Creation

While waiting for the responses of my mba applications (finger crossed!) I tried to distract my mind with greater things. Creation is a novel by Gore Vidal which deals with some of the most ancient and difficult human questions: “How was the universe created? Why was evil created with good?”.

Cyrus Spitama, the protagonist, is the grandson of Zoroaster and lives at the court of Darius, the great king of Persia. There Cyrus becomes friend of the king’s son Xerxes, future king of Persia, and start a long travel as persian ambassador. In his travels Cyrus visits India, where he meets the Buddha and learn about the nirvana, and Cathay (modern China) where he fishes with Confucius on a riverbank while discussing of creation and the way of the nobleman.

I have to say that although I enjoy books about philosophy, I had some initial difficulties. The numerous characters and facts presented at the beginning (don’t forget it’s an historical novel) somehow confused me, maybe just because it’s my first novel of this kind. However after some pages I started to enjoy the narration. Vidal narrates, very vividly, the context of the fifth century BC, the persian court, the war with greeks and the scenario in India and Cathay. The political and cultural’s picture resulting is very intense and realistic, making look the characters and the facts absolutely actual. Also the direct and sarcastic style of Cyrus is worth of the reading.

Suggested to everyone who wants a break from economy/science/… books and looks for a well written history merging travels, philosophy and politics.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

This book, written by Robert M. Pirsig, has really surprised me; the story it’s quite unusual: a man ride his “machine” with his son and two friends across US and during this journey many philosophical discussions take place. Most of these regard “Quality” a concept which breaks the dualism typical of western culture by bridging again Classic and Romantic understanding.  The narrator tells the story of Phaedrus, the person who he himself was before being treated with a shock therapy, and his search for Quality, not through definitions nor by rationality but by a Zen like approach.

The book is really stimulating and all philosophical ideas presented are related to all-day-things, like maintaining a motorcycle for example. I think that everyone regardless his education can enjoy this book as I’ve enjoyed it.