Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review by Midwest Book Review:
Philosophy: Structuralism for Unity: Visions of Truth for Justice and Success
Ronnie Lee
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 9781432771836
Reviewer: Joseph Yurt
Prolific self-published author Ronnie Lee has recently released his tenth book presenting his philosophical thinking. Titled “Philosophy: Structuralism for Unity,” this book, like his others, is a tome. Over the course of 821 pages, Lee offers an expanse of thoughts that at their core form the foundation of his writings in general. The writings in this volume specifically address society and law, business and responsibility, politics, war, religion and morality, philosophy and existentialism, and life and unity. With regard to these fundamentals, the book is in essence a one volume encyclopedia of Lee’s philosophy, and as such, is both a reference book and a collection of philosophical poetry and prose.
It is important for readers who are unfamiliar with Lee’s other books to be aware that the author’s preferred writing style is free form poetry. He has honed his content framework and creative writing device to a very sharp edge. Consider, from Chapter 6, Philosophy and Existentialism, an excerpt from the poem entitled The Mind: “The mind is the end result, Of what you have been through. This creates your psychological loops, That are often entangled, In happiness and sadness loops, Hope and despair loops, And success and failure loops.” Some might perceive this style to be cutting edge, while others will perhaps regard it as a bit of a gimmicky way to slice and dice sometimes deep content into small bites. But whether it is either of these or both, my perception is that stylistically, what the author is trying to communicate is more approachable and easier to grasp as a result.
And it seems to me that what Ronnie Lee is trying to say, between the lines of his philosophy in this book, is simply this: we are overwhelmed with information resulting in confusion and conflict; we can change this if we create “structure and unity in what we are told, and what we take in. Love, security and justice will follow in greater measure when there is a solid, coherent foundation to build on.”
In my opinion, “Philosophy: Structuralism for Unity” is best described as a philosophical grand unified theory in Lee’s search for an elusive Philosophy of Everything. Considering the scope of the fundamentals that Lee covers the book is surprisingly concise and coherent. Most importantly, the author speaks clearly, and with one consistent voice.
Ronnie Lee’s “Philosophy: Structuralism for Unity” may appear daunting at first glance. And I believe that if a reader attempts to read it straight through, it will indeed lead to philosophy overload. But if read at one’s leisure, at their own pace, this book just may become a touchstone over time for many who are seeking clarity and hope in their lives. For me it would be a comforting book to have on the shelf.
Self Publishing Advisor 