started when Dr. Jordan Peterson (a clinical psychologist and a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto) answered this question on Quora, “What are the most valuable things everyone should know?” His first answer spanned 40 lines. He had since distilled it to 12 and described each in this book. His answers are below.

Stand up straight with your shoulders back
Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping
Make friends with people who want the best for you
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today
Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them
Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world
Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)
Tell the truth – or, at least, don’t lie
Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t
Be precise in your speech
Do not bother children when they are skateboarding
Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street

My Thoughts

I follow Dr. Peterson’s podcast and have been watching his work over the last 6 months. I can see why some folks bristle at his advice and why he rubs some the wrong way. However, I am deeply sympathetic to the ideas he puts forth. I like the list he put together and I like the rationalization behind it even better. It’s not a bad place to start and I wish I could keep the tenets of the list everyday of my life.

My Recommendation

Very dense subject matter and the content requires a lot of supporting information. I really enjoyed it and I believe anyone will as well.

Wishful Drinking

October 23, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The autobiography of Carrie Fisher who is best known for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars. She was the daughter of famous people and became famous herself. This is the story of her life, largely trying to escape from it.

My Thoughts

Ah, Princess Leia. As a boy growing up in the 80’s, she was pretty much the top of female desirability. (Well her; Belinda Carlisle, Kelly LeBrock, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daryl Hannah, Erin Gray, Elisabeth Shue, and a dozen others that made the 80s so fantastic.) Of course, I didn’t really care for the real names of these characters. I saw them as their on screen personas. After reading this, it is pretty hard to see Carrie Fisher in the same light.

I knew she had had her struggles with drugs and mental illness. However, I really didn’t know much about it. I wouldn’t do it justice by talking about the particulars here. Suffice it to say, she is very open. What a tragety that she passed just recently and her mother (who is very prominent in her life and her book) passed away as she was planning her daughter’s funeral.

Recommendations

This book is not for the weak in heart nor for children. If you want to keep Princess Leia pure in your mind then leave it alone.

The City of God

October 20, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Yet another of the Great Courses lectures. This one was by Charles Mathewes, Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

To steal from the Great Courses page “Augustine of Hippo’s magnum opus The City of God is one of the greatest works of the Western intellectual tradition—so powerful, in fact, that one could argue all of Christian theology has been a series of footnotes to Augustine. Written during the transition from antiquity to the rise of Christianity, it is one of the key texts in defining our ethical framework into the 21st century. Yet even serious readers can be intimidated by a book that spans over 1,000 pages.”

My Thoughts

This was a pretty time consuming listen though I feel it was worth it. Pretty much most of the “ah hah” moments I’d had were discussed by Augustine of Hippo or “Saint Augustine” as we’ve likely heard of him. This lecture points out that not much is “new under the sun”. The ancients were pretty bright and most of the drama that we take on a daily basis had all been done before.

Recommendations

This work left my mind reeling a few times. If you can understand it all then you should start your own church. (You won’t be alone out there…)

Pandora’s Lab

October 9, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This book is about how science has gone wrong. How usually well meaning people have created something that can’t quite be put back into the box. “These unwitting errors add up to seven lessons both cautionary and profound, narrated by renowned author and speaker Paul A. Offit. Offit uses these lessons to investigate how we can separate good science from bad, using some of today’s most controversial creations—e-cigarettes, GMOs, drug treatments for ADHD—as case studies. For every “Aha!” moment that should have been an “Oh no,” this book is an engrossing account of how science has been misused disastrously—and how we can learn to use its power for good.”

My Comments

This was a very interesting book. I was particularly interested in the examples from history; how mustard gas was created, why DDT was banned and so on. Similar books make me want to do a lot of fact checking. I didn’t agree with a few of the examples such as e-cigarettes as I don’t think the verdict is in just yet with what their influence will be. Still it was a great read.

Recommendation

Great book. It includes stuff everyone should know but should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Understanding the Fundamentals of Music

October 5, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This is yet another of the Learning Company’s “Great Courses”. It takes a learner through the very basics to some fairly advanced theory while giving a history of Western music along the way.

My Comments

There are over 23 hours of content in this course and I had to slow my listening down so I could hear the music properly. I LOVED IT! I can’t say enough good things about this course. I kept bothering my family about something I learned that day or something I thought was hilarious. Great, great, great course.

Recommendations

Everyone should listen to this course by Robert Greenberg. Play it for your spouse, neighbors, friends, distant relations, and children (including in utero).

A Child Called It

September 22, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This is the story of David Pelzer and how he grew up as an extremely abused child. This book tells the story of his daily life as a child and the things that happened.

A Child Called "It" — A Child Called “It”

My Comments

This was a grueling read and anyone reading it may think they had a perfect childhood! Mr. Pelzer lived through things that bordered on the unbelievable and the longer I sit and think about it, I am in the unbelievable camp. Still, there is evil in the world…

Recommendation

I wouldn’t read this book. Truthfully, I prefer innocence.

Supernormal

September 20, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Supernormal by Meg Jay is a non-fiction book that explores the concept of resilience and how it develops in individuals who have experienced significant adversity in their lives. The author draws on her extensive experience as a clinical psychologist and her research on the subject to provide a nuanced and insightful look at how individuals can overcome adversity and develop resilience.

My Comments

This book was hard to read. I had put it down a couple of times but resolved to finish it. I was glad that I did. It wasn’t something I’d suggest others read. It reminded me of much of my childhood and what I considered unfair or wrong. I made my peace with that a long time ago but this book brought back a number of memories. I truly believe each of us have had to endure hard times. Each of us are impacted by our surroundings. Some may be better than others but we each have those moments that define us. They make us “us”.

Recommendation

I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you have a strong interest in the subject matter. It was a solid read but painful for me at times. I was left feeling I needed to fact check a number of citations. (Studies I hadn’t heard of and the like.) Still, there was enough “truthiness” to it that I didn’t bother.

No One Cares About Crazy People

September 14, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Ron Powers, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, novelist, and non-fiction writer. He also lost a son to suicide and almost lost the other. Both were impacted with mental illness. This book documents their family’s journey through the events and brought them through to today. It also gives a history of mental illness in America and the policies and politics shaping how we react to them.

My Comments

Mr. Powers is a great writer. His style is engaging and his story telling is first rate. I empathize with his plight and, as a father of 4, I can’t imagine losing one of my precious kids.

That said, I didn’t enjoy this book. I put it aside a number of times because it would upset me. Part of my being upset was at the system in general as Mr. Powers intended but, only part… It is my belief he gave a one sided Micheal Moore style view of so many things. So much rhetoric… He ran the gamut of what is wrong without giving much in the way of what could be right.

To declare my bias, I have worked in the mental health industry. I hold a BS in sociology with a minor in psychology and my studies were with criminality and deviance. From my experience, there is so much more to the issue than this book presented. Mr. Powers paints with a very broad brush and dismisses nearly everyone with whom he doesn’t agree.

Recommendations

I wouldn’t recommend this book. While there is some value in understanding his families plight, I think the book was cathartic for Mr. Powers. I can’t recommend it.