Book Review: Mind Over Mood

I was prompted to pick up Mind Over Mood by The Objective Standard and have been amazed by how insightful it is on the nature of introspection and how to change your emotions. For years I've understood the importance of introspection in mental health and have been maintaining a diary for that purpose, but this book has introduced to me aspects I never considered before and helped me integrate phenomenon I thought were isolated and unrelated.

Emotions are caused by ideas integrated into our subconscious. This can be directly observed by witnessing that people can have different reactions to the same stimulus, such as a painting or news story, and that during the times of those emotions ideas and images of a certain nature go through our head. On that latter, one example could be someone who feels depressed at hearing a minor and polite criticism: During that emotion their premise of inadequacy could be exposed, as thoughts like "I'm no good" and images of past harsh scoldings could be filling their head. It can be tough to sort out exactly what type of information our subconscious has integrated, but in the beginning it was always an idea we accepted with our conscious mind.

This book is primarily an exercise book, as it sets up a entire system of ways to identify and keep track of what your subconscious is composed of, as well as demonstrating how some example patients are going through their troubles due to ideas or notions they accepted at one point in their life or another. Additionally, as you advance through these exercises you'll also track the progress of these patients as they get exposed to these exercises as well, and how they alter their characters as a result. This book is equal parts informative, practical, and inspiring.

The biggest help to me -- and why I've chosen to set as a goal to introspect every day this week -- is that this book has made me aware that there are more complex factors to take into account beyond that of assessing your mental contents when examining your deepest premises, such as your behavior, how you react to other people, what's immediately going through your head during intense emotions, and so on, and that all these areas are inter-related and as important to your mental health individually as they are together. My big mistake is that I thought only assessing my mental contents is what was important, so while I've made major headway in my introspection these past years I've always been held back by discounting things that actually mattered in the process. For instance, I missed out on valuable insights to my premises by ignoring how I responded to people in everyday life.

By including factors I have been neglecting I have come to realize I have certain emotional difficulties I didn't know I had before previously, and yet the evidence was always there. Case in point, I realized that I still arbor an intense anxiety when around other people, as in their presence I tend to become tense, still my thoughts, speak in monotone and one-word answers, and more. Furthermore, I also realized that this was due to my installing bad premises from having dealt with irrational people in times of disagreement, which was made worse by the fact I couldn't get away from those people for a long time, thereby having to deal with their outbursts longer than should have been necessary.The result is that I habituated ways of dealing with irrational people that became outdated when I got away from them, thereby undermining my relationships with the better ones I have access to. With the new thinking tools I've learned, I'm now working towards relieving that tension with success.

Another way in which this book has been beneficial is by helping me identify shorter methods through which I can make faster identifications, thereby cutting the time and awkwardness with which I go about writing in my introspection journal. I've always recognized that writing to be a value, but even filling up a page a day can be time-consuming, thereby discouraging regular practice, and sometimes when I have no thoughts on my mind I can't come up with any useful insights. I've altered my practices -- though lengthy writing is at times involved on an optional basis -- so that instead of article-like writing, I put down a series of sections that require specific information, which helps me integrate it all together into a single insight and plan a course of action. Those sections include the object towards which I'm expressing my emotion and what situation I was in (object/situation), what mood(s) I felt (mood), the thoughts and images that occurred to me (thoughts), how I'm responding to other people (social environment), my behavior (behavior), the evidence that supports the estimate I made (supporting evidence), the evidence that contradicts it (contrary), and my final assessment of the thing as a whole (final estimate). The contradicting evidence section has been especially helpful, as it's made me much more aware how many emotional premises I maintain that clash with the ideas I hold consciously.

There are some interesting things I would like to have seen addressed, however, given some odd situations. In one such situation I managed to alter a subconscious premise almost instantaneously and changed my emotions right then and there, and in another situation I managed to altered my premise only temporarily, but the intensity of the emotional change I experienced was striking. In the former, I managed to destroy my fear of amusement park rides by identifying what it is that thrilled me about them. I remembered a specific roller coaster ride in which I was frightened by some overhead beams that looked like they were too close, making me fear decapitation. Given that the ride has been meticulously tested, ridden on countless times, and the ingenuity that went into creating it, I identified that it was absurd to feel this way. Accidents do happen on amusement park rides, but rarely, so rarely that they're front page news when they happen. When I made this explicit my fear evaporated, and I've never been able to get a thrill on an amusement park ride since then. Why was I able to alter my premise so rapidly? My fear had been present for years previously. In the latter situation, I managed to alleviate my fear of needles by noting to myself that I was afraid of feeling pain, which has been refuted by previous experience. When I noted that, my next blood test resulted in no emotional discomfort, and I was even able to look at the needle while they drew the blood. The next time, however, my fear was back and could not be abated by restating that same identification, and that blood test was very tense. I grant that during the process of changing one's emotions that there will be fluctuations, but the comfort I felt during the first session was so intense that I thought I had been totally cured. Understanding these two points better, I think, could work to shed further light on efficient and effective introspection.

Other than that, I cannot think of another vice for the book. It's very rational, striving to detail the nature of emotions and the appropriate therapy through evidence-based reasoning, which results in astonishingly clear and persuasive arguments. Even the person with already pristine mental health will benefit from this book, as it will teach how to maintain that state and perhaps even rise it further. In any and all pursuits for developing our abilities it is of cardinal importance to know oneself intricately, for it is that knowledge that allows us to understand the causation behind our processes and to take the proper steps to make what changes need to be made. Without that knowledge, then mental health goes out of one's control, thereby reducing one's life to either lucky character formations or brutal struggles again negative emotions that just won't stop. Whatever your purpose or interest in reading Mind Over Mood, I cannot recommend it enough.

Solo Flight

[Disclaimer: This book was given to me as a gift.]

Recently I've had the pleasure to read an Objectivist's book, Solo Flight, about the struggles a kid of independence has to go through just so he can live the life he wants to. It covers a week in the life of Nolan Cooper, a person who's independent in mind and just wants to be educated on his own terms, his desires being frustrated by a compulsory schooling system that forces him to waste time of his life. I've been pining for some good reading lately, and this entertained me enough that I read it in two sittings.

If one may know, this book comes from Tod, writer of Tod.FM (previously known as Optimal Living) and producer of significant applications such as the successful News Clock. He's certainly the most ambitious Objectivist I know, not one who talks about Objectivism but lives it. He's self-employed and conducts business with his own powers, and this novel is his new venture, and quite a respectable one at that. What he'll do next I have yet to hear, but I admire his willingness to so actively accept the risk of using his judgment, behavior for which he has been greatly rewarded.

Assessing this book on its own merit, there are some imbalances between the philosophical points it advocates and the actual concrete actions that demonstrate them, coming off as overly similar to Ayn Rand's style, but the story is intelligently crafted and the characters psychologically realistic. I found myself resonating with Nolan's plight and roused by the tensioned conflict, so much so that I continued reading long after I achieved my explicitly set quota. In the end I have found this a very satisfying read that has spiritually fueled me by reminding me of several philosophical points I have forgotten. It shows that it is Tod's first book, but he demonstrates great potential in his skill, moving me to wonder if this will be his first book.

If you're looking for some good Objectivist-themed reading, then I certainly recommend Solo Flight. It'll be a quick read if it grips your attention, but the satisfaction to be derived will make your life all that much better.

Book Review: Infidel

After reading the positive review in The Objective Standard (subscription needed for full content) I decided to pick up Infidel, the memoir of a woman who escaped Islamic tyranny and has ended up becoming a well-known critic of Islamic totalitarianism. While a memoir, the book reads like a gripping novel. I have to admit it's one of the few books I actually had difficulty putting down, sometimes even so much that I stayed up late just to finish more chapters. It is certainly a worthwhile read, one I'll consider doing again, next time as a formal study subject. Anyone interested in Islamic issues, woman's rights, or Middle East foreign policy will benefit from this book.

The author is, of course, still alive, so it tracks her life from the time of her young Muslim childhood in Somalia to the present day atheist and critic she is in America today. The book details her internal conflicts with her religious beliefs, the conflicts of others, and the political goings-on of the time, all with a great analytical eye and talent for portraying emotional depth. Though personal, the author's intention is to show what the religion of Islam logically leads to, refuting those myths that it's a religion of "peace and love."

The most shocking thing I've found about the book is her portrayal of the psycho-epistemology of the citizens of Islamic countries, bringing to full emphasis that these are truly backwards places. It is no hyperbole that these areas practice barbarism to its fullest extent. Most revealing, for instance, is how Ms. Ali was treated as a child. If she were to misbehave or act inappropriately in some way according to Islamic standards, her caretakers would immediately resort to beating her without hesitation. No explanations were given as to what it is she did wrong; the violence done against her was done as if what she did wrong was self-evident, and that the violence would somehow make her know better. It is no wonder, then, that violence is a constant theme throughout the book: Man's mind does not work automatically through the threat of force. The Muslims portrayed were perceiving "wrongs" left and right, and instead of solving their problems through reason they'd immediately resort to beatings, disfigurement, and murder. Without a rational epistemology in which to use methods of reason to persuade other people to alter their behavior and beliefs, physical force is literally the only option left. Violence does not beget more violence; mindlessness begets violence.

Such grotesque displays of cruelty gives the reader enough evidence to reach the conclusion that, in foreign policy, these types of people cannot be reasoned with. Throughout the story we can see the author struggle with her mental objections to her religious doctrine, objections and questions that, when voiced, were met with ridicule, hostility, and, in the present day, death threats. These people have no arguments to offer; they only want you to obey or die.

It goes without saying then that this book may be uncomfortable to those sensitive to descriptions of violence. The author makes no attempt at restraint in describing exactly what these acts are and how they permanently affect the victims. It makes crystal clear the rampant and putrid emotionalism of the perpetrators. Regardless, even if you are sensitive I nonetheless recommend working through such emotional discomfort to hear the argument that's being given. Given how important this issue it, it may take such a shock to some of us to eliminate our passivity and errors regarding the Middle East to see just how serious this problem is in our day and age.

The book's greatest virtue is how well it progresses from just a plain presentation of the facts of the author's life to deep analysis of those facts near the end, thereby tying abstractions to the appropriate concretes. Saving the abstractions for the end makes the analysis seem much more like a climax of a well-written story, tying everything together and penetrating the true nature of the subject. From the author's experiences you learn why these actions are perfectly logical of the Islamic ideology and are, in fact, explicitly called for in the Quran. It demolishes the myth that Islam is a religion of peace and love, for in reality it is an ideology of masters and slaves. That the author has first-hand experience only makes such an analysis more valuable, as she once lived in accordance to Islam and experienced the full force of its consequences, from how it leads to anger-driven mass murder to how it made her sister go insane.

Everything is so well integrated and formed that I honestly cannot think of a single vice to state. The writing style is clear, smooth, and very engaging. The book divides wonderfully in its chapter layout, separating the distinct periods of the authors life and transitioning smoothly to each. Even the dust jacket is artistically appropriate given the subject matter: Ayaan Hirsi Ali, head unveiled and eyes upward, filled with determination; refusing to submit.

For a long while I have been intellectually passive to the issues regarding the Middle East. While I recognized the objective seriousness of the matter -- these people have explicitly showed they intend to kill others in opposition to their ideology -- I haven't done much in the way of giving it thought. Seeing how unreasonable, dangerous, and barbaric these people truly are, my passivity has been destroyed and an interest in foreign policy born from it. I'll keep a watch on Ms. Ali's productions from now on, and work better to understand the issues. To see that these savages might someday try to kill you ought to eliminate any indifference.

In summary, I consider this a book well worth reading for anyone interested in foreign policy issues regarding the Middle East or in the subject of human rights, especially that of the plight of women in Islamic countries. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a true heroine of our time that has the potential to make a positive cultural impact, and, if you have no other interest in this book, her life may in the very least serve as fuel for the soul.

Book Review: The Vegetarian Myth

Hey, just to let you know, I've published my book review for *The Vegetarian Myth* over at Modern Paleo. Go take a read!

Second Thoughts on *Marginalia*: How to Choose Priorities

So I officially put my study system into effect and have tried taking notes on Ayn Rand's Marginalia. While my brain feels good, I've instead decided not to continue studying this book, opting to shelve it in favor of another. My thoughts on the flaws of this book has given me a significant insight on how I should choose my study subjects.

The format of the book is that it posts excerpts of various readings Ayn Rand has done and then puts in the right hand margins her notes and comments. It draws from a wide variety of sources, but only includes excerpts, not whole citations, of each, and short ones at that. For some this can be a very good exercise in precision thinking and translating the meaning of sentences, but since the book jumps from focus to focus literally every paragraph it's terrible for integrative knowledge. It's like being tossed several puzzle pieces taken from multiple box sets, but never having enough to actually form one single puzzle. Each paragraph doesn't provide much food for thought unless you have quite a learned background, and many will find it difficult to concentrate intensely on that which may ultimately be over their heads, especially considering what little reward there is to reap in the end.

From this I learned by which priorities I should choose my subject matters: 1.) By how it will impact my thinking in the immediate term, 2.) how it will impact my psycho-epistemology (method of thinking), and, consequently, 3.) how it will affect my actions. Marginalia, in my personal context, fails to provide satisfactory answers to each count. It'll hardly impact my thinking since it doesn't delve too deeply into each line of thought, it'll have little impact on my psycho-epistemology since it isn't constructive for integrative knowledge, and it'll have no impact on my actions since there's too little of the cited material to be useful. At the very best, I did at least learn from the error of picking up this book and gained more knowledge of how to most effectively study.

I think I'll perhaps redesign my study to-do lists (I make separate ones on my computer for each textbook) to incorporate these questions for what purpose I'm picking a particular text. By answering them I'll have a more firm understanding of what I'm aiming for and will better maintain motivation, and by keeping them documented on my to-do lists I'll be reminded of my answers every time I reread the list and cross off/add stuff.

I guess this prompts the question, then, as to why I want to study Good Calories, Bad Calories? As for my thinking, it'll help ground my nutritional beliefs in reality and gain more knowledge of the history and state of modern nutritional science. Psycho-epistemologically, it'll help me gain a more adequate knowledge of proper scientific methods and sufficient proofs, which relates, again, to my central purpose in life, which is to be a scientific entrepreneur in the culinary field. Action-wise, it'll help me better argue for my health beliefs, to comprehend additional nutritional texts better, and to better pursue an objectively healthy diet. I assume from this you'll be able to come to pretty accurate educated guesses as to why I want to study The Logical Leap.

As to what to replace Marginalia with, I'm thinking The Journals of Ayn Rand. I haven't started reading it yet, but I assume that it posts entire entries from her journal (diary/notebook), which would not only be beneficial for my philosophical thinking, but also for my introspection and note-taking skills. I know I said the Objectivism section on my reading list was to be off-limits, but since I'm shelving Marginalia that technically means that I haven't utilized that section yet in this reading round.

As for my note-taking experience, I'm finding that some of the symbols I've decided to construct are unnecessary. I've gotten over my hesitation of writing in the margins (no more pretty books!) and the functions of some symbols can easily be delegated to another, thereby making my note-taking system a little bit simpler. For instance, I think it's completely unnecessary to come up with a symbol separate from that which denotes working notes in order to denote questions. Since I end up dissecting my questions in a series of statements afterwards, it would be inappropriate to designate a line in my notes as if it were only questions. Also, I've learned that some other symbols are needed to make my notes easier to read, such as a slash by each new paragraph in order to allow me to more easily separate them by sight.

I also relearned that I need to keep clocks out of view in order to most effectively study. I don't know if I ever told you this, but in my first study endeavor I found that keeping track of time was a huge distraction. If I were to, say, look at a clock, study a page, and then note it was ten minutes later after I've finished that page, I would panic about my pace of my work and struggle to make things go faster than they should. In intellectual work, one needs to be concerned whether an effort is actually being made, the nature of that effort, and whether it's effective, not how fast that effort actually is. In time my thinking, comprehension, and learning will improve in speed; rushing things will do no good. As such, I'm reestablishing the habit of keeping time-keeping devices out of my sight and setting alarms in order to notify me of scheduled actions and whatnot.

It is strange, but even though I've studied only about twenty or so pages of Marginalia I already feel more mentally competent. I'm typing this post at a faster than normal speed and am having less difficulty finding things to say and the words to express them in. Just goes to show me what can happen when you work the brain like a muscle. Right now my brain is literally experiencing a warming sensation, as if it were burning from exercise.

I also had another thought regarding my conceptual exercise and daydreaming, but I'll save that for later.