Happy Thanksgiving! I read 3 books in November – a decent number. Now it’s time to give a short review for each book, and post them on my list of short reviews.
Buddhism Without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor
Rating: 4.3/5
Finished: 05/Nov/2019
A book making the case for agnostic Buddhism. BWB treats the Buddha as a historical figure, and focuses on Buddhism as a “dharmic practice” for reducing suffering rather than a monastic, metaphysical, or mystical tradition. Good for secular explorers of Buddhism, avoid if you’re a more traditional or religious Buddhist.
[Read more about Buddhism Without Beliefs on Amazon]
The Accidental Superpower by Peter Zeihan
Rating: 3.9/5
Finished: 16/Nov/2019
An engaging geopolitics book about the coming century of global disorder, and how America’s geography, demography, financial system, and growing shale capacity will turn the 21st century into a true American century. He only dedicates two pages to climate change, but there’s much in Accidental Superpower worth thinking about.
[Read more about The Accidental Superpower on Amazon]
Rating: 1.7/5
Finished: 25/Nov/2019
A book about an apathetic doormat, who uses nihilism to justify low standards and poor life choices. Existentialism is a powerful life-affirming philosophy; even though this is a core existentialist text, this is existentialism at it’s worst. Read if you like Camus – I’d suggest finding a better book on existentialism.
