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The Serpent's Books Part 2
27/06/2008 06:01 pmThe next four in the Serpent's Dozen
7 "Depression - the Way out of your Prison" Dorothy Rowe
First heard about Dorothy Rowe on a BBC television program called "The Mind Box" where she described a guaranteed way to build your own prison of depression
All that was required was "holding the following six beliefs as though they were real, absolute and immutable truths"
1. No matter how good and nice I appear to be, I am really bad, evil, valueless, unacceptable to myself and to others.
2. Other people are such that I must fear, hate and envy them.
3. Life is terrible and death is worse.
4. Only bad things happened to me in the past and only bad things will happen to me in the future
5. Anger is evil.
6. I must never forgive anyone, least of all myself
Holy shit thinks Izzie who had scored a full six out of six.
The most important thing of course was to realise that these were not eternal commandments carved in stone but beliefs that could be changed. And that was the key that eventually enabled Izzie to unlock the door and say goodbye to those dreaded Dementors.
8 "The Song of the Bird" Anthony De Mello
"You have yet to understand, my friends, that the shortest distance between a human being and truth is a story."
A wonderful collection of very short stories and snippets woven together to tell an even bigger story. There's the odd commentary here and there but most of the time it's up to the reader to find the meaning. They may be short and sweet but have an influence way beyond their size. Some will often only makes sense some twenty years later. Often they are the ones that turn out to be most significant. Veritable little time bombs
In a similar vein are his books "The Prayer of the Frog" and "One Minute Nonsense" which could be described as the original and the best chicken soup for the soul. Accept no Canfield imitations.
9 The Skeptical Feminist by Janet Radcliffe Richards
Was about 20 when coming across this book. Basically it examines the claims of feminism from a logical and philosophical perspective. It's purpose is to cut through much of the woolly thinking surrounding such issues and to avoid the blame game and victim stuff that is so so common.
The discussion about justice, what is 'natural' and the bad habit of so many feminists to dismiss those who disagree with them as being 'conditioned' and therefore not knowing 'what they really want' was most intriguing indeed. One thing that annoys Izzie no end is those who want to impose their view on others 'for our own good' with no regard at all to our opinions on the matter
Was particularly impressed by the arguments that the low status attached to many of women's roles such as caring and looking after children may have less to do with prejudice and misogyny and more to do with economics. That reminds us of another favorite "Freakonomics" which is wonderful but not quite up there in the top ten of all time
10 Your Money or Your Life Vicki Robbins and Jo Dominguez
(a guide for green goblins)
Read this book back in 1996. Along with "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" the most intelligent and different book about money that this serpent has ever encountered. The only one that view the accumulation of wealth as a means to an end and not for its own sake. Also one of the few that looks at motivation for acquiring the stuff and that acknowledges that more is often less.
Still a long way from financial independence but still following some of the steps - mainly the one of keeping track of every single silver sickle. Turns out to have interesting side effects.
The concept of seeing money by its time value (how many hours work did it cost to buy this new toy?) was not new to Izzie but these folks translate it to higher levels - especially for wage slaves spending a fortune on child care and take away food
Only two left. Saving the best for last!
7 "Depression - the Way out of your Prison" Dorothy Rowe
First heard about Dorothy Rowe on a BBC television program called "The Mind Box" where she described a guaranteed way to build your own prison of depression
All that was required was "holding the following six beliefs as though they were real, absolute and immutable truths"
1. No matter how good and nice I appear to be, I am really bad, evil, valueless, unacceptable to myself and to others.
2. Other people are such that I must fear, hate and envy them.
3. Life is terrible and death is worse.
4. Only bad things happened to me in the past and only bad things will happen to me in the future
5. Anger is evil.
6. I must never forgive anyone, least of all myself
Holy shit thinks Izzie who had scored a full six out of six.
The most important thing of course was to realise that these were not eternal commandments carved in stone but beliefs that could be changed. And that was the key that eventually enabled Izzie to unlock the door and say goodbye to those dreaded Dementors.
8 "The Song of the Bird" Anthony De Mello
"You have yet to understand, my friends, that the shortest distance between a human being and truth is a story."
A wonderful collection of very short stories and snippets woven together to tell an even bigger story. There's the odd commentary here and there but most of the time it's up to the reader to find the meaning. They may be short and sweet but have an influence way beyond their size. Some will often only makes sense some twenty years later. Often they are the ones that turn out to be most significant. Veritable little time bombs
In a similar vein are his books "The Prayer of the Frog" and "One Minute Nonsense" which could be described as the original and the best chicken soup for the soul. Accept no Canfield imitations.
9 The Skeptical Feminist by Janet Radcliffe Richards
Was about 20 when coming across this book. Basically it examines the claims of feminism from a logical and philosophical perspective. It's purpose is to cut through much of the woolly thinking surrounding such issues and to avoid the blame game and victim stuff that is so so common.
The discussion about justice, what is 'natural' and the bad habit of so many feminists to dismiss those who disagree with them as being 'conditioned' and therefore not knowing 'what they really want' was most intriguing indeed. One thing that annoys Izzie no end is those who want to impose their view on others 'for our own good' with no regard at all to our opinions on the matter
Was particularly impressed by the arguments that the low status attached to many of women's roles such as caring and looking after children may have less to do with prejudice and misogyny and more to do with economics. That reminds us of another favorite "Freakonomics" which is wonderful but not quite up there in the top ten of all time
10 Your Money or Your Life Vicki Robbins and Jo Dominguez
(a guide for green goblins)
Read this book back in 1996. Along with "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" the most intelligent and different book about money that this serpent has ever encountered. The only one that view the accumulation of wealth as a means to an end and not for its own sake. Also one of the few that looks at motivation for acquiring the stuff and that acknowledges that more is often less.
Still a long way from financial independence but still following some of the steps - mainly the one of keeping track of every single silver sickle. Turns out to have interesting side effects.
The concept of seeing money by its time value (how many hours work did it cost to buy this new toy?) was not new to Izzie but these folks translate it to higher levels - especially for wage slaves spending a fortune on child care and take away food
Only two left. Saving the best for last!
