Author:John Dillon
By mid-5th century BC, Athens was governed by democratic rule and power turned upon the ability of the citizen to command the attention of the people, and to sway the crowds of the assembly. It was the Sophists who understood the art of rhetoric and the importance of transforming effective reasoning into persuasive public speaking. Their enquiries - into the status of women, slavery, the distinction between Greeks and barbarians, the existence of the gods, the origins of religion, and whether virtue can be taught - laid the groundwork for the insights of the next generation of thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle.
There are more plot ideas in Chuck Palahniuk’s Lullaby than some writers manage in a whole book
—— IndependentPalahniuk starts with a throwaway thought - "what if words could hurt?" - and stretches it until it snaps
—— ArenaA black comic cauldron bubbling with contagious ideas
—— Time OutMr. Palahniuk further refines his ability to create parables that are as substantial as they are off-the-wall
—— New York TimesThis is vintage Palahniuk: weird, creepy, twisted, upsetting, and ultimately a great read
—— Library JournalColin Thubron seems to be a writer undaunted by immensity, either of place or plot... To the Last City is haunting and passionate and, above all, magnificently fearless
—— Observer