The Things They Carried

by Tim O'Brien
The Things They Carried cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Technical
  • ID: 5698
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • Reviews: 2
Reviews
thebooknanny.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
profound 4.50

The Things They Carried is a powerful and moving collection of stories that delves into the emotional and psychological impact of the Vietnam War on soldiers. The interconnected narratives offer a raw and honest portrayal of war, memory, and the human condition, making it a profound and unforgettable read.

The Things They Carried is a collection of interconnected stories that explore the lives of soldiers during the Vietnam War. Each story is a vignette that captures the emotional and psychological toll of war on the soldiers. The author uses a blend of fiction and non-fiction to create a raw and honest portrayal of the soldiers' experiences. The stories are deeply moving and offer a profound insight into the human condition. The collection is a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to convey complex emotions and experiences. The interconnected narratives create a cohesive and immersive reading experience that stays with the reader long after the last page is turned.

Quick quotes

    The Things They Carried is a powerful and moving collection of stories that delves into the emotional and psychological impact of the Vietnam War on soldiers.

    The interconnected narratives offer a raw and honest portrayal of war, memory, and the human condition.

    The collection is a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to convey complex emotions and experiences.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
insightful 4.00

The Disinterested Witness is a detailed study of the concept of saksin in Advaita Vedanta, comparing it with Western phenomenology. The book is a major contribution to comparative philosophy, offering a vantage point for cross-cultural comparison. The reviewer finds the book clear and insightful, though some aspects of the treatment are complex and challenging.

The Disinterested Witness by Bina Gupta is a comprehensive exploration of the concept of saksin, or witness-consciousness, in Advaita Vedanta. The book delves into the phenomenological relevance of this concept in Indian philosophy and demonstrates its importance for a sound theory of knowledge. Gupta compares the Advaita notion of witness-consciousness with similar ideas in Western phenomenology, addressing a wide range of epistemological issues and the perceived commonalities and differences between Eastern and Western philosophy. The reviewer appreciates the book's clarity and the author's exemplary schematic approach, which lays out the concept systematically. However, the reviewer notes that the distinctions and relationships between the individual self, the witness, and consciousness are complex and challenging to navigate. The book is particularly valuable for students of philosophy interested in placing Advaita in the context of broader philosophical questions about knowledge and certainty.

Quick quotes

    The difference between them is that in the former the mind is a qualifying attribute (visheShaNa) and in the latter a limiting adjunct.

    This witness in the individual self is different in each individual. For if it were what Maitra has known, Caitra would also recollect.

    Mental cognitions cannot reveal themselves because they are inert as well. Hence, the need for the self-luminous witness consciousness to reveal mental cognitions.

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