Review of An Encounter by James Joyce

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = Novel

Collection = Dubliners by James Joyce

Intriguing Connections = 1) Get To Know The Peoples Of The World (Ireland), 

2) Some Kind of Friendship

Watch Short Review

Review

Is This An Overview?

Boys caught up in the novelty of the Wild West.  Interest that overrides the lessons they are meant to receive.  Interest that gets them to skip school to play as if they are in the Wild West.  While playing, the boys have an encounter, with a person who gives them a monologue.  A monologue that changes what they think.  A monologue that begins a change in how the boys interact, and their futures.  What was the monologue about?  

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•Who is the narrator?

•Who is Joe Dillon?

•What does Joe Dillon grow up to be? 

•Where do the boys go after skipping school?

•What was the encounter? 

Book Details

Publisher:               Bantam Dell [Random House]

Edition ISBN:         9780553213805

Pages to read:          209

Publication:             2005

1st Edition:              1914

Format:                    Paperback

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    2

Content          1

Overall          1

Review of The Sisters by James Joyce

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = Novel

Collection = Dubliners by James Joyce

Intriguing Connections = Get To Know The Peoples Of The World (Ireland)

Watch Short Review

Review

Is This An Overview?

A priest is dying.  The priest had a friend, a young boy, the narrator.  The priest had taught much to the boy, but the boy is ambivalent toward the priest.  When the priest died, the boy was annoyed at feeling freedom by the death.  Some said that the young boy should have friends of one’s own age.  While talking to the sisters of the priest, the boy finds out that the priest’s mental health was declining for some time.  What was the relationship between the boy and the priest?  What did the priest do when the mental faculties were declining?  

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•Who is the narrator?

•What do people think of the narrator?

•What does the narrator think of the priest?

•What happened to the priest?

•What do the sisters think of the priest? 

Book Details

Publisher:               Bantam Dell [Random House]

Edition ISBN:         9780553213805

Pages to read:          209

Publication:             2005

1st Edition:              1914

Format:                    Paperback

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    3

Content          1

Overall          1

Review of Dubliners by James Joyce

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = Novel

Collection = Dubliners by James Joyce

Intriguing Connections = 1) Get To Know The Peoples Of The World (Ireland), 

2) What Defines A Culture? How To Belong To A Community?, 

Watch Short Review

Review

Is This An Overview?

A set of short stories that were meant to be derogatory references to the author’s ethnic group, the Irish.  Sharing the various behaviors that the author disapproved off.  Sharing how the people held themselves back.  Sharing the disapproved ideas the Irish had on various topics.  The original language used inhibited the publication of the stories.  The references were meant to be derogatory, but the author still had nostalgia for Ireland, wanted to take part in the culture.

 

Caveats?

These are short stories, which means they contain little information.  Usually have a single pivotal moment, leaving the potential development of characters for the reader to decide.  The lessons about behavior, or the Irish, can be simple, open, and not limited to the Irish.  Other lessons can be hidden, only to be revealed by a reader who knows the situation the characters were part of.  The socioeconomic, political, and religious background of the characters.  

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•What is your favorite story?

•What is the story you disapprove of most?

•What do you think of Ireland?

•What did the author think of the Irish?

•Were the characters representative of their culture? 

Book Details

Introduction Author:   Brenda Maddox

Edition:                   Bantam Classic reissue

Publisher:               Bantam Dell [Random House]

Edition ISBN:         9780553213805

Pages to read:          209

Publication:             2005

1st Edition:              1914

Format:                    Paperback

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    2

Content          1

Overall          1

Review of Man Against Himself by Karl Menninger

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = Psychology

Intriguing Connections = 1) What Defines A Culture? How To Belong To A Community?, 

2) How Do Humans Age And Die?, 3) To Cooperate Or To Defect?, 

4) What Is The Power Of Belief Systems?, 5) Why Do People Think Differently?

Watch Short Review

Excerpts

“Try as we may, it is difficult to conceive of our universe in terms of concord; instead, we are faced everywhere with the evidences of conflict.  Love and hate, production and consumption, creation and destruction – the constant war of opposing tendencies would appear to be the dynamic heart of the world.  Man runs the eager gamut of his life through hazards of sickness and accident, beasts and bacteria, the malignant power of the forces of nature, and the vengeful hands of his fellow men.  Against these numberless forces of destruction, the long thin line of defenses afforded by scientific intelligence ceaselessly battles in an effort to thwart the destruction of mankind.” – Karl Mennigner, Chapter One: Eros and Thanatos, Page 3

 

“This is what one would see who surveyed our planet cursorily, and if he looked closer into the lives of individuals and communities he would see still more to puzzle him; he would see bickering, hatreds, and fighting, useless waste and petty destructiveness.  He would see people sacrificing themselves to injure others, and expending time, trouble, and energy in shortening that pitifully small recess from oblivion which we call life.  And most amazing of all, he would see some who, as if lacking aught else to destroy, turn their weapons upon themselves.” – Karl Menninger, Chapter One: Eros and Thanatos, Page 3

 

“To summarize, then, suicide, must be regarded as a peculiar kind of death which entails three internal elements: the element of dying, the element of killing, and the element of being killed.  Each of these requires separate analysis.  Each is an act for which there exists motives, unconscious and conscious.  The latter are usually evident enough; the unconscious motives are now to be our chief consideration.” – Karl Menninger, Chapter Two: The Motives, Page 24

Review

Is This An Overview?

Humankind is involved in conflict, from which derives destructive behavior against others.  But, there are times when the destructive behavior is turned inward, toward the self.  People commit self-destructive behavior, such as suicide.  While there are some forms of suicide that are sudden, there are other forms that occur over time, chronic suicide.  With chronic self-destructive behavior, death can be postponed potentially indefinitely, at the cost of suffering.  By understanding why people commit self-destructive behavior, can help be brought toward self-preservation.  Reasons for self-destructive behavior are not simple.  Various cultures have elements that contain encouragement of self-destructive behavior.

 

Caveats?

This book covers a sensitive topic, with a variety of examples.  The purpose of the book was to improve upon the understanding of why people commit self-harmful behavior.  Some ideas covered can be an improvement, as simple explanations are still used.  But, there are also explanations and methods which have improved.  With various societies finding ways to help those with mental health needs. 

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•What kind of destructive behavior that people have?

•Why do people have self-destructive behavior? 

•What is suicide? 

•What are the elements of suicide? 

•What do different societies think of suicide?  

•Who are the pessimists? 

•What is chronic self-destruction?

•What is focal suicide?  

Book Details

Publisher:               Harvest Books [Harcourt, Brace & World]

Edition ISBN:         9780544310759

Pages to read:          413

Publication:             1938

1st Edition:              1938

Format:                    Paperback 

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    2

Content          3

Overall           2

Review of The Divided State: Factional Structures and the Crisis of Democracy by Joonhong Park

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = Politics

Intriguing Connections = 1) To Cooperate Or To Defect? ,2) What Is The Power Of Belief Systems?, 

3) Why Conflict Occurs And How To Resolve Them?, 

4) Why Is Behavior of Individuals Different When They Are in A Group?, 

5) How Competitive Is Competition?, 6) What Defines A Culture? How To Belong To A Community?,

Watch Short Review

Excerpts

“The roots of division lie in conflict, and sources of conflict are abundant in social life—ranging from individual or group interests to race, ethnicity, nationality, wealth disparities, gender, generation, region, and ideology. However, not all conflicts lead to division. This is because societies have mechanisms in place to mediate conflict. Division arises when these conflict resolution mechanisms fail to function effectively. In democratic systems, such mechanisms include negotiation and compromise, majority rule, and the decisions of formal institutions such as courts.” – Joonhong Park, Introduction, Page 9

 

“In modern representative democracies, social division is marked by ideological confrontation. Each faction operates according to its own goals, and the formal or informal system of logic that underpins these goals is called an ideology. Members of a community become part of a faction by accepting and choosing a particular ideology as a matter of personal conviction. Factions are driven by the ideological alignment of their members and engage in goal-oriented movements based on that shared commitment.” – Joonhong Park, Introduction, Page 11

 

“Humans adopted a strategy of forming groups to increase their chances of survival in unpredictable natural environments and against threatening animals, eventually establishing societies and building civilizations. Groups developed sustained and ongoing cooperative mechanisms to address collective challenges such as hunting and adapting to unpredictable changes in nature. When presented with a collective task, a group mobilizes an appropriate level of resources to initiate movement toward its resolution.” – Joonhong Park, Chapter 2: The Movement and Resistance of Groups, Page 29

Review

Is This An Overview?

Humans formed groups as a method of overcoming the ecosystem and adapting to uncertain situations.  But, individuals and groups faced competition from other individuals and groups.  Groups are more effective at competing for resources than individuals alone.  Individuals within a group create synergy, groupness, in which they become more than the sum of the members.  Creating an incentive for individuals to apply effort into social relations, over other tasks.  Social relations that enabled factions, a method of organization, to overcome those perceived as opponents.  People conform to the group, and the group favors loyalty while discouraging opposition.  Members develop cognitive biases that favor the group. 

 

Conflicts between people, between groups are abundant but there are arbitration methods to prevent conflicts from escalating.  Division arises when conflict resolution mechanisms fail to function.  Social division is unique to democratic systems, for democracies contain a diverse set of people who can split into opposing factions rather than a conflict between leaders and group members.  In democracies, social division is based on ideological confrontation.  Factions are formed to overcome goals, to overcome social conflicts.  Goals that are justified by an ideology. 

 

Factions formed to find a resolution to a situation, with other factions and any resistance become the opposition.  Members of the opposing factions become homogenized, as their individual complexity is perceived away.  Even with democratic states, factions seek to retain power and control.  What prevents democratic states from becoming totalitarian, is the presence of sufficient resistance.  The more threats and confusion there are, the more vulnerable social and political systems become. 

 

Caveats?

Various psychology, sociology, and political ideas are represented in the book.  But, there are simplifications being made about democratic systems and human history.  

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•hy did humans form groups?

•How do groups handle competition?

•Why does division occur?

•What are democratic means of mediating conflict? 

•What is social division?

•What justifies social division? 

•How are groups affected by selfish and altruistic individuals? 

•What is groupness?

•What cognitive biases do groups enable?

•What is objectification?

•How to overcome homogeneity effect? 

•How does conflict affect factions?

•What is an opponent? 

•When did humans use lethal violence? 

•How does social polarization effect stability? 

•How do factions resist change? 

•Is it more efficient to influence through voluntary means or coercive means? 

•What is a state?

•What is the effect of globalization on capitalism?

•What makes the democratic system vulnerable to attack? 

•How can a democratic society become totalitarian? 

Book Details

This book was provided to the reviewer by the author

Translator:              ChatGPT

Original Language: Korean

Translated Into:       English

Edition:                   Joonhong Park

Publisher:               Joonhong Park

Edition ISBN:         9798285623786

Pages to read:          156

Publication:             2025

1st Edition:              2025

Format:                    eBook 

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    5

Content          5

Overall          5

Review of Orientalism: Western Conceptions of the Orient by Edward W. Said

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = Sociology

Book Club Event = Book List (12/13/2025)

Intriguing Connections = 1) The Motive, Method, Ideology, and Consequences of Intervention, 

2) War for Your Attention, 3) The Persecuted and The Persecutors, 

4) Why Is Behavior of Individuals Different When They Are in A Group?, 

5) What Defines A Culture? How To Belong To A Community?, 6) To Cooperate Or To Defect?, 

7) What Is The Power Of Belief Systems?, 8) Why Conflict Occurs And How To Resolve Them?, 

9) How To Allocate Resources?, 10) How Is Sovereignty Is Gained And Lost?, 

Watch Short Review

Excerpts

“In the process the uncountable sediments of history, which include innumerable histories and a dizzying variety of peoples, languages, experiences, and cultures, all these are swept aside or ignored, relegated to the sand heap along with the treasures ground into meaningless fragments that were taken out of Baghdad’s libraries and museums.  My argument is that history is made by men and women, just as it can also be unmade and rewritten, always with various silences and elisions, always with shapes imposed and disfigurements tolerated, so that “our” East, “our” Orient becomes “ours” to possess and direct.” – Edward W. Said, Preface, Page xviii

 

“If he does not speak directly for the Orientals, it is because they after all speak another language; yet he knows how they feel since he knows their history, their reliance upon such as he, and their expectations.  Still, he does speak for them in the sense that what they might have to say, were they to be asked and might they be able to answer, would somewhat uselessly confirm what is already evident: that they are a subject race, dominated by a race that knows them and what is good for them better than they could possibly know themselves.  Their great moments were in the past; they are useful in the modern world only because the powerful and up-to-date empires have effectively brought them out of the wretchedness and turned them into rehabilitated residents of productive colonies.” – Edward W. Said, Part 1: The Cope of Orientalism, Chapter I: Knowing the Oriental, Page 34

 

“The Oriental is imagined to feel his world threatened by a superior civilization; yet his motives are impelled, not by some positive desire for freedom, political independence, or cultural achievement on their own terms, but instead by rancor or jealous malice.  The panacea offered for this potentially ugly turn of affairs is that the Orient be marketed for a Western consumer, be put before him as one among numerous wares beseeching his attention.  By a single stroke you will defuse the Orient (by letting it think itself to be an “equal” quantity on the Occidental marketplace of ideas), and you will appease Western fears of an Oriental tidal wave.” – Edward W. Said, Part 3: Orientalism Now, Chapter II: Style, Expertise, Vision, Page 249

Review

Is This An Overview?

History is made and written by people, who can decide what information to share and withhold.  Choices that give recognition to some people, while ignoring others.  A diversity of experiences simplified to fit a wanted caricature.  Orientalism is a general term for the East, a derogatory term that makes a caricature of the East.  An imposed term on the East by the West.  The Orient’s institutions, traditions, cultures are defined and represented by the West.

 

Orientalism is about power.  Provides justifications for intervention, for conquest, for dominance.  Tied to the perceived superiority of the West over the inferiority of the East.  That the conquerors are helping the conquered, that the conquered are the beneficiaries.  That the conquerors know better about what is needed for the conquered than the conquered.  The less powerful states cannot retaliate against the powerful state’s impositions, therefore turn their efforts to repressing their own populations. 

 

Caveats?

This book can be difficult to read.  Most of the book is a composition of various examples of how the West treats and thinks of the East.  While Western supremacy thoughts are represented, Eastern supremacy thoughts are not.  There have been various Eastern societies which thought themselves to be superior to the West.  Every people and cultures are capable of seeing themselves as superior to another. 

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•What is orientalism? 

•How does orientalism shape the methodology of conquest? 

•How does who writes history effect people and information? 

•How does mass media effect education? 

•How does U.S. intervention effect other states? 

•What is Mohammedanism? 

•What does Dante think of non-Christians? 

•How does the Orient appear to Western consumers? 

Book Details

Edition:                   Vintage Books Edition

Publisher:               Vintage [Penguin Random House]

Edition ISBN:         9780394740676

Pages to read:          368

Publication:             1994

1st Edition:              1978

Format:                    Paperback 

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    2

Content          2

Overall          2

Review of Saint Joan of Arc by Vita Sackville-West

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = History, Empires

Book Club Event = Book List (11/22/2025)

Intriguing Connections = 1) Biographies: Auto, Memoir, and Other Types, 

2) Get To Know The Peoples Of The World (France, United Kingdom), 

3) How Is Sovereignty Is Gained And Lost?, 4) What Is The Power Of Belief Systems?, 

5) The Persecuted and The Persecutors, 6) What It Means to be an Activist, 7) War, 

8) To Cooperate Or To Defect?, 9) Why Conflict Occurs And How To Resolve Them?, 

10) What Defines A Culture? How To Belong To A Community?, 11) How Competitive Is Competition?,

Watch Short Review

Excerpts

“The Hundred Years’ War means, in brief, that for a hundred years the Kings of England attempted to unite France and England under one crown – their own.  They tried hereditary justification, and they tried force of arms.  Neither attempt, in the long run, was successful.  A certain amount of blood was shed, and a considerable amount of suffering entailed, all to no purpose.  The Hundred Years’ War was one of the most foolish and ill-advised wars ever undertaken.” – Vita Sackville-West, Chapter II: The Hundred Years’ War, Pages 16-17

“The spirits who habitually appeared to her were three in number – the Archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine.  She claimed also to have seen the Archangel Gabriel and several hundred of other angels, but it was with her three familiars that she was chiefly concerned.  She saw them with her bodily eyes, and wept when they left her, wishing that they could have carried her away with them.  They came always accompanied by the cloud of heavenly light.” – Vita Sackville-West, Chapter IV: Domremy (2), Page 59

“Jeanne stood not the slightest chance from the first.  Those who ask whether she was given a fair trial may find their answer.  She was given a trial conducted with all the impressive apparatus of ceremony, learning, and scholasticism that the Holy Catholic Church, the court of the Inquisition and the University of Paris between them could command, but in essence the whole trial was a preordained and tragic farce.  The most remarkable thing about it, to my mind, is that they troubled to give her a trial at all, let alone a trial in which one cardinal, six bishops, thirty-two doctors of theology, sixteen bachelors of theology, seven doctors of medicine, and one hundred and three other associates were involved, and that the Burgundians had not sewn her into a sack and thrown her into the Oise at Compiègne forthwith.  It is an astonishing tribute to her achievement, to the awe she inspired, and to the position she had attained in the public mind, that it never occurred to them to apply such off-hand methods as were in current use for proletarian upstarts coming forward with the claim of unusual powers.” – Vita Sackville-West, Chapter XV: The Trial (1), Pages 288-289

Review

Is This An Overview?

Joan of Arc, or rather more appropriately, Jeanne d’Arc, was a source of inspiration for France during The Hurdred Years’ War.  A war in which the sovereignty of France was being fought over by the French and the English.  Jeanne d’Arc was a peasant from a devoutly Catholic family, who claimed to be visited by spirits, by Angels.  Jeanne d’Arc had become the chosen of the King of Heaven.  Meant to liberate Orleans and crown the king of France.  Jeanne d’Arc was the Pucelle, the maid, the virgin.  A feature that meant the Devil could not have corrupted Jeanne d’Arc, that the voices heard were not from the Devil. 

 

Jeanne d’Arc had unquestionable conviction, which was able to convince others to join the cause.  Jeanne d’Arc made an audacious request to be introduced to the Dauphin, the heir to the throne of France.  An absurd request for a peasant to make, but eventually obtained the introduction.  Jeanne d’Arc claims were tested, and seeming miracles were performed.  One test included the Dauphin pretending to not be the Dauphin, but Jeanne d’Arc was still able to identify who the Dauphin was.  Knew of the Dauphin’s secret.  Jeanne d’Arc became recognized by the Dauphin, and became an official savior. 

 

Jeanne d’Arc was not a military commander, Jeanne d’Arc did not have military experience.  Jeanne d’Arc’s achievement was not in military prowess.   Jeanne d’Arc’s achievement was psychological.  Jeanne d’Arc encouraged and inspired the military forces.  The inspirational efforts enabled the military to end the siege of Orleans.  During the siege, Jeanne d’Arc was brave, and wounded in a manner that Jeanne d’Arc prophesied.

 

After the siege of Orleans lifted, the Dauphin was crowned, as King Charles VIII.  Further advances were limited.  After a failed attempt to take Paris, Jeanne d’Arc was captured.  Charles VIII owed everything to Jeanne d’Arc, but did not attempt a rescue.  Jeanne d’Arc was put on trial for heresy, blasphemy, idolatry, and sorcery.  The trial garnered the attention of various powerful institutions, but the outcome of the trial was preordained.  The trial was based on religious authority, not political.  But the people in charge of the trial, supported the English cause.  Jeanne d’Arc was convicted, and burned to death as a heretic.  Centuries later, canonized as a saint.  

 

What were the characteristics of Jeanne d’Arc?

To be part of the army, Jeanne d’Arc dressed in masculine clothes, and favored masculine clothes.  Jeanne d’Arc had feminine traits such as a womanly voice and was ready to tears. 

 

Jeanne d’Arc reputation was spreading, even before Jeanne d’Arc did anything worthy.

 

Religious observance was more important than military strategy.  During a Sunday, Jeanne d’Arc enabled enemy to escape.

 

During the trial, the questions asked were meant to expose Jeanne d’Arc for sacrilege.  Questions meant to trap Jeanne d’Arc into professing guilt.  Jeanne d’Arc was able to evade traps with sagacity.  But, provided many other responses which condemned Jeanne d’Arc. 

 

Caveats?

The book can be difficult to read.  What Jeanne d’Arc did might be known, but not how.  What is not known is how Jeanne d’Arc survived certain events, or known certain information.  Jeanne d’Arc was able to convince others, but what is not known is how Jeanne d’Arc convinced others or why they were convinced. 

 

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•Who was Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc)?

•What was The Hurder Years’ War?

•What did people think of the war?

•How did religion affect Jeanne d’Arc?

•Why is Jeanne d’Arc referred to as the Pucelle? 

•How did religion affect France? 

•What was Jeanne d’Arc’s appearance? 

•What did Jeanne d’Arc think of clothing? 

•What were Jeanne d’Arc personality characteristics?

•How much is known about Jeanne d’Arc?

•Where is Jeanne d’Arc from? 

•Who were Jeanne d’Arc’s parents and what did people think of them?

•What did Jeanne d’Arc’s father want from Jeanne d’Arc?

•What happened in the scrimmages between Domremy and Maxey?

•What was the culture of Domremy?

•When did Jeanne d’Arc receive the quest? 

•Which spirits (Angels) appeared to Jeanne d’Arc?

•What was the appearance of the spirits?

•What did Bertrand de Poulengy think of Jeanne d’Arc request to see the Dauphin? 

•How did Jeanne d’Arc depart from Jeanne d’Arc’s parents? 

•What happened with the Duke of Lorraine? 

•What could have caused the Dauphin to see Jeanne d’Arc?

•What did Jeanne d’Arc think of travelling?

•How did Jeanne d’Arc reputation spread? 

•What was the financial situation of the King of France?

•What secret did Jeanne d’Arc know about the Dauphin? 

•What was the character of the Dauphin?

•What happened with Talbot? 

•What sword did Jeanne d’Arc use?

•Why did Jeanne d’Arc carry a standard? 

•What happened at the siege of Orleans? 

•What did Jeanne d’Arc do at Orleans? 

•How did Jeanne d’Arc interfere in the personal lives of the army?

•What signal was misunderstood at Orleans?

•How did Jeanne d’Arc get the Dauphin into Reims? 

•What happened in Paris? 

•How was Jeanne d’Arc captured?  

•What happened during incarceration? 

•What happened during the trial of Jeanne d’Arc?

•What were the charges against Jeanne d’Arc?

•What was the outcome to the trial of Jeanne d’Arc? 

Book Details

Publisher:               Doubleday, Doran & Company

Edition ISBN:         9780802138163

Pages to read:          382

Publication:             1936

1st Edition:              1936

Format:                    Paperback

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    3

Content          3

Overall          3

Review of How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy by John J. Mearsheimer, and Sebastian Rosato

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = Politics

Book Club Event = Book List (08/30/2025)

Intriguing Connections = 1) To Cooperate Or To Defect?, 

2) Why Conflict Occurs And How To Resolve Them?, 3) How Competitive Is Competition?, 

4) War for Your Attention, 5) When Intelligence Goes Wrong, 6) Why Do People Think Differently?, 

7) Why Is Behavior of Individuals Different When They Are in A Group?, 

8) How To and Not To Run a Business, 9)  Get To Know The Peoples Of The World (World History), 10) How Is Sovereignty Is Gained And Lost?

Watch Short Review

Excerpts

“Contrary to what many people think, we cannot equate rationality with success and nonrationality with failure.  Rationality is not about outcomes.  Rational actors often fail to achieve their goals, not because of foolish thinking but because of factors they can neither anticipate nor control.  There is also a powerful tendency to equate rationality with morality since both qualities are thought to be features of enlightened thinking.  But that too is a mistake.  Rational policies can violate widely accepted standards of conduct and may even be murderously unjust.” – John J. Mearsheimer, and Sebastian Rosato, Preface, Page 8

“Rationality is all about making sense of the world for the purpose of navigating it in the pursuit of desired goals.  In the foreign policy realm, this means it has both individual and state-level dimensions.  Rational decision makers are theory-driven – they employ credible theories both to understand the situation at hand and to decide the best policies for achieving their objectives.  A state is rational if the views of its key decision makers are aggregated through a deliberative process and the final policy is based on a credible theory.  Conversely, a state is nonrational if it does not base its strategy on a credible theory, does not deliberate, or both.  A careful review of the historical record shows that judged by these criteria, states are regularly rational in their foreign policy.” – John J. Mearsheimer, and Sebastian Rosato, Chapter 1: The Rational Actor Assumption, Page 17

“Policymakers confront serious information deficits regarding most of the elements that matter for designing grand strategies or navigating crises.  The farther they peer into the future, the larger these deficits become.  Among other things, policymakers may not have good data about their own people’s resolve or how their weaponry and combat forces will perform in a war.  Additional uncertainties apply when it comes to assessing other states, friends as well as enemies.  It is difficult to measure the military assets, objectives, intentions, and strategies of other states, especially since states often conceal or misrepresent their capabilities and thinking.  Taken together, these information deficits mean that decision makers are bound to have limited knowledge about how their states’ interactions with other states are likely to play out and to what outcomes.  To further compound these problems, unforeseen factors sometimes shape events in significant ways.” – John J. Mearsheimer, and Sebastian Rosato, Chapter 2: Strategic Rationality and Uncertainty, Page 33

Review

Is This An Overview?

Rationality is a thinking process that attempts to make sense of reality for the pursuit of desired goals.  Using credible theories and a deliberation process.  Those who are not rational do not base their decisions on credible theories, do not deliberate, or both.  Everyone is biased, but credible theories depend on realistic assumptions, are logically consistent, probabilistic, and are subject to evidentiary support.  The deliberation process is a systematic method of considering the advantages and disadvantages of alternative options and policies without coercion, deception, or withholding information.  A deliberation process that results in a decision being made. 

 

Rationality is not based on outcomes, as rational policymakers can fail to achieve goals due to factors they could not anticipate or control.  A prerequisite for rationality, is for states to have their survival as the highest priority.  In pursuit of desired goals, states can be rational even as they violate accepted standards of conduct. 

 

International politics is an information-deficient occupation, operating within uncertainty.  Policymakers can lack information or lack reliable information about their own state and other states.  Policymakers do not have appropriate data on how their people will perform, do not know the effectiveness of their weapons and combat forces.  Other states can conceal their capabilities and thinking.  Internal and external information limitations inhibit understanding the interactions and outcomes of decisions, which can still be affected by unforeseen factors.  Policymakers are rational even though they do not know all possible outcomes.

 

Caveats?

This book is a defense for rationality, that policymakers generally use credible theories and deliberate before making a decision.  Much of the book is about various explanations for rationality, which can sometimes become repetitive, and have some contradictions.  A variety of historic examples are used to express how perceived nonrational decisions, were actually rational.  The examples are short, which would require the reader to do more research to understand the state. 

 

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•What is rationality?

•What priorities do states need to be rational? 

•What is nonrationality? 

•Are policymakers generally rational or nonrational? 

•Is rational moral?

•What do psychologist and economists think of human rationality? 

•What is risk and uncertainty?

•How much information do policymakers have on their own state and other states?

•What is a rational aggregation process? 

•What is a credible theory?

•What is expected utility?  

•What is the role of emotions? 

•What is Mutual Assured Destruction? 

•What is the effect of forcible democracy promotion? 

•Was Putin rational to invade Ukraine?  

•What was American policy toward USSR after WWII?

•What was Japanese policy before Pearl Harbor? 

•What was American policy during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

•What was German policy before WWI?

•What was France policy towards Nazi before WWII?

•Why did America expand after Cold War?

Book Details

Publisher:               Yale University Press

Edition ISBN:         9780300274967

Pages to read:          176

Publication:             2023

1st Edition:              2023

Format:                    eBook 

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    4

Content          4

Overall          4

Review of Why? The Purpose Of The Universe by Philip Goff

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = Philosophy

Book Club Event = Book List (08/09/2025)

Intriguing Connections = 1) What Is The Power Of Belief Systems?, 2) The Evolution of Evolution, 

3) The Rights of Property: Physical, Intellectual, and Other Property Rights,

Watch Short Review

Excerpts

“The reason is that consciousness is not publicly observable.  I can’t look inside your head and see your feelings and experiences.  Consciousness is not something we discovered in a particle collider or looking down a microscope.  We know that consciousness exists not from observation and experiment, but from our immediate awareness of our own feelings.  If you’re in pain, you’re just directly aware of your pain.  Moreover, the reality of one’s own feelings and experiences is known with greater certainty than anything we know through experiments.  Even though consciousness is not publicly observable, its reality is hard data that any adequate theory of reality must account for.” – Philip Goff, Chapter 3: Consciousness Points to Purpose, Page 60

 

“For the sake of simplicity, for the moment I’ll work with a particle-based interpretation of panpsychism, according to which the physical universe is made up of tiny fundamental particles, each of which has conscious experience of a very rudimentary form.  Human experience is incredibly complex, but subjective experience come in all shapes and sizes.  If there is something that it’s like to be a bedbug, then it’s incredibly simple compared to what it’s like to be a human being.  There seems to be no inherent limit to how simple subjective experience could be.  If particles have experience, then it is presumably of an incredibly simple form, corresponding to their incredibly simple physical structure.” – Philip Goff, Chapter 3: Consciousness Points to Purpose, Page 71

“This hopeful commitment to our capacity to advance the purposes of the universe transforms our ethical situation.  True ethics is not about helping your kin alone – the exclusive concern of a Mafia boss – or helping your nation alone – the exclusive concern of the fascist.  True ethics is a concern to make reality better.  If there is no cosmic purpose, then making reality better is mostly a negative project, in the sense that it largely consists in removing bad stuff, such as suffering and injustice.  Removing suffering and injustice is incredibly important, and one can live a highly meaningful life as a humanist dedicated to this end.  But if cosmic purpose is still unfolding, and if our actions can contribute – even in some small way – to bringing about the next stage of cosmic evolution, then the potential consequences of our actions are so much greater than they would be in the absence of cosmic purpose.  We may be able to contribute to bringing about a vastly superior state of existence to the one we currently inhabit.” – Philip Goff, Chapter 7: Living with Purpose, Page 152

Review

Is This An Overview?

Even without cosmic significance, there is meaning in human activity.  What people do affects the present and changes the opportunities for the future.  People have the capacity to make reality better, to enable a cosmic evolution. 

 

Meaning can be found without purpose provided by an omnipotent being.  There are alternative options to a moral omnipotent being and atheism.  A being who can create a universe is not necessarily moral, or necessarily omnipotent.  There is the possibility that humanity is part of a simulation experiment run by beings that possess advanced technology.  Another possibility is that of panpsychism. 

 

Panpsychism assumes that every particle has a conscious of their own.  Human consciousness is not publicly available, as consciousness cannot be verified through objective experimentation, but there is certainty in feelings and experiences.  Even simple organisms have a consciousness.  There is no uniform consciousness, for the complexity of the conscious can come in different degrees, with no limit to how simple.  Particles, which are assumed to be inanimate objects, possibly have a conscious of their own, in a rudimentary form.  A conscious that enables the particle to respond rationally to their experiences.

 

Caveats?

This book covers a range of ideas about why and how the universe exists, along with limitations of those ideas.  The book can be difficult to read, as the author acknowledged.  Each chapter makes an argument, and contains a more technical section.  The technical section is explicitly difficult as the author tries to cover potential critiques for an academic audience.  The book can be read without engaging with the technical section. 

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•Is there cosmic significance to human activities? 

•What is the probability of the existence of life?  

•What does Hume think of passion? 

•What is value fundamentalism?

•What is value nihilism? 

•What is the multiverse theory and what are its limitations? 

•What prevents understanding consciousness?  

•Was is a meaning zombie? 

•Was is Schrodinger’s cat?

•What is panpsychism? 

•What is empiricism?  

•What is the cosmic sin intuition? 

•Why do people think a being created the universe? 

•What are non-standard designers?

•Is our universe a simulation by an advanced civilization? 

•Was it true ethics? 

Book Details

Publisher:               Oxford University Press

Edition ISBN:         9780198883784

Pages to read:          165

Publication:             2023

1st Edition:              2023

Format:                    eBook 

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    2

Content          2

Overall          2

Book Review of Tao Te Ching: The Essential Translation of the Ancient Chinese Book of the Tao by Lao Tzu

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = Philosophy

Book Club Event = Book List (08/02/2025)

Intriguing Connections = 1) What Is The Power Of Belief Systems?, 

2) Ways To Help Oneself and Life Lessons, 3) Get To Know The Peoples Of The World (China), 

4) To Cooperate Or To Defect?

Watch Short Review

Excerpts

“Not to Honor the Worthy Puts an end to Contending Among the folk. Not to Prize Rare Goods Puts an end to Theft Among the folk. Not to Display Objects of Desire Removes Chaos From the Heart-and-Mind Of the folk.

The Taoist rules by Emptying Heart-and-Mind And Filling Belly, By softening the Will to Achieve, And strengthening Bones. The Taoist frees the folk From False Knowledge and Desire. Those with False Knowledge No longer dare to Act. The Taoist Accomplishes Through Non-Action, And all is well Ruled.”

– Lao Tzu, Chapter 3: Non-Action, Page 51

“Letting Go is better

Than Filling to the Brim.

A blade overly sharpened

Does not last long.

Halls stuffed with gold and jade

None can preserve.

Wealth, Rank, Pride,

All bring Calamity.

The Tao of Heaven-and-Nature

Is to Accomplish

And to Withdraw.”

– Lao Tzu, Chapter 9: Letting Go, Page 67

 

“Which is Dearer” Name Or True Person? Which means more: Person or Property? Which causes greater Harm: Gain or Loss? Undue love Comes at Great Cost.

Hoarding entails Heavy Loss. To Know Sufficiency Averts Disgrace; Whosoever Knows When to Halt Averts Misfortune, Endures”

– Lao Tzu, Chapter 44: Sufficiency, Page 171

 

Review

Is This An Overview?

Taoism is often contrasted to the authoritarian Confucianism.  Taoism means way or road.  Meant as a practical guide to improve people’s lives, to enable the person to become kinder, and gentler.  Taoism focuses on inner freedom. 

 

Outwardly expressions of greatness create chaos for others, and bring calamity upon oneself.  With possession comes great loss.  Taoists rule through non-action, through nonintervention.   A Taoist ruler does no violence, for violence rebounds.  A Taoist is inclusive with people and knowledge, and is attentive to minor details for even minor details have complexity.  Taoists prevent false knowledge and desire, and understand that there are limits to knowledge.  That complete complexity cannot be understood.  Those who think they understand, are enabling misunderstanding.  Taoist apply and put ideas into practices more than consider the ideal version of ideas.

 

Caveats?

Taoism is expressed through poetry, that has various contradictions.  Meant as a personal method of reflection, to enable the individual to think for themselves on how they would respond to the demands of society and on how they would resolve the contradictions.  This version of the book contains various commentaries, from various philosophers, to guide the reader through Taoism.

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•What is Confucianism?

•What is Taoism?

•Why is Confucianism and Taoism seen in contrast?

•How did Taoism effect Chinese culture? 

•Who is Lao Tzu?

•What is non-action?

•What is dust?

•Why let go? 

•Why is Tao ineffable?

•What does it mean to return to the root?

•What is the value of Sages?

•Who is the best traveler?

•How does a Taoist treat others?

•What is the outcome of violence?  

•How to find what is valuable? 

•What is the value of perfection?

•What is the effect of meddling?

•What is the effect of studying? 

•How to cultivate a future?

•What is the difficulty in the easy?

•What are beautiful words? 

Book Details

Ancillary Author:   John Minford

Translator:              John Minford

Original Language: Chinese

Translated Into:       English

Publisher:               Penguin Books [Penguin Random House]

Edition ISBN:         9780525560319

Pages to read:          284

Publication:             2019

1st Edition:              4th Century B.C.E.

Format:                    eBook 

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    2

Content          1

Overall          1