Field of Gourds: A Guide to Intellectual Rebellion

by Robert M. Fisher

Intellectual, geeky, and highly creative, Field of Gourds: A Guide to Intellectual Rebellion is presented as a dialogue between Rob Fisher with his dog, Bella. They explore the nature of rationality and discuss how, as a society, we are on the verge of losing what constitutes the foundation of individual and spiritual freedom. The author argues that most people are trapped in an intellectual prison, consuming ideas and culture like they are eating macaroni and cheese their mothers cooked for them. Believing knowledge—culture, art, science, and religion—are consumables meant to be received from others, they might find some interesting, others boring, but they never think of exploring for themselves. In other words, they fail to wield their own intellectual prowess. They do not construct knowledge, or even realize that they have an active and critical role to play in building their own understanding of things. Rather than take responsibility for what they think, believe, or feel, they passively digest other people’s visions of the world, and in the cacophony of viewpoints that characterize modern life, they wonder why they are left feeling confused with no sense of purpose. As it entertains, inspires, and challenges the reader, this book romps through some big ideas on the interrelationships among science, economics, technology, politics, democracy, religion, and theater and suggests how one should navigate the modern world. A unique cross between the self-help genre and philosophy of science, it shows how to free your mind from false traps and actively engage in creative and collaborative projects with those around you in order to manifest your full capabilities and achieve ultimate happiness. It could even change your life.

Genres: Philosophy

390 pages, Paperback

First published December 5, 2012

Reviews

[Laura DeLuca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall I really liked this book. I gotta warn you though, it's not a quick read. It's meant to make you stop and think. Really think, about the process of thinking - what is truth, and how we can never really know if something is really and truly true - only that something is consistent with what we've observed so far. Field of Gourds gets down to the roots of the scientific process - a purpose/question, bold conjectures, criticism, and then a new/improved purpose/question (and repeat) - and shows how it is applied across our existence, from science itself, to politics, race, and spirituality to name a few.

It was fascinating to me to realize this is exactly what I've done, and continue to do with my son and his health - starting with a purpose (to stop his seizures), conjectures (exploring guesses as to what caused them), criticism (was I right or not), and then a new/improved purpose/question (based on what I learned, exploring a new path regarding the cause of his seizures). I understand now why nightshade foods triggered his seizures, and I may have come across why carrots triggered them too, but I still don't know why sweet potatoes did as well. And in this process, I observed what I thought to be true change to something else (at first I thought nightshades foods over-quieted his sensory input, but now I believe it over-stimulated it, which then caused it to shut down). It's a learning process. I've applied this same sort of thinking to everything in life - I no longer take given "knowledge" to be absolute truth, as I was taught growing up, but to question everything, do my own research, and come to my own conclusions. But not to stop there - to continue to question my own conclusions again and again. Everything I do is continually improved upon. Why do something (anything, really!) a certain way just because that's the way it's always been done?

I'd love to see Field of Gourds be used as a textbook in a school setting. It's written much like a textbook, with a lot of repeated information to summarize. Bella the dog adds a humorous touch, as do the drawings by Fisher's daughters. I've often had conversations with my own dogs that go much the same ways.

I definitely recommend reading Field of Gourds - it just might change your life - or at least your way of thinking!


***Reviewed by Anne for New Age Mama. Complimentary copy received in exchange for an honest review***

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through FirstReads. Finally finished with this five-star worthy book for which I can only assign four stars because of some editing issues. Had this book had a proper editor, I am sure that the copy-editing mistakes that I found would have been caught. After I hit the third one, I started marking pages where I found misprints. One was actually egregious enough to change the clearly-intended meaning of the sentence. If Mr. Fisher reads this review, please fix these before any reprintings! This book is too well-written and interesting to suffer from such faults.

Field of Gourds is a very engagingly written, approachable book on epistemology and intellectual exploration. Fisher has structured this book as a lecture of sorts, but one with his dog, Bella, as a question-posing student. This makes what could be a dry read one which is quite entertaining.

I have an academic background rather similar to the author, and have previously read most of the works which he helpfully lists at the end of each chapter as suggested further readings. Though I am familiar with the material he covers, I was in no way bored. Fisher has succeeded in integrating material from various fields (philosophy, science, economics, etc.) which is usually taught in isolation. In so doing, he creates a work that is more than the sum of its parts.

In spite of the intimidating subject matter, I found this a very easy book to read. The interruptions of his dog, Bella, keep the tone light even when presenting challenging ideas.

The only negative thing I have found in the book is some poor copy editing. There are not many copy editing mistakes, but the few that I have found really stick out in an otherwise well-crafted book. I'm still passing the book along to my teenage daughter, whom I'm sure will enjoy this and will be probably be inspired to read a number of his suggestions for further reading.

[Sheila Trask · Rating 4 out of 5]

Use Your Gourd Field of Gourds
A Guide to Intellectual Rebellion
 

A crop of intellectual odds and ends amounts to an engaging, challenging field of ideas.
 
At first blush, a “field of gourds,” writes Robert M. Fisher in this thought-provoking philosophical survey, appears “pretty useless.” It’s a crop that defies expectations (since you can’t eat it), which Fisher likens to a fresh thought that doesn’t seem to mesh with conventional wisdom. So what can you do with the intriguing intellectual odds and ends you have grown? Field of Gourds: A Guide to Intellectual Rebellion is Fisher’s answer: you can do many, many things.
 
Fisher has been collecting bits and pieces of his thoughts on everything from religion to science for years. Here, the Duke University doctor of philosophy and Harvard Law School graduate brings his ideas together in a series of explorations that will make readers feel like they’re participating in a college seminar with an engaging and challenging professor.
 
To truly understand a thing, whether a single plant or an entire field of study, Fisher suggests one approach it from new angles and define it from the ground up. Indeed, that’s the way to approach Fisher’s writing, which resists easy categorization. He’s writing about not only science and philosophy but also dance and theater, with a substantial dash of humor in the form of asides from his faithful companion, Bella. The black Labrador retriever is pictured on the cover as a hulking hind end making a significant dent in a leather couch.
 
Fisher is more than a little contrary, and Bella is too. Her imagined contributions bring some lofty ponderings quickly down to earth. Bella says snarky things that the narrator won’t, such as when she notes that economists are a lot like parrots—ask them any question and get the same answer: “Squawk! Squawk! Supply-and-Demand. Supply-and-Demand.”
 
Fisher calls his ideas “radical,” meaning they drill down to the essential truths behind our collectively accepted beliefs. He takes apart something as basic as scientific inquiry and questions our assumptions. Science provides proof, right? Not so fast, says Fisher. Through a series of logical explanations and compelling examples, Fisher illuminates the true strength of science: it’s a system for developing greater understanding rather than a method of providing ultimate proof.
 
In lesser hands, this material could be a bit dense, but Fisher’s genuine enthusiasm for his subject is infectious. When he gets excited about applying scientific inquiry to a dance performance, for instance, readers will be curious too. Fisher capably shows the parallels between dancers who adjust their presentations in response to feedback and scientists who refine their experiments in response to the resulting data. In both cases, the feedback loop is not about perfection, but about getting progressively closer to one’s goals, whether on the stage or in the lab.
 
The book is thick with academic knowledge and language, but Fisher is an engaging and patient tutor. He doesn’t hand out the answers, but he’s also not showing off. He’s truly a teacher, and Field of Gourds would provide an excellent framework for college philosophy courses. Students can work through the information and thought exercises Fisher presents in each chapter, and they could gradually develop a new way of learning that is based on inquiry and logic rather than received wisdom.
 

Sheila M. Trask for ForeWord ReviewsJuly 22, 2013

[Stewart]

A fascinating and charming book, Fisher expounds his epistemology of science, religion, politics, and art, based on the ideas of Popper, Lakatos, Kuhn, and Schumpeter. A fulfilling life of intellectual exploration, he argues, starts with a recognition that there is a universal process describing acquisition and advancement of knowledge, in which "bold conjectures" are made, subjected to scrutiny, and refined, where the goal is to seek truth, but with the understanding that the process is incapable of establishing or proving truth. Nevertheless, the process itself represents advance, as people recognize "improvement" in the theory. According to Fisher, the same thought process can be applied in one's quest to achieve knowledge in all areas, including the artistic and spiritual arenas. However, the book only scratches the surface of the question of how this process applies to the creative process in the arts. The book has an interesting and insightful chapter providing a framework for analyzing political discouse in terms of competing social goals. Overall, the book is fascinating and persuasive, although it becomes somewhat less persuasive in certain parts where Fisher lets his passion get the better of him as he rails against positivism, dogmatism, atheism, and over-reliance on experts as a source of knowledge. On the whole, however, Fisher's view is eminently palatable and pragmatic--providing a sound intellectual basis for someone to have a well balanced life that embraces the wonders and progress of science while leaving onesself open to the rich pleasures of art and spirituality.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that on a level of different this book definitely fits the criteria.I honestly didn't think I would like the book based on the subject matter but I was pleasantly surprised. The Dog, Bella, adds another element that I found to be very enjoyable. the topics were so varied that it was actually fun going through all of them. This is a great out of the box thinking type book. It is going to appeal to a diverse group of readers. I received a free copy of this book from the author and Goodreads.

[Midge Bork · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book through Goodreads First Look program and I just couldn't read it. First, the talking dog got annoying really fast. Second, I couldn't grasp the idea that the author was going to tell me how to think for myself. Isn't that an oxymoron? After years of Creative Studies maybe I'm just past the usefulness of this book.

[Sonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book on a goodreads giveaway and it wasn't my kind of book. But the authors dog is very cute though.

[Catherine Stickann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads First Read Program. I try to give a fair and impartial read to all books I review. I was unable to finish this book, but I feel I can give a fair review, as I did read 184 pages out of the 351 pages.

Attorney, Robert M. Fisher, wrote this book for his daughters who he home schools. I like this about the author. The book reads as if he is in the courtroom selling his case to the jury. All too often I read "In this book I will show you . . ." and I found it annoying. I dislike this about this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed the author's knowledge of noted scientists, mathematicians and philosophers though I did not always agree with his interpretations of their words. In the beginning of the book the author had a wonderful way of getting me to use my brain to think for myself. He covers various topics including science, theater, capitalism, and much more. As I read on, however, I felt he was dictating to me what I needed to think. He underlines the points he wants the reader to take away from the text. This is where I began to dislike this author and his book. I found it insulting to see pages riddled with his underlining. Perhaps this was because he felt his audience beyond his daughters was not capable of recognizing what was important in the text.

He must have felt the text was not holding his audience and decided to add his pet dog, Bella as the comic relief for the reader. Bella should have refused . . . I feel she must be embarrassed by her part in the book. I was embarrassed for her.

For a book that is written to help his daughters to think for themselves, and supposedly also his readers, he dictates too much to the reader what the reader should think. I cannot recommend this read.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received a Free First Reads copy through Goodreads site. This is a sort of self help book told with dialogue between author 'Rob Fisher ' & his Dog. An interesting idea which questions how we as humans are losing our spirtual freedom. It goes with the theory that many people are trapped in an intellectual prision, and because of this people often don't think for themselves and rather than us taking responsibility for our own lives many accept other people's visions of our world. It offer ways for us to possibly free our minds and live a much better way and hopefully find ultimate happiness. A good take on philosophy while enabling self help.

[Trina Knittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads win. Will read and review once recieved.

This was an interesting and charming book to read. The book was very engaging throughout the whole thing. This was different than most books I have read and was something I am glad I gave a chance and read. I loved how the book is basically like a conversation between the person and their dog. A decent read but not something I would read again.

[Bridgette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway This is a batch of intellectual pondering that I willingly traveled along with. I took my time reading it and agree with the author's position that people would benefit from opening up to deeper individual thought. I rather liked the input from Bella (the dog).

[Kanaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this copy through goodreads and I received today. Will be reviewing this book soon.

[Kaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a free copy from the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Program and think that it interesting. I would recommend it to everyone.

[Susan Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed that this book takes place as a conversation between the writer and his dog. That was about all I liked about the book. It was way too heavy for me.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to come! Won this book through Goodreads.