Review of Cultural Cycles & Climate Change
Posted: 23 Apr 2023, 18:17
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Cultural Cycles & Climate Change" by Paul Palmarozza.]
The title of this book, Cultural Cycles and Climate Change, gives the reader a clue that it is not a light, quick read. Indeed, it is neither trivial nor cursory; Paul Palmarozza has compiled a thought-provoking multi-cultural analysis of cyclical events over the last 2500 years. In this book, the author addresses the language, law, and religion of four cultures: Europe and America (collectively referred to as the West), China, India, and parts of the Arab/Islamic community throughout the world.
The “cycles” component of the title is a set of three 854-year periods from 462 BC to AD 2100. The book references an in-depth astrological analysis that associated the conjunction of the planets Saturn and Jupiter with socio-political-economic trends worldwide. As this conjunction moves through the heavens, it traverses four periods that form a cycle: Air, a time of new ideas; Water, a stage when the ideas gain momentum and are spread physically and intellectually to other areas; Fire, a season of significant achievements as a result of the work in the previous periods; and Earth, a phase characterized by excess and lack of self-restraint, leading to the decay of the civilization. Then the cycle starts again.
Palmarozza described the assumptions and foundations for the cycles thoroughly, but I will admit I found it overwhelming, especially as it was only the backdrop for the main part of the presentation, the cultural activity. Once I stopped trying to understand every aspect of the cycle formation, I enjoyed the discussions of the various cultures more.
The contents gravitated toward the philosophical aspects of each period’s culture and religion. The five major world religions (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism) as well as atheistic and science-exclusive points of view were referenced. I learned much about the different cultures and recognized common themes I had not considered. For instance, I was familiar with Sufism but did not know it was the mystical aspect of Islam. I immediately noticed the similarities in the relationship between Kabbalah and Judaism.
Repetition and many examples of the same subject occasionally belabored the reading experience. For example, in the chapter covering sages in India in the 19th and 20th centuries, 18 sages were discussed. My eyes glazed over, as this was already in the middle of an intense chapter. Fewer examples would have been as effective. The breadth and depth of the contents, while interesting and informative, also made for an uneven read. I would have preferred a higher-level overview of the cultures and periods to allow reflection on events happening concurrently rather than sequential discussions of the periods for each area. Still, I acknowledge the benefit of focusing on each culture separately.
The difference in font size between the two components of the title on the cover accurately reflected the time devoted to each subject. The discussion on climate change at the end of the book felt rushed. I was still contemplating the vast amount of information in the material on cultural cycles and found it difficult to shift gears for the smaller section on climate change. Perhaps the author will consider writing a subsequent book—there is much to glean from this presentation.
I rate Cultural Cycles and Climate Change 4 out of 5 stars. I deducted a star for the number of grammatical errors found. They were minor overall, but it was hard to grasp the meaning of a few lengthy sentences because of the wording or punctuation. The fluctuating level of detail also contributed to the deduction of the star, but the rich content and analysis did not warrant a lower rating.
The intersection of current events and this historical analysis amazed me. Global news headlines, weather patterns, and even information in my personal email lists were relevant to the contents of this read. It was confirming and informative, and I am glad I took the extra time to ponder the material. I recommend this book to cultural history and philosophy enthusiasts. Those interested in the cyclical nature of our human existence would also enjoy this read.
******
Cultural Cycles & Climate Change
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The title of this book, Cultural Cycles and Climate Change, gives the reader a clue that it is not a light, quick read. Indeed, it is neither trivial nor cursory; Paul Palmarozza has compiled a thought-provoking multi-cultural analysis of cyclical events over the last 2500 years. In this book, the author addresses the language, law, and religion of four cultures: Europe and America (collectively referred to as the West), China, India, and parts of the Arab/Islamic community throughout the world.
The “cycles” component of the title is a set of three 854-year periods from 462 BC to AD 2100. The book references an in-depth astrological analysis that associated the conjunction of the planets Saturn and Jupiter with socio-political-economic trends worldwide. As this conjunction moves through the heavens, it traverses four periods that form a cycle: Air, a time of new ideas; Water, a stage when the ideas gain momentum and are spread physically and intellectually to other areas; Fire, a season of significant achievements as a result of the work in the previous periods; and Earth, a phase characterized by excess and lack of self-restraint, leading to the decay of the civilization. Then the cycle starts again.
Palmarozza described the assumptions and foundations for the cycles thoroughly, but I will admit I found it overwhelming, especially as it was only the backdrop for the main part of the presentation, the cultural activity. Once I stopped trying to understand every aspect of the cycle formation, I enjoyed the discussions of the various cultures more.
The contents gravitated toward the philosophical aspects of each period’s culture and religion. The five major world religions (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism) as well as atheistic and science-exclusive points of view were referenced. I learned much about the different cultures and recognized common themes I had not considered. For instance, I was familiar with Sufism but did not know it was the mystical aspect of Islam. I immediately noticed the similarities in the relationship between Kabbalah and Judaism.
Repetition and many examples of the same subject occasionally belabored the reading experience. For example, in the chapter covering sages in India in the 19th and 20th centuries, 18 sages were discussed. My eyes glazed over, as this was already in the middle of an intense chapter. Fewer examples would have been as effective. The breadth and depth of the contents, while interesting and informative, also made for an uneven read. I would have preferred a higher-level overview of the cultures and periods to allow reflection on events happening concurrently rather than sequential discussions of the periods for each area. Still, I acknowledge the benefit of focusing on each culture separately.
The difference in font size between the two components of the title on the cover accurately reflected the time devoted to each subject. The discussion on climate change at the end of the book felt rushed. I was still contemplating the vast amount of information in the material on cultural cycles and found it difficult to shift gears for the smaller section on climate change. Perhaps the author will consider writing a subsequent book—there is much to glean from this presentation.
I rate Cultural Cycles and Climate Change 4 out of 5 stars. I deducted a star for the number of grammatical errors found. They were minor overall, but it was hard to grasp the meaning of a few lengthy sentences because of the wording or punctuation. The fluctuating level of detail also contributed to the deduction of the star, but the rich content and analysis did not warrant a lower rating.
The intersection of current events and this historical analysis amazed me. Global news headlines, weather patterns, and even information in my personal email lists were relevant to the contents of this read. It was confirming and informative, and I am glad I took the extra time to ponder the material. I recommend this book to cultural history and philosophy enthusiasts. Those interested in the cyclical nature of our human existence would also enjoy this read.
******
Cultural Cycles & Climate Change
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
According to the analysis presented in the book, we are well into an Earth period. I have never been much for history either, but I find it more interesting when it helps me understand current world issues.