Books
by Michael on August 24th, 2008.The following is an incomplete, list of books that have either inspired me or I just think that the world would be a slightly better place if more people read them. They are in no particular order. By “inspired” I don’t mean that they triggered or compelled me to write a piece of music. A great book, for me, is a bit like a really nice room that feels good to be in. Often just the way a good author expresses something reminds me in a non-specific way about what things are important, provides perspective or just creates a mood that hadn’t been happening before. In the way that sometimes a perfume or smell can do this. For this reason, although most or all of these books are nonfiction and to varying degrees involve the transmission of information and ideas, in my experience many of them can be read more than once. It is the immersion in the author’s mindset that is a big part of what is enjoyable for me.
The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton. De Botton is one of my favorite writers around. This book is an inspired book about architecture that evolves into a general theory of visual aesthetics. Definitely worth reading for the relaxed, open minded, writing style as well as the contents.
Equally true about two of his other books The Consolations of Philosophy . It’s a thumbnail history of western philosophy that is very readable and informative. I think that there is a tv series made in England that de Botton narrates with the same title that is supposed to be good.
Status Anxiety explores the idea that modern anxiety is different than previous because people didn’t used to have as much choice in their lives, which was mostly bad, but they also didn’t feel as responsible for their fate/status because there wasn’t much that anyone could do to move up or down the status ladder.
Eduard Tufte also has inspired me in his three books on how to present information visually.The first one that I saw is The Visual Display of Quantitative Information which investigates and theorizes about what is a good or bad way to present information visually i.e. graphs, charts maps, etc.
The other 2 are worth having if you feel like treating yourself to make a really great guide to a kind of visual grammar. Envisioning Information and Visual Explanations
The Progress Paradox by Greg Easterbrook is a look at why people in the developed world, who are materially better of than humans have ever been, are quite possibly genuinely less happy. This was partly the inspiration for the title song of RockPaperScissors. This book complements much of Status Anxiety. I liked it because it also supports and illuminates something that is increasingly important to me personally and intellectually, which is the fundamental human need for community.
In an slightly Epicurus inspired way, I have interpreted this to encourage having wine and food with people I like as much as reasonably possible.
The Birth of Plenty by Peter Bernstein is an investigation into why the West got way richer starting about 1820. This an absolutely fascinating, readable book by a very smart guy that in the final couple of chapters ends up covering some of the ground that Progress Paradox does in a very satisfying way. Bernstein’s main point is that the conditions for radical prosperity that came together in England, around 1820, were property rights, (an idea I first came across in Hernando de Sotos excellent “The Mystery of Capital” a rational science based belief system, effective communications and capital markets.
Slightly tempering my enthusiasm for both these books, and books like them is that they partially, in my opinion, are presented as waterproof theories about how something works. But it often seems that a few years after someone publishes something like this, someone else comes along and says, ah yes but really there’s another factor that explains it all much better. So I always feel a bit embarrassed about how I’ve told everyone who would listen a few years previously about some great book I’d read that really nailed an explanation of something. Although, I suppose that is science in a nutshell.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Hello Michael,
I just found this link on Enoweb. I’m a bookworm so I always like to see what other people are reading. I’m surprised that de Botton doesn’t mention Christopher Alexander in his architecture book. I suspect you must know his work as Eno was always promoting him.
I wonder if you’ve read the cybernetician Stafford Beer?
Anyway, I recall an excellent evening of duduk music at a church in Vauxhall nearly 20 years ago. You recommended Bismillah Khan to me.
I look forward to the new record.
Best regards,
David W.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Michael Brooks,
I would first like to thank you for that list of interesting books. I have been really uninspired lately in trying to find something of a quality, then realized inspiration finds you. Well your website jumped first and here I am. Inspired of course, but like a comfortable space in a familiar room. I first heard your music in the movie “into the wild” about a year ago. I saw the movie in a really small theatre in new york. When I brought a friend back to see it, the projector broke. So I drove him 45 miles across the state a week later.
The movie did snap a decision in me to just leave a bad situation, involving a woman. I was really lost in a cycle of abuse, it had a gravitational pull, a quick sand of thoughts and fear. I just didn’t realize how bad it was getting, even though it directly involved me. Male victims of domestic violence are truly on their own. Society, crazy breed, just doesn’t get it. Gender roles make it almost common place, as it’s depicted western society as a prelude to hot sex or even comical in regards to crashing plates. As the story goes…..
I saw “into the wild” and I cried in the theatre. The way domestic violence is depicted was very accurate. I identified with the main character and that week I just escaped into the night, never to really be “seen” as the person who left ever again. I can almost describe the feeling of walking out the door to that feeling as you first jump out of a plane. Just knowing the fear, anxiety will be met with the rushing wind, of screaming voices and broken hearts. Never really foreseeing the all consuming loneliness and weakness,. Just as a sky diver doesn’t see the darkening cloud in the distance with the moment in front of him.
Into the wild…..
Amazingly at first it wasn’t that bad and did very well. I first stayed and started working at a Preserve. The largest preserve in ny, a very quite place in the fall and winter. There is a wild, ancient river in the preserve. The river has a point in the middle that wines and turns into a hatchery. I ended up working at the trout hatchery. Being completely present and free of mind activity. My constant companion was the “soundtrack” to “into the wild“. Eddie Vedder is a great artist. (side note: saw his concert in nyc this summer)
Well, months go by and time heals wounds of all kinds. I since moved into an apartment, and moving in a month to an upstairs apt with balcony. My legal practice up and running, after my degree lay dormant, shaved my beard. Then I’m not even sure how, but almost to the day I left a year earlier, I discovered the “original score” to “into the wild” by You
The sounds almost echo through time with me, to an unconscious part of my mind. Having watched the movie so often. I must have an emotions tied to it. Its beautiful, as a comfortable room, a safe space of me to be inspired. My heart can embrace your music. I thank you for that. I have been searching for a poster of the cover to the original score, (Chris and his kayak) and I can’t find it anywhere. I actually own a kayak, that looks just like that. Love to kayak, live right on a great south bay. Take care.
B
Going to get “Birth of Plenty” asap
October 31st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
yes,and I sometimes wonder how things might have turned for yours truly if I’d not gone bananas on the works of William Burroughs when i was a teenager.must get back to Cities Of The Red Night,it’s been way too long……
December 11th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
I would recommend The War for Civilization by Robert Fisk. You have to be dedicated as it is more of a tome than a book. As far as getting a clearer perspective on the Middle East than you’ll ever get from mainstream media this book is it. A real eye-opener from a dedicated journalist who spares no one. (Just Google “Fisking” and you’ll see!) IMHO he has a particular axe to grind with the US and Israel over the problems in Lebanon (as he lives/is based there) and at times he belabors some of the issues but, all in all, a fascinating read.
December 31st, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Hi Michael,
Interesting selections of books. My favorite read from last year was a book related in theme to some of your choices – it is called “The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less” by Barry Schwartz. Some good food for thought in that one.
Thanks for all the great music over the years by the way, I’ve been a fan for a long time.
December 8th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Respected Sir,
You have written music for the movie Into the wild.
Did you read the book?How did you find it?
Just curious,Big fan!Hope that you keep making such transcendant music for different themes.
Thank you.
Rohan
December 8th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
I enjoy your originality and ooiginal moods that fit so lbeautifully the film