Absence of Mind

Title: Absence of Mind, The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self

Author: Marilynne Robinson

Publication date: 2010

Book's setting: Nonfiction

Random facts: Robinson's third book of essays. She's also published three modern fiction novels.

Plot summary: Absence of Mind is a collection of four essays on religion in the light of science and philosophy. Basically, a new take on the age old "science vs faith" debate. Robinson sets out to shame modern thought. She focuses mainly on Freud and Darwin and their impacts on society and modern thought. Instead of trying to debunk them by proving God's existence or something she merely points out inconsistencies among their philosophies and tries to prove how religion can and should exist side-by-side with science and post-modern ideologies. (I'm too dumb to explain her thoroughly. Just read it.)

Favorite aspects: To be honest, I often get annoyed at Christians constantly trying to debunk evolution or whatever. I guess I don't think it can be proved, and I'll just go on my merry way without worrying about it. Does that make me a bad Christian? I don't know, I hope not. But Robinson managed to point out the flaws in modern Darwinist credos politely and gracefully. I think that's my favorite aspect of Robinson's theological writings. She is always very polite. She demands your respect by respecting other, although she isn't afraid of disagreeing with the fundamental ideologies of the 21st century. Also I really liked the part in Thinking Again where she talks about the reasons for the theory of multiple universes. I'd never thought about that before.

Least favorite aspects: How can you disagree with a woman who has PhD and a Pulitzer Prize? (joking.) But really, Absence of Mind blew my brain open in a very convincing way. I don't have anything bad to say.

Other works it reminded me of: Heretics by GK Chesterton.

Sadie's merciless break-down: This book almost made me feel stupid. I pride myself in actually enjoying books like these, but this one almost killed me. Although I did understand her subject matter and was comfortably familiar with all the men and theories she mentioned throughout her essays, her sentences were so elegant and heavy and ridiculously profound I had to take Absence of Mind word-by-word. It took me two weeks to read, partly because I am lazy, but mostly because I just wanted her words to really sink in.
It was like a modern day Heretics, or the natural progression of what Chesterton was dealing with in 1905. If anyone reads this blog, or has any sort of respect for my opinion in literature, then I'd recommend reading Heretics followed by Absence of Mind.
Let me quote the internet here. Someone on Amazon said that Absence of Mind was "in defense of the consciousness." I think that sums it up pretty nicely.

Recommendation rate: If you enjoy modern theology then you need to read it, and while you're at it also pick up Robinson's Death of Adam.