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A Guide for the Perplexed

E. F. Schumacher addresses modern materialism, with a sort of metamodern perspective. He understands how modernism taken to the limit yields nihilism, and lays out a recognition that life and conciousness is special, existing in a higher realm of being. "Materialistic scientism" focuses exclusively on understanding the outside material world, and so Schumacher focuses bridging to knowledge of oneself, knowledge of the interior existence of other beings, and knowledge of how one is percieved by others.

I personally didn't find this as compelling as an anecdote to materialism, but I did feel this book offered something relevant to me. It's short, so I'd recommend if you'd like to explore ontological discontinuities that may exist on different levels of being.

This is a part of my Media Diet. Learn more about this project here.

Ratings

These are entirely subjective, and roughly try to capture my personal enjoyment and usefulness, and how likely I'd recommend it to others. Don't read too much into this unless you love my judgement. Rough guidelines:

A: Top quartile. Changed the way I think about something.

B: Worthwhile. I took away something useful.

C: Didn't hit, wouldn't directly recommend. Likely won't revisit.

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