May 10, 2003

Dating: A Survival Guide from the Front Lines, by Josey Vogels

S'okay.

Posted by Shmuel at 10:00 PM

April 6, 2003

Exhibitionism for the Shy, by Carol Queen

This isn't bad. I'm a bit... uncomfotable? Unconvinced? Uncertain? about Queen's advocacy of naming and developing different sexual personae for different situations. I can see how it could work, but I'm not sure sliding towards Muliple Personality Disorder is a universally contructive approach for adding new elements to one's life. I'd kinda prefer an approach towards developing a single, unified personality.

Then again, not having tried it, I probably shouldn't knock it.

Otherwise, it's interesting, it's well written, it's worth checking out.

Posted by Shmuel at 4:59 PM

March 7, 2003

Climbing Jacob's Ladder: One Man's Rediscovery of a Jewish Spiritual Tradition, by Alan Morinis

I found this to be fascinating, but not for reasons that would apply to most people. This book, you see, concerns the discovery of Mussar -- which is more or less a Jewish approach to ethical matters -- by an unobservant Jew, who eventually has a series of meetings with a rabbi in New York in which he learns more about it.

The rabbi in question is the head of the high school and seminary where I studied for eight years. Seeing my school through the eyes of an outsider? Utterly fascinating.

Otherwise... not a bad introduction to Mussar. Kinda simplified, and definitely eclectic, but not a bad read, and I suppose it might be a useful starting point, which is all it really tries to be.

Posted by Shmuel at 2:03 AM