Challenge
"The Enchanted Adventures of the Four Cousins
In a quaint village nestled at the foot of misty mountains, lived four cousins: Amelia, Ethan, Lily, and Oliver. They were inseparable since childhood, their bond strengthened by shared summers spent at their grandparents' old cottage.
By qudus ademola2 years ago in BookClub
Cosmic Elevator Chronicles
This was an AI generated article. In the village of Brokeville, young Jack and his mum were down on their luck. Their cow, Bessie, who was now more of a moo-ching freeloader, had to be sold. On his way to trade her in, Jack bumped into a peculiar old dude who, in the shady spirit of Craigslist, traded “mysterious seeds” for the cow. When Jack showed these to his mom, she face-palmed, suspecting he'd been scammed, and tossed them aside and thought they were worthless.
By Andre Coore2 years ago in BookClub
Now, I AM an Axolotl. Top Story - August 2023.
There was a time when I would think about axolotls a lot. I used to go look at them in the aquarium of the Jardin des Plantes and would stay there hours contemplating them, observing their immobility, their shadowed movements. Now, I am an axolotl. Hubo un tiempo en que yo pensaba mucho en los axolotl. Iba a verlos al acuario del Jardín des Plantes y me quedaba horas mirándolos, observando su inmovilidad, sus oscuros movimientos. Ahora soy un axolotl. JULIO CORTAZAR (1914-1987)
By Rob Angeli2 years ago in BookClub
Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience — Eighteen Years Later
Authors preface: I first published this review on Vocal two years ago, and before that I had published a version on Medium. With each republication I have updated or revised various sections. Thought it made sense to resurrect it one more time for a Vocal Book Club Challenge to "write about a book that changed you." This particular book, PFoN, I happen to believe, is one of the most important ever written and, it has impacted my own thinking on a huge range of topics very deeply. At the time this was written I was reading tons and tons about neuroscience. Specifically at this time I had recently completed reading a number of works by Patricia Churchland Smith, a neuroscientist/philosopher of great renown. I found her views disturbing and her positions misguided. She is the queen of the mereological fallacy (see below for what this is) often using the brain and the person interchangeably as she views them as one and the same. She also believes that if we fully understood everything about how the brain works, we could recreate particular states of consciousness. She is the ultimate hard core reductionist and views consciousness as nothing more than a particular series of electro-chemical reactions in the brain which, like particular states of consciousness, we could replicate artificially if we fully understood. No body would be required for this miraculous achievement. My guess is the AI crowd is a big fan of her work, myself, not so much. In any event, Dr. Churchland-Smith is a frequent target of Bennet and Hacker's logical breakdowns of various neuroscientific studies and claims about the brain and consciousness, which they dissect and show to be in error point by point.
By Everyday Junglist2 years ago in BookClub
Becoming a Writer
I use "becoming a writer" as my title very loosely, I'm not published or anything but the book "The Remaining" really pushed me into writing. I was interested in writing when I was a kid, I loved reading too, mostly fantasy and science fiction. I wrote the first page or two to one or two ideas when I was in elementary school, but then the harsh reality of, dun dun dunnnnn, high school donned on me. By junior and senior year they had you trying to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life (at least it seems that way when you're in school). In high school I didn't read or write nearly as much as I did in elementary school because I didn't think my full time job would involve either. Then the summer after senior year of high school my love for all things science fiction made me buy a book called "The Remaining" by D.J. Molles. It was a zombie book, and it had me hooked IMMEDIATELY. It was the first book I ever read that made me feel like I was in the book, the way the author described the scenery, the way he made it feel like the characters were with you. I think I went and bought the next three books in the series the next week. But the way this book truly changed me is the way it inspired me. It revived my love for both reading and writing. It's thanks to that book that I now want to become a published author and why I'm in the middle of writing two different novels and a third book that I don't now how to describe. However, it didn't only do that, it also helped revive my creativity and my appreciation for the little things in life. Since I started writing again my mind can more easily wander and find things to take interest in, to analyze, and to enjoy. I owe this book (and series) so much, it might sound cliche but I genuinely don't think I'd be the person I am today if I had never read it.
By Donny Foley2 years ago in BookClub
The Law of Seasons
The law of seasons Part 1 The Bible tells us that there are seasons and a time to every purpose under the heavens. There is a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to pluck something that's been planted, a time to kill, a time to heal, a time to break down something, a time to build up, a time to weep, a time to laugh, and so on. There is also what is called "a time to embrace," "a time for war," "a time of peace." All intelligent students know what the common word in every sentence is- it's always "time." The Bible connects everything in life--from birth through death--to the passage of TIME. In First Chronicles chapter 12, verse 32, it is mentioned that among the children of Issachar, there were individuals who aided and had a deep understanding of the current circumstances. These individuals possessed knowledge of what Israel needed to do, and as a result, they were appointed as leaders with 200 heads and their brethren under their command. This passage emphasizes the importance of having an understanding of the times and knowing the appropriate actions to take. Moving on to the final verse, Psalm 90, verse 12, it presents a profound message for wise individuals. It urges us to learn the value of our limited time on Earth and to use it wisely. By recognizing the significance of each passing day, we can direct our hearts towards gaining wisdom. Let us reflect on this verse together and strive to apply its teachings to our lives.
By william Motaung2 years ago in BookClub
The Survivalists: A Novel by Kashana Cauley (January)
Community gardeners meet doomsday preppers stockpiling weapons above a trendy coffee shop in The Survivalists (Soft Skull Press), a darkly funny look at how people form communities to care for one another amid institutional failures and scarcity. Set in a mostly Black Central Brooklyn, this debut novel from Kashana Cauley, a former lawyer, Daily Show with Trevor Noah writer, and New York Times contributor, finds humour in our hostile, uncertain present while outlining starkly different visions of the future—and how we might prepare for them. — Lisa Wong Macabasco.
By Sarah Habarneh2 years ago in BookClub
The importance of Purpose
Everything in your life that lacks purpose not only brings frustration but can also be wielded as a weapon by the devil to bring about your destruction. Even the beauty that God has bestowed upon you if it is not aligned with a divine purpose, can be transformed into a tool of devastation for both yourself and others. Intelligence without a higher calling, what some may call an "Evil Genius," can be manipulated by the devil to bring about your downfall. Just look at how Satan used the gifts bestowed upon men by God to bring about their destruction. For instance, Samson was granted extraordinary strength, but he failed to understand its purpose. Instead of utilizing his strength to become a judge of Israel, he simply saw it as a manifestation of physical power. Let this serve as a reminder that everything we do should be driven by purpose. Humans possess an inherent longing for life as they are aware that they have yet to accomplish their intended purpose. This is why the concept of death can provoke unease. However, when an individual uncovers their true calling and attains fulfillment in their destiny, they approach death with acceptance and without apprehension. Consider the apostle Paul as an illustration. The profound comprehension of his purpose enabled him to face death without fear. In fact, he actively embraced it,
By william Motaung2 years ago in BookClub
A Book For The Better
When I saw this challenge appear, I thought that it was going to be a breeze. Talk about a book that changed me. Easy. All I had to do was pick one of the countless books that I’ve read and write about it. But it wasn’t a breeze. As it turns out, thinking about the powerful impact of books isn’t something that comes easily when you really put your mind to it. Sure, thinking of book titles was easy enough, but none of them seemed to really ignite that spark within me that truly represented growth and change. However, there was one book that kept coming to mind more than any other, and that book was Neil Gaiman’s, “The Graveyard Book.” I devoured that book. I read the entire thing in two sittings and I was hungry for more.
By Kurt Mason2 years ago in BookClub
