Review of The Liminal Loop
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Dustin Stopher
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Review of The Liminal Loop
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Liminal Loop" by Timothy Carson, editor.]
The Liminal Loop is an anthology of stories and writings all centered around the idea of liminality. It was compiled and edited by Timothy Carson. Liminality, as outlined in the book, is the concept of transitional periods that can occur in time or space. Liminal periods are areas where the future is uncertain, and individuals are forced to adapt or remain stuck until a new era emerges. Thus, liminal periods are stated to be opportunities for transformational growth. Life is said to be a chain of liminal loops, and the concept of how best to approach liminal spaces is discussed at length in the book. Many perspectives are given from a wide array of academics regarding the role of liminality in everyday life. Among the numerous traditions used to explain liminal loops are philosophy, theology, history, mythology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, musicology, art, and poetry.
The anthology has many strengths. For one, it broaches a concept not known to many in a diverse format that includes stories, analyses, and poems aimed to convey complex ideas.. I personally appreciated the repeated examples of liminality in life and literature as well as what we could learn from each example. One section speaks about the Biblical figure of Jonah; his liminal experience occurred inside the whale, where he had to grapple with his life and holy mission in a daunting experience that proved transformational. Another used the Covid-19 pandemic as a model for how an entire society can exist in a liminal space. The period before the pandemic had its own concerns, but after the onset of the virus, society at large was faced with a brand new set of problems that it either had to rise above or succumb to. Using relevant examples helped me understand liminality in a way an abstract discussion of the concept would have failed to accomplish.
That being said, the material is still very dense for the average reader. Aside from in the examples, liminality is discussed in a very immaterial sense that is hard to grasp without a philosophy degree. I struggled with comprehending the text unless it was focused on an anecdote that I was familiar with. For those who are comfortable with lofty dissections of general ideas, the book does an excellent job generating conversations about liminality; however, I would not expect these sections to be digestible to most readers. I found a handful of typographical errors across the writings, but all in all, the quality of writing is quite good.
Those looking for an elevated examination of an oft-overlooked philosophical concept are sure to find it here. The book is applicable to personal journeys as well since we all enter into transitional periods of life, so I would encourage people to read the book for that reason. While it is not a self-help book by any means, the lessons we can learn from examples of liminality can definitely be used to help ourselves when we are tested by life’s challenges. Generally, this book is more compatible with scholars than pleasure readers, but for those able to grapple with its banter, it is an excellent selection.
Overall, I give The Liminal Loop 3 out of 4 stars. It is very well-written, and I enjoyed the subject, but it has its pitfalls like any other book. For me, the content was not only fairly obtuse, but also somewhat bland in its presentation. I would have given a higher rating if the book were more engaging or did a better job of simplifying its themes to casual audiences. Nevertheless, the book succeeds in informing about liminality and all of its facets, making it a good choice for anyone interested in this niche topic.
******
The Liminal Loop
View: on Bookshelves
The Liminal Loop is an anthology of stories and writings all centered around the idea of liminality. It was compiled and edited by Timothy Carson. Liminality, as outlined in the book, is the concept of transitional periods that can occur in time or space. Liminal periods are areas where the future is uncertain, and individuals are forced to adapt or remain stuck until a new era emerges. Thus, liminal periods are stated to be opportunities for transformational growth. Life is said to be a chain of liminal loops, and the concept of how best to approach liminal spaces is discussed at length in the book. Many perspectives are given from a wide array of academics regarding the role of liminality in everyday life. Among the numerous traditions used to explain liminal loops are philosophy, theology, history, mythology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, musicology, art, and poetry.
The anthology has many strengths. For one, it broaches a concept not known to many in a diverse format that includes stories, analyses, and poems aimed to convey complex ideas.. I personally appreciated the repeated examples of liminality in life and literature as well as what we could learn from each example. One section speaks about the Biblical figure of Jonah; his liminal experience occurred inside the whale, where he had to grapple with his life and holy mission in a daunting experience that proved transformational. Another used the Covid-19 pandemic as a model for how an entire society can exist in a liminal space. The period before the pandemic had its own concerns, but after the onset of the virus, society at large was faced with a brand new set of problems that it either had to rise above or succumb to. Using relevant examples helped me understand liminality in a way an abstract discussion of the concept would have failed to accomplish.
That being said, the material is still very dense for the average reader. Aside from in the examples, liminality is discussed in a very immaterial sense that is hard to grasp without a philosophy degree. I struggled with comprehending the text unless it was focused on an anecdote that I was familiar with. For those who are comfortable with lofty dissections of general ideas, the book does an excellent job generating conversations about liminality; however, I would not expect these sections to be digestible to most readers. I found a handful of typographical errors across the writings, but all in all, the quality of writing is quite good.
Those looking for an elevated examination of an oft-overlooked philosophical concept are sure to find it here. The book is applicable to personal journeys as well since we all enter into transitional periods of life, so I would encourage people to read the book for that reason. While it is not a self-help book by any means, the lessons we can learn from examples of liminality can definitely be used to help ourselves when we are tested by life’s challenges. Generally, this book is more compatible with scholars than pleasure readers, but for those able to grapple with its banter, it is an excellent selection.
Overall, I give The Liminal Loop 3 out of 4 stars. It is very well-written, and I enjoyed the subject, but it has its pitfalls like any other book. For me, the content was not only fairly obtuse, but also somewhat bland in its presentation. I would have given a higher rating if the book were more engaging or did a better job of simplifying its themes to casual audiences. Nevertheless, the book succeeds in informing about liminality and all of its facets, making it a good choice for anyone interested in this niche topic.
******
The Liminal Loop
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Reconfigurement by E. Alan Fleischauer
