Review by Choice Review
Samuelson (philosophy, Kirkwood Community College) struggles here with the difficult mission of explaining a mysterious and paradoxical position that, he claims, defies human understanding. Pointless suffering seems meaningless, yet fighting to avoid it risks eliminating meaning from one's life. Samuelson devotes the first part of the book to a somewhat unconvincing attempt to demonstrate this. In the second part of the book, he offers rather vague summaries of the writings of Hannah Arendt, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Confucius and the Book of Job (the last rendered in appalling slang used to engage the minds of prisoners in a maximum security prison who were participants in a series of philosophical discussion groups). The book concludes with an account of the way in which blues musicians inspired by the tragic torments of slavery managed to integrate joy and pain, the good and the bad, in their lyrics and music. At one point, Samuelson claims that evil is simply a matter of judging some experiences negatively. In sum, the aim should be not to eliminate suffering but to accept it without religious or metaphysical pseudo explanations. Treating pointless suffering as a necessary part of life might make it more bearable. Summing Up: Optional. Serious scholars of philosophy and psychology. --Sheila Ann Mason, emerita, Concordia University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Samuelson (philosophy, Kirkwood Community Coll.; The Deepest Human Life) terms responses to pointless suffering as "fix-it" and "face-it." Modern civilization, dominated by technology, seeks to deal with evils by eliminating them. Samuelson does not reject this utilitarian approach altogether. He questions, though, that an overly technological approach makes us neglect a fundamental truth. Accepting and learning from suffering is essential to leading a meaningful life. From this perspective, he examines the views of John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Nietzsche, Hannah Arendt, the Book of Job, the Stoic Epictetus, Confucius, and traditions in blues music. The book stems from lectures Samuelson gave at Iowa's Oakdale Prison. The insights of prisoners as well as the author's views of the American prison system enhance a narrative that deals with a topic everyone must confront in an unforgettable way. Samuelson has read widely and addresses each of his perspectives with depth. The account of Stoicism is especially well done. Compare to Peter Kreeft's Three Philosophies of Life. VERDICT Will be of interest to not only students of philosophy, religion, and literature but also to general readers.-David Gordon, Ludwig von Mises Inst., Auburn, AL © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
