Sunday, July 05, 2009

The Buddha in the Slug Manual

I enjoyed "The Slug Manual: the Rise and Fall of Criticism" by Jennifer James.

It begins with a great story:
"When a simpleton abused him, Buddha listened in silence, but when the man had finished, Buddha asked him,

"Son, if a man declined to accept a present made to him, to whom would it belong?"

The man replied "To him who offered it."

"My son," said the Buddha, "I decline to accept your abuse, and request you keep it for yourself."
What a great story - and the book is just beginning. The rest of the book is less cosmic, perhaps, but more everyday. It's a 56-page stapleback of examples of the "slugs" (verbal attacks) that people give each other to eat each day, and what to do with them.

Remember - just because someone hands you a slug, doesn't mean you have to keep it!

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