I didn't read "The Origin of Consciousness" until it was republished in 1990, but it has been seminal to me in solving a riddle I had long been aware of: Why did our cultural history only begin about 4,000 BCE? Interestingly enough, the Jewish books state that the world began no so long before that. Why, then, did history start about particular point in time? Jaynes says, and offers much convincing proof, that history began with the arrival of consciousness. By consciousness, of course, he means that kind of consciousness that makes self-awareness possible. His main these is that our minds were largely bicameral at that time (i.e. the right brain was pretty much dominant when it came to thinking, and in the thinking upon action). Two of our oldest documents neatly illustrate this transition from right brain to left brain dominance. Both are attributed to the same author, Homer. The first, of course, is The Iliad; the second is The Odyssey. Personally, I have never liked The Iliad because, in it, the characters are all guided by the gods (in their heads). In The Odyssey, which I think is one of the greatest books ever written and very, very enjoyable (it is the first adventure story), Odysseus embodies the first human being who begins to think for himself and is self-aware. The Jaynes book is fascinating (at least, it was to me), but also take a look at The Iliad, and definitely read The Odyssey. Joseph Cowley

"Cards of Identity" is the only book by Nigel Dennis that I have read. But I just loved it. Wonderful imagination. It spoofs the church, communism, government, and other organizations. I found it very funny and have cherished it ever since as part of my library. I haven't read it again since it first came out, and don't know whether it will still be as amusing, since everything has changed since the 1950's. But it's worth reading just for the wit and the imagination. Joseph Cowley

What a wonderful writer. He's the granddaddy of the spy novel, way before Graham Greene or John LeCarre (LeCarre's not in his league). As my Readers' Encyclopedia says: Ambler's writing is notable for the deftness of his style and the realistic portrayal of the characters in his work. I've read Mask, Journey, Coffin, and Judgment in the list above. Also Siege, which I didn't care for as much. Several of his novels have been made into movies. Start with Journey Into Fear.

What a wonderful writer! He's listed as a horror writer, but he calls his stories "strange," at least in three of his books. The three collections of short stories (the last three listed) I purchased. He's evidently publicity shy, because few people know about him and even fewer know him. I have read horror stories in the past (and even wrote a horror novel of my own called The House on Huntington Hill), but this author is literary, not trashy. Start where I started, with The Wine-Dark Sea, and read at least three of the stories in that collection: the title story, The Trains, and, especially if you are an insomniac, Into the Woods. Then you can judge whether you like him enough to read other stories of his. I think listing him as a writer of horror stories is a misnomer, at least in the three books I recommend. He prefers to call his stories "strange," and strange they are. He's unique in my book, not like Saki, or Roald Dahl, or Ambrose Bierce, or Edgar Allan Poe, or anyone else you can mention. Give him a try and let me know what you think. Joseph Cowley

She is a wonderful writer and a great stylist, though she was largely unrecognized during her lifetime. Unfortunately, she was alcoholic who never recovered from her disease. Otherwise her body of work might have been larger. Wide Sargasso Sea is considered her masterpiece, and the most "normal" of her books. But I prefer the other, shorter books, all beautifully written, though all seem to have the same theme.
All of Rhys' novels are available in paperback, which is how I originally read them. But I liked her so much I bought the complete novels in hardcover, published by W.W. Norton & Co., which was first published in 1985. Her first novel, published in 1927, and which I have never read, has evidently never been reprinted.
Try her, you'll like her - if you like style, which I very much do. Joseph Cowley

I just had to recommend this novel by my 13-year-old grandson, Eliot. He is very determined to be a writer, and this witty and wonderful first effort proves, in my estimation, that he is. Joseph Cowley

A friend gave this to me and I am still reading it. It seems to be a very good book, with many quotations, demonstrating the true oneness of all religions, and how they are all helping us to seek the same goals.

The Selfish Gene is a wonderful book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have also begun reading The God Delusion, which I'm also enjoying. If you can't entertain atheistic thoughts, then I would recommend that you don't read this book. But, so far, it is well reasoned and he is making some good points.

This Candadian author has written 4 or 5 or so superb stories, the ones with the backgrounds of Cape Breton. Read the first 4 or 5 stories in this collection. When he's not writing about Cape Breton, his stories fall flat and become ordinary.

I'm about halfway through my third reading of Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. I love the writing itself. But I don't recommend that everyone read the whole thing. But do, at least, read Swann's Way, expecially including the Overture and Combray, through to the end of Swann in Love. Only keep reading if you're hooked on good writing. I especially liked the original Scott Moncrieff translation, but the newest is easier to read and understand. Not everyone loves words the way I do.

P.S. I spend about 10 years reading the whole work, which means, of course, reading only a few pages at a time and keeping up with my other reading.

Joseph Cowley
joecowley@myway.com
www.josephcowley.com