****
The content of the book, and the author's important points, are what makes me rate this as a 'pick'. However, the author has a bad tendency to use multiple metaphors and analogies for every point which bogs the reading down unnecessarily. I also didn't groove on his self-important tone but that may be just my interpretation. Still, empathy is grossly overrated in our culture. The real star is compassion.
Very good analysis of the ways in which empathy can fail us as a guide to moral action. Though I value empathy, I can't disagree with Bloom's critique, nor his advocacy for rational compassion.
Pg. 84
I'm amazed to see this in writing, much less in a book. The current overzealous mantra that high empathy = good person is a problem for those of us autistic people who are viewed as cold, disconnected, or prone to violence due to a lack of empathy. It's simply not true.
Lots of little gems in this book. Admittedly, I'm biased in favor of the author's conclusions RE: empathy, but it's good to see open discourse on the topic.
According to my Twitter feed, today is #WorldBookDay and since I'm currently reading two entertainment books, thought I'd start a nonfiction to balance them out.
🗺️📙📅😀
Looking forward to this read. Feedback to follow 😃