This is an interesting read - especially for those looking to gain a better understanding of cognitive operations. I found the chapters on sleep, stress, long-term memory, and gender (and how each one effects the brain) especially interesting. The book has a really nice flow to it - and delves deep enough to ‘unpack' some of the more complex theories of neurologists and social scientists - without turning into an academic journal.
The Heart of Darkness is a novel encapsulated in adventure, existential thought, darkness, and inquisitiveness. The book follows the journey of Marlow and his recollection of memories once serving as a steamboat captain along the dangerous bends of Congo river. It's written as a frame narrative (story within a story), which does demand attentiveness considering the story often jumps in and out of first-person account, philosophical pondering, and so on. Light and darkness is explored predominantly throughout, as is the duality of human nature (albeit pessimistic at times). I'll more than likely come back and read this again one day - as it's full of themes and underlying currents which only several reads allow for. This book is small in length, but long and rich in content.
This book is big. It did my head in. It will require a second reading. Nonetheless, Rushkoff does that thing he tends to do best - observe society, ponder technology, consider implications, de-construct reality, and speak to great depths on fundamental parts of humanity's psyche that we often don't prod: time, morality, and everything in between. At it's fundamental best, this book is about technology and time. I particularly enjoyed the first section titled ‘Narrative Collapse' - where he looks at the current ethos of a post-Aristotelian narrative society; where the non-linear rules, and particular (and beautiful) depths of creativity, knowledge, and cognitive exploration are becoming old world attributes amongst humans.
If you're up for a long but absolutely fascinating read on technology, the philosophy of time, and current socio-tech matters, this is your book. It requires commitment, however. Simply skimming over this one is both an injustice to yourself, and hugely ironic once you reach certain areas of the book. You won't put it down and you'll more than likely pick it up for a second read to get your head around some of the huge areas Rushkoff explores. Bravo.
This is as close to 5 stars I've come in a long while. I started this back in 2013 and decided to pick it up again a few months back; why I ever stopped...is beyond me.
This is a very interesting read. Caine carefully navigates her way along the commonly known ‘introversion' and ‘extroversion' spectrum - exploring all the wonderful and unique variances and intricacies along the way. She provides a rich backing of psychological research and real word examples to help her thesis (the latter bringing a very real and down to earth aesthetic and thus avoiding any shred of pseudo-intellectualism) which I personally loved.
I particularly found her research on the personality development of children to teen to be fascinating and illuminating for all sorts of reasons. Beyond this, her small chapter on ‘self-monitoring' helped me understand how the quiet can conjure confidence, and how the loud can empathise without becoming a completely different person at heart.
There's so much more to say but for now I'll just give you a nudge and recommend you check this book out. For the curious soul, I guarantee you'll find some answers.