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Die Kunst Stillzusitzen (German Edition) (2012)

by Tim Parks(Favorite Author)

3.7 of 5 Votes: 4

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Verlag Antje Kunstmann GmbH

review 1: The title, from a favorite poem, caught my eye, and a favorable review led me to grab this book when I saw it at the library. Mr. Parks, an Englishman who lives in Italy with his family and who as a career as a successful novelist (he's made it the Man Booker short list), developed severe problems with his plumbing, the the central culprit appearing to be his prostrate. (N.B. Hear me knocking on wood, but the similar symptoms did not prompt my choice of this book.) So far, so good. But as breast cancer seems a real threat to most woman, so the prostrate for men. Thus, some personal concern--but I digress. His prostrate, however, wasn't cancerous. It was . . . well, doctors weren't quite sure what was wrong. Urologists, in any event, recommended a roto-rooter of the nether ... moreregions. He didn't cotton to this idea. He searched, and then he came upon a book. Not to spoil the ending, but he ends up performing exercises and attending a mindfulness meditation retreat. All the while it seems, he protests, but it works.I won't say more, but if you're interested in a very tell-told story of health and its elusiveness, of how our bodies and minds interact (or ignore each other), and how we can, if we open ourselves to experiences that the mind, a priori, wants to reject, we can experience some really amazing changes. A very good book and thought-provoking.
review 2: The sub-title of this book, 'A Sceptic's Search for Health and Healing', is a more fitting title than 'Teach Us To Sit Still' as the book turns out to be a lengthy and critical examination of the author's poor state of health and how, if at all, it can be healed. As a fan of Tim Parks' non-fiction I was expecting a thorough investigation of the subject matter which, going by the title and the artwork - and indeed by Will Self's accolade on the front cover - I expected it to largely focus on Vipassana Meditation. However, the reader is instead led into a labyrinth of medical conditions and treatments, expensive and futile procedures and Mr Parke's existential struggle to try to come to terms with how this misery is affecting the balance of his inner self. We are led on a rambling voyage of possible influences on his medical condition starting with his strict religious upbringing and, by way of his love affair with authors who have have overcome debilitating illness, to his ongoing struggle with his ego - which he aptly emphasises by name-dropping his relationships with top surgeons, famous authors and even a personal canoeing coach. The scepticism previously alluded to becomes irksome when he becomes dismissive and scathing of any view which conflicts with his own prejudices. For instance, he is sent to see numerous, and expensive, western doctors whose advice he follows to the letter without achieving any improvement in his condition. Yet he seeks out an Ayurvedic doctor in India and a Vipassana Guru in Italy but dismisses them as cranks when they suggest an alternative reason for his ailments - although his ultimate salvation is as a result of the seeds they plant in his mind. Throughout this book he appears to be more absorbed with trying to link tales of scholarly achievement, literary criticism and thwarted ambition to his personal discomfort and angst than to find a coherent story with which to engage the reader. It is therefore ironic that he accuses a friend of writing 'excellent aphorisms of exquisite pessimism' when most of this book transpires to be just that.Overall, this is a disappointing and disjointed read. In the foreword Mr Parkes admits to having a discussion with his publisher who cannot categorise this book and asks is it 'Health, Biography, New Age, Criticism?' It is all that and, as such, is a mishmash of book. Like the author says, when he finishes the book, I am happy to move on. less

Download links for: Die Kunst stillzusitzen (German Edition)

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