Dune (Frank Herbert, 1965)

(494 pages)

This volume included the entire trilogy (the three books flowing from one to the next without interruption).

I found this pretty much a joy to read.  Imaginative is an understatement.  So much detail - the reader can almost believe in the existence of these imagined places.

Leaving home planet - green - for the desert planet of Arrakis (known as Dune).  Under iffy circumstances.

Desert dwellers (Fremen) at the margins of society on Arrakis.  Their religious beliefs, extending all the way to a well-watered paradise.  Their technology for preserving water (all the way to stillsuits).  Dealing with sandworms.  And the spice.  

The Duke and his consort, Lady Jessica (Bene Gesserit); their son Paul (Maud'Dib)).

Baron Harkonnen and his son (Feyd-Rautha).

Stilgar - Fremen leader.  His daughter - Chani.

The Emperor and his Sardaukar.

Smugglers.  Henchmen or brave fighters (helping bad guys or good guys, respectively).

And plenty of other characters.

I haven't checked how this ties into the Star Wars movies - but there's a lot of overlap.  Which of course is just fine.  Book form is quite excellent, and plenty of good spots in the movies as well.

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence (Michael Pollan, 2018)

Book club selection (via Rose; session held (via Zoom) March 13, 2022).

Another book I wouldn't consider picking up - but this one provoked at least as many interesting ideas per page as compared to any other book club selection.  I liked it.

Also liked a prior Pollan book - "The Botany of Desire"- some overlapping concepts, but not many.

My notes are below - lots to think about.

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Does mention the botany of desire thesis - perhaps mushrooms learned how to benefit from manipulating humans - seems unlikely.  When author takes the azzies (found near Columbia mouth - the three parks we visited) - this is what he thinks of - communicating with plants (timing of the experience, and conceiving the book?)  (Wife has a painterly experience more specific to her profession.)  End of ch 2 . . . Seems to be the same as my ruminations below about a mere chemical reaction, influenced by one's personal history,

middle aged persons recommended to try (not so much young folks) - ?  maybe more prone to seek/find incremental meaning if not busy enough, not connected enough, "searching" for whatever reason?  Feeling the clock is running out, maybe the job wasn't enough or the family experience wasn't everything one hoped for??

Seems telling that expectations matter so much to the experience that occurs

James's definition of "mystical" - they do try to put some words around it so that it is possible to say the experience is "mystical" - but necessarily vague . . . if religions try to do this, immediate skepticism

Darwin/evolution - what kind of world where one can tap into the main consciousness only if found the right set of chemicals? ["stoned ape" discussion not closely tied to this - hominids finding mushrooms unleashing their brains to put together language - huh?].  That makes no sense to me.

Seems unsurprising that we can stumble upon chemicals that act upon the brain in a fairly consistent way . . . yielding a different experience than available in the absence of those chemicals, but colored by expectations, setting, prior experiences.  Not sure how significant it is.

Except there would be value for folks that are troubled by whatever - without proving anything about consciousness outside the brain - if the experience consistently reinforces the basic values:  the road map thing about trusting, open, being (whatever the fourth item) - "love is everything" - things that might seem prosaic but somehow clarified in this condition?

everyone is "searching" to some extent . . . where does this take us?

I already don't feel up to the task of fully absorbing music, literature, religion - much of this is pretty elevating - not sure why I would want an "artificial" (word chosen intentionally) prop in this enjoyment.

look for:  how this might connect to Eastern spiritualism; Christian mystics; Native American experiences.  Folks get there without drugs . . . 

References to Goethe, Joseph Banks - broader views than modern specialists

1960s - descriptions of LA practitioners making $$ off free samples from Sandoz; Cary Grant's sad story

Some guy named Hubbard credited with spreading around Silicon Valley . . . engineer willingness seems like MLB players looking at steroids.

Leary, Ginsberg - boring to me then and now.  So much blather about change the world, expand consciousness, "squares" refusing to partake.

I emphasize curiosity . . . am I uncurious about this?  Perhaps . . . moreso a feeling that this would be of value, something like religion, to persons who feel something is missing in their lives.  Or looking for something to do.  Or they just enjoy it - there's a lot of stuff people enjoy that I don't understand or desire for myself. Pretty strong reaction that I need to convince myself this isn't useful, at least for me.  why?

Chapter trying to define mysticism - useful - brain is chemical-driven, how much does it matter where the chemicals are sourced?  "Quieting the ego" - less aware of oneself.  Goes on to discuss non-added-chemical approaches that seem to do the trick.  

Discusses how the "trick" as to efficacy might be shutting down brain's default mode . . . the sector where the brain does work when not required to deal with a task.  Might relate to dreaming.  "Default mode" sector identified in early 2000s so not clear.

But might align with evolutionary stuff in Africa book . . . brain development had upside but also consumed so much energy . . . a brain system utilizing shortcuts makes a lot of sense.

Book continues with lots of discussion of the "default mode" issues, how that can start to become a negative if the mind gets "stuck" in defined tracks - addictions, depression (focus on certain harmful issues), etc.  Psychedelics as possibly helping break the cycle.

Interesting discussion comparing children's minds to adults on psychedelics - when very young, much more open to trying out-of-the-box solutions.

Maybe a world of intense specialization makes many of us narrower in some way, makes "breaking out" more important than in less specialized times.

Regaining the sense of awe or wonder (thinking of those Romantic-era scientists).

India in the Persianate Age - 1000-1765 (Richard Eaton, 2019)

(397 pages)

Main premise seems to be what author considers a new and improved thesis - we shouldn't view this era so much on Muslim-Hindu axis, but instead Sanskrit-Persianate.  It's interesting to read about but the difference is pretty subtle for a reader like me. Does point out that Muslim rulers typically were relatively tolerant - even if for practical considerations like inability to regulate behavioral minutiae of a large population over great distances. Perhaps the author is commenting on (chiding) Islamic fundamentalists and/or Hindu nationalists? 

In any event it's a very helpful overview of the years 1000-1765.

Persianate (author's term) rulers arrive in the north, based in Delhi; pushed by Mongols from Persia/Iraq; also from Afghanistan, Hindu Kush. Not always pushed - some saw opportunity.  Expand past the Vindhya mountains into the south; first ring of territory is conquered/administered; further territories are left pretty much alone but required to pay tribute, and take on some Persianate influence.  This is happening starting around 1200.

Deccan peninsula is far from Delhi relative to ability to project power.  Pretty quickly - rebellions.  14th century - Vijayanagar - in the second ring of territories south of the Vindhyas.  Some Persianate forms, but far less influence than further north.  Religious tradition not Persianate - Siva, Rama (evolving, not clear to this reader!)

Vijayanagar as immense; forays into deep south.  1564 - Battle of Talikota - a quick ending to Hampi; what remains of Vijayanagar is centered further south. (Vijayanagar (and the Battle of Talikota) written up in this book . . . which this author dislikes as incorrectly emphasizing Muslim v. Hindu (in his opinion).)

Malabar coast - less influenced by Persianate.  Major trading - mostly due to pepper - all the way back to Roman times.  Tolerant. Syriac Christians, Hindu, Muslim esp around Calicut (the version from Horn of Africa etc,) - even the Islamic influence not so much Persianate.  Not dominated by the various sultanates, not even Vijayanagar.  Portuguese upset the balance.

Sikhs emerge - Guru Nanak dies 1539.  Succession issues.  Amritsar (Punjab).

Discusses the major northern rulers - the Mughals.  Early 16th century.  Babur - Mongol.  Big transition from nomadic/horse to more pastoral life, they didn't always like it at first.  A lucky series of mostly long-tenured, talented rulers.  Abkar.  Jahangir.  Some Europeans at court now.  Jahan (crowned 1628) - perhaps the peak of Mughul power and reach?  Builds Taj Mahal, Red Fort.  Aurangzeb (much less tolerant, more reactionary).  Burning resources in Deccan, Bengal, etc.  Rajasthan. Hard to subdue; expensive; Mughals weakening in general.

At end of book - 1765 -  European presence more and more noticeable; British starting to out-compete European rivals; India growing as part of global trade.

Something missing - there's almost nothing about life of the "common man" anywhere in India - though I guess the book probably doesn't set out to do that.  Lots of discussion about how state revenues were collected, little about taxpayer squeeze, which must have been intense in view of the wealth getting to the top layers.

The Good Soldier (Ford Madox Ford, 1915)

(199 pages)

I very much liked Parade's End, so was quite interested in trying this novel.

Maybe I missed something - but I'm not recommending this one.

An American couple hang out, a lot, with a British couple in Europe.  Florence (wife in American couple) and Edward (in British couple) suffer from heart problems and need to be treated delicately; they spend time at a spa every year.

The books is written entirely from perspective of the American husband.

The author's introduction tells us that he intended to name this "The Saddest Story", but the publisher felt it wouldn't sell.  Author often does describe this as "the saddest story" while recounting innumerable sad things.

Which, for me, is not a recipe for a good read.