Sophie's World Review

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
                         ...I think, therefore I am

Reading this review is just a waste of time.Go own the book( Colloquialism?).For those who still want to know whats inside. Here it goes: Socrates dies.Plato opens a school of philosphy called “academy”.Aristotle questions his teacher's philosophy of ideas.Reason questions senses. Senses mock reason. Romantics are treated with the same reverence as “God”. Rivers of philophies divide into streams and meet again in the sea.Where do I live? Who is god? Do I exist? I or Id? Does my ego flow? Do I flow?(Yes gentlemen). Form...matter..law of causality..Buddha..jerusalem.

Quintessentially it is the knowledge of all schools of philosophy using the history of philosophy and fiction as tools.( Is history linear or cyclic?)

The language of this work is free of any impediments. No obscure terms.No unprecedented usage of concepts. Easy flow.This book talks to you as if you are a teenager with no knowledge of philosophy.And it takes you from there to a roller coaster ride of introspection, epiphanies..realization. Come what may, the protagonist of the story faces it with you.She walks with you into the mystical world where me and you can create our own realities(even in recursion!). It is “the” book that sends chills down your spine.

 Bring in the notorious critic that has ever walked the face of this earth (can the creation know the creator?) . Philosophy is no more a vague ,ambiguous subject.Everyone can read it.Truly a short and yet comprehensive course on history of philosophy.The character building seems to be author's consummate skill. You get a chance to live with the character..you don't just read about it.I cannot thank the person enough who recommended me this book. Verdict follows.

The Tipping Point Review

The Tipping Point By Malcolm Gladwell

                             ... Fundamental Attribution Blunder

As much as I'd like to compliment the efforts of the author Malcolm Gladwell in Tipping Point, it ends up being just one of the oversimplified Self-help books in my list.

Malcolm Gladwell has classified the influential people in three categories.Connectors,mavens and salesman.The irony of the book is that it classifies people into different personalities with conscious knowledge that attributing characteristics to people is impossible for human beings due to Fundamental Attribution error (FAE).

Premise 1: Connectors form what is called “weak ties” with people (according to author).

Premise 2: It is impossible for human beings to attribute absolute personalities to people.

Conclusion: Author is not a human being!

This might look a bit trivial at first sight but author constantly forgets that psychologically human mind is so obscure that it is difficult to give a list of possible answers to a questions, let alone a definitive answer. For example he might collect data to show how many people are born after a rain and treat rain as a cause and birth as an effect.

This book is just another cascade of conclusions drawn from experiments like stanford prison experiment ,Good samaritan etc. The author fails to understand that some of the data might have random patterns and bases a complete thesis on his perspective of things without making the user aware of discrepancies.Alas he uses his innate tendencies of looking for “cause-effect” patterns in everything.

Hence I strongly recommend NOT going for this book and looking elsewhere for correct psychological literature. One of my favorite recommendations is Elliot Aronson's “the social animal”.It is not completely free of the cause-effect error but author clearly states his doubts at all critical points.

To Kill A Mockingbird Review

To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

                                      ... Inventing Words

To kill a mockingbird is an idyllic literature book.If there's one book that can be reckoned to reach millions of people safely..it is this book. This is not because of any breath-taking mysteries or thrills. And “Safe” here does not refer to the content of the book.Rather its language.The adjectives are perfect.It almost seems like the novelist has invented the words that she uses. They fit seamlessly into the descriptive text.The flow of words is just like what they should be for a healthy reading practice.Its unanimously what you call good literature.

“Mockingbird” here is suggestive of a person who does no evil to anyone. The protagonist is told in the book that its a sin to kill a mockingbird because it does no harm to anyone.It just 'helps' people by singing which relieves them from stress.Those who kill such a benevolent creature can never remain happy.And this story is just about that.

Another aspect of this book is that it has a trifle of innocent humor planted in it at places. This makes reading thoroughly enjoyable .And thus, though the subject matter that it deals with is grave and morose; it still manages to establish a very positive rapport with the user. It shows life just the way it is..not all bad, full of happy moments and with uncontrollable consequences.. not what seems fit to us.All of this through the narrative of a child which makes it all the more interesting and unique.This novel is highly recommended for anyone anywhere doing anything.Period.

V For Vendetta(2006)

V For Vendetta

                       ... Existentialism Beneath The Layers

This is a story about a mysterious vigilante who appears out of nowhere to rescue people of britain from its fascist totalitarian regime .The story is set in a society where 'individualism' is seen with disdain and scorn.The leaders “chosen” to run the country believe that there is no individual in the state.And hence all people must reflect what the state stands for. The party is so headstrong in this opinion that they will resort to any kind of method to implement it..including waging wars ,use of nuclear weaponry and the like.

The movie succeeds in creating an “idea” of the forementioned society primarily with its screenplay. Hence character building is just a positive and not the foundation of the movie.Editing of this movie is one of its strongest pursuit.The jump between scenes is so perfectly executed that the viewer hardly notices it.A peculiar “bagatelle” of this movie is the vocabulary and taste of the protagonist in art, literature and films.This however is not inconsequential as it might look. It is the crux of the movie. The protagonist is the first person to stand for himself ;not only the others.He's the man who has no face in the society like the party wanted I.e no individuality.But he doesn't give in.He develops his individuality through music, literature and art.This and many other incidents/objects make this movie multi-layered.

For instance it also depicts 'Existentialism', which was a school of thought made famous by Jean Paul Satre in 1940. When people are given masks by the protaganists..it leads to the idea of a faceless fascist society which leads to crime and inhumane behavior everywhere just before the D-day.But in the end

when the people lift their masks they cease to be a part of the fascist regime( as the society was just destroyed moments ago) and though they come into existence in an anarchy, they are full of compassion for each other.Their character is the reflection of their own actions which they are completely responsible for.This is existentialism.

This movie is highly recommended for everyone who is into the fantasy/action/drama genre.

There Will Be Blood(2007)

There Will Be Blood

                              ...I AM THE THIRD REVELATION

This movie is about greed for power,money and reverence.It revolves around two characters who can go to any extent to get what they want. The first character is an oil prospector.He is greedy for money and monopoly.The second character is greedy for money and power.He's a false prophet who creates another sector of christianity and calls it “The third revelation”.

The movie is psychologically thrilling and notoriously indulging. It has a slow start which might be a drag for some users; but as it proceeds it becomes a period drama of a time when people were exploited by capitalists and the illiteracy led people to believe in a “punishing God” which was never the idea of Christianity. The self-proclaimed messenger of God beats the devil out of people in a literal way.

However the most indulging thing about the movie might just be its name. “There will be blood”.

The title has multiple interpretations. The most direct one being..the usage of term “blood” during the baptism of the businessman.Here the blood is not suggestive of redemption..but the ulterior motive of the prophet to avenge the businessman for not providing enough funds for the church.

Hence here the blood is symbol of “deceitful revenge”.

The second instance is when the businessman hits the prophet due to his aggrevation.Here blood represents. “Sadism and revenge”

Another indirect meaning might be the oil gushing through the land.But here as well since there is a competitiveness and shrewdness amongst rivals..it is portraying something extremely unpleasant and greedy.

Hence the blood in this movie is possibly a metaphor for everything dysfunctional that happens in the life of the businessman and the prophet.

The strongest pursuit of this movie is honed actors that it boasts.This movie is highly recommended for people looking for some serious drama with cloaked meaning.

1984 Review

1984 By George Orwell

         ...Aristotle's Aristocracy torn into Oligarchy

1984 is a novel by George Orwell which revolves around clandestine love affair between the protagonist,an ordinary middle aged man and a young woman set in a dystopian oligarchy in oceania.Through character building, the author has blatantly criticized a state in which the control is completely in hands of a few chosen people.The satire which has been used throughout the book is not absolute but perceptive.Ergo, the ideas are just suggestive and not provocative.This is really commendable for a novel intertwined around a scenario which was present at the time when state system was foreshadowing the society in britain and radical ideas revolving around the system of government were nothing less than an epidemic.

If this book is read independently of another George Orwell's work “Animal farm” it might appear to be a bit too descriptive with a lot of paraphrasing. But when read along with it, it is almost the materialization of the quintessential idea of a true totalitarian oligarchy.The degeneracy from aristotle's aristocratic society to oligarchy is clearly shown in this book through references of past of the characters.

The author does not appear to be focusing on the fiction part of the book per se.He deliberately puts characters in distress with walls all around them an no door at all.Hence author by no means wants to reduce the dissonance created in the mind of the readers seeking even a satisfactory climax.This book is highly recommended for anyone who has slightest inclination towards political isms and wants to acquaint himself with the process of digression of society.But readers are advised to read animal farm before it to appreciate the true intentions of the author.

Animal Farm Review

Animal Farm By George Orwell
                       ...Naploeon Himself!


This is a brilliant book about animals.(SPOILER: The names of the animals are pseudonyms for stereotypical roles of human beings in a state.). What makes this book absolutely mesmerizing is its neutral narrative approach.There are no happy pigs or sad horses.There are just actions. Horses gambol (excitement),animals rest on a knoll and sing blues(sadness). And while they do it they give the readers a perfect view of aristocratic society torn in the face of oligarchy just like George Orwells' 1984.

It is impossible to appreciate the beauty of this piece of literature without spoilers. Paradoxically however, there are no spoilers for this book. Its fairly predictable in every aspect. Still the words used by author are so apt ,its almost heartbreaking to give away the story and ruin the purpose of these words .This is the kind of book that takes some time to settle in your brain. Confession: I realized how good it is only after the first sentence of this review.Unlike George Orwell's second novel “1984” this novel does not only impart knowledge through fiction but balances the fiction and concept of totalitarian society. Adjectives used for describing the landscape and scenes take you straight to the point of action.Flow of words is absolutely comfortable to grasp. I'll go as far as to say that the satire is impeccable(even though satire is subjective.SPOILER – Napolean himself!)

This book is exceptional.It is a definitive guide to formation of an oligarchy.It has everything..conformity(psychology), aristocracy(philosphy), wind mills(science?). Need I say more? Verdict is in accord to the passage- STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

Love Story Review

Love Story By erich segal

                   ...It's a bittersweet symphony.

This novel revolves around a story about romance between a “Preppie”(a handsome young man from a wealthy family) and a capricious girl from the Italian ghettos of America.Not the best work of literature and yet quite charming.With its thin layers of overtones, this little narrative might become one of the most endearing tale for you.It does not advocate the best use of language; its full of slangs.It does not give you a convenient flow of words with all its rough transaction between scenes.It also does not give you any moral message except “Love means not ever having to say you're sorry” .

Now the part that describes what the story is! It is humorous, sarcastic and witty.It professes that romance is described by small things like frivolous rebukes and glorious surnames. It gives you a chance to relate to it. To appreciate your loved ones in life.And most importantly ,It gives the message that “Love means not ever having to say you're sorry”. Love is defined mostly by keywords 'intimacy', 'passion' and 'Commitment'. The definition that author gives is however pleasantly radical.It covers all aspects of love...parental,romantic, for siblings and for friends alike.It implies that love is independent of the people embodying it.It is forgiving.

However, this novel is highly dependent on its audience and their taste.Some people might find it ordinary and conclude that it is overrated.Hence my advice is to skim through a few pages before you decide to purchase it.It is recommended for people between 15-45 who have a taste for romantic drama/comedy.