Chad Comello

Tag: Teach Me How To Dewey

  • DDC 270-279: Persecution junction

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 270 Christian church history
    • 271 Religious orders in church history
    • 272 Persecutions in church history
    • 273 Heresies in church history
    • 274 Christian church in Europe
    • 275 Christian church in Asia
    • 276 Christian church in Africa
    • 277 Christian church in North America
    • 278 Christian church in South America
    • 279 Christian church in other areas

    As with any honest historical assessment, this section’s books take on the good, the bad, and the ugly of Christianity’s past. 272 Persecutions could fill up an entire library. But many forget that though the Catholic Church has been responsible for some pretty heinous persecution over the years, the Christian church in general were also persecuted themselves for a long time. And even though Western Christianity (and religion in general) is fairly protected from persecution, there are places in the Middle East and Asia where being a Christian can get you killed. That’s what makes books like The Irresistible Revolution (see below)—which call for radical, countercultural living—get real real fast. In whatever time or place, people who really take their faith to heart will face the consequences of it, good and bad. And that makes one hell of a story.

    The Dew3:

    The Irresistible Revolution: Living as An Ordinary Radical
    By Shane Claiborne
    Dewey: 277.3
    Random Sentence: “I’m not sure the Christian Gospel always draws a crowd.”

    The Habit: A History of the Clothing of Catholic Nuns
    By Elizabeth Kuhns
    Dewey: 271.9
    Random Sentence: “Walking was to be accomplished in a calm, demure manner–hurrying was discouraged.”

    The Grand Inquisitor’s Manual: A History of Terror in the Name of God
    By Jonathan Kirsch
    Dewey: 272.2
    Random Sentence: “The old authoritarian impulse was still fully alive.”

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  • DDC 260-269: Fred Phelps would hate this

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 260 Christian social theology
    • 261 Social theology
    • 262 Ecclesiology
    • 263 Times, places of religious observance
    • 264 Public worship
    • 265 Sacraments, other rites & acts
    • 266 Missions
    • 267 Associations for religious work
    • 268 Religious education
    • 269 Spiritual renewal

    Is Christianity cool? Starting with this section through the next few, a lot of the books would give you some proof in the affirmative and in the negative. Obvious examples include the first book featured below, which explicitly asks that question, but also the books that don’t overtly make a claim yet by merely existing make a case.

    Sadly, much of what people see on cable news is the worst of so-called Christian social theology, propagated for clicks and viewers but not based in the day-to-day reality of living out the biggest religion on earth. If you love history or tradition, there is a lot of interesting stuff to explore in Christianity’s past that conveniently also has 0% to do with Westboro Baptist.

    The Dew3:

    Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide
    By Brett McCracken
    Dewey: 261.1
    Random Sentence: “For some pastors, this means they include references to Paris Hilton and The Hills in their sermons.”

    On Heaven and Earth: Pope Francis on Faith, Family, and the Church in the Twenty-First Century
    By Jorge Bergoglio
    Dewey: 261.83
    Random Sentence: “Christianity condemns both Communism and wild capitalism with the same vigor.”

    Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity
    By Keri Wyatt Kent
    Dewey: 263.2
    Random Sentence: “In play, we shed the shackles of schedule, efficiency, even purpose.”

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  • DDC 250-259: Parish Administration: The Movie

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 250 Christian orders & local church
    • 251 Preaching (Homiletics)
    • 252 Texts of sermons
    • 253 Pastoral office (Pastoral theology)
    • 254 Parish government & administration
    • 255 Religious congregations & orders
    • 256 No longer used—formerly Religious societies
    • 257 No longer used—formerly Parochial schools, libraries, etc.
    • 258 No longer used—formerly Parochial medicine
    • 259 Activities of the local church

    Are you ready for the explosive, blockbuster, wham-bang awesomeness that is 254 Parish government & administration? Can’t wait for a movie to be made out of books in that section. Meanwhile, I was surprised to find a lot of interesting material here. It ranged (as is evident below) from silly to sincere, with some strange mixed in too. I think it’s very important for any subculture to be able to make fun of itself, and there’s a good amount of evidence for that within Christianity, whether by current or former adherents. Of course, as a old religion it has its more rigid types, but we all need to laugh, especially when things are funny. Sounds obvious, but it’s easy to get trapped in the thinking that all sacred things must also be serious and earnest. Sometimes serious things are funny.

    The Dew3:

    Nuns Having Fun
    By Maureen Kelly
    Dewey: 255.9
    Random Sentence: “Protect us, O Lord, for we are upright women–at least for now.”

    Church Signs Across America
    By Steve Paulson
    Dewey: 254.4
    Random Sentence: “A good angle to approach any problem is the ‘try’-angle.”

    Strength to Love
    By Martin Luther King
    Dewey: 252
    Random Sentence: “We can master fear through one of the supreme virtues known to man: courage.”

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  • DDC 240-249: Ain’t your mama’s Christian writing

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 240 Christian moral & devotional theology
    • 241 Moral theology
    • 242 Devotional literature
    • 243 Evangelistic writings for individuals
    • 244 No longer used—formerly Religious fiction
    • 245 No longer used—formerly Hymnology
    • 246 Use of art in Christianity
    • 247 Church furnishings & articles
    • 248 Christian experience, practice, life
    • 249 Christian observances in family life

    The thing I like about sections like this is how it surprises. Even though (or perhaps because) I grew up in the Christian world and am very familiar with its tropes, biases, and tendencies, I love when I find new things—perspectives that challenge conventional wisdom or allow for greater nuance and a rich, learning experience.

    Anne Lamott (featured below) is a good example of this: though she is a Christian writer, she could hardly be more unconventional or irreverent in her approach and writing style. People who have either struggled with religiously oriented literature or written it off entirely would be pleasantly surprised by writers like her who, as the saying goes, ain’t your mama’s Christian writer. This is just one example of how Dewey, and really libraries in general, can surprise you if you take the time to browse and let serendipity be your guide.

    The Dew3:

    Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will
    By Kevin DeYoung
    Dewey: 248.4
    Random Sentence: “Wisdom sounds good but how does it work?”

    Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith
    By Anne Lamott
    Dewey: 248.4
    Random Sentence: “I was an out-of-control alcoholic then–but in a good way, I had thought.”

    Sin Bravely: A Joyful Alternative to A Purpose-Driven Life
    By Mark Ellingsen
    Dewey: 248.4
    Random Sentence: “Such a diminution of sin is what the American public wants.”

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  • DDC 230-239: Fresh loaves and fishes

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 230 Christian theology
    • 231 God
    • 232 Jesus Christ & his family
    • 233 Humankind
    • 234 Salvation (Soteriology) & grace
    • 235 Spiritual beings
    • 236 Eschatology
    • 237 No longer used—formerly Future state
    • 238 Creeds & catechisms
    • 239 Apologetics & polemics

    Probably because, not in spite of, Christianity’s hitherto cultural/religious hegemony in the United States specifically, it has inspired a lot of writing. Some good, some terrible, and some I’m not quite sure about. Reading Jesus (below), for example, seems to bring a new approach to the Gospels, which are arguably the most published and referenced texts in world history. At weddings, funerals, and many events in between we hear many of the same verses quoted as inspiration and encouragement, or as argument or counterargument. It’s easy to cherry-pick and plug in a verse for an occasion, but how often does it go beyond that? There’s a lot to consider if we want to get past the tired, old interpretations of religious orthodoxy, so as someone reared in the Christian world I appreciate those who try to look at Jesus and his teachings in fresh ways.

    The Dew3:

    Disappointment With God: Three Questions No One Asks Aloud
    By Philip Yancey
    Dewey: 231.7
    Random Sentence: “Richard does not know Mother Theresa, but he does know me.”

    Reading Jesus: A Writer’s Encounter With the Gospels
    By Mary Gordon
    Dewey: 232
    Random Sentence: “The darkness of my grandmother’s bedroom.”

    The Great Divorce
    By C.S. Lewis
    Dewey: 236.2
    Random Sentence: “‘Whisht, now!’ said my Teacher suddenly.”

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  • DDC 220-229: Blessed is Samuel L. Jackson

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 220 Bible
    • 221 Old Testament
    • 222 Historical books of Old Testament
    • 223 Poetic books of Old Testament
    • 224 Prophetic books of Old Testament
    • 225 New Testament
    • 226 Gospels & Acts
    • 227 Epistles
    • 228 Revelation (Apocalypse)
    • 229 Apocrypha & pseudepigrapha

    Regardless of how accurate it is in a given situation, deploying “Old Testament” as an intensifying adjective/adverb–i.e. “It’s about to get Old Testament up in here”–is one of my favorite things. To me in implies a righteous fury or a majestic/violent power that descends from above in order to make a plain scenario a whole lot less plain.

    I guess what I mean to say is that “Old Testament” seems like Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction: wide-eyed, vindictive, and not at all safe for work.

    Whether it’s a fight scene in a movie or an argument with a friend, the metaphorical and rhetorical power of the Old Testament is a lot more interesting than people (religious and secular) give it credit for. Those who saw the Darren Aronofsky film Noah will understand this, as that well-worn Old Testament tale got an authentically Old Testament retelling that both does justice to the text and brings that aforementioned righteous fury to the filmmaking and the story.

    What were we talking about again? Oh yeah… It is pretty evident by now that the 200s have a strong predilection toward Christianity. This is probably a remnant of the original Dewey classification of the mid-to-late 19th century, which was born in a much more faith-infused time than ours. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing, since Christianity is often woefully misunderstood (or not understood at all) by its critics but also by its proponents. That’s certainly the case, too, for other major religions, so I guess the moral here is: Learn!

    The Dew3:

    The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible As Literally As Possible
    By A.J. Jacobs
    Dewey: 220
    Random Sentence: “The floor is exactly like a Seattle mosh pit circa 1992.”

    The Book of Books: The Radical Impact of the King James Bible, 1611-2011
    By Melvyn Bragg
    Dewey: 220.52
    Random Sentence: “Gravity was God’s other face.”

    Water from the Well: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah
    By Anne Richardson Roiphe
    Dewey: 221.922082
    Random Sentence: “She must have been wrapped in regret.”

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  • DDC 210-219: Are you there, God? It’s Melvil

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 211 Concepts of God
    • 212 Existence, attributes of God
    • 213 Creation
    • 214 Theodicy
    • 215 Science & religion
    • 216 No longer used—formerly Evil
    • 217 No longer used—formerly Prayer
    • 218 Humankind
    • 219 No longer used—formerly Analogies

    Once again we’ve got a number of winning Ghosts of Dewey Past. Perhaps it’s fitting that formerly evil is in the section about God. Whether by divine intervention, miracle, or the fortuitous maneuverings of an OCLC employee, Dewey #216 is no longer the damnable hellscape of sin and evil it once was, and I for one am thankful. I was pleasantly surprised to find a quite varied field of God-related books: some that argue for the existence of God, others that aren’t so sure, and some that make a federal case out of their certitude either way. Personally, I’m more interested in the former than the latter. Doubt, like any tool, serves an important purpose in its right context, so leaving some room for it, I think, is a healthy way to look at the world.

    But what do I know anyway?

    The Dew3:

    Einstein’s God: Conversations About Science and the Human Spirit
    By Krista Tippett
    Dewey: 215
    Random Sentence: “But ‘wonder’ for St. Augustine was a religious experience that drove back to a creator.”

    Divinity of Doubt: The God Question
    By Vincent Bugliosi
    Dewey: 211.7
    Random Sentence: “I’ve said that I don’t believe Jesus was insane.”

    Galileo Goes to Jail: And Other Myths About Science and Religion
    Edited by Ronald Numbers
    Dewey: 215
    Random Sentence: “As Stark sees it, chimneys and pianos, and all the more so chemistry and physics, owe their existence to Catholics and Protestants.”

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  • DDC 200-209: The R Word

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 200 Religion
    • 201 Religious mythology, general classes of religion, interreligious relations and attitudes, social theology
    • 202 Doctrines
    • 203 Public worship and other practices
    • 204 Religious experience, life, practice
    • 205 Religious ethics
    • 206 Leaders and organization
    • 207 Missions and religious education
    • 208 Sources
    • 209 Sects and reform movements

    Y’all ready for this? It’s about to get contentious up in here. Religion has been and always will be a hot topic to tackle no matter where you’re from or what you believe. But the first ten-spots of the 200s is a nice way to ease into such a gargantuan topic, as it covers religion in the broadest way possible. Hence, a book about religion in Star Trek sitting comfortably near another about zen and mysticism by a Trappist monk. There’s a lot to enjoy and delve into in this section, and it’s diverse enough to appeal to many interests. That won’t necessarily be the case moving forward, so I hope you’re prepared for some spice…

    The Dew3:

    Religions of Star Trek
    By Ross Shepard Kraemer
    Dewey: 200
    Random Sentence: “Is the Q Continuum Star Trek’s answer to the Force?”

    Mystics and Zen Masters
    By Thomas Merton
    Dewey: 204.2
    Random Sentence: “This pilgrimage, let us repeat it, does not end at the monastery gate.”

    The Language God Talks: On Science and Religion
    By Herman Wouk
    Dewey: 201.65
    Random Sentence: “What Dick Feynman needs is a swift kick in the arse.”

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  • DDC 190-199: Go west, young philosopher

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 190 Modern Western philosophy
    • 191 Modern Western philosophy of the United States and Canada
    • 192 Modern Western philosophy of the British Isles
    • 193 Modern Western philosophy of Germany and Austria
    • 194 Modern Western philosophy of France
    • 195 Modern Western philosophy of Italy
    • 196 Modern Western philosophy of Spain and Portugal
    • 197 Modern Western philosophy of the former Soviet Union
    • 198 Modern Western philosophy of Scandinavia
    • 199 Modern Western philosophy in other geographic areas

    As we round the final bend of the 100s Tributary (of the Dewey River in the United States of Libraries), let’s take a moment to enjoy the scenery of this particular ecosystem of knowledge we’ve paddled through in the last ten posts. We’ve had our minds blown by huge universal ideas and by the paradox of formerly infinity; we’ve given a new (and probably better) definition of physiognomy and sat on Freud’s couch; and above all we’ve learned that there is so much to learn.

    When we’re dealing with trying to capture and organize the sum of human knowledge, I’d say that’s a logical and humbling lesson to let sink in as we venture further into the Deweybyss. Or, to put it as one of the Dew3 picks does, let us move forward with fear and trembling as we get ready to tackle one of the two topics traditionally off-limits at Thanksgiving dinner: religion (the other being politics – we’re coming for you, 320s).

    For now, though, let us enjoy the relative tranquility provided by the civil and introspective discussions of the 190s.

    The Dew3:

    The Book of Dead Philosophers
    By Simon Critchley
    Dewey: 190
    Random Sentence: “He was, in G.K. Chesterton’s words, ‘a huge bull of a man, fat and slow and quiet.’”

    Fear and Trembling: And, the Sickness Unto Death
    By Soren Kierkegaard
    Dewey: 198.9
    Random Sentence: “Is this utterance publici juris, or is it a privatissimum?”

    Talking With Sartre: Conversations and Debates
    By John Gerassi
    Dewey: 194
    Random Sentence: “Ah, concrete situations!”

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  • DDC 180-189: Questions, questions

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 180 Ancient, medieval, and Eastern philosophy
    • 181 Eastern philosophy
    • 182 Pre-Socratic Greek philosophies
    • 183 Socratic and related philosophies
    • 184 Platonic philosophy
    • 185 Aristotelian philosophy
    • 186 Skeptic and Neoplatonic philosophies
    • 187 Epicurean philosophy
    • 188 Stoic philosophy
    • 189 Medieval Western philosophy

    I admit that I haven’t been exposed much to ancient philosophy, outside of that college philosophy class I’ve mentioned. I remember being especially taken by Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and its take on friendship. I love learning about different taxonomies and ways of looking at things we take for granted or don’t really think about that much. Like, what does love actually mean? What does it mean to genuinely love someone? When you start asking fundamental questions about the big yet basic elements of life, you begin quite the journey that will end either with your total enlightenment or a complete mental breakdown. Here’s hoping it’s the former.

    The Dew3:

    How Plato and Pythagoras Can Save Your Life: The Ancient Greek Prescription for Health and Happiness
    By Nicholas Kardaras
    Dewey: 180
    Random Sentence: “But these sorts of abilities are possible–for those very special white crows.”

    Socrates Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy
    By Christopher Phillips
    Dewey: 183.2
    Random Sentence: “‘A hundred just sounds right,’ she says, affecting a seraphic grin.”

    Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life: A Guide for Everyday Practice
    By Charlotte Bell
    Dewey: 181.45
    Random Sentence: “I didn’t think about the orange-clad long-distance walker again until six years later.”

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  • DDC 170-179: What are you reading under there?

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 170 Ethics
    • 171 Ethical systems
    • 172 Political ethics
    • 173 Ethics of family relationships
    • 174 Occupational ethics
    • 175 Ethics of recreation and leisure
    • 176 Ethics of sex and reproduction
    • 177 Ethics of social relations
    • 178 Ethics of consumption
    • 179 Other ethical norms

    Time to get ethical, everyone. In our continuing journey through the 100s, I’ve noticed that the focus thus far has been on how and what to think vis a vis psychology, logic, and philosophical schools of thought. Now, with ethics, we’ve dipped our toes into action, or more specifically how what we think should influence what we do. Almost every profession or discipline has a branch of professional ethics that tackle the what-ifs and sticky situations of the vocation.

    For libraries, these often involve heady topics like intellectual freedom, the right to privacy, and the dos and don’ts of access and collection development. A popular manifestation of this is ALA’s Banned Books Week, wherein libraries feature frequently challenged books and debate how best to protect the freedom to read when it’s under attack. (Speaking of under, the most frequently challenged book of 2013? Captain Underpants. Yep.)

    So while your local librarians fight to keep a children’s book series about a scantily clad superhero on the shelves, consider the occupational and ethical absurdities you have to deal with in your own profession. Any wild examples?

    The Dew3:

    True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-fact Society
    By Farhad Manjoo
    Dewey: 177.3
    Random Sentence: “Presidents, for one, don’t matter much, they found.”

    How We Behave at the Feast: Reflections on Living in An Age of Plenty
    By Dwight Currie
    Dewey: 170.44
    Random Sentence: “When all else fails, you’ve always got mail.”

    How to Be A Hepburn in A Hilton World: The Art of Living With Style, Class, and Grace
    By Jordan Christy
    Dewey: 170.842
    Random Sentence: “The same goes for Lifehouse’s hunky front man, Jason Wade.”

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  • DDC 160-169: Beam me up, Logic

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 160 Logic
    • 161 Induction
    • 162 Deduction
    • 163 Not assigned or no longer used
    • 164 Not assigned or no longer used
    • 165 Fallacies and sources of error
    • 166 Syllogisms
    • 167 Hypotheses
    • 168 Argument and persuasion
    • 169 Analogy

    You know what they say about logic…

    Though I am very much not a math or science person, I think Spock is onto something here regarding the stimulating nature of logic. Like a beautifully composed painting or cohesive album, as a simple composition an airtight, symmetrical equation or argument is a wonder to behold. All those Xs and Ys and numbers coming together to make something grand. It’s wonderful, I say. (I realize logic is more than math equations and scientific hypotheses—deal with it.)

    Like the 140s, this section in my library had slim pickin’s, at least compared to the 150s. Perhaps that’s a metaphor for our times. I can only hope that the popularity of the Star Trek reboots will bring logic back in vogue, because there’s nothing people like more than a know-it-all coolly calling out everyone’s BS.

    The Dew3:

    Arguing for Our Lives: A User’s Guide to Constructive Dialog
    By Robert Jensen
    Dewey: 160
    Random Sentence: “That arrogance is what has transformed Earth into Eaarth.”

    Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking
    By Dennis Q. McInerny
    Dewey: 160
    Random Sentence: “Every dog has three heads.”

    Crimes Against Logic: Exposing the Bogus Arguments of Politicians, Priests, Journalists, and Other Serial Offenders
    By Jamie Whyte
    Dewey: 160
    Random Sentence: “It is a rare foray into gobbledygook that does not begin with a tribute to quantum physics.”

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  • DDC 150-159: Paging Dr. Freud…

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 150 Psychology
    • 151 No longer used—formerly Intellect
    • 152 Perception, movement, emotions, and drives
    • 153 Mental processes and intelligence
    • 154 Subconscious and altered states
    • 155 Differential and developmental psychology
    • 156 Comparative psychology
    • 157 No longer used—formerly Emotions
    • 158 Applied psychology
    • 159 No longer used—formerly Will

    What’s that saying? Psychology is the study of a tree whereas sociology is the study of the forest? Well, consider it Arbor Day on Teach Me How To Dewey. My library had a robust 150s selection compared to the 140s, which perhaps isn’t surprising given the broad nature and scope of psychology. The human brain is a deep well of possibility, capable of so much (language, intelligent design) and yet so little (YouTube comment sections). Of course Freud and Jung and Co. pop up here, but also pop psychology and books than aren’t quite as obsessed with sex as Sigmund.

    It’s interesting to see how formerly used Dewey sections, like 157 and 159, have or have not been integrated within modern arrangements. Emotions has moved from 157 to 152, yet Will has disappeared, at least from the 150s. Perhaps a more robust study of Dewey would reveal these nuances?

    TheDew3:

    The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth
    By M. Scott Peck
    Dewey: 158.1
    Random Sentence: “Life is difficult.”

    Savage Girls and Wild Boys: A History of Feral Children
    By Michael Newton
    Dewey: 155.4567
    Random Sentence: “They ran on all fours, bowed head-down in the dust.”

    The Plenitude: Creativity, Innovation, and Making Stuff
    By Rich Gold
    Dewey: 153.35
    Random Sentence: “And before Barney it was a well-known Kahuna that only boys like dinosaurs.”

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  • DDC 140-149: The sexiest of all -isms

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    This Is How We Dewey:

    • 140 Philosophical schools of thought
    • 141 Idealism and related systems
    • 142 Critical philosophy
    • 143 Bergsonism and intuitionism
    • 144 Humanism and related systems
    • 145 Sensationalism
    • 146 Naturalism and related systems
    • 147 Pantheism and related systems
    • 148 Liberalism, eclecticism, and traditionalism
    • 149 Other philosophical systems

    Of all the subtopics in 140-149, pantheism has the coolest name by far. Its definition and substance are certainly debatable, but having nearly all of the word panther in it makes it the coolest and sexiest of all -isms. (Admittedly not a high bar to hit.)

    For probably the first time in Dewey thus far, the number of words in this 10-spot that end in “-ism” far outnumber those that don’t. Translation: It’s about to get ideological up in her’. This is not to say that ideology is bad; it’s simply incomplete most of the time, or limited in its understanding of the world. Believing in only one -ism is impossible, but once you start collecting them your box of -isms becomes a cluttered hoard of old toys that don’t always play well with each other.

    So be smart with your -isms, everyone!

    The Dew3:

    Dancing in the Dark: Romance, Yearning, and the Search for the Sublime
    By Barbara Lazear Ascher
    Dewey: 141.6
    Random Sentence: “‘She’s not in my way, Terrence,’ says Banana Moon Cake Man.’ ”

    Hope in the Age of Anxiety
    By Anthony Scioli
    Dewey: 149.5
    Random Sentence: “Hope lets you breathe a little easier.”

    The Essential Transcendentalists
    Edited by Richard Geldard
    Dewey: 141.3
    Random Sentence: “No sun illumines me, for I dissolve all lesser lights in my own intenser and steadier light.”

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  • DDC 130-139: Calling Questlove

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    The Rundown:

    • 130 Parapsychology and occultism
    • 131 Parapsychological and occult methods
    • 132 No longer used—formerly Mental derangements
    • 133 Specific topics in parapsychology and occultism
    • 134 No longer used—formerly Mesmerism and Clairvoyance
    • 135 Dreams and mysteries
    • 136 No longer used—formerly Mental characteristics
    • 137 Divinatory graphology
    • 138 Physiognomy
    • 139 Phrenology

    So many strange words in this section–where to start? I have no idea what Physiognomy (138) means and I’m not even going to look it up. I’m going to pretend that it is the study of a human’s physiological reaction to gnomes. Academic librarians, could you point me to some good physiognomy journals? Publications lacking pictures of gnomes will not be considered. We also have Phrenology, which I’m assuming is the study of The Roots. (Contrary evidence of this assertion also will not be considered.)

    Meanwhile, we’ve got a fascinating collection of topics in this ten-spot, including Mental derangements, Mesmerism, and Divinatory graphology, which is the practice of seeking knowledge of the future (divinatory) through handwriting analysis (graphology). Ummmm… OK. I should come out as a skeptic of this kind of stuff: not of the paranormal per se, because I do believe in the spiritual, but of the general wisdom of messing around with all the “dark matter” out there. I’m happy to debate and learn more about it, but don’t invite me to your seance because I’m too busy Deweying.

    On second thought, summoning the spirit of Melvil Dewey for a Q&A on this blog would be quite the scoop.

    The Dew3:

    Cosmic Karma: Understanding Your Contract With the Universe
    By Marguerite Manning
    Dewey: 133.5
    Random Sentence: “In this Pluto house, intellectual freedom is power.”

    So You Want To Be Psychic?
    By Billy Roberts
    Dewey: 133.8
    Random Sentence: “Allow the space surrounding you to become slowly flooded with vibrant light, coloured with pink.”

    You Can Read A Face Like A Book: How Reading Faces Helps You Succeed in Business and Relationships
    By Naomi Tickle
    Dewey: 138
    Random Sentence: “Individuals with large ear lobes are naturally inclined to support others in their personal growth.”

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  • DDC 120-129: Deweyterminism

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    The Rundown:

    • 120 Epistemology, causation, and humankind
    • 121 Epistemology
    • 122 Causation
    • 123 Determinism and indeterminism
    • 124 Teleology
    • 125 No longer used—formerly Infinity
    • 126 The self
    • 127 The unconscious and the subconscious
    • 128 Humankind
    • 129 Origin and destiny of individual souls

    Can we discuss 125 for a second? “Formerly Infinity”? That 1) should be a high school garage band or Tumblr immediately, and 2) is, when you think about it for a second, an insane mind-melt. Something used to be infinite but now is not?

    I was also intrigued by teleology, which is the study of evidences of design in nature. In fact, all of these topics are terrifically vast fields of knowledge through which we can frolic and smell the books. (Though if you start poking around the subconscious, get ready to find some crazy stuff.) If you’re looking for some light beach reading, now you know where to start.

    The Dew3:

    Life is a Miracle: An Essay on Modern Superstition
    By Wendell Berry
    Dewey: 121
    Random Sentence: “If local adaptation is important, as I believe it unquestionably is, then we must undertake, in both science and art, the effort of familiarity.”

    Love: Plato, the Bible, and Freud
    By Douglas Morgan
    Dewey: 128
    Random Sentence: “Love is, among many other things, a fact.”

    The Philosopher and the Wolf: Lessons From the Wild on Love, Death, and Happiness
    By Mark Rowlands
    Dewey: 128
    Random Sentence: “The truth is, I suppose, that I’ve always been a natural misanthrope.”

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  • DDC 110-119: Let’s get metaphysical

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    The Rundown:

    • 110 Metaphysics
    • 111 Ontology
    • 112 No longer used—formerly Methodology
    • 113 Cosmology (Philosophy of nature)
    • 114 Space
    • 115 Time
    • 116 Change
    • 117 Structure
    • 118 Force and energy
    • 119 Number and quantity

    Time to get college-dorm-at-2am up in here. I mean, just look at the subtopics in this 10-spot: change, space, time (though unfortunately nothing on the space-time continuum), energy… Each of these concepts are their own unfathomable galaxies within the blown-mind universe. Sometimes it seems these kinds of heady topics can only be discussed after a few pints at the pub. Does anyone outside of academia actually sit down and read books about this stuff? For a non-STEM person like me, books like The Infinite Book below are great because they are meant to make the dense quandaries of high-level science more accessible for English majors like me. But perhaps I need to challenge myself.

    Or I’ll just read another novel.

    The Dew3:

    The Phenomenon of Man
    By Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
    Dewey: 113
    Random Sentence: “The paradox of man resolves itself by passing beyond measure.”

    The Infinite Book: A Short Guide to the Boundless, Timeless and Endless
    By John D. Barrow
    Dewey: 111.6
    Random Sentence: “Pythagoras believed infinity was the destroyer in the Universe, the malevolent annihilator of worlds.”

    Grammars of Creation
    By George Steiner
    Dewey: 116
    Random Sentence: “It can be cancelled and reduced to trackless silence.”

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  • DDC 100-109: Don’t know much philosophy

    A Teach Me How To Dewey production

    The Rundown:

    • 100 Philosophy and psychology
    • 101 Theory of philosophy
    • 102 Miscellany of philosophy
    • 103 Dictionaries and encyclopedias of philosophy
    • 104 No longer used—formerly Essays
    • 105 Serial publications of philosophy
    • 106 Organizations and management of philosophy
    • 107 Education, research, and related topics of philosophy
    • 108 Kinds of persons in philosophy
    • 109 Historical treatment of philosophy

    Ahhhhhh… Sam Cooke. Melodically justifying ignorance since 1960. But those of us who don’t know much about philosophy are in luck: Dewey’s got us covered. Having conquered the first 100 Dewey points, we now enter the mind-melting glass case of cognition dedicated to Philosophy and Psychology. This first 10-spot focuses on philosophy, its theories and important historical figures. If you’re like me, you’re now having flashbacks to that Philosophy 101 course you took freshman year that was very stimulating but also made your brain hurt after every session and where you learned how to extend two pages’ worth of substantive arguments into 10 pages of grade-A high-falutin’ BS. (Or was that just me?)

    Anyway, I really am fascinated by philosophy, even if I’m not cut out to study it hardcore. (I’m also noticing that it’s a super annoying word to type, at least for hunt-and-pecker like me. For the last time, hands, it’s not philospohy!) A lot of the books in my library were dedicated to making philosophy accessible to laypeople, which is good because it’s often not. Still, it is everywhere, even when it’s not evident. Just ask the Philosoraptor.

    The Dew3:

    Plato and A Platypus Walk Into A Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes
    By Thomas Cathcart
    Dewey: 102 CAT
    Random Sentence: “Curiously, Camus looked a lot like Humphrey Bogart.”

    The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D’oh! of Homer
    Edited by William Irwin et al.
    Dewey: 100 SIM
    Random Sentence: “Can Nietzche’s rejection of traditional morality justify Bart’s bad behavior?”

    Astonish Yourself! 101 Experiments in the Philosophy of Everyday Life
    By Roger Pol-Droit
    Dewey: 100 DRO
    Random Sentence: “Do not step out of that shower jet’s narrow circle.”

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