Thank you kindly Mr. Gioia. I'm looking forward to finding a copy. Boethius could use a few more modern counterparts, in my opinion. Edifying writing, as always.
Love this story!! Just as light possesses power, and darkness is merely its extinction, so too does good contain an active energy that evil can never match.
Thank you so much for sharing. At this moment we can step out of polarity and build light.
Ted- I don't know how to message you privately. There is a typo on the back cover of the book that got through the proofreader. It was a rephrasing of the quote from Frank Kernode you used in your introduction.
Im not sure whats so "fascinating" about someone not trained as a philosopher or scholar ending up contemplating the deeper meanings of life. Anyone with an inquisitive mind can and might even be expected to do so, regardless of their education. It reminds me of the surprise europeans felt at learning some native american societies had a deeper understanding of freedom and governance than they themselves did(a fact they ultimately downplayed and denied). Thats a bit of a kick in the teeth for us "uneducated" thinkers.
"Perhaps others have reached the same conclusion, in some retreat or hermitage. But few have done so in such a dire situation, and with so many threats hanging over their heads. If mindfulness is possible in those circumstances—with so little to see, touch, hear, or taste—imagine what riches it can offer to us, with the whole world at hand." Idk if you can really make that claim, that "few have done so in such a dire situation", as im sure many that have never made it back to tell us about it, or didnt decide to write a book. And im kind of inclined to argue that his mindfulness was a product of those circumstances and not something that happened in spite of them. I would say such mindfulness is actually much harder to come by "with the whole world at hand".
Great comment! I think "mindfulness" is more difficult living at the centre of things than isolated from them (Muslims tend to think not that there's no monasticism per se but that the monastic spirit is, rather, brought into the city).
Also, I think it's very interesting that mindfulness is often talked about as an end in itself, without reference to an object of thought/love. Always loved Iris Murdoch's: " the quality of our attachments is the quality of our understanding."
Interesting to hear how rhythms comforted and provided peace for him as I believe rhythms to be the bond that unites all. The layers of meaning associated with rhythms are infinite and every biological function relies on a pattern for optimal health.
Jesus Ted. Great piece. I did an interview once with a guy who’d been on a prison hunger strike. He described getting through it with these insane visualizations - imagining every detail of every vacation he would take with his girlfriend if he ever got out; every bit of food from every meal he had ever had. People can be really, really resilient.
I always appreciate your writing, but I really loved this piece! The notion of dark not being the opposite of light, but rather the absence of light is such a simple and powerful metaphor for evil (being not the opposite of good, but the absence of good).
Definitely inspired me to want to find and read this book. Thanks!
—"the good in life,” he declared, “is no longer overshadowed by its imperfections….The tiniest window bringing light will always dominate the bleak and oppressive walls.”
That's where it's at.
Thanks for your work Ted, by illuminating that story you brought that book back from obscurity.
If anyone is interested, we will be discussing Solitary Confinement with Hugh Purcell, author of Tragic Heroes: The Burney Brothers of Hay at War , Dr. Peter Burney, Christopher Burney's son and professor emeritus of the National Heart and Lung Institute, on Wednesday, April 16th. Sign up for free on Eventbrite:
This brought tears to my eyes.
This man ascended out of cold and starvation in a Gestapo prison with the inner resources of his mind and heart. Utterly heroic.
I ordered the book.
Thank you kindly Mr. Gioia. I'm looking forward to finding a copy. Boethius could use a few more modern counterparts, in my opinion. Edifying writing, as always.
Love this story!! Just as light possesses power, and darkness is merely its extinction, so too does good contain an active energy that evil can never match.
Thank you so much for sharing. At this moment we can step out of polarity and build light.
Just bought a copy!
Most worthy read 💎
Ted- I don't know how to message you privately. There is a typo on the back cover of the book that got through the proofreader. It was a rephrasing of the quote from Frank Kernode you used in your introduction.
Thanks. I’ve alerted the publisher.
Im not sure whats so "fascinating" about someone not trained as a philosopher or scholar ending up contemplating the deeper meanings of life. Anyone with an inquisitive mind can and might even be expected to do so, regardless of their education. It reminds me of the surprise europeans felt at learning some native american societies had a deeper understanding of freedom and governance than they themselves did(a fact they ultimately downplayed and denied). Thats a bit of a kick in the teeth for us "uneducated" thinkers.
"Perhaps others have reached the same conclusion, in some retreat or hermitage. But few have done so in such a dire situation, and with so many threats hanging over their heads. If mindfulness is possible in those circumstances—with so little to see, touch, hear, or taste—imagine what riches it can offer to us, with the whole world at hand." Idk if you can really make that claim, that "few have done so in such a dire situation", as im sure many that have never made it back to tell us about it, or didnt decide to write a book. And im kind of inclined to argue that his mindfulness was a product of those circumstances and not something that happened in spite of them. I would say such mindfulness is actually much harder to come by "with the whole world at hand".
But im really excited to read this book!
Great comment! I think "mindfulness" is more difficult living at the centre of things than isolated from them (Muslims tend to think not that there's no monasticism per se but that the monastic spirit is, rather, brought into the city).
Also, I think it's very interesting that mindfulness is often talked about as an end in itself, without reference to an object of thought/love. Always loved Iris Murdoch's: " the quality of our attachments is the quality of our understanding."
Thank you, Ted. Just purchased a copy upon your compelling endorsement.
Interesting to hear how rhythms comforted and provided peace for him as I believe rhythms to be the bond that unites all. The layers of meaning associated with rhythms are infinite and every biological function relies on a pattern for optimal health.
Thank you Tom! I will be sure to read this book.
Jesus Ted. Great piece. I did an interview once with a guy who’d been on a prison hunger strike. He described getting through it with these insane visualizations - imagining every detail of every vacation he would take with his girlfriend if he ever got out; every bit of food from every meal he had ever had. People can be really, really resilient.
I always appreciate your writing, but I really loved this piece! The notion of dark not being the opposite of light, but rather the absence of light is such a simple and powerful metaphor for evil (being not the opposite of good, but the absence of good).
Definitely inspired me to want to find and read this book. Thanks!
US readers can order Solitary Confinement from our US distributor, Asterism Books:
https://asterismbooks.com/product/solitary-confinement-christopher-burney
Very interesting. Can't help but think of Viktor Frankl's "Mans Search for Meaning" and how both were imprisoned roughly at the same time.
I thought of this book too.
—"the good in life,” he declared, “is no longer overshadowed by its imperfections….The tiniest window bringing light will always dominate the bleak and oppressive walls.”
That's where it's at.
Thanks for your work Ted, by illuminating that story you brought that book back from obscurity.
Count me as another one who ordered the book!
If anyone is interested, we will be discussing Solitary Confinement with Hugh Purcell, author of Tragic Heroes: The Burney Brothers of Hay at War , Dr. Peter Burney, Christopher Burney's son and professor emeritus of the National Heart and Lung Institute, on Wednesday, April 16th. Sign up for free on Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launch-of-solitary-confinement-by-christopher-burney-tickets-1307341787479