Lightning over a distant shore - A. M. Sampson

'Lightning Over a Distant Shore' is a critique of modern culture expressed in the form of epigrams, essays, poetry and prose. The work, based around the journals of the author, challenges our perceptions of society from three fundamental points: religion, scientific method and modern technology.The author says in one of his epigrams: 'We live today with the legacy left by three principle figures from history - Jesus, Newton, and the faceless technocrats and entrepreneurs of the modern technological revolution, most noteworthy of these being Mr Bill Gates. Perhaps unsurprisingly A M Sampson believes that our fundamental thinking has prevented us from addressing the real issues that threaten the very continued existence of western culture. 'The problems are glaringly obvious, but mankind remains in a state of paralysis when it comes to addressing them.' What is required suggests the author, echoing the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, is a revaluation of all values.To this end the 'Epigrams' looks at issues surrounding: art, science, history, politics, religion, moral questions, metaphysics, ancient religions and mythology, sex, physicality, in short, virtually every topic affecting modern society from - avarice to xenophobia.Probably not since Friedrich Nietzsche, in The Genealogy of Morals has any author attempted such an honest and courageous undertaking to look inside the mind of man. 'I asked the author why he thought mankind was in a state of paralysis when it comes to addressing the problems facing him?'I suspect,' he said, 'that mankind's awakening to self-consciousness came with a sense of great loneliness and pain; feelings of abandonment and otherness to nature, which had given birth to him.'I heard once that it is easier to divine the depth of the ocean than it is the depth of the human heart, it is arrogant to think psychology is up to such a great task.''Do you feel this to be the case with all the sciences?' I asked.The author laughed, 'Yes all science is arrogant. They are a product of man after all. I think mankind must be very vain indeed; he wants to see himself as something beautiful yet he suspects that really he is not at all, otherwise why should he hate himself so much.'Interviewer: 'You believe this to be so?''Don't you? Why else would he hold in such contempt a face like his own.''So you think mankind needs to love himself more?'' "Know thyself,' wasn't that what the great man said?'The writings herein I believe echo this final sentiment of the author.