Review by Dentarthurdent -- Winners and Losers in words ...
Posted: 29 Jun 2020, 06:54
[Following is a volunteer review of "Winners and Losers in words and cartoons" by Arthur Hartz.]
“Of course, there’s more to us than our achievements, appearance and social skills– just nothing of interest.”
It is undeniable that a definite set of superficial characteristics enables certain people to avoid some of the unpleasantness that others have to wade through, like long queues and speeding tickets. These examples lie on the more harmless side of things, you’d think, but as you scratch, you find that there is much more beneath the surface. For the elite to exist, there has to be a comparison element involved; one cannot be beautiful if there do not exist others who embody the supposed traits of ugliness. There is elevation of the ‘superior’, so to speak, to a godly sort of consideration, with their subjects under a misapprehension that these selected deities can do no wrong, and deserve the best treatment and fortune by the mere virtue of their existence. The attractive, intelligent, rich and charming amongst us lounge on this pedestal, and good for them, but what of everyone else? What does this contrast do to the have-nots? If this is something you are interested in exploring, pick up a copy of Winners and Losers today!
If you’re on the fence and you’re thinking, “I’ve always been an average guy, so there’s really nothing new this book can tell me about it. Why should I spend so much time to read, get bored and be told stuff I already know?” Arthur Hartz definitely had you in mind when he wrote this wonderful read. Not only is Winners and Losers a short, time-saving book, it is also highly entertaining and guarantees that there’s at least one new thing you’ll learn from it (This is my guarantee, though, not Hartz’s).
The book has nine sections that together cover the perception of winners and winning in the society, the result of winning to the winners and the consequence of losing to the losers, how to cope with losing, the value of losers and the actual meaning of winning. There are playful and imaginative illustrations used to depict the relevant concepts in action with loads of humour, and I absolutely loved the heterogeneity of the cartoons. There are direct illustrations that say what they mean and others that satirically showcase situations in the society. Among these, some require a bit more inference by the reader, while others need a little explanation. Without fail, the latter are graced with captions for clarification.
Additionally, I thoroughly appreciate Hartz’s insight in portraying multiple sides of the issue; we get to see how winners themselves suffer as a result of their status, and identify instances of partisanship and unfairness in our day-to-day lives that we otherwise might not have considered. We are shown how we shoot ourselves in the foot by encouraging standards we ourselves barely meet. Most importantly, we see the toll of losing, and how to cope with it.
On the flip side, I feel it is worth noting that the “It’s okay not to be number one,” theme might be misconstrued as “you should be a bum, there’s no point in working hard” by some readers, and that some people could be misled into thinking that natural aptitudes play no role in accomplishing some goals. If we decide that talent is irrelevant in, say, authorship, to some extent, do we not doom ourselves to reading mediocre books? While I can honestly say that Arthur Hartz’s books are among the most interesting I have read this year, the reasons for this are that he is creative and funny, and that he sought out talented artists to do the illustrations. The hamartia of the “you’re perfect just the way you are” thinking embodied here is that to some extent, it can be misunderstood, hence discourage healthy self-improvement. Resultantly, I wish there was more emphasis on seeking to be good at what you love, because outside of talent, passion is imperative in doing something well, and enjoying it. This could be the topic for another entertaining book, perhaps?
Similar to Hartz’s other books, the lessons are brought forth by showing the reader just how comically wrong the existing situation is. Winners and Losers mocks you, but in a way that makes you laugh at yourself for your unjustifiable biases and unwritten rules. You will not fail to encounter a quote or illustration that leaves you thinking, “I can’t believe I think like that, it’s so silly!” The book’s ability to induce such healthy introspection is what I liked best about it, and among the reasons that my rating is 4 out of 4 stars. The issue I’ve included above is really a matter of perspective, thus did not warrant the subtraction of a star. Humour is wielded masterfully by Hartz in his books, helping him inform without depressing, educate without lecturing and mock without offending. This is a book that made me take a long look in the mirror and re-evaluate what I am most proud of, whom I respect and whom I should respect. Winners and Losers occasionally contains some language and complex content that make it a good fit for readers over fifteen, but is a must-read for everyone of the suitable age, winners and ‘losers’ alike. The reason for this is that for the sake of everyone’s mental health, we need to stop taking victory and superiority so seriously.
******
Winners and Losers in words and cartoons
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“Of course, there’s more to us than our achievements, appearance and social skills– just nothing of interest.”
It is undeniable that a definite set of superficial characteristics enables certain people to avoid some of the unpleasantness that others have to wade through, like long queues and speeding tickets. These examples lie on the more harmless side of things, you’d think, but as you scratch, you find that there is much more beneath the surface. For the elite to exist, there has to be a comparison element involved; one cannot be beautiful if there do not exist others who embody the supposed traits of ugliness. There is elevation of the ‘superior’, so to speak, to a godly sort of consideration, with their subjects under a misapprehension that these selected deities can do no wrong, and deserve the best treatment and fortune by the mere virtue of their existence. The attractive, intelligent, rich and charming amongst us lounge on this pedestal, and good for them, but what of everyone else? What does this contrast do to the have-nots? If this is something you are interested in exploring, pick up a copy of Winners and Losers today!
If you’re on the fence and you’re thinking, “I’ve always been an average guy, so there’s really nothing new this book can tell me about it. Why should I spend so much time to read, get bored and be told stuff I already know?” Arthur Hartz definitely had you in mind when he wrote this wonderful read. Not only is Winners and Losers a short, time-saving book, it is also highly entertaining and guarantees that there’s at least one new thing you’ll learn from it (This is my guarantee, though, not Hartz’s).
The book has nine sections that together cover the perception of winners and winning in the society, the result of winning to the winners and the consequence of losing to the losers, how to cope with losing, the value of losers and the actual meaning of winning. There are playful and imaginative illustrations used to depict the relevant concepts in action with loads of humour, and I absolutely loved the heterogeneity of the cartoons. There are direct illustrations that say what they mean and others that satirically showcase situations in the society. Among these, some require a bit more inference by the reader, while others need a little explanation. Without fail, the latter are graced with captions for clarification.
Additionally, I thoroughly appreciate Hartz’s insight in portraying multiple sides of the issue; we get to see how winners themselves suffer as a result of their status, and identify instances of partisanship and unfairness in our day-to-day lives that we otherwise might not have considered. We are shown how we shoot ourselves in the foot by encouraging standards we ourselves barely meet. Most importantly, we see the toll of losing, and how to cope with it.
On the flip side, I feel it is worth noting that the “It’s okay not to be number one,” theme might be misconstrued as “you should be a bum, there’s no point in working hard” by some readers, and that some people could be misled into thinking that natural aptitudes play no role in accomplishing some goals. If we decide that talent is irrelevant in, say, authorship, to some extent, do we not doom ourselves to reading mediocre books? While I can honestly say that Arthur Hartz’s books are among the most interesting I have read this year, the reasons for this are that he is creative and funny, and that he sought out talented artists to do the illustrations. The hamartia of the “you’re perfect just the way you are” thinking embodied here is that to some extent, it can be misunderstood, hence discourage healthy self-improvement. Resultantly, I wish there was more emphasis on seeking to be good at what you love, because outside of talent, passion is imperative in doing something well, and enjoying it. This could be the topic for another entertaining book, perhaps?
Similar to Hartz’s other books, the lessons are brought forth by showing the reader just how comically wrong the existing situation is. Winners and Losers mocks you, but in a way that makes you laugh at yourself for your unjustifiable biases and unwritten rules. You will not fail to encounter a quote or illustration that leaves you thinking, “I can’t believe I think like that, it’s so silly!” The book’s ability to induce such healthy introspection is what I liked best about it, and among the reasons that my rating is 4 out of 4 stars. The issue I’ve included above is really a matter of perspective, thus did not warrant the subtraction of a star. Humour is wielded masterfully by Hartz in his books, helping him inform without depressing, educate without lecturing and mock without offending. This is a book that made me take a long look in the mirror and re-evaluate what I am most proud of, whom I respect and whom I should respect. Winners and Losers occasionally contains some language and complex content that make it a good fit for readers over fifteen, but is a must-read for everyone of the suitable age, winners and ‘losers’ alike. The reason for this is that for the sake of everyone’s mental health, we need to stop taking victory and superiority so seriously.
******
Winners and Losers in words and cartoons
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
I love that it is written with humor and without lecturing. Thank you for a great review!