Rating: 9 · 208 pages

As bad as this may sound, I've wondered from time to time if I might just be a misanthrope (defined: misanthropy is a hatred or distrust of the human race, or a disposition to dislike and mistrust other people). I have always tended to be a bit antisocial, and I admittedly hold disdain for certain kinds of people (mainly those who are willfully stupid, troublemakers, or backstabbers). So when I read about Florence King, who is herself a misanthrope (and also a conservative, like me), I added With Charity Toward None to my wish list at PBS. As soon as my wish was granted and I received the book in the mail, I put aside my other books-in-progress, and read it. I wanted to know for sure whether or not I am a misanthrope.

I am not. But I'm close. I'd say I'm about 80% misanthropic, if that is possible. Completely full-blown misanthropes truly hate 100% of all people. I'm not that far gone, and don't really want to be. In my opinion, if everyone were honest, we'd all admit to having some misanthropic beliefs. I mean, come on - people are annoying.

I found myself nodding a lot while reading parts of this book. Misanthropes are frequently mistakenly categorized as "shy" when the truth is, if you were to ask a young misanthrope why they won't talk to you, they might blatantly reply "I doan yike you," as the author herself once told someone.

King wrote this book by using examples of famous misanthropes. Ty Cobb sported a fiery temper, Irving Berlin was "emotionally incapable of entrusting his work to others," and Ayn Rand frequently used the word "contempt" to describe her feelings for the majority of the human race (this became apparent in her work Atlas Shrugged, in which she made the mediocre people the villains).

Overall, to me it was most interesting to read how misanthropes personally dealt with their negative feelings toward others. It is not easy to be a misanthrope in this very social world in which we live. Another misanthrope, author James Gould Cozzens, made the observation that "You must be careful how you treat people as your equals. The average person has much more respect for you if, even though he resents it, you make it plain to him that you consider him of no great importance." That's difficult to do, in most situations, but many misanthropes probably feel this technique is necessary in order to tolerate most of the people they have to be around on a regular basis.

Labels: Biography, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Politics, Reviews

My Rating: 8 · 144 pages

It was the lifelong desire of General Stonewall Jackson's to be a kind person, a devout Christian, a gentleman and friend that compelled him to keep a notebook of sorts, his "book of maxims". He researched and reflected upon things that he felt would help him succeed in achieving his personal goals. Who knows, had he been alive in the 21st century, maybe he would have had a blog!

I don't know if it was one of General Jackson's dreams to become a military leader, but fate propelled him and his commitment to excellence steadied him along the way. A few years ago, I watched the movie Gods and Generals. The way General Jackson was portrayed in the film really impressed me. I felt that if the movie was true to history, General Jackson was quite a remarkable and admirable man. And now, after reading Stonewall Jackson's Book of Maxims, I learned that my feelings were fully warranted.

A couple of quick facts about General Stonewall Jackson:

• He was painfully shy, but worked diligently to overcome it.
• He organized and taught a Sunday afternoon Bible class for local slaves.
• He was very strict with himself, always avoiding overeating and did not drink alcohol.
• He lost his first wife in childbirth, and was grief-stricken for years.
• He kept his temper in check and rarely raised his voice to the soldiers under his command.

Another interesting thing about General Jackson was that he closely studied the works of Lord Chesterfield, who wrote:

"By the help of history, a young man may, in some measure, acquire the experience of old age. In reading what has been done, he is apprised of what he has to do; the more he is informed of what is past, the better he will know how to conduct himself in the future."

I believe General Jackson did indeed apply his readings to his life, and reaped the benefits from doing so. This book inspired me to continue to study important things, and to also be mindful of the knowledge of those who have gone before us.

Labels: America, Biography, Civil War, Etiquette, History, Nonfiction, Reviews