During the late 70's and early 80's, between 15,000 and 30,000 people were kidnapped, tortured and murdered in the name of "National Security" under the worst military dictatorship in Argentina's history. These people were 99% innocent civilians considered dissidents by the military, paramilitary, and the police.
How can such thing happen? Think of it as a kind of a go-amok witch-hunt. Something akin to the US McCartheism during the 50's, except the coutry is not a democracy, rule of law is virtually non-existent and instead of losing your job for thinking in a certain way, you (and in many cases all your family) lose your life.
In 1983, after democracy was restored in the coutry (following Argentina's rout in the Falklands War) the newly elected democratic government led by Raul Alfonsin appointed a national commission to investigate the mass disappearances.
This book, the published work of that commission, is the authoritative source on the tragic events. It is based on the 50,000 pages of original testimonies of families and survivors given before the commission.
It includes a Prologue by the chair of the commission, Ernesto Sabato and a terrifying yet revealing introduction by Ronald Dworkin.
As proven over and over throughout history, such unbelievable things can happen anywhere and those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it. Those who care should do themselves a favor and read this book so tragedies such as this one, the blackest period in Argentina's history, would never happen again.
For Elias, the key principle to philosophical life is dialogue. As his title already shows, he speaks to the reader as a friend, as someone interested in a great and valuable conversation. To accomplish this, he avoids both talking down to the reader and a heavy writing style. At the same time, the book is full of valuable insights for more experienced readers.
Highly recommended.
List price: $17.99 (that's 30% off!)
Is it too much or too little to say that this book directs our search, puts us more on focus, brings us closer to our purpose, and reveals to us the basis for self-knowledge and hence self-empowerment. We are helped to recognize our emotions, the motives and the beliefs behind them and then the possibility to change those beliefs and to chose what is more in alignment with our ultimate goal: authentic empowerment like Gary Zukav calls it, or enlightenment or self-realization..
The book is not a fairy tale nor a magic stick that will turn one's head upside down, it is down to Earth. Through the various real life cases, questionnaires and various techniques, it guides us into willful self-discovery, exploring what our weaknesses and strengths are. What is hindering our evolution and how to accelerate it.
The focus of this book is to reveal to the reader and the real seeker, the places within the self that he or she are unaware of, the places where energy is blocked and the flow of love is hence hindered. Just to shed light there brings understanding, and understanding opens space for growth.
As the author said in one of his lectures, "I saw that the world is suffering because of too much ignorance. I decided to help the world by helping myself and others change our perceptions about ourselves and others."
It's a most fascinating and eclectic collection of thoughts and profound observations. I have never put the book down with the same vision as I picked it up.