Review of Re-Educating Myself

ReviewerDiksha · Post by **ReviewerDiksha** » 25 Aug 2021, 08:42

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Re-Educating Myself" by Bob Gebelein.]

3 out of 4 stars

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The current state of the world proves, without a doubt, that society as we know it is crumbling. Wars, corruption, terrorism and many more things have clawed their way into the fabric of our life. One way or another, everyone is touched by these things. So, if this means that the current structure has failed, what does it say about our future? Is the formation of a new society the answer to all our troubles? And if so, how do we get there? How do we develop a new civilisation?

In Re-Educating Myself, author Bob Gebelein ponders these questions in detail. From an early age, he had queries about the world around him. He had a habit of digging for answers until he found them. Over time, some things found reasonable explanations, while others needed more scrutiny. In his book, Gebelein discusses all of these questions, the paths he took to find their answers, and the realisations he had in his explorations.

My rating for this book is 3 out of 4 stars. Re-Educating Myself is a very well-written book. Grammatically, there were no more than a couple of errors in it. Its almost perfect editing supported the author’s brilliant writing and made it easier to glide through the book. It is also cleverly structured in the way that the author lures the reader by starting the discussion with arguments that are easier to accept, even for someone with a different mindset.

Being a curious soul, the author tries to detangle everything- space, God, religion, psychotherapy, reincarnation, dream analysis, and whatnot. If he uses scientific theories to prove his point, he also questions science while talking about things that are deemed unexplainable. Similarly, he criticises religion for limiting the scope of knowledge while also, at times, finds some semblance of support in it. This diverse palette ensures at least one thing that resonates with the reader and prevents them from feeling completely alienated from Gebelein’s philosophy. However, the contradictions that make his arguments interesting might seem confrontational to some people, religious or otherwise.

In sharing his own experiences, the author creates the intimacy of a conversation with his reader. In trying to explain his points, he gets creative with analogies, which are simple yet effective. He also delivers quotable lines like “Dead men run our lives”, “I am a new civilisation with a population of one”, “If I ever find a God, it will not be Out There Somewhere, but in Here”, and “A few people stop to watch a building being built, but everybody in town turns out to see it burn down”. Another impressive thing about this book is that nowhere does the author try to force his opinion on the reader. This makes it easier to be open-minded about the things that you might not find believable otherwise.

Despite highly enjoying it, I did not award four stars to this book, and here’s why. With so many things to discuss in one book, it is necessary to be concise. At times, the author tends to drag some things that can be explained in a couple of lines. There are times when no explanation is needed, but the author still dedicates some space to it. Apart from this, there were some things that I found very hard, if not impossible, to agree with. While, for the most part, the author rooted his arguments in logic, some points did not have enough justification. If you are trying to convert a non-believer, you have to give them something solid, even if minuscule, to stand upon.

The things that worked negatively for me might not be so for other readers. The things that I found hard to believe might be more relatable to others, and vice versa. In the end, it is all about perspective and how open you are to new ideas. Those who don’t like to be challenged about their ideologies are not the suitable audience for this book. However, those who like to question things and are interested in exploring new beliefs will surely find it interesting.

All in all, Re-Educating Myself is the author’s probe into self. It is about spiritual and emotional growth. All he wants from the reader is to explore their own beliefs. All you have to do is “know thyself”.

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Re-Educating Myself
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onyii_review · Post by **onyii_review** » 27 Aug 2021, 10:38

I think I'd pass on this book. I hope lovers of this genre will find it exciting. Awesome and detailed review you've got here.

Pearl Thomas · Post by **Pearl Thomas** » 29 Aug 2021, 03:32

The book sounds so interesting. I love writings that attempt to take a philosophical dive into self. Your review is thorough and fun to read. Great work!