The Pensive Exposition

The Men Who Stare at Goats - aka - The Journey to the East - aka - The Novices of Sais

On a very quick note...  Consciously, or subconsciously... these three works all have something in common (in a glassbeadgame-sort-of-sense) - and 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' was a delight for S. and I to see the other night.  I was glad to see yet another work added to the League library - Bravo Clooney and Heslov. 

1) Protagonist/member who was once - part of the league, then has gone on alone

2) Sometimes doubting if the league/teacher ever did exist; doubting the truth and purpose of the league

3) Finding redemption - rediscovering the league and hearing "the symphony of the universe" (Novices of Sais) in a new chord

4) Finding one's true role in life, and always on the neverending road to Socratic/Romantic higher. understanding

5) A journey of the mind - as well as of place

- Will leave the rest for others to post...

Long live the League!

Sham : How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless

I've got a long reading list already... trying to finish my education reading the great Philosophers... but I'm anxious to hear any reviews from someone who has read this book!  I'm a concerned citizen, and am troubled about where our country is going - and I want to know the facts. If you've read this, tell me what you thought about its relevance... or why you disagreed. 

Personally, I think anyone who's anyone should just read Marcus Aurelius's 'Meditations.'  Its almost 2000 years year old... full of self-help advice... chock full of sham and scam busting techniques... and on the whole, quite beneficial (save a few things here and there).

"The Self-Help and Actualization Movement (the titular SHAM) is, according to Salerno, an $8-billion-a-year industry that depends on legions of repeat customers."