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FIRST13

                                                           January 28, 2004
                                                      Rev: April    3, 2004
A thesis:

  Most thinkers go off the
  rails very early on.

  A typical work of philosophy is a massive
  logical edifice built on a dubious premise
  passed over quickly in the first chapter.


Which suggests a strategy (schtick?):

  "The first 13"

  Review the first thirteen pages of philosphy
  and/or policy wonk books, picking them apart        LIGHTNING_WAR
  in detail, at a level you couldn't sustain if
  you felt compelled to treat the whole work
  that way.


To get some wiggle room:
typically I'll define the
"first pages" as the
first chapter, skipping
any forematter, though for
some books I might start
in on the intro, whether
those pages are numbered
with digits or lowercase
roman.


And before you move on from the book,
skim for a few virtues that might       And of course, think
exist beyond the first thirteen.        about whether the whole
                                        book might be worthy of
                                        consideration.

   A possible problem: many
   objections I've got recurr.
   I see similar mistakes in
   different authors.

      It might be a good idea
      to focus on the
      objection rather than          Write it up
      one instance of it.            separately so
                                     you can point
                                     to it, without
                                     too much
                                     repetition.


  Beginning The Thirteen Club:

      EDGE_CITY


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