Amazon Customer

Detailed, rigorous, and complete

Reviewed: 09-06-2021

The book does an excellent job of surveying the social justice landscape, activism, and scholarly outputs. It spends time providing background and history to how these theories have developed to what they are today.

It uses a sophisticated and rigorous approach to pulling apart critical theory, and shines sunlight on it for all to see. The book isn’t a slam dunk on those people who follow theory, but a take down of the idea itself.

What is amazing when reflecting on what the book puts forward, is that critical theory is self contradictory, and overtly religious in its logic and practices, that anyone following enlightenment values can marvel at its absurdity.

Critical theory is creating new and harsh power dynamics which, ironically, are what it espouses to be tearing down.

This truely is a case study in how, with a vocal enough minority, destructive and farcical frameworks of belief can take hold and brainwash people into following suit.

The books ends with some simple instructions on why to do as a public when confronted with these ideas. Be brave, and just like that little boy declare that the emperor has no clothes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Notice to our leaders: Read this book!

Reviewed: 12-10-2020

The book takes you on a journey starting in the refugee landing points. It progress across the continent through what a refugees journey looks like, and interestingly what the local populations think of their new arrivals. Strikingly the book lays out the chasm between the politicians view and the sentiment of the populations that voted them in.

The book describes the process of a cultural suicide of Europe. It takes the modern psychology of predominantly left leaning ideologies which continue to hold guilt as a virtue, and subsequently castigates themselves for a lack of any cultural substance.

Ironically it seems this modern viewpoint takes any external culture as beyond examination, on the basis that these immigrants cultures are not vacuous like Europe’s. The leap is then made that effectively they must be superior to Europe’s for merely existing, and hence are not merely tolerated but entitled to live out their cultural practices unimpeded.

As Europe’s leaders effectively abandon ship in an almost reverse-colonialism, there is a sense that Europe has turned into the savage that must be enriched wholesale by the lessons bought by any new arrival that is not of European ethnic origin.

The situation is all rather depressing, and opens the door perhaps to greater right wing political extremism that populations may get behind in any attempt to grasp some defence of their own customs. That is though, as the book further points out, if the right even bothers to mount such a defence.

If we are to accept that ideas exist, and some are better than others, then we should accept that cultures (built on ideas) are an extension of this. The book highlights what is likely the biggest challenge to overcome this nihilistic fatalism is in creating a cohesive European/Western identity that Europeans are proud to stand behind. That pride takes courage.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

White knuckle suspense

Reviewed: 22-10-2019

If you love the Alien franchise, or just enjoy sci-fi horror, you’d be a fool to pass this up.

The production and performers by the actors are second to none. This is like a full radio play, laden with a chilling soundtrack, exceptional sound effects, and a storyline that fits seamlessly into the Alien universe. A god damn, the actress they got to play Ripley is utterly convincing (as are all the other actors who also do a bang up job).

The build up over the 10 episodes of this play, had me nearly twisting the leather off the steering wheel of my Mazda, as I’d drive home from work listening to it of an evening. You’ll connect with the characters, and be left hanging as each chapter closes sweating over what’s in store next.

I’ve seen crappy Alien spin offs before, and this isn’t one of those. Movie studios, and book publishers should look to the quality of this audio play as a gold standard of theatrical mastery. Loved it!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A book of the moment

Reviewed: 10-10-2019

As the books title suggests, the internet and social media have truely enabled what may have been minority views previously, to be broadcast far and wide. This has brought with it keyboard warriors who are emboldened to drive a specific PC culture gone mad, and call out those who aren’t towing the relevant tribal line of the moment.

The book does an excellent job of bringing up the most current egregious examples of, typically far left wing, “wokeness” gone mad.

For the uninitiated, this book would be particularly enlightening to see the hypocrisy, inconsistency, and absurdity of many of the positions held by social justice groups in the modern day. The book also continually highlights the dangers each of the various examples brings with it, were society to adopt the views whole cloth.

One area I would have loved to have seen more time dedicated to is what as a society are we to do about all this. Murray does a great job of carrying the reader along narratively, however only devotes a small portion to what we should do next. Considering how much of a problem this extreme PC culture is having today on many aspects of a persons daily life, it seems there is ample ground (and appetite) to explore more deeply how we could dig ourselves out of this mess.

I certainly enjoyed the book, and Murray’s oral performance was engaging. I’d recommend the book most to those who either don’t see the problem being as big as it seems, or those who have brushed up against the social justice narrative but are confused about what’s going on more broadly.

For those who have been engaged with the subject area, and may already listen to podcasts like Joe Rogan, Sam Harris, Ben Shapiro, Eric Weinstein (all mentioned in the book), you’ll find a lot of familiar ground. Even then though, I still enjoyed the way all of the issues were wrapped together as a whole, and some of the interesting inconsistencies Murray highlighted that I’d never considered.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

Adds nuance and balance to Lessons in EO

Reviewed: 06-03-2019

Structure in a similar way to Extreme Ownership, The Dichotomy of Leadership injects additional meaning to what a well rounded leader should be. TDOL helps clarify areas from EO by tempering the advice with the complexity that is apparent in real decision making paradigms.

It has the usual mix of military and business case studies, which are very welcome. However it probably had ever so slightly less business ones this time round.

Either way, devoured this book and would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Extreme Ownership.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Practical, clear cut, and eminently useful

Reviewed: 20-02-2019

The book is packed with a wealth of clear leadership case studies. Battlefield examples bring a sense of high stakes emotion, expertly cut through by clear and simple leadership techniques to simplify problem solving. This is perfectly balanced with corresponding corporate case studies where Jocko and Leif both personally helped companies through leadership challenges.

Each chapter is broken up in digestible chunks, bringing information in such a salient way that you can grasp concepts to the point that they are almost common sense. It is the best type of teaching, where they bring the audience along for the ride.

I honestly find it difficult to pick faults with this title. If you are after a leadership book for both your personal life, and the office, you really can’t go wrong with Extreme Ownership.

I’ve got the audio book. I intend on buying the hardcover for instant easy reference at my fingertips.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!