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Apr 09, 2019
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Short Book Reviews April 2019

21 min • 2,831 words • 102 comments • podcast (19 min)
Scott Alexander reviews three books: a controversial psychotherapy text, an introduction to Lacan's philosophy, and a rationalist-themed fantasy novel. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews three books in this post. He starts with 'Method of Levels' by Timothy Carey, a book about psychotherapy based on perceptual control theory. Scott criticizes the book's extreme claims but finds some value in its approach. Next, he reviews 'How To Read Lacan' by Slavoj Zizek, finding it surprisingly readable but not entirely coherent. Lastly, he discusses 'The Steerswoman', a fantasy novel popular in the rationalist community, which he finds fun but not particularly deep. Shorter summary
Dec 26, 2017
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A History Of The Silmarils In The Fifth Age

15 min • 2,006 words • 99 comments • podcast (15 min)
The post presents a humorous fictional account of the Silmarils' fate in modern times, connecting them to Pulp Fiction and Santa Claus. Longer summary
This humorous post presents a fictional history of the Silmarils from Tolkien's Silmarillion in modern times. The author creates an elaborate theory connecting the Silmarils to the movie Pulp Fiction and the legend of Santa Claus. The post starts by recapping the fate of the Silmarils, then develops two main theories: one linking Maglor's Silmaril to the briefcase in Pulp Fiction, and another connecting Maedhros' Silmaril to Santa Claus' workshop at the North Pole. The author uses creative interpretations of both the Silmarillion and popular culture to build these fantastical connections. Shorter summary
Feb 19, 2013
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I liked Lovecraft countless primaeval aeons before it was cool

12 min • 1,618 words • 43 comments
Scott Alexander criticizes the humorous adaptations of Lovecraft's work in geek culture, arguing they miss the author's intent to create a sense of the strange and transcendent. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques the transformation of Lovecraft's work in geek culture, arguing that the humorous adaptations of Cthulhu and other Lovecraftian elements miss the author's original intent. He emphasizes that Lovecraft's aim was to create a sense of the strange, intense, and unearthly, divorced from everyday mundanity. Scott argues that Lovecraft opposed ironic humor that diminishes the transcendent nature of his creations. He urges readers who are interested in Lovecraft to explore his serious works, particularly recommending 'The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath' and shorter stories in the Dream Cycle. Shorter summary