Back to books. There are few posts here lately, mainly because I feel most compelled to post when I read something in the news I find to be ludicrous, or when I feel a need to comment on something I've read. To be sure, there have been interesting things happening; the events surrounding the Iranian leader, the coup in Thailand, Bush's Labor Day address, the Pope's comments... but nothing I feel like commenting on.

I haven't been reading much, or listening to books lately. I actually read another book by Kurt Eichenwald called The Informant. His book Conspiracy of Fools was really good, so I had to buy it at the used book store when I saw it. I was motivated to start something else when I finished it, and I found a book called The Triumph of Liberty by Jim Powell in audio format.

I didn't even finish it before I had to go off on a tangent and research quotes. Then I came across the section about John Stuart Mill. Powell said that his essay On Liberty was "clear, concise, logical, ..." - things lacking in works I've been reading by Aristotle, Kant and Nietzsche. I found it on the Internet, read a little, and I am hooked. I even had to go find it at the bookstore that day.

I have found nothing new, but Powell hits the nail on the head - clear, concise and logical describes this stuff to a tee. More will be written about this book I'm sure.

I have also started reading the bible. Yep. I have finished neither that or Mill's essay, but here are some comparisons from the beginnings of both works...

From On Liberty

Those in whose eyes this reticence on the part of heretics is no evil, should consider in the first place, that in consequence of it there is never any fair and thorough discussion of heretical opinions; and that such of them as could not stand such a discussion, though they may be prevented from spreading, do not disappear. But it is not the minds of heretics that are deteriorated most, by the ban placed on all inquiry which does not end in the orthodox conclusions. The greatest harm done is to those who are not heretics, and whose whole mental development is cramped, and their reason cowed, by the fear of heresy. Who can compute what the world loses in the multitude of promising intellects combined with timid characters, who dare not follow out any bold, vigorous, independent train of thought, lest it should land them in something which would admit of being considered irreligious or immoral?

(...)

No one can be a great thinker who does not recognize, that as a thinker it is his first duty to follow his intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead.

From the Bible

25:19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:

25:20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

25:21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

25:22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.

25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25:25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

25:26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

25:27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

25:30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

25:31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

25:32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

25:33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

I leave it for comparison, which will be the more compelling read...