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Feline Philosophy
Feline Philosophy: Cats and the Meaning of Life | John Gray
41 posts | 7 read | 9 to read
The author of Straw Dogs, famous for his provocative critiques of scientific hubris and the delusions of progress and humanism, turns his attention to catsand what they reveal about humans' torturous relationship to the world and to themselves. The history of philosophy has been a predictably tragic or comical succession of palliatives for human disquiet. Thinkers from Spinoza to Berdyaev have pursued the perennial questions of how to be happy, how to be good, how to be loved, and how to live in a world of change and loss. But perhaps we can learn more from cats--the animal that has most captured our imagination--than from the great thinkers of the world. In Feline Philosophy, the philosopher John Gray discovers in cats a way of living that is unburdened by anxiety and self-consciousness, showing how they embody answers to the big questions of love and attachment, mortality, morality, and the Self: Montaigne's house cat, whose un-examined life may have been the one worth living; Meo, the Vietnam War survivor with an unshakable capacity for "fearless joy"; and Colette's Saha, the feline heroine of her subversive short story "The Cat", a parable about the pitfalls of human jealousy. Exploring the nature of cats, and what we can learn from it, Gray offers a profound, thought-provoking meditation on the follies of human exceptionalism and our fundamentally vulnerable and lonely condition. He charts a path toward a life without illusions and delusions, revealing how we can endure both crisis and transformation, and adapt to a changed scene, as cats have always done.
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review
Chrissyreadit
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Panpan

#deadphilosopherssociety
I love cats. (Above picture of 5 cats : Saoirse Aoife Obi Octavian and Loki and our dog Honey because I did not want to leaver out). I wanted to like this book. The author has some serious credentials. But honestly this felt like an attempt to put together information that he related to much more than I did.

TheBookHippie 😂😵‍💫 maybe it was a good COVID read for me 🙃 1y
GingerAntics I‘m still not entirely sure how to classify this book. I thought it would come with time, but it has not. I‘m still just as confused. 1y
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Chrissyreadit @GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @ravenlee @kspenmoll I know there were other books discussed - I just am exploring what is philosophy (I‘m curious about Eastern philosophy) and thought some of the books in this link intriguing also https://hastyreader.com/best-philosophy-books/ (edited) 1y
TheBookHippie I know there is a list she‘s got to spin the wheel to find what we need to read next, but I know we need more on our list!!! 1y
TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit that book sounds good ! 1y
TheBookHippie I‘ve always wanted to read Bhagavad Gita. 1y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit we definitely need more eastern philosophy on our list! I was just about to put a call out for more book ideas, because our list is getting kind of short again. 1y
84 likes9 comments
review
TheBookHippie
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Mehso-so

#DEADPHILOSOPHERSSOCIETY

I did enjoy this -it‘s not something I would read, not sure if this is philosophy but it is how we live and can learn from cats. IF you like cats you‘ll like this I imagine. I plan to give my copy to my niece who loves cats.

I fell behind reading in COVID -happy to have caught up as I love our little group!

Chrissyreadit I‘m a little put off by some of his thoughts… 1y
TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit OH YES, for sure, it however made me think 😵‍💫😝 I am put off by cats so it was a whole mind stretch, I enjoyed it though. 1y
GingerAntics 😂🤣😂 I love this picture! I‘m a little confused by this book. I agree that it certainly got me thinking. It‘s almost like it‘s less about philosophy and more about getting the reader to think philosophically, if that makes any sense. 1y
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TheBookHippie @GingerAntics 😂😵‍💫 I agree. 1y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit @TheBookHippie it just made figuring out discussions so weird. I felt like our discussions weren‘t as good with this one, but it‘s not that we weren‘t trying. Such a weird book. 1y
Chrissyreadit @GingerAntics it‘s really like he had an idea and wanted to see if it would work, like Frankenstein monster. Somehow enough people think it works but I just don‘t . 1y
TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit 😂😂😂😂 1y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit I think it depends on what we‘re reading the idea to be. If it‘s an ode to his love of cats, sure I think it worked in an odd sort of way. It did not work as a work of philosophy, though. 1y
55 likes9 comments
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GingerAntics
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Chrissyreadit That I love cats 😻😻😻😻😻😻😻 1y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit 🤣😂🤣 I already knew that part. 1y
ravenlee I‘ve been (hopefully understandably) kind of out of it for the past month - did we pick our next read or discuss when to dive into something new? 1y
GingerAntics @ravenlee everything has been crazy at work the last month, so you‘re not alone. We did pick a new one. I haven‘t posted a schedule or anything. I‘m thinking after the new year. 2-3 week of January start I‘m thinking. 1y
11 likes4 comments
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GingerAntics
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GingerAntics Anyone else feel like this wasn‘t really about philosophy all that much? 1y
TheBookHippie Yes ME!!! I think it was more about just life and how we navigate it….😬 1y
Chrissyreadit I just felt like he cobbled together thoughts he had and am not sure why he added cats …. 1y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit I feel that. Really I do. 1y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie this did seem to be more about relationships than philosophy. 1y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie I think so 😂😵‍💫 I‘ll be back this afternoon to catch all the way up on our discussion!! 1y
TheBookHippie My DIVA dog yes she thinks we are hers and her servants. And why ELSE do most religions BLESS animals? Then turn around and say they have no souls? So there are no creatures in their heaven or what ???? These are thoughts I have had reading. Admittedly still in covid brain 😝 1y
Chrissyreadit Animals rock. And absolutely have different ways of relating. 1y
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ravenlee Hey all - kiddo‘s in the hospital and I‘m working on 11 hours of sleep in the last 64-ish…so I‘ll see you all another time. I hope things start looking up tomorrow. 1y
GingerAntics @ravenlee oh no! Are you and your little one okay? 1y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie oh, I‘m convinced all pets see their owners as theirs and servants. 😂 1y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit I think they‘re less self conscious about it. They like this person, so they hang out with that person. They‘re not worried about another person in the house feeling left out or what anyone thinks of them for not “being nice” the way humans do. (edited) 1y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee oh no!!! Sending light!!! 1y
ravenlee @GingerAntics @TheBookHippie we‘re doing better now. She has/had a staph infection in her knee. She was in the ER, two hospitals, over Saturday night two weeks ago, went home, then was called back to the first ER for retest and that turned into being admitted for a week and two knee surgeries, plus a barrage of antibiotics. We‘ve been home since last Saturday and she‘s recovering well, but antibiotics continue for another month and PT starts soon. 1y
GingerAntics @ravenlee her knee?! Oh my god! I hope it heels up nicely and she doesn‘t have any movement issues or anything. I also hope her little tummy is withstanding all those antibiotics! 1y
ravenlee @GingerAntics thank you. It was terrifying, to be honest. She had to have the end of her femur debrided (I didn‘t even know that could be done to bone - I‘ve learned so much recently I hope never to need to know again) and irrigated, twice. Now she‘s non-weight-bearing for another 6-7 weeks. She‘s been learning to use her walker and is turning into a speed demon. She still doesn‘t know she can‘t dance in the Nutcracker, which is the next big deal. 1y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee I had it in my lower left leg -it‘s so painful at least mine was. Massive antibiotics and I reacted to the meds -so I was in a week as well. Awful stuff I feel so badly for her. 1y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee also it‘s terrifying !!! I ended up with strep A in it. Being a parent when it‘s your child laying there is such hard stuff. I loathe it. I hope things go well here on out! (edited) 1y
GingerAntics @ravenlee do I even want to know what that means? Oh the poor kid! She‘s not going to be happy about missing the nutcracker! There are going to be tears over that one. 1y
ravenlee @GingerAntics the surgeon had to drain some fluid from the joint, then scrape the infected bone away and irrigate the exposed bone. Then the fluid and bone samples were sent to labs to be cultured for staph (her blood samples were being cultured every few days throughout the whole ordeal). When the bone sample did grow staph, the surgery had to be repeated to make sure none of the infection remained. Her femur on x-ray is noticeably shaved. 😳 1y
GingerAntics @ravenlee 😳😳😳 well, hopefully it grows back after the infection is fully healed. 1y
10 likes16 comments
review
GingerAntics
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Mehso-so

Between a pick and a so-so for me. As a cat lover, I enjoyed this look into the lives of cats and the philosophers that loved them. However, I think this book is more about cats and the philosophers that loved them as opposed to a book of philosophy. It‘s quite hard to classify this book.
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

GingerAntics It was an intriguing and entertaining read, but I‘m not entirely convinced this was actually a philosophy book or that Gray fulfilled the promises set forth in his thesis. #FelinePhilosophy #JohnGray #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety #LiveLikeACat #TheMeaningOfLife #Cats #Cat #CatsAndTheMeaningOfLife #CatsOfLitsy 1y
TheBookHippie It was more of a life with cats and what they teach? 1y
TheBookHippie I‘m caught up!!! Yay!!! What‘s next read? 1y
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Chrissyreadit I think his use of philosophy should be exchanged for opinion 🤣 1y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit that one! Yes! It was more of “let‘s talk about philosophers who had cats.” lol “Then we can talk about the way I thing cats think.” 1y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I promise no cats will be involved (in the title at least?) 1y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit that makes A LOT more sense to me. 1y
23 likes1 stack add7 comments
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee I think cats are better about living in the moment, being concerned solely with their immediate needs. They have no need for eternity or immortality. And they‘d probably get bored eventually. Or maybe not - maybe they could spend forever living in the moment and it would always be fresh. 1y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee Absolutely this!!! 1y
TheBookHippie Yes they have no mental blocks 😬😵‍💫 1y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee I‘ve known of cats who go off alone to find a quiet place to die, though all my personal experience is with cats who have been euthanized to ease their final suffering. I found the story of the black cat who recovered interesting, because it could so easily have been the end. I was happy for them both that the dedicated human was able to intervene. 1y
ravenlee I‘m not sure humans still have this innate sense. Sometimes we feel like we‘re dying, but we‘re just reacting/overreacting to our situations. Maybe we‘ve pushed ourselves too far from our animal roots to recognize it. 1y
TheBookHippie Animals know yes! Some humans get a sense it depends how attune you are to your body. I‘m very attune I have to be, but people who aren‘t probably do not know. 1y
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GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I agree that some people can and some people can‘t. Maybe that‘s why they say alzheimer's patients tend to have really lucid moments just before they die. They‘ve been forced to think of nothing but this moment and their experience of it. In those final moments, they feel it coming and it‘s like they take their last little bit of strength or something. 1y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I agree. We have been socialised to disconnect from our bodies, so many have lost this sense. Others still seem to have it. 1y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I had a cat who didn‘t usually like to sleep on the bed with people, but she jumped up on my bed and laid next to me (so unlike her) and just sort of drifted away. 1y
13 likes6 comments
review
ravenlee
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Mehso-so

#DannyBoy and I found this book ok, but not great. It seemed disjunct, and the stories didn‘t always seem to line up with the philosophy sections they introduced. It‘s highly subjective, but I felt like Gray doesn‘t portray either cats or philosophy very well. That said, the chapters on mortality and living like a cat were good. #DeadPhilosophersSociety

GingerAntics I agree. I haven‘t finished yet, but sometimes I find myself wondering “is this really philosophy?” This one doesn‘t feel as philosophical as some of the others we‘ve read. 1y
kspenmoll Apologies- I just could not get into this book & work was so intense so I could not push myself. I bailed 1y
ravenlee @kspenmoll I thought about bailing, too. I only finished because I accidentally read two chapters together twice. At that point I figured I might as well finish. You didn‘t miss much. 1y
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TheBookHippie I agree! Just finished have to go back and answer all the questions now! 1y
Chrissyreadit I agree with your perspective so much! 1y
GingerAntics Is it bad I thought about bailing? 1y
36 likes6 comments
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee I think I‘m a better person for having loved (and lost) cats. The cats I‘ve loved have taught me to take time for myself (sit down and pet the kitty, lady), naps are both necessary and enjoyable, and that persistence is the key to getting what you want. 1y
TheBookHippie Yes bulldogs anyway, they are very in-tuned to emotion and having that is priceless it shows if a dog can do it because I‘m important to her, people SHOULD. But also nap, enjoy the moment, simple things. They enrich us. 1y
GingerAntics @ravenlee @TheBookHippie I think this is why humans have always had these relationships - working and living - with animals. They do enrich us. We all prefer different kinds of animals, but they bring something to our lives that no one else can. 1y
10 likes3 comments
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee Cats are more happily independent than dogs. Dogs worship their owners; cats tolerate their staff. I haven‘t read much dog literature (I generally refuse to read books in which the animal dies) and I‘m not a dog person. Actually, I‘m afraid of dogs! But it seems a lot of cat literature focuses on the inner world of the cat‘s mind and experiences, while dog stories focus heavily on interactions with people. 1y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee I‘m not per-say a pet person 😂 BUT having bulldogs who are basically untrainable stubborn, so obstinate you can‘t even fathom, but so loving to their people, mine is like a toddler… but I love her DIVA ass. 😬😵‍💫 but other dogs, no. Cats, no. 😂 I love koalas birds all zoo animals I find most animals beautiful. Cats were worshiped and as such in books more. Dogs have a worse history .. which is mans doing and training. But still true 1y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie very good point 1y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I totally agree. Dogs are for people who want to be worshipped like gods. Cats are for people who want to wake up with a hungry godling in their face. 1y
10 likes4 comments
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee I think there‘s a selfishness to feline love, which isn‘t always part of human love. Cats are self-serving. My cat loves me because I provide him with food, water, shelter, enrichment, and affection. He loves my daughter, too, but he prefers me. I tell her it‘s because he knows where the good stuff comes from, and because he‘s a big boy and I have a bigger, squishier lap. 1y
ravenlee But just because cats are selfish doesn‘t make their love less. They‘re smart enough not to waste their love on anyone who treats them poorly - which is a lesson a lot of humans should probably take note of. 1y
ravenlee Story that was prompted by this chapter, about cats not being jealous of their humans: in college I dated this guy who had two cats (Giddis and Berta). One of them was very friendly toward me, saw me as another set of petting appendages. The other was SO territorial of her human, and she hated me. She once sat on my lap, which shocked me because she‘d always been so standoffish. She looked me in the eye, 👇🏻 1y
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ravenlee stuck out one single claw, and snagged one thread in the new sweater I was wearing. Then she pulled her paw back a foot or so, pulled her claw out of the thread tangle, got up, and walked away. She washed her paw and watched me. So, yes, cats can ABSOLUTELY feel jealousy! 1y
TheBookHippie 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 1y
GingerAntics @ravenlee oh cats can absolutely be jealous and selfie with their love. I totally agree with you. They can also be really evil, like with your sweater. 1y
11 likes6 comments
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ShaaM
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Pickpick

I completed it in the loving memory of the one who choose me my Kat... Due to my cowardness I could not save him 😭

Reggie I‘m sorry. 1y
Chrissyreadit I‘m sorry 😢 1y
2 likes2 comments
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GingerAntics
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GingerAntics I‘ve got to say, one positive of this would certainly be that people wouldn‘t hide their motivations, because they wouldn‘t be self conscious of their motivations. Instead of “I‘m trying to protect women and unborn babies” it would be “I just want to control women, children, and anyone else I see as inferior to myself.” 2y
TheBookHippie In narcissist, serial killers? 😬😵‍💫😝😂😱 1y
TheBookHippie I am torn on this. Still pondering. 1y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie Yes. I think other life is somewhere, but we are here. If that makes any sense! 1y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie Well. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. I believe pursuit of justice and a altruistic life lived of love is, but it probably just is for me. Everyone has to find what it is for them . 1y
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GingerAntics
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GingerAntics I‘ve got to say, this chapter really stretched me mentally. 2y
TheBookHippie I feel like crap I‘ll be back to answer. I answered last weeks yesterday 😝😩 I agree this one is good for my brain 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie 🤣😂🤣 you have the added push of the fact that you‘re not a cat person. 2y
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GingerAntics @TheBookHippie oh no, it‘s covid! I hope you feel better quickly. 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics finally almost “normal” 😝 1y
TheBookHippie Morality is whatever your personal ethos is. That‘s my opinion and it changes as you gain knowledge and experience. As for morality as a whole, that is so subjective. People say all kinds of things are immoral but are they? Or is it that persons fear, hatred, judgement ? But yes basic good and basic evil is understood people just don‘t want to follow it and add their own input, kinda like evangelicals 🤢🤮 1y
9 likes6 comments
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ravenlee
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Philosophical cats: is the box half empty or half full? Either way there‘s room for cat.
Is the food dish half empty or half full? I can see the bottom! Starvation is imminent.
#DannyBoy #catsofLitsy #DeadPhilosophersSociety

ravenlee Also, I confused my buddy reads and read two chapters instead of one and couldn‘t figure out how the book was going to last into October at that rate…because it isn‘t at that rate…🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y
RaeLovesToRead I love this picture!!!! I would say the box was completely full 😋 2y
ravenlee @RaeLovesToRead this particular box is a bit overfull, as it was about three inches tall when it was intact…but he‘s happy 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
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RaeLovesToRead So cute 😊💕 2y
FlowerFairy Recently purchased our new kitten a bed. She has yet to touch it. Loves her Amazon box, though. 🤣 2y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Lol, our cat definitely thinks she‘s going to starve if she catches even a glimpse of the bottom of the bowl. 🤣😂 2y
Chrissyreadit 🤣🤣🤣😻 1y
47 likes7 comments
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee I think it‘s easy to get bogged down in fatalism, get overwhelmed by the odds - so much of what we‘ve discussed before, in the limits of free will and such. Then, yes, there‘s melancholy. But if we acknowledge the cruddy situation and still work to make the best of it for ourselves and those around us, there‘s reason for hope and optimism. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I like that view much better. I think there is certainly room to recognise that things can and do suck. I think the “everything‘s great and always awesome” camp is just as toxic as the “everything sucks and nothing matters” camp. I think the whole point is to find that happy medium, like you say. It‘s important to acknowledge both sides of life, I guess. Some (most? all?) of the philosophers in this chapter did NOT get that memo. 2y
ravenlee Yes, toxic optimism. The people who talk about “first-world problems” like you can‘t be upset about anything just because other people have it worse. The ones who want to know what you‘re doing for self-care because it‘s SOOO important but ignore all the genuine problems that are causing the stress in the first place. 2y
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GingerAntics @ravenlee yes to all of that! First world problems (for joke sake) are like “I wish my phone did this,” but that‘s not to say people in the first world don‘t actually have problems. 2y
ravenlee Exactly! Like, “I dropped my phone and the screen cracked so it‘s barely usable but I can‘t afford $700 for a new one” is indeed a first-world problem - but it‘s for someone who needs a usable phone to be contacted about work, housing opportunities, family emergencies, and so on, it‘s still very much a problem! 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee exactly! I just dropped my phone and the screen is cracked so it‘s barely useable, but don‘t worry daddy will buy me a new one on the way home from work” is absolutely a genuine first world problem in the joke sense. 🙄 2y
TheBookHippie I always think of Anne of Green Gables when melancholy is mentioned!!!! 2y
TheBookHippie I think people miss joy. Joy and peace are not feelings they are a way of spirit in the midst of it all burning down around us. 2y
TheBookHippie Sorry so late catching up!!! 2y
17 likes10 comments
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee Well, cats don‘t realize they‘re naked…so…yes? (Seriously, my SIL keeps sending pictures of her kids dressing their cat in doll clothes and the cat is NOT amused. I think he‘s either plotting murder or escape) 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee oh my god, dogs will put up with that bs, but cats will NOT! 😳 I‘ve seen a cat willingly wear a garment if it serves them in some meaningful way (I‘m thinking of a cat with paralysed back legs that wears little dresses that let her drag her back legs over the floors without hurting herself), but if they‘re aware they are naked, they really don‘t care. They will gladly throw a leg up and lick their butt in front of god and man! 2y
ravenlee Once at my MIL‘s house kiddo was playing with the old (like MIL‘s childhood) dolls and my BIL caught MIL‘s cat and was trying to put some dress or something on her. MIL came over all exasperated and I thought kitty was in for a rescue until she said, “oh for goodness‘ sake - at least find something that fits her!” and proceeded to find her “favorite” dress. Now I try to make sure the cat is well hidden before they play dolls. 😳🙄 2y
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GingerAntics @ravenlee oh my god that poor cat! You have got to be kidding. 2y
ravenlee I wish I were. 2y
ravenlee Or maybe cats do realize they‘re naked and revel in it. Nudist cats? Is that why they lick their butts at us so deliberately? 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee OH MY GOD THAT WOULD EXPLAIN SO MUCH!!! They look at us like “what‘s up with those things on your body? What‘s the point. Be comfortable.” Cats are nudists! 🤯 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee yes. They‘re flaunting their freedom. 2y
TheBookHippie Death isn‘t real for most people until they either experience it with loss or beat it themselves or fight to live IMO. Life and Death started at the same time if we are to believe there is no time in Eden or heaven. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie that is an absolutely mind blowing thought. “Life and death started at the same time.” So much to unpack with that. The birth of humanity meant the death of our closest evolutionary siblings. Death is the only guarantee we have in life. Hm. 2y
14 likes10 comments
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GingerAntics
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Do humans like cats because they are not like humans at all? Such an intriguing thought. We see such differences in them, and that‘s what draws us to them. Perhaps (from last chapter), we are drawn to them, because they want us to be.
#FelinePhilosophy #JohnGray #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety #LiveLikeACat #TheMeaningOfLife #Cats #Cat #CatsAndTheMeaningOfLife #CatsOfLitsy

kspenmoll I never lived with cats before marrying; my husband loves all animals & feels akin to them. Now that I have had cats, for me, their behavior/ beings drew me to them. It may be different for others. I was brought up with dogs & viewed cats as boring. Mow I love my cats. Over time we have so lucked out with our 3- all companions & “dog cats.” (edited) 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll I‘m thinking they are more like us than Gray is giving them (or us) credit for. Each cat is unique. Some are very ritualistic and some are totally free spirits. The religions of the world talk about how horrible humans are and how we must overcome our natures, but the natures they want us to overcome the most are the things cats embrace. Proper rest. Enjoying the moment. Not worrying about what others think of us. Etc. 2y
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GingerAntics @kspenmoll maybe we love cats because they are us without all the constraints and BS. Instead of complicating everything, they‘ve simplified everything. 2y
ravenlee I wish we could be more catlike: take naps when you‘re tired. Eat when you‘re hungry. Keep yourself clean and in good working order. Manipulate those around you into taking care of your needs. They‘re masters of “self-care.” 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee another really good point. Perhaps we can never be entirely cat like, maybe because we‘re not really supposed to me (seeing that to the best of my knowledge we are not cats), but we can certainly learn from them. Cats can do amazing things to help and even rescue people they‘re attached to (possibly because they see it as saving their automatic food generator? 🤷🏼‍♀️), they will even risk one their 9 lives… 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee but they won‘t do any of that if they are sick, injured, overly tired, etc. They sleep when they need it. They eat when they need to. They don‘t worry about fitting a body ideal or a productivity ideal. They protect themselves and those they care about. After that, all bets are off. Don‘t even look at their house if they don‘t know you, they might take it as a threat. 2y
kspenmoll @GingerAntics SO true! When Emmy has enough of my lap she just up & goes. She chooses what she does, how she lives in any given moment. They are good mentors for us regarding rest(my struggle), being in moment, etc. 2y
kspenmoll @GingerAntics great great points!!! Re: masters of self care. @GingerAntics Poe is our empath cat- he senses when one of us is upset, sad, etc. and just shows up & snuggles us. (edited) 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll I grew up with a cat like that. He was such an introvert, but if I was upset, it was cold in my room at night, he thought my feet were something that was going to get me under my covers, he was right there. I miss that big guy everyday. 2y
TheBookHippie OkAy this human, nope. 😂 what does that say about me 😂😂😂😂😝😳 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee THIS. I‘ll just do ME. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie maybe people who dislike cats, are the most like cats, so they don‘t want another around. 2y
Chrissyreadit @GingerAntics I love your last comment- and suspect there may be some truth to it 😆 1y
Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll I‘ve had a couple of cats that were also empathic- so I feel like some of this book does not ring true in how cats relate and see things. 1y
17 likes15 comments
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GingerAntics
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kspenmoll I think philosophy is telling us both. Some philosophy seems to go hand in hand with religion & its rituals. Cats have rituals but obviously not aligned with religion. We can try to be more content, accept that we all die, live as much in the moment as we can, but living as Humans has demands, bumps, tragedies. In this divisive world/country it seems only achievable individually & within smaller groups. I wish it were different & I strive for that 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll that makes a lot of sense. 2y
ravenlee I think philosophers (maybe not philosophy overall) tell us that we‘re too complicated to live like cats. Whether that is a positive or a negative depends on the individual perspective. 2y
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GingerAntics @ravenlee that is true. That could be a new branch of philosophy right there. Are we too complicated to live like cats? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? 2y
ravenlee I feel like cats could belong to several schools of philosophical thought. Zen, Stoicism, pragmatism, so many. Also, stoner philosophy when catnip is involved. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee 😂🤣😂 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I don‘t know. A lot of those philosophies are focused on dealing with the melancholy of life. Cats aren‘t. They‘re oblivious to it. Anxiety doesn‘t keep cats awake. They don‘t have insomnia. Cats see a problem, and either they can do something about it (claw someone‘s face off) or they can‘t (it‘s time for a nap anyway). 🤷🏼‍♀️ I think stoner fits them well on all cases. Something happens and they grin, say “dude” and have a nap. 2y
ravenlee True, they‘re not at the heart of any of those philosophies, but more in line with the practice, like taking things as they come, making do instead of wishing for better. Although my cat for sure wishes for the canned food when I give him the kibble. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee yeah, I swear, if I fed the cat wet food for some reason or a special occasion, then gave them kibble, I‘d get a look. “What is this crap, human? Where is my real meal?” 2y
kspenmoll @ravenlee Good points. Especially catnip. 2y
kspenmoll @GingerAntics @ravenlee Wet food reigns in our house. Another cat directive. 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll we‘ve all been trained by our cats! 😂 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee stoner philosophy 😂😂 2y
TheBookHippie This book is fun. I loathe cats and never want one in my house but I like holding a kitten 😂 I think they‘re cute to look at and I understand people liking them I just really do not, so this book is different for me. I do like that they‘re selfish little critters narcissistic maybe ? Could be why I don‘t like them 😂😂 2y
TheBookHippie You can live like a cat. You just would be alone. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I‘m not sure you would be, though. You would just only have people you liked in your life. 2y
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GingerAntics
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This chapter was certainly better than the last. This was definitely a philosophy chapter, and a cat chapter obviously. Interesting ideas in this chapter.
#FelinePhilosophy #JohnGray #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety #LiveLikeACat #TheMeaningOfLife #Cats #Cat #CatsAndTheMeaningOfLife #CatsOfLitsy

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kspenmoll
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Digging into this book while my cats, Em & Poe are being cats. #catsoflitsy

ravenlee 😍 2y
batsy Perfect 😻 2y
AmyG ❤️ 2y
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GingerAntics How fitting! Those cats are really living the life! 2y
kspenmoll @ravenlee @batsy @AmyG @GingerAntics They certainly are living the life! 2y
GingerAntics I wish I could nap more. There is nothing like an early afternoon siesta. 2y
TheBookHippie ♥️ 2y
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GingerAntics
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GingerAntics I‘m really hoping the next chapter isn‘t quite as grim in places. I‘m not sure I can take a whole book of the depravity of humanity turned on cats. 2y
ravenlee I was thinking the same thing. I don‘t understand why Gray felt it necessary or useful to lay out such gruesome details, and so much of it. I get that humans can be singularly, well, inhuman, but the litany was excessive and served little purpose (as far as I can tell). I‘m still waiting for the “philosophy” part to really take off. 2y
ravenlee I did find some interesting tidbits on the history of cats - I love that cats domesticated themselves. It wasn‘t new to me, as we watch a LOT of documentaries around here (one of the tunes kiddo hums to herself sometimes is the PBS Nature theme music), especially on cats (kiddo‘s major obsession for the past two years). But it‘s still awesome. 2y
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GingerAntics @ravenlee I love that your kid likes documentaries! That is just awesome! 🧡🧡🧡 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee yeah, I didn‘t feel a lot of philosophy on this one, other than “cats don‘t need philosophy” which was confusing. What are we doing here exactly? I‘m hoping this was the intro chapter and we‘ll get into the philosophy now. I don‘t see any purpose to litany of human horrors inflicted upon cats either. I just genuinely hope it‘s over. I want to protect all the kitties! 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee part of me does wonder how those monsters didn‘t get their faces clawed off, though. If anyone deserved to be clawed to death, it was the nutcases that came up with those atrocities!!! 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I assume this will get better. Sorry I‘m so late I have a hugely busy schedule this month! 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie that‘s fine. I totally bungled posting this week, so we‘re all on the back foot a bit with this one. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Yeah, I‘m certainly hoping for some actual philosophy in the next chapter and hopefully no more anti-cat check lists. 2y
kspenmoll The torturing of cats by humans 😱😱😱 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll same. Did. Not. Know. Any of this. Oh my god. I don‘t even believe in hell, but all those people better be rotting there right now. That so sick. I just… 🤯 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee A documentary I saw showed how human brains react to cat cries like they react to human baby cries, and cats only communicate by crying with humans (not to other cats), so cats evolved their cries to manipulate us into paying attention to them. So, yes, cats are basically in charge. 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee Agree. This is why I like dogs. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee 🤣😂🤣 oh my god that is AWESOME!!! I knew I loved cats! 2y
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kspenmoll Oh I love hearing this!!!!! Cats are in charge! 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll I feel like a world ruled by cats would be WAY more laid back and probably way more equal (I don‘t think cats much care what people look like or do for a living as long as they‘re not jerks) than our own. In fact, we‘d probably be paid in food and comfortable places to sit. That‘s pretty much currency to cats, isn‘t it? 2y
Chrissyreadit So there is research I read a while back that a purring cat sleeping on the chest reduces nightmares and symptoms of PTSD. I also know some cats are very untuned to provide comfort. And will bring a portion of the animal they killed as a “gift” to their owner. Obi always brings mouse guts to my son as a gift. @GingerAntics @ravenlee @kspenmoll @TheBookHippie 1y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee Based on the first chapter it seems to be a “list everything bad people can do to cats” book. 2y
TheBookHippie 😂😂😂😂@ravenlee …. Should say I‘m no cat fan… 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie just as long as you don‘t use this first chapter for inspiration or anything. 2y
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GingerAntics @ravenlee that‘s for sure. Fingers seriously crossed for the next chapter. 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics BAHAHAHAHAHA. 2y
kspenmoll @ravenlee @TheBookHippie I have 2 cats that we live dearly & certainly have trained us! But i will say that Emmy cries when she can‘t find me now that I am back at work & both greet us at the door when we return from somewhere. They are “dog cats” but also fit so much with this book because they were feral. 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll that‘s interesting, actually. I think it does come down to the unique personality of the cat, too. Some like knowing you‘re there. I had one cat who would fall asleep next to me while I was reading a book or watching tv and would stretch a paw out to put on my arm or my leg or even my face, just to know I was there. Other cats are just more independent, and as long as they have food, litter box, and a window, they‘re chill. 2y
kspenmoll @GingerAntics Definitely cat personality. Both my cats are distinct from each other. 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll we‘ve had 8 cats in my life and all of them were unique individuals. 2y
Chrissyreadit I currently have 5 cats, all with individual personalities. But 2 of them are very bonded to my son and follow him. I‘m not sure yet what I think of this book- but so far to me it is more opinion he is validating than philosophy. @TheBookHippie @ravenlee @kspenmoll @GingerAntics 1y
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GingerAntics
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Totally forgot I didn‘t post these before I went to bed last night. I‘m SO sorry! I‘ll just post them around midnight next time.
“Does philosophy stem from human anxiety?”
#FelinePhilosophy #JohnGray #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety #LiveLikeACat #TheMeaningOfLife #Cats #Cat #CatsAndTheMeaningOfLife #CatsOfLitsy
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

ravenlee I can see it. People get really philosophical when they feel lost or confused about their lives - like so many people who change majors in college and are consumed by questions about whether or not they‘re making the right choice. 2y
TheBookHippie I think it‘s the search for control and for absolutes. I think there are a faction of people who prefer to be told what to do -so they don‘t have to make the decisions, or effort, and they find comfort in that -I personally don‘t understand this but I do see those type of people really enjoying church and religion. I agree with @ravenlee about when people feel lost. It‘s uncomfortable for most to not have certainty which actually is so not life. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee @TheBookHippie I totally agree that philosophy can certainly have that grasping for certainty feel about it. I think it‘s how you approach philosophy, too, though. I think for some it is this grasping at straws for anything of comfort, but in this group it‘s more the adventure of different people‘s perspectives and how they view the world. Perhaps the people we‘re reading are going more toward the looking for certainty, though. 2y
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TheBookHippie @GingerAntics Could be I am anxious to read on! 2y
kspenmoll Coming to this a week late, but I found this part of the book fascinating - & see in my( our) lives many who need the certainty of religion, church etc. & as @TheBookHippie said, people often want to have decisions made for them by being black & white about following rules. Especially now when our world is so threatening on so many levels, people look for comfort. @ravenlee (edited) 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll yeah, I never really looked at philosophy in the same way as religion before. It makes sense though, and I can certainly see that being one draw toward philosophy. I just don‘t think it‘s the only draw or a universal draw to philosophy. 2y
Chrissyreadit @ravenlee @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics @kspenmoll I‘m a month late… but how much of philosophy and anxiety are to justify the cruelty humans inflict on each other and make sense of a world that promotes do as I say not as I do, not to mention a continuous cycle of inherited trauma? 1y
TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit agree!!!! I am catching up today !! 1y
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kspenmoll
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Plan to read the sections of buddy reads Feline Philosophy & A Secret Sisterhood this week, & possibly continue with the others.
#kindle #Paris #librarymystery #adventuresinphilosophy #felinephilosophy #livelikeacat #Janeandthexcellentreadalong #pemberlittens

BarkingMadRead I still have to start the next Jane Austen mystery! Great stack! 2y
Crinoline_Laphroaig @BarkingMadRun @kspenmoll I'm really liking that September #JaneandtheExcellentReadalong is set in September. 2y
Cinfhen How‘s school going??? 2y
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GingerAntics
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Well, that first chapter certainly has some surprisingly unpleasant parts. No wonder society links cat with women. Society hates both equally it would seem.
#FelinePhilosophy #JohnGray #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety #LiveLikeACat #TheMeaningOfLife #Cats #Cat #CatsAndTheMeaningOfLife #CatsOfLitsy

TheBookHippie Seemed a tad unfair to me as well. 2y
kspenmoll I finally finished chapter 1. Loved the story of Meo. But the history of how philosophers & scientists & people treated cats is nauseating. 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll that was hideous. Gray could have left that at, “historically, people have had these myths and misunderstandings of cats and have treated them poorly because of this.” I could have been perfectly happy with a nice mention and run approach to that. So glad chapter 2 has NONE of that. 2y
Chrissyreadit Finally reading … and chapter 1 made me cry. 1y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit chapter 1 was truly monstrous. I wanted to turn around whence I came at that point. Perhaps we should have all heeded that warning. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 1y
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GingerAntics
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As we start approaching our first discussion (2 weeks from Sunday), I just wanted to pop up a little reminder of the schedule for anyone thinking of joining us or even just watching the feline appreciation unfold (either is fine really - whatever makes you want to purr).
#FelinePhilosophy #JohnGray #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety #LiveLikeACat #TheMeaningOfLife #Cats #Cat #CatsAndTheMeaningOfLife #CatsOfLitsy

Chrissyreadit 🙌🙌🙌🙌 2y
Chrissyreadit Do you want any of this added to Litsy Events? 2y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit sure! I think it was added when I first posted it, if I‘m remembering correctly. 2y
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GingerAntics
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As we quickly approach our first discussion (2 weeks from Sunday), I just wanted to pop this up as a reminder for everyone thinking of joining us, or just thinking of watching this spectacle of cat appreciation unfold (either way really). 😂🤣😂
#FelinePhilosophy #JohnGray #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety #LiveLikeACat #TheMeaningOfLife #Cats #Cat #CatsAndTheMeaningOfLife #CatsOfLitsy

TheBookHippie I‘m ready! 2y
ravenlee I‘m so excited! 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I‘m all about learning to live like a cat! I‘m so excited to dig into this one. We always have the next conversations, so it‘s always fun to see where we end up. 2y
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ravenlee
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Today‘s #bookmail includes the tagged for #DeadPhilosophersSociety, A Secret Sisterhood for #PemberLittens, A Mind Spread Out on the Ground for #SheSaid - and a bunch of feminist works because that‘s the mood I was in when I was on Book Outlet that day. Also a cute puzzle/find ‘em/geography thing for the kiddo.

kspenmoll When is a Secret Sisterhood being read- I have the book. 2y
ravenlee @kspenmoll it‘s the September/October book about JA for #PemberLittens. I don‘t think there‘s a schedule yet, or even a designated host - @sprainedbrain are you leading this one? 2y
sprainedbrain Nope, @BarkingMadRun will be leading this one. I will be posting reminders about all of our Sept/Oct books this weekend. 😉 2y
ravenlee @sprainedbrain thanks. I didn‘t think you were but couldn‘t remember what got worked our for the different books. Too many readalongs! 2y
BarkingMadRead I got the same version of Secret Sisterhood! 2y
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TheBookHippie
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KristiAhlers This is so my Oliver kitty! 🐈‍⬛ 2y
TheBookHippie @KristiAhlers Ha. I don't have a cat but we are set to read this book. It is a good reminder!
2y
KristiAhlers @TheBookHippie more like Oliver has people and we‘re his group! What a fun read for y‘all 2y
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kspenmoll Love this! I am joining in the Feline Philosophy read- my son has the book so I am all set for September.😀 2y
GingerAntics This is the best! 2y
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TheBookHippie
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GingerAntics
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I‘m also including this list of the chapters with their titles so everyone is on the same page when we talking about a “chapter.” The readings for each week are less than 30 pages, but of course with the books we read, that can still feel like a lot. Any questions, let me know. If anyone wants to be taken off or added, just let me know!

TheBookHippie Oh this is good!!! 2y
Chrissyreadit Got it 😘😘😘😘 2y
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DinoMom This book intrigues me. I think I need to get myself a copy! 2y
GingerAntics @DinoMom right? It‘s basically the philosophy of living like your cat. Cats seem to be living the life, so I‘m on board with this. lol 2y
kspenmoll My son has this book so I am all set for September. 😅 2y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie LOOKS GOOD!! 2y
ravenlee Hooray! And since I forgot to order it before I went on vacation, I‘m especially glad that I still have time! 2y
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kspenmoll Love this! 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee This Life was SO dense, I wanted to give everyone enough time to catch up if need be and process. I figured we finished just before the 4th, so we could wait until after Labor Day to start this one. It‘s a short read, so it won‘t hurt anything. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @kspenmoll I can‘t wait to learn how to live more like my cat. They have really perfected the subtle art of not letting anything get to them. 2y
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GingerAntics
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THE WHEEL OF WISDOM HAS SPOKEN!!! The next #DeadPhilosophersSociety read will be what promises to be an absolutely awesome read, Feline Philosophy. It appears quite adorable. So get your orders or library holds in. I‘ll post a schedule after we know more about shipping times. Currently, I‘m thinking beginning of August to let our minds process and take This Life on board fully.

Chrissyreadit 🙌🙌🙌🙌 2y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit apparently we are going to learn to live like cats, which I am all about. 2y
Chrissyreadit @GingerAntics definitely my speed these days 2y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit I completely agree. 21 naps a day. Eat whenever. A big swishy tail. It sounds like an awesome life. 2y
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Texreader
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Catsandbooks Love this! 🐱💕 3y
wanderinglynn I totally agree with this. ❤️🐱 3y
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Mistermandolin
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Pickpick

Can cats show us the meaning of life? John Gray says: not really. And that‘s kind of the point: the preoccupation with meaning, he says, is a uniquely human endeavour that cats don‘t share. Still, they can teach us to simply be, and in doing so reveal where our own contentment might be found. An entertaining little book, exploring happiness, ethics, love, time, death and the soul: all through a very satisfying feline ‘lens.‘ Well-written, too.

AmyG My next life. A housecat. 3y
Mistermandolin @AmyG Better than being a human for sure. Food on demand, round-the-clock cuddles, permanent permission to be utterly indifferent...what‘s not to like? I‘m coming back as a house cat, without a doubt. 3y
Michael_Gee Oh, I love this! 3y
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Texreader
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