An engrossing discussion of the limits of modern science and the virtues of ancient spirituality.
A debut work that combines a memoir with a philosophical essay attempts to reconcile the findings of modern physics with an appreciation of the spiritual dimension of life.
Neil B. Feldman was fascinated by science at an early age, drawn to radios, which made him feel “tuned in on a mysterious and powerful force connecting the world.” That nascent interest eventually blossomed into an intense engagement with contemporary physics. One of the highlights of this volume is the exceedingly accessible synopsis he furnishes of Einstein’s principal scientific achievements, including the theory of relativity. But for the author, quantum theory turned out to be as disconcerting as it was illuminating, since it seemed to imply that the phenomenal world as humans experienced it was ultimately chimerical, and that the impressions delivered by their senses were deceptive. In the ancient lessons of Advaita Vedanta, in particular the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Feldman discovered a spiritual way to amend the notion that life was but a dream, one that he believed did not dismiss the demands of reason at large or the tenets of physics in particular: “And Vivekananda’s answer did not seem to me to contradict science or reason. On the contrary, by speaking about levels of consciousness as one key behind sense perception, he shed a whole new light on how we experience the world ‘out there.’ ” In consistently limpid prose, the author explains how the key is a certain understanding of consciousness, both an elemental feature of the cosmos and a “real factor in the actual creation of reality."
Feldman succumbed to cancer in 2015 before the volume’s completion—it was finally finished by Judy Scott Feldman, his wife, and Anna E. Feldman, his daughter, based on interviews with the author. This is announced in the first line of the work, which gives the remainder a poignant and even haunting quality, maybe even more so since the book eschews any maudlin sentimentality. The quest to craft a philosophical détente between science and spirituality is an urgent one, presented with impressive meticulousness and rigor, especially for a man who once took their exclusivity for granted. The criticisms of the stubborn limits of science are thoughtfully articulated: “Mainstream physics, however, has for the most part set consciousness aside, and has taken the mysteries of gravity, inertia, and electricity for granted. Why don’t scientists insist on examining what we take for granted?” Still, despite the admirable attempts at painstaking argument, scientific skeptics are unlikely to be convinced by this slim volume; in particular, the contention that the precepts of Advaita Vedanta never contradict, but rather transcend reason is never made sufficiently clear. In addition, the work simply assumes that one cannot simultaneously accept the conclusions of quantum theory and a more phenomenologically intuitive interpretation of lived experience. Finally, the discussion of morality is the analytically weakest part of the book, partly because the explication of the Judeo-Christian tradition is so thoroughly reductive. Nevertheless, the work as a whole is both intellectually stimulating and moving.
An engrossing discussion of the limits of modern science and the virtues of ancient spirituality.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 214
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: June 26, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A blissfully vicarious, heartfelt glimpse into the life of a Manhattan burlesque dancer.
A former New York City dancer reflects on her zesty heyday in the 1970s.
Discovered on a Manhattan street in 2020 and introduced on Stanton’s Humans of New York Instagram page, Johnson, then 76, shares her dynamic history as a “fiercely independent” Black burlesque dancer who used the stage name Tanqueray and became a celebrated fixture in midtown adult theaters. “I was the only black girl making white girl money,” she boasts, telling a vibrant story about sex and struggle in a bygone era. Frank and unapologetic, Johnson vividly captures aspects of her former life as a stage seductress shimmying to blues tracks during 18-minute sets or sewing lingerie for plus-sized dancers. Though her work was far from the Broadway shows she dreamed about, it eventually became all about the nightly hustle to simply survive. Her anecdotes are humorous, heartfelt, and supremely captivating, recounted with the passion of a true survivor and the acerbic wit of a weathered, street-wise New Yorker. She shares stories of growing up in an abusive household in Albany in the 1940s, a teenage pregnancy, and prison time for robbery as nonchalantly as she recalls selling rhinestone G-strings to prostitutes to make them sparkle in the headlights of passing cars. Complemented by an array of revealing personal photographs, the narrative alternates between heartfelt nostalgia about the seedier side of Manhattan’s go-go scene and funny quips about her unconventional stage performances. Encounters with a variety of hardworking dancers, drag queens, and pimps, plus an account of the complexities of a first love with a drug-addled hustler, fill out the memoir with personality and candor. With a narrative assist from Stanton, the result is a consistently titillating and often moving story of human struggle as well as an insider glimpse into the days when Times Square was considered the Big Apple’s gloriously unpolished underbelly. The book also includes Yee’s lush watercolor illustrations.
A blissfully vicarious, heartfelt glimpse into the life of a Manhattan burlesque dancer.Pub Date: July 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-27827-2
Page Count: 192
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2022
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.
A carefully curated personal portrait.
First ladies’ roles have evolved significantly in recent decades. Their memoirs typically reflect a spectrum of ambition and interests, offering insights into their values and personal lives. Melania Trump, however, stands out as exceptionally private and elusive. Her ultra-lean account attempts to shed light on her public duties, initiatives, and causes as first lady, and it defends certain actions like her controversial “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” jacket. The statement was directed at the media, not the border situation, she claims. Yet the book provides scant detail about her personal orbit or day-to-day interactions. The memoir opens with her well-known Slovenian origin story, successful modeling career, and whirlwind romance with Donald Trump, culminating in their 2005 marriage, followed by a snapshot of Election Day 2016: “Each time we were together that day, I was impressed by his calm.…This man is remarkably confident under pressure.” Once in the White House, Melania Trump describes her functions and numerous public events at home and abroad, which she asserts were more accomplished than media representations suggested. However, she rarely shares any personal interactions beyond close family ties, notably her affection for her son, Barron, and her sister, Ines. And of course she lavishes praise on her husband. Minimal anecdotes about White House or cabinet staff are included, and she carefully defuses her rumored tensions with Trump’s adult children, blandly stating, “While we may share the same last name, each of us is distinct with our own aspirations and paths to follow.” Although Melania’s desire to support causes related to children’s and women’s welfare feels authentic, the overall tenor of her memoir seems aimed at painting a glimmering portrait of her husband and her role, likely with an eye toward the forthcoming election.
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9781510782693
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
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