... What's it all for?
Why do we do what we do?
What is the meaning of our existence?
Sure some esoteric philosophical debates came come from this but I find myself thinking about
the possible reasons for 'us'.
What is a good book that I can listen to while commuting? I have read and listened to
"The Power of Now" and " The Subtle Art Of Not Giving a Fuck" for examples.
As I get older and life moves on, mortality comes to mind more often. More and more of our
family members and friends pass away and life goes on with in a few days. The sun still rises
and sets, the seasons change, the earth rotates about it's axis.
( If you believe it's not flat. ) 😁
Anyway, I'm not looking for religious or overly spiritual type reading. Maybe just something
that you read that really gave you pause or deeper thought or elicited an Aha moment.
Irish
ETA... wow... just wow. Thanks so far for all the suggestions. Some I have heard of , many not.
Looks like I might have to keep commuting for another 5-10 years :)!!
The bible. Start with the Gospel of John
ReplyDeleteTwo songs running through my heart.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4
https://youtu.be/Ddi2TBnzdPo
Protect your family and trusted friends. Is that enough a reason to live for you my friend Irish?
Try Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
ReplyDeleteOlaf Stapledon (star maker)
ReplyDeleteLast and first men.
DeleteOdd John - about a boy who is beyond humans like we are beyond the other apes. Star Maker - future history and purpose of the universe, Last and First Men - future history of mankind as it develops into new species. Odd John is prob the best written and easiest to read. His writing can be a bit ponderous but the concepts are amazing. Especially when you consider these are 100 yrs old!
DeleteSecret of the Golden Flower, Thomas Cleary translation. (And read the end notes -- makes it all clearer.)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this would scratch your itch, but it does provide insight into humanity and our social constructs (from a European background). https://www.amazon.com/Theory-of-Moral-Sentiments-audiobook/dp/B07H39V37S
ReplyDeleteBeer, boobs and bacon. Not necessarily in that order.
ReplyDeleteAny audio book by Alan Watts. He spent his life exploring the question of why we are here. Wonderful voice too.
ReplyDeleteAutobiography of A Yogi - Yogananda
ReplyDeleteThe Little Prince
The Art of Living - Epictetus, Sharon Lebell
The Teachings of Don Juan, Castaneda
Tao Te Ching - Translated by Stephen Mitchell
Bhagavad Gita
Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl.
ReplyDelete1. The number 1 all time best seller
ReplyDelete2. The Richest Man In Babylon
3. War And Peace
4. A Tale Of Two Cities
5. Moby Dick
6. David Copperfield
That's The Short List, BobT
Jordan B Peterson, especially his 2017 bible lecture series, where he explains the psychological significance of Genesis. It is not a theological analysis. He ”stays in his lane” so to speak.
ReplyDeleteIrish stay away from Peterson…AP77
Deletehttps://twitter.com/AlainPetit77/status/1691607372488233177
DeleteI was going to add Jordan Peterson
DeleteI am a voracious reader of books, but I was never able to conquer the great Russian novels because I couldn't pronounce the characters' names in my head as I was reading. Thus, I couldn't remember the characters and quit the book. This problem is solved by hearing them on tape.
ReplyDeleteTolstoy's 'War and Peace' and Dostoevsky's 'The Brothers Karamazov' are epic.
“Stillness is the Key” by Ryan Holiday
ReplyDeleteSince you asked for the answer to the question of Life, the Universe and everything...
ReplyDeleteI have just the book, I know that you said specifically NOT a religious book...
BUT, hear me out. This book is written on the basis that true intellectual skepticism can find answers and not just reasons to doubt. It thoroughly probes the doubts we all have and gives strong reasoned responses for what is Truth is a world that is portrayed as only shades of grey.
The book is:
The Reason for God,
Belief in an age of skepticism
By: Timothy Keller
I have enjoyed this book and have read it several times, and learn something new each time.
It has brought peace into my life when it seemed that the world was out to destroy me and my family.
MSG Grumpy
The worst journey in the world by Aspley Cherry Gerrard. So well written you can see the ice and a great story.
ReplyDeleteJohn Brown's Body by Stephen Vincent Benét beautifully written prose poem and a deeply moving story.
I search of history by Theodore H White. You will feel like you have the perspective of a historian and the best seat for exciting events in the WWII and post world.
A bonus is www abebooks.com
They always have the book and treat prices
try "messages from Michael" a satire, written by anonymous people.. you'll probably have to find it used...
ReplyDeleteThe reason for our existence is to glorify God. How do I know this? I read the book -- The Good Book. Forgive me. It seems you didn't want to hear this but, that very same book tells me I'm to tell you. Praise God! God bless.
ReplyDeleteAmen! BobT
DeleteThe answer is.... 42
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the fish!!!
DeleteOne Truth ,One Law: I Am, I Create by Erin Worley. It's on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteMutant Message Down Under by Margot Morgan... a healthy dose of perspective and a wonderful glimpse of the Everything.
ReplyDeleteMike in Canada
The history of the English speaking people, Winston Churchill.
ReplyDeleteI apologize, Mr. Feral Irishman, but there's only one (well, 66 books) book that gives the definitive answer to why we're here, what's the meaning of life, etc. As others have said, it's the Bible. You can also read just about anything C.S. Lewis wrote, too. In addition to Narnia, he wrote sci-fi as well. I always recommend his Mere Christianity to anyone who is interested in the same questions you have. Lewis was a really good writer with the life experience to galvanize his credibility.
ReplyDeleteC.S. Lewis wrote Mere Christianity - Amen. BobT
DeleteJoseph Campbell wrote a book called,"The Hero with a Thousand Faces."
ReplyDeleteHe was able to demonstrate that all cultures share a myth but tell it in their own language and cultural context. It is always the same plot and somehow speaks to us. George Lucas used the very same story for Star Wars.
The Aborigines of Australia and the Inuit have their own versions and so do the rest.
We may all be very different people culturally but we are clearly connected as humans to one wellspring.
Cheers
How I found freedom in an unfree world harry brown
ReplyDeleteHere is a little poem I quote when asked to give a toast:
ReplyDelete“From quiet homes and first beginning,
Out to the undiscovered ends,
There's nothing worth the wear of winning,
But laughter and the love of friends.”
― Hilaire Belloc
Here's one I share with good friends each year on New Year's Eve:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sql9X4H0VY
Irish, I know how you feel about religion. I'm a pastor and I'm honest enough to say that I have exactly 0 use for religion of any kind. Christianity is different. It centers around the historical person Jesus of Nazareth and is, at its deepest level, decidedly NOT religion. It is about coming into a real and vital relationship with our Almighty Creator, God. You've got many book recommendations but I'll ad my @ cents (funny how old typewriters used to have the "cents" symbol; but i digress): "More than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell. Or "Mere Christianity" by the great C.S. Lewis. Really hope that helps. And I will add you to my prayer list. Thank you fortaking so much time every day to bring us our free ice cream. Scarecrow
ReplyDeleteSorry for the stupid typos. Hate finding them AFTER I hit "publish". Scarecrow
ReplyDeleteGulag Archipelago and A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch by Alexander
ReplyDeleteSolzhenitsyn.
I see it as training for what's to come if we can't shoot our way out of this fascist dystopian shit show.
Second that.
DeleteAnd "Atlas Shrugged" if you're into a tawdry romance novel wrapped around Ayn Rand's objectivist philosophy. I, for one, would recommend an abbreviated treatment of John Galt's monologue/soliloquy: a couple of pages and you can call it good - skip to the end when the room breaks out in pandemonium.
Long distance shooting. Read the 'wind', some of the most difficult and rewarding reading there is. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteTom762
May I suggest looking up Archaix.com with Jason Brashears. Be prepared though. It is like drinking water from a full blast garden hose.
ReplyDeleteAnos at 8:47
ReplyDelete"I see it as training for what's to come if we can't shoot our way out of this fascist dystopian shit show."
Ahh, but we CAN if we WILL.
Reply
Too many people don't realize that we're in the shit. In fact, they've come to like the taste of it.
DeleteWe existed BEFORE we came here, we are here to learn to love and obey God, and we will exist afterwards.
ReplyDeleteAny questions?
Amen Brother.
DeleteFirst- thanks for all that you do here. You are vital part of my daily reading (or drooling in the case of Friday contributions).
ReplyDeleteYou said- commute. You may already know of audio from the internet archive & librivox. They are free.
I know many that swear by "blinkist" app. It costs and has fewer options.
I am compelled to add my suggestion that we all include-
praying during commutes, as well as "listening" for His still small voice.
G-d's grace mercy and protection on us all.
steve
Irish, you ask "why are we here?"
ReplyDeleteIn one short day you get over thirty people giving their honest opinions and open their hearts and tell you the books, messages, meanings that lift them up. They offer it to you with no expectation of payment or reward aside from seeing a fellow human being helped.
Over thirty people pouring out their hearts to help a Brother out...
THAT is one of the many reasons we are here.
One of the last Commands given by Jesus was "Love one another".
Thanks for all that you do, you lift up my day and open up sources of truth in a world of deception.
Your FAFO posts get me to chuckle and check myself (I do NOT want to be THAT guy).
The Friday Fem Fatal post are true works of art (I only look at the articles... err truck pics Honest)
Searching for meaning and truth is the part of all of us that is Eternal and Holy.
Bless you and your Family on this most excellent Journey.
MSG Grumpy
As Picasso said: "The meaning of life is to find your gift; the purpose of life is to give it away."
ReplyDeletei think we're here to do what good we can, where we can, while we can. i'm still hoping ,that through out my life, when things seemed so bad, that it has always turned out to not be as bad as i thought. chuck
ReplyDelete... What's it all for?
ReplyDeleteWhy do we do what we do?
What is the meaning of our existence?
----------------------------------------
It's all spelled out in the BIBLE.
You probably already know that (??)
Mark 24: Eternal life, better than here right now fer sure. Some days I wish I was already there.
ReplyDeleteJust for a fun read, try 'The Celestine Prophecy' by james redfield
ReplyDeleteYou won't find the meaning of life, but Patrick Taylor's An Irish Country Doctor series is awesome. Set in a small village in Ireland just before The Troubles and before TV was even talked about. Extremely likable characters. They become like family.
ReplyDelete"The Obstacle is the Way". - Ryan Holiday
ReplyDeleteModerately quick read. Stoicism more than religion.
Brad
All of the volumes of the history of the world by Will and Ariel Durant, some of it is a bit dated now but it is a great look at the whole expanse of Western civilization and where it came from.
ReplyDeleteThe Bright Country by Harry Middleton. A fisherman that doesn't really write about fishing. The Earth is Enough is also a good one.
ReplyDeleteI second Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
ReplyDeleteTao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff for an easy, lighthearted read. I keep it on my throne in my office for my early morning read with coffee. That"s time you're not getting back; should not waste it
You can get Sun Tzu on audiobook.
ReplyDeleteIn the words of Jeff Foxworthy- mayonnaise a lot of information here FI. I never gave it much thought, figure God will tell me.
ReplyDeleteWell, since you are looking for something to listen to whilst driving you can get Alexander Scourby (remember him?) doing audio of the literary masterpiece The King James Bible, & in keeping in mind of the "Subtle Art Of Not Giving a F**k" - I'd say listen to Ecclesiastes. Solomon was said to be the wisest man whoever lived & so there are his 3 books; his song, proverbs & ecclesiastes. 1 starting out (kinda sorta) 2 mid life & 3 oh crap! I wont go into all the points of his life here but this'll pique your interests regarding your post. Folks get all freaked out saying the bible is a religious book when in fact its more closely a history. BTW, you can find his recordings all over for free, so you cant beat the price!
ReplyDeleteRead Genesis 3, NKJV
ReplyDeleteIt's short and perfectly clear.
Read it several times until YOU get the AH HA moment of realization you have been lied to all your life on all of this.
Payattention to, "Who Told You that You were naked!?