With an open mind and a firm grasp of the issues, Rieder brings the question of living a decent life into the modern era.
An informed, careful investigation of the connection between individual choices and large, complex problems.
The problem of how to lead a good, unselfish life is timeless, and Rieder, an academic specializing in bioethics and author of In Pain: A Bioethicist’s Personal Struggle With Opioids, argues that the question has become even more important in the era of climate change, resource depletion, and other world-changing issues. “What is each of us to do?” he asks as he examines various historical approaches. “How do we live a morally decent life when we can’t even get our arms around the problems?” Rieder doesn’t have much time for those who apparently hate to see anyone enjoying themselves, and even less for those who simply deny the challenges. Individual actions—such as reducing resource use and recycling—are important, but every action can generate new dilemmas. For example, does driving a Tesla mean supporting the exploitation of African cobalt miners? Must we calculate our environmental footprint on a daily basis? These kinds of inquiries can entirely consume one’s energies and lead to a dismal, over-audited life. There is an obligation to do the right thing, but you don’t have to be a miserable bully about it. In the closing sections, Rieder proposes some solutions. Do what you can with the resources and skills you have; push for major policy changes where possible; act rather than merely talk; and accept responsibilities small and large. In this multifaceted way, “we rescue our moral agency from the threat of nihilism” and “build a meaningful life.” This approach might disappoint readers who wanted a rousing to-the-barricades ending, but upon reflection, it might be the best advice possible.
With an open mind and a firm grasp of the issues, Rieder brings the question of living a decent life into the modern era.Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9780593471975
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Readers unfamiliar with the anecdotal material Greene presents may find interesting avenues to pursue, but they should...
Greene (The 33 Strategies of War, 2007, etc.) believes that genius can be learned if we pay attention and reject social conformity.
The author suggests that our emergence as a species with stereoscopic, frontal vision and sophisticated hand-eye coordination gave us an advantage over earlier humans and primates because it allowed us to contemplate a situation and ponder alternatives for action. This, along with the advantages conferred by mirror neurons, which allow us to intuit what others may be thinking, contributed to our ability to learn, pass on inventions to future generations and improve our problem-solving ability. Throughout most of human history, we were hunter-gatherers, and our brains are engineered accordingly. The author has a jaundiced view of our modern technological society, which, he writes, encourages quick, rash judgments. We fail to spend the time needed to develop thorough mastery of a subject. Greene writes that every human is “born unique,” with specific potential that we can develop if we listen to our inner voice. He offers many interesting but tendentious examples to illustrate his theory, including Einstein, Darwin, Mozart and Temple Grandin. In the case of Darwin, Greene ignores the formative intellectual influences that shaped his thought, including the discovery of geological evolution with which he was familiar before his famous voyage. The author uses Grandin's struggle to overcome autistic social handicaps as a model for the necessity for everyone to create a deceptive social mask.
Readers unfamiliar with the anecdotal material Greene presents may find interesting avenues to pursue, but they should beware of the author's quirky, sometimes misleading brush-stroke characterizations.Pub Date: Nov. 13, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-670-02496-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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