"Without Conscience-The Disturbing World of Psychopaths Among Us", by Robert D. Hare, PHD (1993) is a well written, easy to understand, quick read about psychopaths. The general thought is this: psychopaths are dangerous people who are not insane but very aware of what they are doing. Almost anyone can fall victim to them because of their charm, charisma and ability to talk their way out of stuff, even when the victim knows it does not all add up. Not all psychopaths are killers: many of them are con artists and people who can bilk people/businesses out of lots of $$$$$. Psychopaths exist in clergy, lawers and psychologists. And there is little know treatment for them.
Signs of a psychopath (page 34):
-glib/superficial
-egocentric and grandiose
-lack of remorse or guilt
-lack of empathy
-deceitful and manipulative
-shallow emotions
-impulsive
-poor social controls
-need for excitement
-lack of responsibility
-early behavior problems
adult antisocial behavior
and soulless eyes, almost reptilian, with a stare that can haunt one.
A UCC Pastor's walk through the spiritual waters of Scripture, pop culture and life.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Old Man and the Sea
Just finished "Old Man and the Sea." Didn't care that much for it, and it took a week for me to finish. Some beautiful writing, but man did it drag on. Great shark attacks though.
Here's a bit of wisdom, from page 103:
"But man is not made for defeat," he said. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated."
Interesting thought from an author who committed suicide 9 years later.
Here's a bit of wisdom, from page 103:
"But man is not made for defeat," he said. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated."
Interesting thought from an author who committed suicide 9 years later.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
"The Prada Paradox" by Julie Kenner
Just finished "The Prada Paradox", part three of the Givcenchy trilogy. Poor author Julie Kenner tries too hard and made the book too slow and boring and full of repeats. Cool concept: actress Devi is cast as Mel in the movie version of "The Givenchy Code." And the PlaySuriviveWin game begins. But Kenner tries for more, and ends up with less. And this book is darker: Devi is the victim of a brutal kidnap/rape by a crazed fan, Janus, that haunts her. But the rapist is now the one hunting her. And she is cast into a dark emotional place.
Kenner, as she did in "Manola Matrix" has a good insight into human psychology. When Devi is caught in the PSW game and Janus is the hunter she tries not to allow the situation to have control over her. She finds herself freaking out, and she allows the freak-out. On page 115 it goes:
I draw in a breath and start over. "I just needed to freak out for a few minutes. But I'm better now." When all else fails, try the truth.
By 299 Devi had a chance to kill Janus:
I don't hesitate. I pull the trigger, then watch as the red star-burst blooms on his forehead.
He's dead.
And. I'm glad.
Such simple prose but powerful. Oh, and Kenner finds a way to wrap up the trilogy that anyone can see coming. So, I enjoyed book 1 and 2, but 3 was a snooze.
Kenner, as she did in "Manola Matrix" has a good insight into human psychology. When Devi is caught in the PSW game and Janus is the hunter she tries not to allow the situation to have control over her. She finds herself freaking out, and she allows the freak-out. On page 115 it goes:
I draw in a breath and start over. "I just needed to freak out for a few minutes. But I'm better now." When all else fails, try the truth.
By 299 Devi had a chance to kill Janus:
I don't hesitate. I pull the trigger, then watch as the red star-burst blooms on his forehead.
He's dead.
And. I'm glad.
Such simple prose but powerful. Oh, and Kenner finds a way to wrap up the trilogy that anyone can see coming. So, I enjoyed book 1 and 2, but 3 was a snooze.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Manolo Matrix
Just finished "The Manolo Matrix." It's part two of a trilogy by Julie Kenner, frivolous fun about a video-assassin game that comes to life and involves sharp women who love to shop. Book 1 was "The Givenchy Code."
Great, fast beach read. I did it in two days. This book involved aspiring actress Jennifer figuring out clues based on Broadway musicals. The clues were not easy to figure out, which detracts from the fun of the reader.
The second character, FBI agent Devlin is aware of what motivates people. Several times he talks of how when people are afraid they will often turn to the emotion of anger to release some of the stress, or that people will sometimes make love to alleviate feelings of fear or depression.
The spiritual essence of the book comes in page 292 when Julie gets into the shower (baptism) and realizes she has not been proactive in her life and career. Then she wonders why: "...what if I had a fear of success? Of not living up to my own hype? Or the hype I'd built up in my head?"
Great, fast beach read. I did it in two days. This book involved aspiring actress Jennifer figuring out clues based on Broadway musicals. The clues were not easy to figure out, which detracts from the fun of the reader.
The second character, FBI agent Devlin is aware of what motivates people. Several times he talks of how when people are afraid they will often turn to the emotion of anger to release some of the stress, or that people will sometimes make love to alleviate feelings of fear or depression.
The spiritual essence of the book comes in page 292 when Julie gets into the shower (baptism) and realizes she has not been proactive in her life and career. Then she wonders why: "...what if I had a fear of success? Of not living up to my own hype? Or the hype I'd built up in my head?"
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Summer Books 2009
So, without a church to pastor, I've read a few books over the past 28 days. All trash. Some fun, all pointless. "The Best Of Everything" sounds and looks great: a black pastor's daughter marries the co-pastor but can't curb her love of all things shopping. Loved the descriptions in the first few pages, but it got tedious quick, with no real resolution, character change or moment of redemption.
"Hungry Woman in Paris" has a bit of it: a Hispanic journalist cancels her wedding, flees to Paris and goes to chef school. Lots of possibilities, lots of cooking and sex and the idea that the main character, Canela, is always hungry for something because she is so empty inside. It deals with issues of family, love, suicide, being of two worlds (American and Mexican) and food food food.
The ending though is odd and off base and doesn't seem to totally connect with all that comes before.
Best parts: page 72, when the French chef tells the students "Cuisine is sensual. You must always be touching and tasting and smelling and having all your senses completely open. You can always follow a recipe, yes, but you must also feel your way through it...To truly be a great chef you must love to give pleasure to people."
Then on page 125 Canela (which is Spanish for Cinnamon) take a class on wine. Hear what the instructor says "...wine is a gastronomic Kodak of a day in the life of the earth, the land. With one taste we experience la terre; wine is the blood of the earth. At the other end, at its simplest, wine is just fermented grape juice. For me wine is science and poetry coming together and exploding in my mouth."
And "Hollywood Car Wash" is about a Michigan girl named Amy who is suddenly cast for a part in a major TV show, and how the Hollywood system goes about changing her: losing weight, veneers, hair color, drugs to lose weight, pills to sleep etc. I read it with great enjoyment, but eventually got to the point of "OK OK, when is she going to stand up and say "no- this is me and I won't change!" Of course, it happens, but a little too late, quick and neatly wrapped up. But if this book truly portrays what young Hollywood folk go through, I feel sorry for them and may be less quick to judge and wonder why someone like Britney can do what she did, bald head and car bashing ans all.
"Hungry Woman in Paris" has a bit of it: a Hispanic journalist cancels her wedding, flees to Paris and goes to chef school. Lots of possibilities, lots of cooking and sex and the idea that the main character, Canela, is always hungry for something because she is so empty inside. It deals with issues of family, love, suicide, being of two worlds (American and Mexican) and food food food.
The ending though is odd and off base and doesn't seem to totally connect with all that comes before.
Best parts: page 72, when the French chef tells the students "Cuisine is sensual. You must always be touching and tasting and smelling and having all your senses completely open. You can always follow a recipe, yes, but you must also feel your way through it...To truly be a great chef you must love to give pleasure to people."
Then on page 125 Canela (which is Spanish for Cinnamon) take a class on wine. Hear what the instructor says "...wine is a gastronomic Kodak of a day in the life of the earth, the land. With one taste we experience la terre; wine is the blood of the earth. At the other end, at its simplest, wine is just fermented grape juice. For me wine is science and poetry coming together and exploding in my mouth."
And "Hollywood Car Wash" is about a Michigan girl named Amy who is suddenly cast for a part in a major TV show, and how the Hollywood system goes about changing her: losing weight, veneers, hair color, drugs to lose weight, pills to sleep etc. I read it with great enjoyment, but eventually got to the point of "OK OK, when is she going to stand up and say "no- this is me and I won't change!" Of course, it happens, but a little too late, quick and neatly wrapped up. But if this book truly portrays what young Hollywood folk go through, I feel sorry for them and may be less quick to judge and wonder why someone like Britney can do what she did, bald head and car bashing ans all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)