Book Suggestion: Making Sense – Philosophy Behind The Headlines

First of all, let me say thank you for sticking with me during the last couple of weeks, while I wasn’t writing anything (had a good reason though:-)

Now then, here are the reasons why I like to suggest this book by Julian Baggini to you:

1. If you are sometimes frustrated with the ways the media presents it’s news and would like to learn more,  from a philosophical perspective, about the issues  behind headlines such as ‘Scientists playing God’ etc.

2. It gives you the tools on how to approach shady arguments and think critically.

Return Of The Comic Book – Which One Is Your Favourite?

Why return? Because comic books have the ability to cheer us up, make us laugh and adore carefully drawn characters. It doesn’t always have to be classic,  heavy going literature or formal textbooks that make your head spin. And don’t even bother watching television these days – it’s all doom and gloom.

Go to the shop or the library and grab some new or classic comic books and magazines that take your fancy.

When I was a child I liked to read Donald Duck, Asterix, Garfield and “soft” horror comics. Then while on a holiday trip to the US I discovered Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson. His  witty comics about the mischievous adventures of a little boy (Calvin) and his stuffed tiger  (Hobbes)  brought a smile to my face and the drawings had the style I liked. I ended up collecting all the books.

It’s time for me to find a new comic series that grasps me the way Calvin and Hobbes did. Easier said than done though, haven’t come across one that took my fancy for ages and I’m open to new genres (no Manga though), type of characters  and styles. Are there any funny philosophical ones? Or some with a modern female lead character? No, not the ones with exposed breasts and perfect, thinly clad bodies. I mean the real life variety, those most woman can identify with; preferabley written and drawn by talented female artists. If you have any suggestions, I’m glad to hear from you?

I’m also interested to hear about your favourite comic books and why they are so special to you.

Read also:

Book Suggestion: The Art Of Travel By Alain De Botton

This book is a philosophical take on the subject of travel and explores what we seek when we travel and why we are often disappointed with the reality of travel.

Alain De Botton visits airports, a service station ect. and introduces guides such as Charles Bauderlaire and Edward Hoppe that show us their view on the subject.

Arriving

“(…) I may have noticed a few birds careering through the air in matinal excitement, but my awareness of them was weakened by a number of other, incongruous and unrelated elements, among these, a sore throut that I had developed during the flight, a worry at not having informed a colleague that I would be away, a pressure across both temples and a rising need to visit the bathroom. A momentous but until then overlooled fact was making its first appearance: that I had inadvertently brought myself with me to the island. (…)”

NEXT TIME YOU VISIT A BIG CITY – GIVE IT MORE THOUGHT

10 WAYS TO APPROACH PHILOSOPHY

PHILOSOPHICAL ART PROJECT: TAKE PHOTOS OF OLD AND NEGLECTED BUILDINGS

Creative Writing Project: Time Machine Travels Or Satire For Beginners

Some years ago, I bought this amazing book by Eva-Maria Altemoller, ‘Schreiben ist gold” (Writing is Gold). It’s full of exciting projects and inspiration for story writing. The book is printed in colour with pictures (including historical postcards and sketches) on every single page.

I translated one of her writing projects for you:

Imagine, there really is something like a tunnel of time. Travels through time are at least, since Einstein, not entirely unthinkable anymore. You travel with lightning speed through world history and depart at a random point on the earth at a time of your choice.

You land in Berlin, Vienna, Paris or London in the 1920′s or in Philadelphia during the world exhibition. You visit Livingstone, Humboldt, Napoleon, Goethe, Bach or Leonardo Da Vinci. You are invited into the castle of Spanish King Philip or to the wedding of Henry VIII. You take part in a middle age tournament or climb up an Egyptian Pyramid, the tower of Babel or visit Socrates’ philosophical school.

How To Talk About Books You Haven’t Read

Usually I would say: “Don’t do it”. It could get really embarrassing. However, if you wish to stay in the conservation for whatever reason you might find the following ideas quite helpful:

Shake off your guilt

Don’t be intimidated if other people seem better read than you. Even the most prodigious reader never has access to more than a minuscule fraction of the books that exist. Comparing yourself to others is, as in many other situations pointless.

Book Suggestion: The Shere Hite Reader – Writings On Sex, Globalization, And Private Life

I came across this book by accident while strolling through the bookstore to gain some inspiration on what to read next. Usually, I have a long list of books I want to read – however on this day I felt like aimlessly browsing and hoping to find a little treasure. And a treasure I found indeed.

On the cover an attractive women looks out. This is Shere Hite and the title of her book straight away caught my attention. I was always interested in trends related to sexual relationships. For example, how our understanding of a supposedly “good” relationship came about or what it consists of? Who influenced peoples perception on what it means to have good sex? Were they right and is it best to re-consider those values? Or is it time for a major change of societies perception of those topics, to adapt and take on a continuously changing reality?

Book Suggestion: Creative Sparks by Jim Krause

I have to say I like this little book. And as it’s title indicates, it’s full of ideas on how to be creative and see things from a different perspective. The book’s 300 odd pages comes with visually enhanced topics such as free inspiration tools, the artist as a voyeur and photo field trips.

Get A Book And Go Travelling

Travelling is one of our biggest pleasures in life; and although we are limited by time and money, our mind can travel whenever it likes. Close your eyes and imagine a beautiful spot you’ve visited, imagine your next trip or take a travel book in hand and prepare for your next journey. Always a favourite.

The book I’ve been reading over the last couple of days is a diary about a journey through New Zealand; the country I live in.

The Case Of The Opinionated Mind

We are all opinionated, or are we? I used to be quite carefree about revealing my opinions, not giving much thought to whether they would put me in trouble or make me look like a difficult person. This is especially tricky in the workplace.

It’s quite a task to identify which colleagues you can be open with and with whom you have to be careful to ‘wrap’ your comments, so to speak.

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