I love this book! It's one of those rare gems that makes you feel completely at peace after reading. I was captivated by the intimate, personal songs I love this book! It's one of those rare gems that makes you feel completely at peace after reading. I was captivated by the intimate, personal songs of the first Buddhist daughters, which lay bare their struggles, their joys, and their ultimate spiritual awakening.
And you know what, the very last page brought only one sigh of regret: Why did it take me so long to find this?
Here is one such poem from the book, which I liked:
I used to worship fire, the moon, the sun, and the gods. I bathed at fords, took many vows, I shaved half my head, slept on the ground, and did not eat after dark. Other times I loved makeup and jewelry, baths and perfumes, just serving my body obsessed with sensuality. Then faith came. I took up the homeless life. Seeing the body as it really is,
desires have been rooted out. Coming to birth is ended and my cravings as well. Untied from all that binds my heart is at peace.
“I suspect for the next decade or so we will be riding a wave, seeking more stimulation in less time, quick transitory couplings, and the next big th
“I suspect for the next decade or so we will be riding a wave, seeking more stimulation in less time, quick transitory couplings, and the next big thing to make sex more exciting. The good news is that sex will be safer and more exploratory than ever, given the virtual capabilities. The bad news is that we will likely see an uptick in sexual addiction and a decrease in emotional connection with partners. People struggle with the existential depression and loneliness that comes from a lack of rich, authentic connections”
My key takeaway from Cheap Sex is perfectly encapsulated in the above quote: the future of sex is a trade-off. We gain vast virtual capabilities and stimulation, but we risk losing authentic connection, leading to increased addiction and existential loneliness.
As we ride this wave, it's clear that emotions will be relegated to a back seat in our relationships., a chilling prospect, given that our complex emotional landscape is often cited as the defining trait that separates us from other animals....more
This is a significant work, instrumental in establishing Indology as an academic field in the West. The section detailing the Vedas was the most engagThis is a significant work, instrumental in establishing Indology as an academic field in the West. The section detailing the Vedas was the most engaging one for me, though I felt the text does not fully capture the profound philosophical weight of these scriptures. Could be because these were a collection of lectures, the transitions between the chapters felt a bit abrupt.
Finally, I would like to rap it up with a quote from the Upanishads which is also mentioned in the book.
“When all desires that dwell in the heart cease, then the mortal becomes immortal, and obtains Brahman. "When all the fetters of the heart here on earth are broken, when all that binds us to this life is undone, then the mortal becomes immortal—here my teaching ends.”
I found The Truth About Language to be a really good and thought-provoking read. It brought up so many topics I found genuinely interesting.
What I LovI found The Truth About Language to be a really good and thought-provoking read. It brought up so many topics I found genuinely interesting.
What I Loved 1. The book gave me a ton of new information, especially about how our brains and languages work. For instance, I learned about: 2. Memory: The difference between semantic memory (facts) and episodic memory (events). 3. Brain Science: The concept of mirror neurons, and how they show similar patterns between humans and monkeys. 4. Global Languages: I discovered surprising facts about languages all over the world: - In some languages, a whole sentence is just one word. - Languages like Chinese don't use tenses. - It was fascinating to learn that languages like Tamil and French use subtle things we never notice—like moving the tongue outward for "you" and inward for "me."
These fascinating details were things I never would have thought about otherwise.
What Could Be Better On the other hand, I often felt like the book was drifting away from its main topic. It introduced a lot of other discussions, and it sometimes felt a bit too scattered or deviating. Also, I have to admit, the long sections dedicated to discussing Chomsky's theories were quite boring for me.
My Conclusion I'm not sure if I actually reached a clear conclusion about the absolute "truth about language," but this book definitely piles on so many facts that I had never known before. It made me think hard about the why and how of communication. If you enjoy figuring things out and want a book that will challenge your mind, this is a great place to start!...more
This poetry book just wasn't for me. A couple of poems were decent, but the rest didn't grab my attention.This poetry book just wasn't for me. A couple of poems were decent, but the rest didn't grab my attention....more
Like many, I’m fascinated by Xi Jinping’s almost unprecedented rise. I was particularly interested in how the book would explain his dramatic life arcLike many, I’m fascinated by Xi Jinping’s almost unprecedented rise. I was particularly interested in how the book would explain his dramatic life arc the "sine wave"(as I would like to view it) of going from a privileged "princeling" (the son of a high-ranking officia) to a hard laborer in the countryside, and then back up to the supreme leader of China. His Initial life: While all the other ambitious guys were in Beijing elbowing each other for the top spot, you know like sharks fighting over a single sardin, Xi was busy practicing the art of being boring. He spent decades patiently climbing the ladder out in the province, making sure his resume was sturdy, but never flashy. This quiet, nose-to-the-grindstone routine made him look utterly non-threatening. The older party leaders thought, "Great! This guy’s so dull, he'll be the perfect puppet! We can finally put our feet up." They picked him in 2012, convinced they had chosen the least exciting option. Turns out, the humble bureaucrat was actually a political chess grandmaster who'd just spent thirty years setting a trap.
Where the book falls short for me is in its depth. Given how much of a political enigma Xi remains, I felt the book could have done more research in certain points to try and peel back the layers of the official party narrative. Because Xi gives no interviews and his inner life is so obscured, the book often feels like it's analyzing the function of the Party’s top leader, rather than the man himself. ...more
I read Jason Brennan’s Against Democracy after watching a podcast by the author, so I thought of giving it a shot, but the book itself was a mixed expI read Jason Brennan’s Against Democracy after watching a podcast by the author, so I thought of giving it a shot, but the book itself was a mixed experience. Frankly, the content wasn't convincing enough to make me seriously doubt democracy. The book argues that democracy is fatally flawed because voters are often ignorant and irrational. While the evidence for this is clear, the book didn't provide a strong enough case to see these issues as terminal flaws. However, the book served a powerful purpose: it was a great thought-stimulator. Which was something important for me. And a big reason I choose to read it.
I found the proposals for Epistocracy, the idea of "rule by the knowledgeable"and especially the Epistocratic Veto to be genuinely smart and useful. Allowing a panel of experts to check the decisions of elected officials seems like a practical way to manage the risks of an uninformed public. Ultimately, like a coin with two sides, every system has both benefits and pitfalls. Against Democracy didn't force me to reject democracy, but it did make me think much harder about how we can make our government more competent....more
Coming from an engineering background, I was already generally familiar with the practical applications of calculus in daily life and technical fieldsComing from an engineering background, I was already generally familiar with the practical applications of calculus in daily life and technical fields. However, it was genuinely enjoyable and highly informative to read about the vast and unexpected real-world utility of calculus, especially its significant role across fields like biology and medicine. The book's coverage of applications was a highlight, but it would have been more engaging and valuable if the historical background and foundational narrative sections had been significantly condensed. A greater focus on the detailed discussion and exploration of the applications, perhaps featuring more complex or contemporary examples and case studies, would have made the material far more stimulating for a reader with a strong technical base....more
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