Post by Cary Friedman on Mar 29, 2007 13:17:34 GMT -5
From cliffbig.blogspot.com/2007/03/gaining-wisdom.html
Not Much'a Nothin'
Cliff Biggers
Monday, March 26, 2007
Gaining Wisdom
Every now and then, I pick up a book that surpasses my expectations. Wisdom from the Batcave is just such a book. Rabbi Cary Friedman surprised me by producing a book so very well done. Many books that derive philosophical or existential significance from comic books, television shows, or other forms of popular culture end up doing a disservice to both subjects. Frequently, they display an embarrassingly superficial familiarity with the media from which they're drawing inspiration. In this case, though, Friedman showed a versatile knowledge of Batman, his history, and the character's development from all media, using that knowledge as a stepping-stone to well-founded, carefully crafted observations. He doesn't limit his source material to the comics; he's just as likely to quote from the animated series or a film, and he can cite creators and story titles just as well as any veteran Batman reader.
I usually finish a book of this sort in an hour or so, but this one actually took a bit longer; it was Friedman's solid research and well-grounded observations that enticed me to linger more with each segment I read. I simply couldn't give the book a hasty flip-through, but found myself instead wanting to take the book in at a slower pace.
All in all, a surprisingly memorable book; I only wish he'd devote the same attention to Superman, another hero from whom I derived a great deal of my own ethical and philosophical views early in my childhood.
Thank you, Cliff!
Not Much'a Nothin'
Cliff Biggers
Monday, March 26, 2007
Gaining Wisdom
Every now and then, I pick up a book that surpasses my expectations. Wisdom from the Batcave is just such a book. Rabbi Cary Friedman surprised me by producing a book so very well done. Many books that derive philosophical or existential significance from comic books, television shows, or other forms of popular culture end up doing a disservice to both subjects. Frequently, they display an embarrassingly superficial familiarity with the media from which they're drawing inspiration. In this case, though, Friedman showed a versatile knowledge of Batman, his history, and the character's development from all media, using that knowledge as a stepping-stone to well-founded, carefully crafted observations. He doesn't limit his source material to the comics; he's just as likely to quote from the animated series or a film, and he can cite creators and story titles just as well as any veteran Batman reader.
I usually finish a book of this sort in an hour or so, but this one actually took a bit longer; it was Friedman's solid research and well-grounded observations that enticed me to linger more with each segment I read. I simply couldn't give the book a hasty flip-through, but found myself instead wanting to take the book in at a slower pace.
All in all, a surprisingly memorable book; I only wish he'd devote the same attention to Superman, another hero from whom I derived a great deal of my own ethical and philosophical views early in my childhood.
* * *
Thank you, Cliff!