Julian Baggini, The
Ego Trick
Granta Books, 2011
The Ego Trick is
an engaging and approachable introduction to the trickiest of subjects and the
blindest of blind spots: Who is this “I” person anyway?
As a Buddhist, I am familiar with how Buddhists challenge
the idea of the self. I lazily assumed
the Buddhist way was the only way to take it apart – how wrong of me. Baggini carefully examines the Buddhist view,
with the help of Stephen Batchelor, the respected “atheist Buddhist”,
and he finds much that is useful – and much that is unnecessary.
The book is enlivened by discussions with transgendered
persons, theologians, transhumanists, psychologists, prostitutes and
neuroscientists. That he manages to
include all these people in a way that seemed to me both a propos and
respectful seemed to me a remarkable feat of both writing and sensitivity. (That said, I would be especially interested
to hear the response of transgendered persons to this book.)
This book is so lively and readable that it would serve as
good company even at the end of a very long day, as you drink a glass of red
wine and look to revive your weary mind.
Only the most crucial chapter, chapter 7, “The Ego Trick”, will require
a clear head, a bright morning, and a strong cup of coffee. Or maybe just a few re-readings. But that is no problem at all, not for this,
the trickiest of investigations!
I remember being a young man, sitting in a Buddhist
monastery, listening to discussions about the nature of the self. I felt like I sat there for years before I
understood anything at all! Baggini is a
wizard of clarity – though, unlike a wizard, he endeavors to show you each part
of the trick.
It is delightful to
find a work of popular philosophy that is so graceful, respectful and
convincing. I can’t imagine a clearer
introduction to this subject, nor one as fun to read.
No comments:
Post a Comment