I enjoyed reading this book, the writer is quite funny.
The book was a memoir of the writer's life, giving details on all the funny, and sometimes ridiculous, things that happened to him as a child.
This memoir was unlike any I have ever read, not in quality of writing (though it was stellar, make no mistake about that.), but in the purpose of it's composition. It wasn't some run of the mill success story, and it wasn't a tragic tale of the author rising to fame and then failing for some reason. It was simply a memoir writen by the author to tell the story of his life, and hopefully make the reader laugh while doing so.
The deeper meaning of this book may not be immediately apparent, it is such a comical book, and it isn't a story of someone who survived some sort of disaster (like the book "Into thin air") or someone dealing with an incurable disease (like in "Lucky Man," didn't blog on that one yet, but I'm getting there), but I think I can see what may be the underlying purpose of the book.
The author, throughout the book, tries and fails at many things, and overall seems like a talentless, largely unintelligent, social outcast who won't amount to anything. The lack of intellect is confirmed by an IQ test towards the end of the book, but then the test is explained to be an inacurate measurement, since it only tests logical thinking, which the author does not do much of.
So the image you get of the person the author is writing about is, all in all, a moron, but that "moron" is the author who is writing this quality (and hilarious) book you are reading!
So what constitutes intelligence? I consider myself a pretty smart guy, but I could never write a memoir of my life so far and make it as enjoyable as this. So am I actually less intelligent than this person who seems, in most cases, stupid?
The answer is no of course, but that answer doesn't solve the problem that created that question does it? So deeper thought is required.
The answer is revealed in something the author's boyfriend says (not word for word) "everyone thinks in different ways."
So while I excel in logical thinking, strategy, and simillar things (as well as writing fantasy, which doesn't really fit with the other things, but still...) the author excels in comedey and writing.
So we are both "smart." But my type of "smart" is different from the type of smartness the author clearly posseses.
I had always vaugely understood that some people who seemed stupid when directly compared to me in some things might very well be very talented in other areas, but I've never been presented with a solid example of that concept that could be related to me.
So this book was very entertaining, and it made me do some thinking, so I am happy to say that this book deserved it's spot on my 52 (er... 57) list.
It seems the topic of people having individualized talents rears its head again, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteDo you think the author is making fun of himself, the moron, or is he making ufn of the society that deems him a moron while obviously not looking deep enough to realize his talents lie elsewhere.
Does being intelligent make a person better or more worthy in some ways? Often it takes incredible effort and dedication to discover one's innate talents. Do you think you know what your talents are?
Is the author of this book someone you respect? Is the author of this book someone with whom you could be friends if you happened to meet? Has the author overcome his difficulties and triumphed over the shortcomings of his life? If so, would you say he has worked to overcome or did he just grow out of his hinderances?