Uncommon Reason

Colin D. Mallard
Advaita Gems Wild Duck Publishing (2005)
ISBN 1591098890
Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (11/06)

 “Uncommon Reason” brings ancient wisdom to the modern world.  With the global nation in continuous turmoil of terrorism and war, the novel begs for a new way of reasoning.  Clearly violence has only escalated to more violence, but what is the alternative?

Colin D. Mallard presents these alternatives through the guise of a fictional novel focusing on the President of the United States.  This president, however, has an uncommon philosophy, one that emulates a combination of wisdom of the great ancient sages; incorporating the teachings of great men such as Lao Tzu, Buddha, and Christ.

While the wisdom of these great men can be overwhelming, conflicting, and foreign to the modern world, “Uncommon Reason” takes this wisdom and provides its teachings to modern world settings.  Going beyond the borders of the United States, convergent stories are developed covering vastly differing political, religious, and philosophical arenas, allowing the reader to comprehend the universality of such reasoning.

The novel opens with the scene of a terrorist attack, a suicide bombing of a bus in Tel Aviv.  The novel also ends with this scene.  However, what you have learned between the beginning and the end sheds a new understanding of what the scene entails, produces different emotions than those felt when you read it the first time, and heightens your awareness of what it all means.  Such is the premise of the teachings; expanding your knowledge, expanding your understanding, expanding your perception…heightening your awareness.

“Uncommon Reason” is a lesson in philosophy, a lesson in politics, a lesson in religion and most importantly an internal journey in beliefs.  No matter what your life philosophies when you begin this novel, they will be examined, assessed, and reassessed by the time you turn the last page.   

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