Archive

Books

“So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.” Paul Coelho - The Alchemist I am grateful, I mean it. I have people in my life that I don’t know what I would do without. I have recently parted company with a few people who I have known and classed as best friends and extended family. I have come to realise that they were emotionally draining. To coin a phrase from another friend ‘Energy-sucking vampires’. I had no choice but to cut them loose. It wasn’t as cold as going through Facebook and having a cull of my list. It had taken me a long time to come to the decision. If there had been any other choice, I would have taken it. Other friends who know what I have been through with these individuals have said “I don’t know why you didn’t do it before!”. So for the people I do have, the people I love….for having them in my life, I am really grateful.

Human Nature Hate

Human Nature Hate (Photo credit: Thomas Hawk)

I recently read a book called ‘Zero Degrees of Empathy: A New Understanding of Cruelty and Kindness’ by Simon Baron-Cohen.

In the book, he discusses the possibility that rather than just being either ‘good’ or ‘evil’, our actions lie somewhere on a scale of empathy which may be affected by our upbringing, environment and genes.

There are examples throughout the book of people who would be described as having borderline personality disorder to those displaying what could be seen as ‘zero empathy’,

Watching the events in Boston on the news yesterday, I couldn’t help but question what could be in a person’s mind that would make them do something so wicked, so evil?

It reminded me of the book and one of the things Baron-Cohen discusses regarding “people turning people into objects… in such a state we relate only to things, or to people as if they were just things“.

It is hard not to lose faith in human nature when you see that people are capable of such cruelty.

Elizabeth Perez, has designed a novel new cover for my third favourite book, Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451′.

20130411-083052.jpg

The cover has a spine which you can strike just like a matchbox and it is even supplied with a single match (although I doubt you would ever want to use it!)

My top three books are:

Brave New World- Aldous Huxley
1984- George Orwell
Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury

Margaret Atwood and Chuck Pahluniuk would be amongst my favourite authors too.

I would love to know your favourite book or author, comment below and start a conversation!

“We sit silently and watch the world around us. This has taken a lifetime to learn.

It seems only the old are able to sit next to one another and not say anything and still feel content. The young, brash and impatient, must always break the silence.

It is a waste, for silence is pure. Silence is holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking.

This is the great paradox.”

~ The Notebook

20120501-235134.jpg

I'm Not Lost, Just Weird

Qui Docet, Discit! (He who teaches, learns)

medsyndrome

"Heal the world and make it a better place"

richardo's daily creative lifestyle in nyc

The Master Ninja of the Internet. Creative & Versatle: Photography, Poetry, Comedy, Inspiration and Life

Keelan Foley

Irish Music Blog | Music News, Reviews, Video, Film Reviews, Features, Festivals, New Bands

Imagine. Interact. Inspire

Live the life you love - love the life you live.

Cheeni Thoughts

a lifestyle blog!

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 178 other followers

%d bloggers like this: