A Classic "Art/Philosophical" Story by Heller with a Twist

Joseph Heller is renowned for his unique brand of storytelling that combines elements of art and philosophy in the most unexpected ways. His works often take readers on a journey through complex and thought-provoking themes, challenging their perspectives and making them question the world around them.

In one of his classic stories, Heller presents a situation that seems ordinary at first glance. However, as the narrative unfolds, a twist emerges that completely changes the way we view the events and the characters involved. This twist forces us to reevaluate our initial assumptions and consider alternative interpretations.

The story not only showcases Heller's masterful writing skills but also his ability to explore profound philosophical ideas in a engaging and accessible manner. It makes us think about the nature of truth, the role of perception in shaping our understanding of reality, and the consequences of our actions.

Overall, Heller's classic "art/philosophical" story with a twist is a testament to his genius as a writer and his ability to create works that have a lasting impact on readers.

I would confidently place this book among the most fascinating books I’ve read.

The best way I could describe it is that it consists of 300-odd pages of Heller expressing his views on how we can't trust anything in history because we don't know whether or not it really happened. It's a thrilling journey from start to finish, with Heller providing us with his sarcastic and often comical commentary.

He gives us a recounting of history from the Greeks to the Great Depression using only one painting to do so. Confused as to how that's possible? Well, so am I. But it's brilliant, and I'm not really complaining. It's a story he tells with such heart and satire that the historical aspect of it isn't even that jarring; you don't realize it's a commentary on history. And for someone like me who doesn't know as much history as they probably should, it's an easy read. Moreover, you learn a bunch from it as well. It doesn't feel like a typical history book.

I didn't get the point of the book until the last page, and let me tell you, it completely blew my mind. It's amazing how he manages to fluently end the book just as it's beginning while at the same time explaining his point without actually addressing it directly. Nothing I can say will ever truly do it justice; you really have to read the book and experience it for yourself. The best way to approach it is to go in blind, not really knowing anything.

This is the first Heller book I've ever read, and suffice it to say, I adored it. It's a recounting of history through someone else's eyes, and it's exactly what a great story should be. I wish I could express all of this much better, but in conclusion, Heller wrote a story, and it's a damn good one.

I came.

I was eager to explore the world of Yossarian, having recently immersed myself in it. I thought this book would be a great next step in my understanding of Heller. As a fan of Vonnegut and Twain, it seemed like a natural fit.

However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. I found myself forcing my way through the pages, and by the time I reached one-third of the way through, I had to admit defeat.

Reading this book was like struggling through a confusing assignment in an AP History class. While I usually enjoy novels that blend real people with fictional stories, this one just didn't click for me.

Perhaps it was the writing style, or maybe it was the complex plot. Whatever the reason, I couldn't seem to get into it.

Despite my disappointment, I'm still glad I gave it a try. Maybe I'll come back to it another time and give it a second chance.

This is truly an excellent read. Thanks to Heller's signature pithy sense of humor, which adds a touch of lightness and entertainment to the story. The sweeping historical parallels he draws help to place the events in a broader context, making it easier for the reader to understand and relate to. And the sharp dialogue is simply outstanding, bringing the characters to life and adding depth to their interactions.

As always, Heller does not disappoint. His ability to craft a compelling narrative that engages the reader from beginning to end is truly remarkable. In this particular work, I particularly enjoyed the social and political critique of militarism and dictatorship. Heller's incisive analysis and commentary on these issues are both thought-provoking and timely, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex social and political issues of our time.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read that combines humor, history, and social commentary. It is a true masterpiece that will leave you entertained, informed, and inspired.

Somehow, this is my favorite Heller novel.

Perhaps that is because art history and ancient Greece are two of my favorite subjects. The allure of these topics within the novel's pages is simply irresistible.

Perhaps it is also because this is the first of his novels that I read. At that time, his rhetorical flourishes were still fresh for me, captivating my attention and making me eager to explore every word.

Or perhaps it's because by rooting his familiar themes in real life subjects, he was able to get them across without dropping down some horrific, frustrating rabbit hole. This approach made the story more relatable and accessible, allowing me to truly engage with the ideas and emotions presented.

Whatever the reason may be, this novel holds a special place in my heart and continues to be a source of inspiration and enjoyment.

I came to Joseph Heller's Picture This for a second time.

My initial warning should have been that I remembered virtually nothing from my first encounter with it. I am, without a doubt, a die-hard J Heller fan. I can recite large portions of Catch 22 by heart. I still seethe with indignation at those who dare to label him as a One hit Wonder. I took the extra effort to plow through Something Happened and am truly glad that I did. However, Picture This, during this second read-through, was nothing short of aggravating.

Picture This is somewhat of an experimental novel. There isn't so much a traditional plot as there is a central story line. The picture in question is Rembrandt's Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer. Through the eyes of the painted Aristotle figure, the reader is plunged into a deliberately disjointed history of classical Greece, the philosophies attributed to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, snippets of the Peloponnesian War, the rise of European Mercantilism, and what seems like dozens of other historic events, people, artists, and a rather comprehensive biography of Rembrandt and the history of this particular painting. This is an ambitious undertaking, to say the least.

All of the people, philosophies, and politics included within these pages are from ancient history. Yet, all of Heller's conclusions and satirical insights on these long-gone individuals and events are astonishingly relevant to the modern world and continue to hold true to this day. This is a testament to the author's remarkable skills.

Part of the creativity of this irregular narrative lies in the fact that the history presented is quite accurate. Indeed, there may be some living historians who might even classify this as a work of history. Another aspect of the creativity is the perfectly maintained level of cynical insight. All events and players are given an equal chance to be exposed as fake, faked, hypocritical, dishonest, or deadly. This unwavering stance in passing judgment against all named people, philosophies, and politics is precisely what caused my frustration.

Heller positions himself in a way that makes it seem inevitable that everyone will disappoint. All actors and all events seem to point to the failure of institutions to perform or to be capable of performing. While this may be a legitimate position for a writer to base a book upon, it is hardly a compelling reason for a reader to persevere and finish the book. We get it: The world of Picture This is a failure, and by extension, we are living in a continuation of this failure. But then again, Heller offers no solutions or alternatives.

I truly admire the depths of Joseph Heller's scholarship. He forces his reader to reevaluate much of what has been taught as only a convenient, abbreviated version, something that is neither complete nor accurately summarized. For me, however, the reading experience became unrelentingly depressing and draining. Page after page of bitter humor and sarcastic denunciation demanded far too much from this reader. Picture This is, unfortunately, an easier book to admire in hindsight, after one has finished reading it, rather than a book that can be enjoyed during the actual process of reading.

Picture This is truly an outstanding book that has the potential to be a masterpiece. The elements that could make it so are scattered throughout the text. Regrettably, many of these elements remain dormant and do not develop fully. Nevertheless, the achievements of this book are quite remarkable. Its analysis of history is engaging and never tiresome, nor does it overstep into excessive exaggeration. Heller has accomplished something unique here that I have not witnessed in other works. The primary issue that this book faces is its pacing. Strangely, I find it difficult to articulate precisely why this is a problem. In Catch 22, Heller's famous novel, the pacing is notoriously bad, yet I believe it enhances the enjoyment of the book and makes it my favorite piece of literature. In this case, for reasons unknown to me, the pacing detracts from the reading experience. It is not an easy book to read, but it is ultimately a rewarding one.

In ancient Greece, there were various elements that intertwined in an interesting way.

There were horses and people mingling together. Then there were great philosophers like Socrates and Plato, whose ideas had a profound impact on Western thought.

And not to forget Rembrandt, with his fascinating biography and his famous painting "Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer".

The combination of all these aspects, from the ancient Greek society to the works of Rembrandt, created a rich and diverse tapestry of history and culture.

It is truly remarkable how these different elements came together to form such an engaging and thought-provoking story.

We can explore and learn from this history to gain a deeper understanding of the past and how it has influenced our present.

Whether it's the wisdom of the philosophers or the artistic genius of Rembrandt, there is much to discover and appreciate.

So, let's continue to delve into this fascinating world and uncover the hidden gems that lie within.

Brilliant in its conception and its delivery, this piece is truly remarkable.

It's as if we are engaging in a conversation with history itself, and to our surprise, we discover that not much has actually changed over the years.

Two fundamental truths emerge from this exploration. Firstly, it seems that we humans never truly learn from our mistakes. Time and again, we repeat the same patterns, making the same errors without seemingly吸取教训.

Secondly, there is a rather pessimistic view that there has never been a truly good form of government.

Moreover, this is not just a random musing but an insightful history lesson. It has the power to change our outlook and perspective, challenging the one-dimensional view of history that we are often spoon-fed.

It forces us to question, to think deeper, and to look beyond the surface, ultimately leading to a more informed and perhaps more critical understanding of our past and its implications for the present and future.

I've fancied myself a kind of minor champion of this book for a long while.

Catch-22 was one of my first real "favorite" books, and Joseph Heller was one of the first authors I really recognized as having this authorial voice that I could learn from & follow. And Catch-22 is great, terrific, wonderful, everyone knows that... but when I read Picture This it appealed to me in this strange dark way which is also wickedly smart, and has always had a unique place in my book-loving heart.

It's a different kind of writing. It is a "novel" but it is also a kind of weird historiography. It spans ancient Greek and Renaissance Europe, with Aristotle and Rembrandt and Socrates as its characters, and with Heller's wry pitch-dark sense of humor as the overarching narrative force. Without ever explicitly saying so, it turns ancient Athens & Sparta into a perfect analogy of Cold War-era USA & USSR. Beyond that, it is a fairly ingenious discussion of state politics, art, philosophy, and capitalism.

Rembrandt in this book is a wonderfully done character. He is depressed and brooding, and the book hinges on a metaphysical connection between what Rembrandt paints and how art & philosophy were being conducted in the "ancient" Greek world. As he paints a painting of Aristotle, each part of Aristotle "comes to life" and we are treated to a kind of comic extrapolation of ancient Greek City-State politics, before sinking back through History and into Rembrandt's time again, where he is dreadfully poor and suffering for his art. All of this reflects quite expertly, if never explicitly, on the modern nation-state-political-art world.

That's why I love this book so much. It is very much a book about artists, and what Heller learned from himself as an artist who has already written his magnum opus. It should also be noted: this book has probably my favorite ending to a novel (the last paragraph) ever. Ever!!

If you were a fan of Good as Gold, and the concept of listening to Aristotle's perspectives on history and related matters appeals to you, then you are likely to enjoy this book.

It presents a similar shaky framework that, in the hands of Kurt Vonnegut, might have potentially evolved into a collection of essays.

Freed from the constraints of having to conform to the structure of a novel, such essays could have been far more engaging and enlightening.

The book under discussion seems to offer a unique take on various topics, drawing on the wisdom and insights of Aristotle.

It presents an opportunity for readers to explore different aspects of history and gain a new perspective.

Whether you are a history buff or simply interested in thought-provoking literature, this book might be worth a look.

It has the potential to provide entertainment and illumination in equal measure.

So, if you are looking for a book that combines elements of history and philosophy, this one could be a great choice.

Give it a try and see if it lives up to your expectations.

Holland during the time of Rembrandt, Athens during the time of Pericles, Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Rembrandt, Pericles, and a whole bunch of other historical figures gathered in one book. The author describes the connection between them, their philosophy, and presents his own thoughts in the background. It's quite good and in some places even makes you smile.

For example, the comparison between the artistic achievements of Rembrandt in Holland and the intellectual and cultural flourishing in Athens under Pericles is fascinating. The author delves into the details of their works and ideas, showing how they influenced each other and the society of their times.

Moreover, the inclusion of great philosophers like Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato adds another layer of depth to the book. Their profound thoughts and teachings are explored in relation to the historical context and the other figures mentioned. It makes the reader think about the significance of these ideas and how they have endured throughout history.

Overall, this book offers an interesting and engaging look at a diverse range of historical figures and their contributions. It combines history, philosophy, and art in a unique way, making it a must-read for anyone interested in these subjects.