Hi
Your tags hit all my buttons. How come we only share 11 books?

posted by davpol8112 at 1:59 pm (EST) on May 8, 2008

Bro. Naren - Sorry to take so long to reply to you. It's April 26, and I don't know where the time has gone since I retired on April 1st. I would like to return to your earlier comments about Existentialism and Freemasonry. Have you published any articles on the subject?

posted by johnlilburnfreemason at 1:18 pm (EST) on Apr 26, 2008

Hi Naren,

Isn't retirement so much better than work?

My ten years in the Navy got me credit for four years towards municipal retirement. At 28 years we had a a new boss who came in and scared me. I had already looked into what it would take to retire on short notice; I could and I did.

It all taught me that government generally doesn't do it right, even when it is not malicious. My little contribution was probably for naught.

Robert

posted by rdurick at 12:18 am (EST) on Apr 12, 2008

Hi Naren. Thank you for the John Blofield recommendation. I'm reading something deeply shallow in the general area, but maybe this will sate the palate. Incidentally, I'm told by my close Texan friend that I'm an existentialist. He does the finest rendition of the song "Transcendental Texan" that I know, and has even included lyrics to the song in his youthful folly of a novel.

posted by thinandlight at 9:29 pm (EST) on Mar 25, 2008

Hi, Naren,

Good to "meet" you! You have a fascinating library...I look forward to perusing it in more depth.

As for The Namesake, I had mixed feelings about the book. I adored Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies, which I read first. So I was very excited to read the novel, but I found myself a little disappointed by it. I might have felt differently had I not had such high expectations from her short story collection; the novel just didn't seem as intense and powerful to me as her earlier work. Which is not to say it wasn't a good book; simply that it didn't grab me as much as I had hoped.

I loved Mira Nair's film version, however. It's one of the few instances where I enjoyed the movie more than the book. It's my favorite film of hers.

Regarding my own book, I can say that the lessons the main character learns in the book are all ones that I myself have had to learn. But I worked hard to create both a teacher and a setting that were strictly fictional. I wanted to highlight those characteristics I found that were common to all spiritual groups and teachers I'd experienced. As for Boulder, I didn't actually do much of my spiritual studying here; I set it in my current hometown because it made my location research easier ;-)

posted by Lenaphoenix at 9:44 am (EST) on Mar 21, 2008

I saw a note you put on someone else's profile. have you come across the reason why so many of us have A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present by Howard Zinn? I've wondered about that, too. Not those with whom I share cooking or textile books, but the theology people. Very wierd!

posted by MarthaJeanne at 10:04 am (EST) on Mar 10, 2008

Have you read Alexander Piatogorsky's, Who's Afraid of Freemasons? He basis his analysis of Freemasonry on phenomenolgy. I noted that you have quite a collection in this area.

PS - your comment about your doctorate was appreciated. I have a Ph.D. in Education from Claremont Graduate School in Southern California. I spent 25 years in public education and administration before becoming Grand Secretary in 1991.

posted by johnlilburnfreemason at 12:30 am (EST) on Mar 7, 2008

Bro. Tom - Thanks for sending me a message via LibraryThing. If you want to send me a personal message, send it to jlcooper@freemason.org (through March 31st), or at johnlilburnfreemason@gmail.com after that date (I am retiring as Grand Secretary on April 1st). It was very good to hear from you!

In 1994 I was the Anson Jones Lecturer for the Texas Lodge of Research, and enjoyed Texas hospitality when I was in San Antonio. Texan Masons are a good bunch! Your experience on returning to California about candidate education is only part of the picture. We have created a new program called Masonic Formation which (although optional) replaces the minimal candidate education program now required (memorizing the Obligation, and the modes of recognition), plus a short open-book test on Masonic Education. Masonic Formation is a lot more powerful, and I can't explain it all here. If you send me your email address I will send you some information on it.

/s/ John Cooper, Grand Secretary

posted by johnlilburnfreemason at 12:24 am (EST) on Mar 7, 2008

you are obviously an omnivorous reader! so many disparate books on the go at the same time!

I decided many years ago (in order to discipline an otherwise unmanageably sanguine temperament) to never read more than one book at a time, and to always finish what I have started. I'm loosening up these days however, and like to look for
suitable or imaginative combinations of reading matter.
Other people's reading habits, always interesting.

Professional student? OU or something like that?

Remember to keep those buttons well buttoned!

posted by tomcatMurr at 8:07 am (EST) on Feb 20, 2008

Naren,
I remember talking with you. yes, i moved to archer city. i thought... well, i'm out there all the time, so i just moved. it's a lot of fun. there are more books in my house than there are people in the city and there are more books in this city than any other i can think of in texas, probably. made sense to me. how've you been? how's arlington? i was out there about two months ago. i went to the two half-price bookstores as always. i like the one off pioneer parkway (?) better than the one on road to six flags. thanks for writing. look forward to hearing from you again soon. all the best from over here, -mike.

posted by michaelstevens at 12:47 am (EST) on Feb 18, 2008

Must be a glitch somewhere, your message to me seems incomplete. Never mind. Regarding the 'chidings', at the time I also thought it was a bit precious. I totally agree with you that a well placed expletive can be essential for survival, and a suitably chosen oath can indeed lift the spirits. ( Can you speak Dutch? My father is Dutch, and that guttural language is extremely effective for 'F'ing and 'Blinding'.) As Dostoevsky puts it, man is distinguished from the animals by his ability to curse...

What I regret more than the four letter word, however, was that it appeared in a remark about Sam Jordison, whose writing I did not really know very well at the time, and who I have been assiduously following on the Guardian website, and about whom I have since changed my opinion. He writes well, and shares many of my passions. Check him out on the Guardian books blog if you get the chance.... I'd like to know what you think of him.
BTW what are you reading at the moment?

posted by tomcatMurr at 10:33 am (EST) on Feb 15, 2008

Did you mean Madame Mao rather than Madame Jiang?

posted by belleyang at 6:45 pm (EST) on Feb 11, 2008

Thanks, Naren. I've come across Tomcatmurr somewhere in my various contacts. Very interesting and funny. So glad we left Taiwan in 1964 and 5

posted by belleyang at 1:10 pm (EST) on Feb 11, 2008

I'm flattered! Thanks for sharing the link.

posted by tomcatMurr at 10:16 pm (EST) on Feb 6, 2008

ROFL--Haaaa. Too funny! Thanks for the plug. Flag wars! Ach. B

posted by belleyang at 8:39 pm (EST) on Feb 6, 2008

I read a bundle of Unitarian, Universalist, Transcendentalist, and Unitarian Universalist books in the first few years after I began to take the local church seriously. I have much more to read in that area; it is not one of the subjects that I have dismissed with old age. But I cannot tell you whether I have read the Bumbaugh, although, from the cover, I suspect not.

I dive, from time to time, into Emerson and James Luther Adams, and I've read some more, but there are others I know I must read, haven't, and kinda expect to.

Robert

posted by rdurick at 5:05 pm (EST) on Feb 6, 2008

Oh, lucky you to be currently immersed in Dickinson. I went through a E.D. phase some 4 years ago when I would memorize as many of her poems as I could while I walked for exercise in the evening.

posted by belleyang at 8:28 pm (EST) on Jan 11, 2008

Thanks, Naren, for the Dickinson recommendation. I belong to too many group as it is. I do adore Ms. Dickinson!

posted by belleyang at 4:43 pm (EST) on Jan 11, 2008

Hi Naren. I`ve come to you through Theresa Williams. She`s a wonderful poet & novelist.
You have a very interesting book list,perhaps leaning on the French existentialists.

posted by deabvt at 7:25 pm (EST) on Dec 30, 2007

Thanks, Naren for the invite for the over 60 group. I've put it on my watch list. B

posted by belleyang at 2:10 am (EST) on Nov 6, 2007

Thank you for the information about Emily Dickinson; I will definitely check that out!

posted by TheresaWilliams at 10:37 pm (EST) on Oct 23, 2007

Hi, I'm sorry for the delay in responding to you (my internet access has turned a little sporadic)

As for Husserl's turn from realism to transcendentalism... I have not really pondered it in detail and I was unaware of Ingarden's book. But, my general feeling is that Husserl's initial mathematical and (natural) scientific emphasis creates serious difficulties in his treatment of humanistic subjects --- I'm tempted to think of Crisis as a kind of Hegel's revenge on Husserl.

But, really, this is just off the cuff. (However, though it might take a little time, I will get a hold of Ingarden's book a get back to you.)

Thanks for the tip, Kyrre

posted by kyrreando at 6:13 am (EST) on Oct 5, 2007

received your message regarding my profile picture and my library books listed. still have many books to list hopefully in the coming weeks.

posted by pumpkinhead_jen at 8:59 pm (EST) on Oct 3, 2007

Thanks for responding to my "Invitation" and apologies for the delay in acknowledging your comments.
You're quite wrong, of course; I'm the one who should be flattered, not you.

These days I tend to mistrust convenient labels, but I guess I wouldn't be unhappy to be thought a 'liberal' (much as I may have misgivings about seeming that right-wing!). "Politically," I'm indebted to Simone Weil, say, or Hannah Arendt, Walter Benjamin and Charles Peguy. You know Peguy's dictum about everything starting in mysticism and ending in politics; it's tempting to take this pessimistically, but the utopian in me also idolises Theodore Roszak and longs for a kind of counter-culture anarchism which might redeem the remark.

Wittgenstein's Tractatus (and PI for that matter)can be read along these lines, I reckon, unless (along with everybody else) we interpret him as a post-Kantian (instead of quasi-Augustinian). Any insights you could share would be most welcome.

Mazel tov
R.

posted by reuchlin at 1:00 pm (EST) on Sep 25, 2007

PM Lexington Lodge #138. My profile is filled out so am not sure what you mean by info is blank. Are you a collector of masonic books? I have pretty much what I need there unless something special shows up. Am concentrating mostly on private press and Masonic Periodicals. The Southwest book and paper show will be in Austin on the 15th and 16th. Great place to pick up some good books. I plan on having a booth there.

posted by rbshell at 10:35 pm (EST) on Sep 6, 2007

Actually my Library is not so concentrated, haven’t entered any of my philosophy books. Trying to enter by category. I think Jewish mysticism is next. Also collecting a lot of private press, hand printed books lately. Glad to see a fellow Texan with similar interests.

posted by rbshell at 12:01 am (EST) on Sep 6, 2007

I actually started reading Anti-Oedipus the other day. Let me know what you get out of it--I can use all the help I can get!

posted by KCSheehan at 10:58 pm (EST) on Aug 14, 2007

Sorry for the delay, I just discovered your note. Yeah, I'm afraid I discovered the Masonic Book Club a little late. Just have the last two years' books.

I'd like to get to Texas sometime. My brother-in-law lives in the largely deserted crossroads of Paradise, TX, out past Ft. Worth. Looking for an excuse to make the drive.

posted by chodapp at 2:31 am (EST) on Aug 3, 2007

I haven't read that one of Deleuze yet. I'm not sure what Nietzsche would say. I know he liked Spinoza, so he may appreciate Deleuze's later attempt to offer an account of life without negativity.

posted by zarathustra at 8:40 am (EST) on Jul 28, 2007

I am currently on my second time, actually -- I'm finding it a *bit* easier to get my head around it, but it's still pretty tough going. Highly enjoyable though, I think. It's going to take a good deal more reading, though, for me to really feel comfortable with the concepts.

posted by grte at 12:03 am (EST) on Jul 22, 2007

Yeah, I've read C+S, but have to say it's not my favorite Deleuze and Guattari... I much prefer their Thousand Plateaus and What Is Philosophy?, though C+S has its moments--(their bit on Freud's Totem and Taboo, for instance, conceived within what we'd today call a postcolonial perspective is pretty great). I'd actually recommend beginning with their book on Kafka (A Minor Literature) before C+S. And speaking about/on the behalf of Deleuze more generally... all I can say is that it takes a great deal of time and energy and focus. Unfortunately I haven't run across any good secondary literature except for: the chapter on Deleuze in Nietzsche's French Legacies; Zizek's Organs w/o Bodies; and Badiou's The Clamor of Being. The last two are somewhat (read: violently) biased in their conclusions, but I think they understand Deleuze (and Guattari's) perspective a lot better than the supposedly less biased criticism I've read. Indeed, Zizek more or less says that Guattari was Deleuze's big mistake, citing C+S as particularly bad... But anyways, like someone else said, go with the monographs on Spinoza and Kant and Nietzsche and Bergson and Foucault and Kafka, and if those don't float your boat, then by all means jump ship. (And if they do, then go back to The Logic of Sense and Difference and Repetition--much better books than C+S in my opinion, but ones which take even more time). In any event, you can only devote your time to a limited number of authors anyways, so why hang around with ones who aren't clicking?

posted by eldridgecrayon at 12:57 am (EST) on Jul 20, 2007

No but I'd like to know your view of it.

Oldude59

posted by Oldude59 at 5:12 pm (EST) on Jul 18, 2007

all D&G have done here is extrapolate and mix various tenets of socio-economic and psychological theory in an attempt to explain the role of the mechanism of the schizoid consciousness in capitalism. you only have to read marx and engels to understand where the seed of schizophrenia is located in market structures. then, D&G take it further to say that capitalism acts as the sole channel of desire, and that this process is so totally ingrained in who we are that it is as axiomatic as thinking. all the rest is an explanation of how this works. bodies without organs, fuzzy boundaries, deterritorialization, etc. beyond that, you need a great deal of imagination to decipher many of the connections D&G draw. there are a lot of allusions made. you almost have to be schizophrenic to fully comprehend this book.

after you finish, I would suggest reading some jean baudrillard, if you haven't already. especially "simulacra and simulation".

posted by reasonablymad at 1:05 pm (EST) on Jul 18, 2007

We seem to share some interests...ryan lanham

My blog is at www.ryanlanham.wordpress.com

Cheers,

r.

posted by ryanlanham at 12:26 pm (EST) on Jul 14, 2007

I find Deleuze and Guattari generally more frustrating than interesting, although some years ago I struggled with C&S to the point I felt I had a grasp of their neologisms. My problem could be that I just don't have a strong enough philosophical background to get more out of their work.

posted by wordsareclouds at 8:22 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2007

Hi Naren, thanks for the message about the glitch you had. What's strange is I don't own the book but one of the public contacts listed on my profile does! :) Hope you manage to get through the book. wrobert's advice sounds good :)

posted by amandaellis at 11:26 pm (EST) on Jul 7, 2007

Naren, you wrote to ask for comments about Deleuze and Guattari's Anti-Oedipus. To be honest, I have only read sections of the book, but I would suggest reading some of Deleuze's monographs, particularly the ones on Spinoza and Nietzsche. This is the work that Deleuze does to develop the philosophical tools that he uses in those books.... It is also useful to have a working knowledge of Freud and Marx. I find parts of the books to be extremely useful and other points to be really frustrating, particularly the very strange Orientalist thread that runs through them. However, the interesting points tend to be very exciting and outweigh the frustrating points (at least for me) robert wood

posted by wrobert at 3:52 pm (EST) on Jul 7, 2007

About Deleuze's C&S: I have read portions of it, a technique that was good and bad. Good because a lot of the text is too abstract and stream-of-consciousness to even understand; bad because the chapters are designed as a patchwork, and I'm sure reading it cover to cover would provide a big picture reading that you can't get selectively. I once had a professor say "If you choose to write your final paper about C&S and I find it halfway intelligible, I will give you an 'A' for the course." It's that difficult. I recommend reading Bill Connolly (esp. "The Ethos of Pluralization") for exegetical insight. --BA

posted by bradallan at 4:36 pm (EST) on Jul 5, 2007

Naren--Who owns my father's painting??

posted by belleyang at 10:32 pm (EST) on Jul 4, 2007

Mel Gibson was AWWFUL. Better in the Road Warrior, a genre he should have remained. I get up to Ashland, Oregon sometimes for the best Shakespeare on the West Coast.

You can go to ABE books and get BABA:the Return to China Upon My Father's shoulders" in mint condition for $2 (hard back is best, the paper is "laid" stock). Marie Arana at WaPo asked me why Harcourt didn't keep it in print. Publishers just don't.

posted by belleyang at 6:12 pm (EST) on Jul 2, 2007

Hi Naren,

I have been attempting to collect old astrology books and it is truly fascinating. I love my finds that are from the AFA in early times. Most have been reproduced but there is something about the older paper and finding them at odd shops and sales that makes it exciting and fun.

I have taken classes from a published astrologer for almost 4 years and although I am not a practicing astrologer I know more than I think I do and constantly relate to people by wondering and acknowledging cycles of planets. Seems to work for me.

I have several piles of books yet to enter here and I am sure I will sooner or later get them all entered. I am going to Denver for two weeks and I am sure I will be looking for book treasures. Two of my favorite used book store in Madison Wi. have closed their doors and I need to do some further exploring now.

Great to see someone who is also interested.

Gina

posted by gpeschl at 8:52 pm (EST) on Jun 30, 2007

Interesting that we don't share that many novels -- that may change in the upcoming weeks as I finally get around to entering the rest of my british/american books (I started out in LT by entering all my philosophy/criticism and world literature). If you haven't already, you may wish to view the books that I have tagged Shakespeare and Heidegger -- I see that we have a shared interest along these lines.

Incidentally, I saw a particularly good production of Hamlet last week and so I bought tickets to take my daughter tonight (in fact, we're leaving in a few minutes). Nothing fosters a lasting love of the bard more than a superior production of a great play!

posted by SilentInAWay at 8:38 pm (EST) on Jun 30, 2007

Existentialism and Shakespeare? Your library looks a lot like my wishlist. Glad to meet a fellow UO grad, though I've got a few decades to go until I can retire.

Happy cataloging to you.

posted by coffeezombie at 12:57 pm (EST) on Jun 27, 2007

Thanks for looking at my library. You have much in your collection to be admired.

posted by jodavid at 5:20 pm (EST) on Jun 23, 2007

Thanks for the DVD suggestion. :-)

posted by kcasada at 8:28 am (EST) on Jun 20, 2007

Like Water For Chocolate was a wonderful book my Laura Esquivel long before the movie adaptation was made. I like the movie, but I love the book. If you enjoyed the movie adaptation, magical realism, or authors like Isabel Allende or Gabriel Garcia Marquez you would appreciate Esquivel's novels.

posted by atlaswinks at 6:17 pm (EST) on Jun 15, 2007

Thanks for your kind words on my 'collection' (or accumulation). I like Alvin Boyd Kuhn because he wraps it all up. His books are not nonsense like Velikovsky's and I am charmed by his calm certainty that he has accounted for all the mysteries of the cosmos. BTW, did you notice that we both chose the same person for our pictures here?

posted by bertilak at 11:13 am (EST) on Jun 14, 2007

Naren, Thanks for stopping my site a while back. Sorry, I was taking a holiday from Library Thing for a while, but I finally did check out our common 34 books. Maybe if we can get enough in common, then I too can be retired - all the more time to hoard and read books.

posted by hblanchard at 9:00 pm (EST) on Jun 13, 2007

Thanks for visiting our page. Nice to meet you and your impressive library! :)

posted by neilandlisa at 1:53 pm (EST) on May 24, 2007

"No Tv" : Rock On! :) Thanks for visiting, come again soon! You can find me on BookMooch as well if you trade your books out. Be well ~ Cora

posted by CorazonArt at 11:31 am (EST) on May 24, 2007

Naren,

No rush on Thiele. I'd be interested in knowing which works of Nietzsche and Emerson you're currently in. The joy is in the searching!

Mike Bone

posted by WordCrafter at 6:02 pm (EST) on May 22, 2007

Hi Naren,

Thanks for stopping by. I've not really done much since loading in most of my books six months ago. Just finished Joe Haldeman's A Separate War and Other Stories and was going to put it in when I got your comment. I'm interested in philosophy of language, but started a new job last June that has left little time for such esoteric pleasures. I'd be interested in knowing what you think of Leslie Paul Thiele's Timely Meditations. I found it enjoyable for the quality of the writing as much as for the ideas and extensions of Heidegger into political philosophy.

Mike Bone
greeley, colorado

posted by WordCrafter at 3:58 pm (EST) on May 20, 2007

I'll take a look at Blofeld's translation, thanks for the advise. I can't imagine after all these years that there isn't one just as good, if not better, then Whilhelm's . I've always used Wilhelm's because, like so many of us in the early 70's, it seemed to be the most comprehensive and the one I got used to first. Besides, the process seems just as important as the result. It's the journey....

posted by vikki at 10:35 am (EST) on May 17, 2007

Hi Naren,
Thanks for stopping by. You have a great collection. Many of the 26 works we share are on my "must read soon list, I'm afraid, and no astrology. Cancer here (my sign, not my condition).

posted by KCSheehan at 4:55 am (EST) on May 16, 2007

Hi Naren,

I loved your comment about the Sesame Street Crack Master segment. I remember thinking that my whole summer was destroyed when I was 5 or 6 because my parents watched nothing but the Watergate trials! That was my pain! My Engram! But the Crack Master segment was one of those rare and sublimely unheimlich television moments which was creepy and wonder-inducing at the same time. Still, your use of the word "schandefreude" has truly elevated the level of discourse in my Sesame Street search project. Salut! joni

posted by honeyrococo at 3:00 pm (EST) on May 15, 2007

Hi Naren, Sorry, no Habermas here. I've considered picking up a volume or two by him, but philosophy of language is always a turn-off for me. I'm happily shackled to Hegel, Benjamin, Lacan and Zizek, interested mostly in metaphysics, political and social philosophy. What would you suggest from Habermas?
I hope everything is well there.
-Ted
PS: your library is amazing! I hope mine reaches that immensity one day.

posted by tedpennings at 9:38 pm (EST) on May 12, 2007

Hi Naren! I've been a member of ARE for about 2 years, but have not had the opportunity to attend any events. I can't believe your in Arlington. I graduated from Coppell High School about 20 years ago. I finished my bachelor's and 1/2 a master's at UTA. I moved from Arlington in 1999. I'm in living in a remote spot in Florida about 2 hours from civilization. Sometimes I really miss the city.

posted by kimwoods at 8:42 pm (EST) on May 7, 2007

I just found this site and I'm totally stoked. Still have a lot more work to do, so stop back by occasionally. Took a look at you "cloud" and it appears we're almost clones. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

posted by vikki at 7:11 pm (EST) on May 2, 2007