Review of Becoming Nobody
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- Latest Review: Becoming Nobody by Rick Branch
Review of Becoming Nobody
[Following is a volunteer review of "Becoming Nobody" by Rick Branch.]
We all come to a point in our lives where we start to question the meaning of life. We analyze how our actions, beliefs, and life experiences have shaped us into who we’re becoming now. That philosophical journey isn't an easy one to put into words, but Richard Branch’s Becoming Nobody: A personal account of one man’s search for self-knowledge helps make the journey a bit smoother and fulfilling the more you read. From 2008 and 2018, Branch gives his readers a glimpse into the philosophical journey he’s embarked thus far in getting to the truth of who he is. The book’s material majorly consists of emails alongside short yet in-depth discoveries discussed with his long-distance friend, Ana Hildebrand.
Together the pair share their thoughts on the ideas and writings of a collection of philosophers, writers, and broad thinkers while teaching others where they found guidance in their paths. Initially, Branch gained inspiration from the esoteric teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff, a Russian philosopher who preached a path of spiritual development related to self-study and transformation referred to as the ‘Work’ or the ‘Fourth Way’. Though Gurdjieff was unable to succeed in uncovering all the answers the author needed, the core of his teaching provided a firm starting point for Branch as he discusses how ‘we each have an unconscious Personality and a conscious Essence. The problem is how we take our Personality or self to be all that we are usually oblivious to our better-knowing and authentic Essence’. With detailed and thorough self-reflection, author Richard Branch assists those examining today’s existential questions by making us think toward who we are as people, and redefines the idea of being or ‘becoming nobody’ as well as its meaning apart from the standard origins we’ve been shown as a society.
Throughout the reading process I was able to receive personal desired answers to existential questions that have troubled most human beings. By looking into the thoughts and discoveries of Branch and Hildebrand, it released somewhat of a different perspective to personal growth and how life experiences can give us the answers we’re searching for on occasion. I’ve always been intrigued by in-depth discussions; ones I can relate to especially. Perhaps there will come a time when at least most of us can make familiar reflections and confessions as Branch has made in saying, “I used to fancy myself “a somebody”. Reading became increasingly investing the more I read this book, and besides some technical aspects in need of inspecting there wasn’t anything in particular I didn’t enjoy about the book.
There were some technical aspects and minor errors that might make the reading process confusing to a few. The author or typesetter seemed to not make much use out of hyphenated work breaks and had a unique pattern in capitalization applied to some words mid-sentence and displaying quotations. These errors can appear scattered throughout the book, but they are not seen as overly distracting. Richard Branch justifies the text within his ‘Author’s Note’ considering the use of the British standard in some excerpts found in the book. Otherwise, I highly suspect that the book was professionally edited.
All in all, I give this book 3 out of 4 stars based on the errors found and personal enjoyment. The book can appeal to individuals looking for their ‘truth’ and those intrigued by in-depth discussions, one in particular could be concerning the meaning of life. While reading there was no sexual context present in the book’s context. Some profanity was noticeable but nothing overwhelming; readers and thinkers who may obtain religious faith may proceed if they can manage having their beliefs being possibly questioned or challenged.
******
Becoming Nobody
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
We all come to a point in our lives where we start to question the meaning of life. We analyze how our actions, beliefs, and life experiences have shaped us into who we’re becoming now. That philosophical journey isn't an easy one to put into words, but Richard Branch’s Becoming Nobody: A personal account of one man’s search for self-knowledge helps make the journey a bit smoother and fulfilling the more you read. From 2008 and 2018, Branch gives his readers a glimpse into the philosophical journey he’s embarked thus far in getting to the truth of who he is. The book’s material majorly consists of emails alongside short yet in-depth discoveries discussed with his long-distance friend, Ana Hildebrand.
Together the pair share their thoughts on the ideas and writings of a collection of philosophers, writers, and broad thinkers while teaching others where they found guidance in their paths. Initially, Branch gained inspiration from the esoteric teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff, a Russian philosopher who preached a path of spiritual development related to self-study and transformation referred to as the ‘Work’ or the ‘Fourth Way’. Though Gurdjieff was unable to succeed in uncovering all the answers the author needed, the core of his teaching provided a firm starting point for Branch as he discusses how ‘we each have an unconscious Personality and a conscious Essence. The problem is how we take our Personality or self to be all that we are usually oblivious to our better-knowing and authentic Essence’. With detailed and thorough self-reflection, author Richard Branch assists those examining today’s existential questions by making us think toward who we are as people, and redefines the idea of being or ‘becoming nobody’ as well as its meaning apart from the standard origins we’ve been shown as a society.
Throughout the reading process I was able to receive personal desired answers to existential questions that have troubled most human beings. By looking into the thoughts and discoveries of Branch and Hildebrand, it released somewhat of a different perspective to personal growth and how life experiences can give us the answers we’re searching for on occasion. I’ve always been intrigued by in-depth discussions; ones I can relate to especially. Perhaps there will come a time when at least most of us can make familiar reflections and confessions as Branch has made in saying, “I used to fancy myself “a somebody”. Reading became increasingly investing the more I read this book, and besides some technical aspects in need of inspecting there wasn’t anything in particular I didn’t enjoy about the book.
There were some technical aspects and minor errors that might make the reading process confusing to a few. The author or typesetter seemed to not make much use out of hyphenated work breaks and had a unique pattern in capitalization applied to some words mid-sentence and displaying quotations. These errors can appear scattered throughout the book, but they are not seen as overly distracting. Richard Branch justifies the text within his ‘Author’s Note’ considering the use of the British standard in some excerpts found in the book. Otherwise, I highly suspect that the book was professionally edited.
All in all, I give this book 3 out of 4 stars based on the errors found and personal enjoyment. The book can appeal to individuals looking for their ‘truth’ and those intrigued by in-depth discussions, one in particular could be concerning the meaning of life. While reading there was no sexual context present in the book’s context. Some profanity was noticeable but nothing overwhelming; readers and thinkers who may obtain religious faith may proceed if they can manage having their beliefs being possibly questioned or challenged.
******
Becoming Nobody
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Becoming Nobody by Rick Branch
