I Am A Strange Loop - by: Douglas Hofstadter (2007)

By the author of Gödel, Escher, Bach (the Pulitzer Prize Winner), this book claims that consciousness is no more than "a hallucination perceived by a hallucination" (p. 293). Or, as Edgar Allen Poe puts it, "a dream within a dream". But, surprizingly Hofstadter makes no reference to Poe's famous poem even though the poem itself is a succinct expression of everything this book expounds on (i.e. an ultimately meaningless reality). My answer to Poe's poem, "What Poe Didn't Know", answers this book as well as it does Poe's poetic inquery - and it does so in a way that exploits Hofstadter's own methodology of symbolic feedback (loops) of analogy.

Dog Eat Dog - by: Edward Bunker (1996)

This is one of the most realistic "crime fiction" books I have ever read. Not surprizingly it was written by the same author who wrote Animal Factory, which was later turned into a movie that he also wrote the screenplay for and helped direct. I saw the movie while I lived in Fargo, North Dakota, and told many people that it was the most realistic "prison movie" I had ever seen (far more realistic than popular shows like, "Oz" - which I never watched because of how fake and contrived it was). Bunker served time at McNeil Island too, but long before I ever got there.

(Note: The image of a black man screaming at the end of my "What is reality?" video, on U-Tube, was actually taken from the Animal Factory movie; so now you know what several people on another blog about my crimes couldn't figure out.)

The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology - by: Ray Kurzweil (2005)

Kurzweil predicts that by the year 2045 machines will be "one billion times more powerful than all human intelligence today". He says humans will then be able to live "as long as they want" and in any kind of body they want. But, Kurzweil sidesteps the consciousness problem (i.e. can a machine really be conscious?) claiming that the question of consciousness is not important. I beg to differ. I think the question of consciousness is the most important question we will ever face. And in the face of that question all of Kurzweil's materialistic (and humanistic) dreams will stall for a long time coming.

Even though this book doesn't pretend to be a philosophy book, it does raise a lot of really interesting (and pressing) philosophical questions; like, what exactly does it mean to be intelligent, or even human for that matter, in the face of modern (and imminent) technology?

Full Dark, No Stars - by: Stephen King (2010, 2011)

An interesting study, on King's part on the twisted mind's of murderers (several short stories).

Last Night I Dreamed of Peace: The Diary of Dang Thuy Tram - translated by: Andrew X. Pham (2007)

The diary of a young and pretty Vietcong doctor who was shot and killed by American soldiers during the Vietnam occupation. The diary is unique in that it was salvaged (illegally) by a US intelligence officer from papers that were supposed to be destroyed as having "no military value". Only recently (in 2005) did that officer return the diary to Thuy Tram's family, and had it translated and published (without Vietnamese censorship) as well. It became a best seller in Vietnam instantly, and a valuable insight into the "war" for anyone interested in seeing past both Uncle Sam's and Uncle Ho's version of things.

Homecoming - by: Cynthia Voight (1981)

Fiction. The story of four children who are abandoned in a mall parking lot by their mother and learn to fend for themselves as they search out on their own for someplace to call home.

As I read, I kept thinking, no siblings would ever love each other like these four do, not in the real world. But that's just my old "experience" talking. I never saw anything resembling this kind of sibling love in my own childhood, but when I saw it for the first time in adult life, it changed me for ever. It was this kind of love that Shasta had for her brother Dylan (and all of her brothers for that matter) and that caused me to stay my hand when it came time to kill her (note: Dylan loved Shasta as well, but I was not yet ready to accept this truth before I murdered him).

I teared up at the end of this book (even though I tried really hard not to).

2012: The War For Souls - by: Whitley Strieber (2007)

Science Fiction: Garbage. The only real surprise about this book is that I actually read the whole thing without intellectually puking (opps, I just did).

The Other Brain: The Scientific and Medical Breakthroughs That Will Heal Our Brains and Revolutionize Our Health - by: R. Douglas Fields, PH.D. (2009)

This was a very interesting book for me. It's about the current research into how the brain works. It expounds on new research that makes the old neuron model of the brain, that we all learned in high school, outdated.

It seems that neurons aren't the prime movers behind intelligence after all. Only 15% of the cells in our brains are neurons, the rest (85%)were previously ignored by neuroscientists as purely structural and support for the neurons. But the latest research shows that these glial ("glue") cells not only listen in on everything the neurons are doing, but they play a major role in determining what the neurons do (i.e. how they connect to each other, when and how often they fire, etc...).

This fascinates me because it fits perfectly with my own view of intelligence being a social phenomenon more than a logical one. The glia cells in our brains are like "little blue men" who make up a society that communicates over long distances using the neurons. It's like the glia are "people", and the neurons are their "Internet". Dr. Fields didn't go so far as to put it that way, but I think it makes perfect sense to do so based on everything else he says in this book.

Very fascinating indeed!

5 Very Good Reasons To Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth - by: Matthew Inman (2011)

I found this book on the prison bookcart and grabbed it thinking it'd be good for a chuckle; it wasn't. It's just a book of tacky cartoons that would hardly impress a three-year-old, though judging by the language used it was meant for adults. The popularity of a book like this, and the Website it was taken from, is frightening.

Kundalin: The Evolutionary Energy in Man - by: Gopi Krishna (1967), With Psychological Commentary - by: James Hillman (1970)

An interesting account of the author's own unexpected incounter with "Kundalini" energy (i.e. pure conscious energy). I especially appreciated the psychological commentary which were decidedly Jungian. These comments helped to bring the author's experiences into a more "Western" light of understanding.

Memories, Dreams, Reflections - by: C. G. Jung (1961, 1989) Translated from the German by Richard and Clara Winston

When I found out (just recently) that Jung had written a memoir just before he died, I asked for a copy to be sent in to me so I could read it. Now, having done so, Jung is more of a hero in my eyes than ever. Of all the philosophers I have ever read (many), though Jung himself would probably choke if someone called him a philosopher to his face, I have found the fewest departures in Jungs thoughts from my own (though there are one or two). I would almost say I love this man, as a historical figure, which I have never said about anyone else. I can certainly identify with him.

Openness Mind: Self-Knowledge and Inner Peace Through Meditation - by: Tarthang Tulku (1978, 1990)

I got this book to help with my meditation in relation to lucid dreaming. I was surprised to find it to be one of the best books on meditation I have ever read (though I haven't read many).

Malevil (Fiction) - by: Robert Merle (1972), translated from the French by Derek Coltman (1973)

This book was recommended by a friend. I like the theme (post apocalyptic world) which I dream about often. It was also very well imagined and written. I found it engaging and especially liked the fact that the author actually took the theme to write a proper ending rather than just cut the story off after the climax. Bravo.

Discourses - by: Meher Baba (1967, 1987)

I picked this book off of the FDC bookcart because it claimed to be about devine love and yet wasn't Christian. I found it interesting, even if Baba was a bit deluded (he called himself the "Avatar of our age" and considered himself the second coming of Christ).

Dealing In Futures (sci-fi) - by: Joe Haldeman (1986)

A collection of short, well written stories. In the back, Haldeman says, "... if you're honest with yourself and not stupid, you must know that every writer has only one story, the one big story, and if he could live forever he would tell it a million different ways and never get it quite right."

The Sun and the Shadow: My Experiment With Lucid Dreaming - by: Kenneth Kelzer (1987)

This is not a how-to-guide for lucid dreaming, but it is a very interesting look at a well educated man's honest experiences in the dream realms. I had a used copy sent in to read and it was well worth the few dollars it cost.

Journey To Ixtlan: The Lessons of Don Juan - by: Carlos Castaneda (1972)

Hailed as Castaneda's best book, but I didn't think so. It wasn't bad, but not as good as I'd hoped it would be. Pretty dry, actually. It now sits unread by other inmates on the FDC book cart. I used to think Don Juan was a real person, after this read, I doubt it. The events are way too contrived to be real at all, much more so than I remember in Castaneda's other books.

The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation - by: Thich Nhat Hanh (translation by Mob; Ho, 1975, 1987)

I asked a friend to send me this book to help with my meditation. I've read books on how to meditate before, but just wanted a refresher.

The Cartoon History of the Modern World: Part I From Columbus to the US Constitution - by: Larry Gonick (2007)

A humorously illustrated look at history that I found in pretty poor but still readable shape on the FDC book cart.

Stalking The Vietcong: Inside Operation Phoenix: A Personal Account - by: Stuart A. Herrington (1982)

I've read many books about the America-Vietnam war that focus on the American side. This is the first one I've ever read that really gets into the Vietnamese side, and minds of the South Vietnamese, Vietcong, and NVA combatants. I found it on the FDC bookcart.

The Arrogance of Humanism - by: David Ehrenfeld (1978, 1981 Galaxy Ed., Oxford University Press)

This book provides excellent contrast for another book I've read recently called, "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" by Paulo Freire. Freire is a staunch humanist, and Ehrenfeld an ardent anti-humanist. But, if they could somehow see eye-to-eye the result could be almost miraculous! Neither Freire nor Ehrenfeld have all the answers, but they both have excellent views from different sides of the same problem (namely, mankinds sense of separation from reality). It's too bad that Freire is dead, because if he and Ehrenfeld got together to compare their unique views honestly and openly then I believe that a third viewpoint would emerge that could provide answers to the really tough questions that neither of these books do on their own.

That given, I strongly recommend both of these books to anyone sincerely interested in the possible futures of humankind, which neither book talks about, but both portend.

Dragon's Bait - by: Vivian Velde (1992)

A short fun book (fiction) written for teenagers, technically well written but transparently moral in character. I found it on the FDC bookcart.

Aztec Autum - by: Gary Jennings (1997)

This is the long awaited sequel to Jennings' first book "Aztec", which I read for the first time as a young man in prison (over 30 years ago). Back then I believed it was an accurate depiction of Central American history. But when I re-read that first Aztec book a few years ago I was shocked at how overtly Westernized the so-called Aztecs were in the story. This second book is even a bigger distortion of reality (i.e. history) than the firs. I guess I should have paid closer attention to the disclaimer inside the front pages: "This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously."

The Girl Who Played With Fire - by: Stieg Larsson, translated from swedish - by: Reg Keeland (2009, 1st US edit)

I read the first book in this series, "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" a couple of years ago and liked it. So, I counted myself lucky to find this one (book two) on the bookcart here in Seatac FDC. I usually don't like books (or movies) that depict skinny women as tougher than men, it just seems phoney and unrealistic. But this one does it in a convincing and half believable way that makes it entertaining and intelligent.

Pedagogy of the Oppressed - by: Paulo Freire (1970, 1993, 2010 30th anniversary ed.)

I got lucky when I found this book on the inmate bookcart here at FDC Seatac. I had never heard of Freire or this title before, but for some reason the title piqued my interest and I'm really glad now that I found it. I disagree with some of Freire's views on human consciousness as unique in nature, but other wise he is a genius when it comes to describing and defining the oppressor - oppressed contradiction (as he calls it). I've learned a lot from this book about why I felt I needed to do the terrible things I've done in the past. Or, rather, I've learned a new way to talk about it (which is really what this book is all about). It's a book I think should be required reading in all schools.

Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming - by: Stephen LaBerge, Ph.D and Howard Rheingold (1990)

I have read about lucid dreams before (many years ago) and have had lots of lucid dreams myself. But I'm hoping to start having even more and learning to be a real oneisonaut (dream explorer). This book has exactly all the information I need to do so, I'm really excited about the possibilities.

The Idiot - by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1913 Garnett translation, 2003 Dover edition)

A lucky find on the Seatac FDC bookcart. I've read two of Dostoyevsky's other books in the past (Anna Karenina and Crime and Punishment), but I like this one best so far. Prince Myshkin is Dostoyevsky's best character yet.

Fahrenheit 451 - by: Ray Bradbury (1953)

I had been interested in reading this book for some time and I got lucky and found it on the bookcart at Ada County Jail. I've always enjoyed Bradbury's poetic flair, and especially his later works. This was one of his earliest, but still a good one.

I Confess - by: Johannes Mario Simmel (1968, 1977 translation from German: Ich Gestehe Alles)

When I arrived at Seatac Federal Detention I asked for, "something to read". This is one of two books I was handed through the bean-slot. The other book was a genre I could never palate (romance, but this one wasn't bad at all, for fiction. It was written in post-war Germany, so it had some interesting cultural references that typically get lost with time.

11/22/63 - by: Stephen King (Fiction 2011)

Another inmate loaned me this book to read. I think it is the best King book yet, and I enjoyed it very much.

Under the Dome - by: Stephen King (Fiction 2009)

I don't generally read fiction very much, but when I do I like King's intelligence, imagination, and attention to detail (well researched stories). His books seem to get better as he gets older also.

The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory - by: Brian Greene (1999)

I heard this book refered to in a science fiction movie and thought I'd read it to understand the reference better. I think Greene, and other physicists like him, would make a lot more progress if they simply let go of the rigid constructs of their religion (i.e. science) and followed their bliss (as Joseph Campbell might say).

Heart of Darkness - by Joseph Conrad (Classic Fiction)

This is the original story that made the movie "Apocalypse Now" was based on. If you want to really understand the movie, then read this book!

What the Dog Saw: and Other Adventures - by: Malcolm Gladwell (2009)

This is a collection of intellectual (i.e. intelligent) articles written by Gladwell for The New Yorker, where he has been a staff writer since 1996. Several of the articles are very interesting, but of particular note is the one called "Dangerous Minds: Criminal Profiling made easy", in which Gladwell does a good job discrediting the FBI's behavior analysis units for the quackeries they are, and why.

A Stolen Life: A Memoir - by Jaycee Dugard (2011)

The story of an eleven year old girl who is kidnapped and held as a sex slave for eighteen years. I got this book for research into the character, Philip Garrido, who kidnapped Jaycee. I thought he'd be the right "psycho" for a story I'd like to write someday, not about a psycho, but about a "John-Walsh" character who incounters a psycho like Garrido and learns from him that they aren't so different.

Heart Shaped Box - by Joe Hill (2007, Fiction)

Joe Hill is the pen name used by Stephen King's son. As a writer he is okay, but nowhere near as good as his father. Maybe in time he will get better, but I still think he should get off his father's shirt tail and find his own bliss (as Joseph Campbell might say).

Elemental Mind: Human Consciousness and the New Physics - byNick Herbert (1993)

In case you didn't know, modern physics has been faced with a perplexing enigma concerning the clearly established effects that human consciousness has on the result of completely scientific experiments for the last 100 years or so (ever since Einstein, and far more so since). This book addresses the mystery in a methodical scientific way, but only manages (in my opinion) to step around the blaring truth: that consciousness comes before matter!