“Rhetoric then may be defined as the faculty of discovering the possible means of persuasion in reference to any subject whatever.” ― Aristotle, Rhetor“Rhetoric then may be defined as the faculty of discovering the possible means of persuasion in reference to any subject whatever.” ― Aristotle, Rhetoric
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Reading Aristotle's Art of Rhetoric in the age of Trump and Twitter and in the season of Luigi and TikTok, is a dizzying task. Like the previous book of Aristotle's I read, Politics, I would prefer to have spaced this book out. I've studied parts in the past, but would really enjoy and it would be really useful, to have a rhetoric professor TEACH this book over the course of a semester. Is that my fault? Certainly. I could have slowed down and taken it book by book, chapter by chapter, instead of just letting if flow around me as I floated. But still, lots to glean from the float.
Aristotle's treatise on Rhetoric is patient zero for all writings on persuasion and rhetoric. The subject is divided by Aristotle into three books:
Book 1 provides an overview of the subject and provides context and definitions. Book 2 delves into the three major means of persuasion: ethos, pathos, logos. Book 3 examines style of persuasion and writing: lexis and taxis.
I think of how important, even today, this book would be for politicians (future), lawyers (past), and priests (present). Sadly, we have Twitter, so we just swing hard and hope something goes viral....more
So, I first became aware of John G. Turner when I read his masterful biography of Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet. As I non-practicing Mormon, I felt hSo, I first became aware of John G. Turner when I read his masterful biography of Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet. As I non-practicing Mormon, I felt he did a fantastic job of telling Young's story and also framing Young in his time and space. I missed reading this over Thanksgiving, but figured late December was better than never, so I picked it up. Turner's approach to the Pilgrims using the lens of American Liberty is instructive to informing the myth surrounding liberty and the myth of the Pilgrims....more
A good survey of the history and varieties of empire. Also contrasts and connects empire to colonialism, post-colonialism, Orientalism, etc. The linesA good survey of the history and varieties of empire. Also contrasts and connects empire to colonialism, post-colonialism, Orientalism, etc. The lines between the previous are all quite muddied as is the very definition of empire and imperialism. ...more
An interesting side quest in the Alex McKnight series. The ending was a bit of a surprise and not the normal wrap for a crime novel. Sometimes it got An interesting side quest in the Alex McKnight series. The ending was a bit of a surprise and not the normal wrap for a crime novel. Sometimes it got pretty close to over-the-top on the native parts, but Hamilton kept it from going too far. Solid. Didn't throw me off wanting to read more of the series. ...more
Loved this novella by Evenson. I now need to reread portions of Matt Bell's Appleseed for the reincarnation themes. Evenson explores what it means to Loved this novella by Evenson. I now need to reread portions of Matt Bell's Appleseed for the reincarnation themes. Evenson explores what it means to be human, a person, alone. Even the title feels perfect (rabbits being notorious big breeders). Anyway, this is a bath read (without wrinkles). Less horror than a lot of the more recent Evenson I've read. ...more
George V Higgins is a delight. Even those critics who weren't a fan of his style, still felt it. Roderick MacLeish, in the Times Literary Supplement, George V Higgins is a delight. Even those critics who weren't a fan of his style, still felt it. Roderick MacLeish, in the Times Literary Supplement, once commented that, "the plot of a Higgins novel – suspense, humor and tragedy – is a blurrily perceived skeleton within the monsoon of dialogue." But that dialogue was amazing. Defending Billy Ryan is roughly a legal thriller, courtroom thriller, but with an inverted ending that disrupts the pace. I didn't mind the twirl at the end, but George Higgins does things because he wants to do them. Reading Jerry Kennedy novels is like experiencing a proto-Saul Goodman, 25 years before Better Caul Saul and 20 years before Breaking Bad. Nobody in the books is all bad and nobody in the book is all good. It's all business....more
A pretty good survey of FLW's life. This is a man who evokes strong emotions. My daughter's contempt for him is only matched by her contempt for PaoloA pretty good survey of FLW's life. This is a man who evokes strong emotions. My daughter's contempt for him is only matched by her contempt for Paolo Soleri and his Arizona "town" Arcosanti. Strong feelings for sure. But I adore him. Perhaps, as a man, I can more easily separate the artist from his art, his character from his designs, his foibles from his style. He was an icon and a conman. He was a genius and an egoist. He was absolutely American....more
This is my first Rikki Ducornet and I was amazed, entranced, and read it mostly during a long, hot bath. It is a love story. It is a story of dreams aThis is my first Rikki Ducornet and I was amazed, entranced, and read it mostly during a long, hot bath. It is a love story. It is a story of dreams and travels and history and the soul. It is light and dances while delivering a tight exploration of what it means to be human and to be loved....more
A solid thriller. Liked the humanity extended to the antagonist(s). Not literary, but a fast-paced piece of American entertainment destined to be madeA solid thriller. Liked the humanity extended to the antagonist(s). Not literary, but a fast-paced piece of American entertainment destined to be made into a slick Hollywood summer blockbuster....more
Barthelme takes a story it is almost impossible to escape from a creates a postmodern literary collage with it that reflect the fairy tales of every dBarthelme takes a story it is almost impossible to escape from a creates a postmodern literary collage with it that reflect the fairy tales of every day life (especially of his time and place). Lovely, a bit unsettling in a good way. The way Jasper Johns can take the Flag and we know what he's referencing, but he's also bending it, playing with it, playing with us. Lovely....more
"Early-wartime L.A. was a time of great crimes and witheringly ambiguous solutions. It was a time to celebrate the shit-kicking American spirit and ou"Early-wartime L.A. was a time of great crimes and witheringly ambiguous solutions. It was a time to celebrate the shit-kicking American spirit and our mass resolve to see this thing through. Early-wartime L.A. The booze and the muzzle-flash love affairs. There was no better time to howl and throw parties."
A collection of eight stories by Brian Evenson. Loved these, especially "Two Brothers" and "Contagion".
1. The Polygamy of Language 2. Two Brothers 3. AA collection of eight stories by Brian Evenson. Loved these, especially "Two Brothers" and "Contagion".
1. The Polygamy of Language 2. Two Brothers 3. A Hanging 4. Internal 5. Prairie 6. Contagion 7. Watson's Boy 8. By Halves ...more
Completely blown away by this. I recognize some strange magic that seems part Patricia Highsmith (Tey is definitely in Highsmith's DNA: Tey trotted soCompletely blown away by this. I recognize some strange magic that seems part Patricia Highsmith (Tey is definitely in Highsmith's DNA: Tey trotted so that Highsmith could later gallop). But the novel also seems to play with that well-loved English novel centered around country manor. Just off the top of my head I think of: Brideshead Revisited, The Remains of the Day, Atonement; plus multiple novels by Austin, Forster, Bronte, etc.
The writing was great. The characters were well-developed. It was a bit predictable, but not completely. I was a bit irritated at the ending. But those are my only too, light complaints....more
A great structure to examine Western Asia, Judaism, and Christianity's early history of a corporeal God. Dr. Stavrakopoulou dives into her intense disA great structure to examine Western Asia, Judaism, and Christianity's early history of a corporeal God. Dr. Stavrakopoulou dives into her intense dissection of God by examining religious writings looking at God's: Feet and Legs, Genitals, Torso, Arms and Hands, and Head. She gets right in there.
I grew up a Mormon so the early view of God(s) having a real body wasn't a big stretch for me. But I was impressed with the depth and exactness of her vision and she examines in detail God the Father and Jesus and those Gods that came before. ...more
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