"Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom, in the pursuit of truth as in the endeavour after a worthy manner of life."
--- Bertrand Russell
"There is nothing to fear but fear itself."
--- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
One of the things I think about in those moments when I'm not either working, socializing, or sleeping (these moments are getting increasingly rare) is what I'm going to write my next book on. Not that I've got time to write a book right now, but I really want to make time for it and write another one. I had thought (in a previous post) that I might write a book on workforce motivation, but I'm finding that it really isn't grabbing my attention right now (although I think I could probably sell the idea to a publisher).
One idea that came up a few weeks back was to try to write a book that might benefit Gensler in some way... you know, like a book on Sprawl or Sustainable Design or some urban planning concept. But I'm having a hard time coming up with an idea that I'm the right person to write about. I'm very interested in cities and community planning, but I don't have a developed angle yet.
An idea that popped into my head this morning is to write a book on FEAR. I had coffee this morning with a friend who does marketing for an engineering firm, and we were talking about topical issues, such as Pat Robertson saying Ariel Sharon had a stroke because God is punishing Sharon for splitting up Israel. I expressed my belief that the current WAR ON TERRORISM and the ISLAMIC JIHAD are a conflict of the Puritans on this side fighting the Puritans on that side, with Europe and the rest of us stuck in the middle. As I was walking back to my office, I was thinking about what motivates people to shut down their thinking, to believe that only one point of view is valid, and that conflicting opinions and beliefs must be repressed or destroyed... it's fear.
Fear, it seems to me, is the source of many (or all?) of our problems in the world today, and if people can better learn to manage their fear, they'll be much saner and able to make better decisions, and lead happier lives. As Frank Herbert wrote in DUNE, "Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration." Fear affects our decision-making, and the way we relate to other people. We all need to work on managing our fears in order to function and live together.
It's a developing idea... I'm not sure that I could sell it, but I'm really interested in it.
That's weird. I see you wrote this about two weeks ago. I've been hitting on this idea now, since about the beginning of the year. Also, I've been reading Hunter S. Thompson's "Kingdom of Fear". He touches on the subject going back as far as the 60s, 70s, the Nixon administration and bringing it round to the Bushies in the 90s and today. And I'm seeing it and feeling it evidenced in my life. Almost everyday. If you find the right angle, write the book. Oh, and be in touch if you ever feel like it.
Posted by: Kevin Browne | January 30, 2006 at 02:39 PM