Simon & Schuster (1994), Edition: 2, Paperback, 352 pages
Is it an indictment of the public school system, or my lack of attention in history class that exactly Watergate was all about has never been quite clear to me? I never even remember it being in the curriculum. This book corrected that oversight in a way that was clear and fascinating. I thank you, Mr. Woodward.
Random House Trade Paperbacks (2008), Paperback, 576 pages
The description of the Stanford Prison Experiment (first half of the book) was difficult to read- not because it was poorly written, but because it was emotionally hard to swallow. I talked to the characters like I was yelling at a football game, trying to get them to stop what they were doing.
I have such respect for the author’s honesty regarding the responsibility he bore for the experiment, especially a description of how he manipulated the mother of one of the prisoners as she expressed her reservations, and how easy it was for him to slip into doing so.
My world was a little shaken as I read real-life descriptions of dehumanizing cruelty, and the culpability of those who don’t participate but commit the sin of inaction. It’s not enough to be the “good guy” by being a little nicer. One must act against brutality. I appreciate having my eyes opened, and this book gave me a passionate hunger to lay the foundation of a solid character now, to grow in fearlessness and integrity in preparation for ever meeting such situational evil face to face. - I’m not talking about war or prison here, I’m talking about mundane daily life. Zimbardo helped me understand that under the “right” circumstances I could find that face in my mirror. That is a gift of wisdom beyond measure.
The photographs and descriptions of everything from ethnic cleansing in Bosnia to the abuses at Abu Ghraib were a bit hard to see and read; this book is not for the faint of heart. I highly recommend it for the lessons it teaches.
I couldn’t put it down and read it in 2 days- even when I did put it aside to take a cleansing breath a few times, I found myself picking it up again a few minutes later, unable to stop thinking about it.
bdopkins’s review: “Silly Drivel; Welcome to the world of pseudo scientists claiming that quantum physics can prove any theory. Deepak Chopra would be proud.
If this book were what it claimed to be, a sort of physics for the layperson, I could get behind that. But its not- it’s more about Zukav trying to use physics to prove his favorite flavor of eastern philosophy.
Anyone who thinks by reading this book they can hold their own in an actual scientific conversation will be sorely embarrassed. You will be pegged as a new age nut job in the first 5 minutes.”
Quill (HarperCollins) (1980), Paperback, 350 pages
Dear blog friends,
If only I could share all these thoughts, but half of them are not even verbally formed.
I’m also a swirl of thoughts about these subjects: group think, dehumanization of enemies and others, and how it leads to cruelty, sins of omission by not speaking up when something is wrong, resisting influence of a group or charismatic leader to have the ability to speak up. If this topic seems out of left field, I understand. A good place to start thinking about it is the Stanford Prison experiment website.
As Paul can attest by our hours long conversations of late, somehow, for some reason, I have been really meditating on questions of moral fiber. The interesting thing is that there is no crisis or reason at all to have begun this mental journey, just a convergence of books from different directions and something more; a passion, a hunger to lay these stones in the foundation of my character, and a felt urgency to lay the stones solidly so they will possibly withstand future stressors.
If this seems vague and strange, well, all I can say is “welcome to my head.”
Those little warnings from your computer, the ones that ask, “are you sure?’ - PAY attention next time you accidentally delete some artwork you were making for Porter’s series. You had a chance to save it, sister, and you zoned out. Hours of work gone, bye bye.
