A Tremor of Bliss, Mark Judge

A Tremor of Bliss by Mark Judge is a book that tries to look at both the liberal and conservative positions on Sex and modern music.  In a sense the book is a survey of Catholic literature on the topic with some personal experiences from the author mixed in to humanize this most personal of topics.

Started: September 28, 2010
Completed: October 5, 2010
Recommendation: Pretty far right conservatives only
Recommended By:  The author.  He and I were classmates in high school.

Words I looked up:
Eugenics -- The study of methods of improving genetic qualities by selective breeding (especially as applied to human mating)
abortifacient -- A drug or other chemical agent that causes abortion

Review:  I did not like this book.  Conservatives are painted as "not prudes" in most cases although one conservative is portrayed as being authoritarian (in part, I think to make the case that his liberal successor put him to shame in this area, although it may be a truly objective critique).  Liberals are painted as "free sex" hippies for the most part.  The book is remarkably defensive of the second George Bush for a book that doesn't seem to be about politics and those who support Obama (even if former liberals) have had "their wheels come off."

The author does a good job of explaining Pope John Paul II's position on sex and provides insights I have seen nowhere else.  The highlight of these is the concept that sex can go beyond procreation and into the realm of demonstrating fidelity and still be on the moral high ground.  The primary liberal argument against the conservative position that "procreation should always be possible" is that it seems hard to believe a millimeter of latex is going to stop God if he desires a child (and He has done so before with Mary and Ruth).  This argument is not addressed which seems odd given the intended effort of the book being inclusive to both liberals and conservatives.

It is unclear in the book what the Church's objections might be to Rock 'n Roll (there is a suggestion that Rock 'n Roll leads to illicit sex, but it is juxtaposed to the author's experience of God during a concert).  In fact, the details of Rock 'n Roll that are addressed focus on a tune lifted from the Song of Songs.  There is also a suggestion that the author's early dalliances were encouraged by his listening to early Rock 'n Roll tunes that were all about love.

I walked away from this book cold.  Likening the sexual experience to one's relationship with God, somehow sullied that relationship in my mind no matter how well intended.  The dabbling in politics amongst discussions of sex (driven by Planned Parenthood) made it difficult for me to wade through so many false assertions and repetitions of the Republican platform (life was great under Bush) while paying attention to the meat of the book.  While there are great arguments to be made about the Catholic Church, its teachings, and the growth and development of a healthy sexual life, none of those were made beyond the concept of abstinence seen through a hazy veil of occasional privacy.

Blech.  In the process of doing some quick research to be sure that I had Ruth correct, I ran across Gen: 19:36 that has both the daughters of Lot becoming pregnant by him.  The Bible still surprises me.

Stealing History, Robert Atwood

Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient World by Roger Atwood tells the story of how looters dig up graves and destroy cultural history.

Started: September 15, 2010
Completed: December 10, 2010
Recommendation: Ehhhh
Recommended By:  Picked this up at Vertigo Books as it was closing.

Words I looked up:
deracinate -- Displacement; to move something from its natural environment
sclerotic -- Hardened, not fleshy or soft

Review:


There is no question that bad things are happening at sites of archaeological value all over the world.  This book documents the concept and does a decent job of describing a very serious destruction of an archaeological site by looters.  This book documents this and what is happening in the world is staggering.  Unfortunately, the book is a very difficult read.  Nothing seems to flow well and it took forever to fight through it.  I felt it was worth reading, but it was very hard and I wonder how much extra information I got from the last half of the book.  I think this book is rather repetitive and builds the case strongly about half-way through then never really goes any farther to establish that looting is bad, both museums and collectors are complicit, and that changes in the US are making a dent, but no where near solving the problem.