Dark humor, dark history and unexpected parallels.

These are the elements that make this book truly captivating. The author has masterfully intertwined these aspects to create a unique and engaging read.

The dark humor adds a touch of levity to the otherwise somber subject matter, making it more accessible and enjoyable. The exploration of dark history provides a fascinating backdrop, while the unexpected parallels draw the reader in and keep them hooked until the very end.

There is truly nothing to dislike about this book. It offers a fresh perspective on familiar themes and challenges the reader to think differently. Whether you are a fan of dark humor, history, or just a good story, this book has something for everyone.

So, if you are looking for a book that will keep you entertained and enlightened, look no further than this one. You won't be disappointed.

Confused blabber on history can often lead to a rather uninteresting exploration. Take, for example, the mention of Aristotle, Rembrandt, Plato, and Socrates. Aristotle, a great philosopher, made significant contributions to various fields such as logic, ethics, and politics. His ideas have had a profound impact on Western thought. Rembrandt, on the other hand, was a renowned painter known for his masterful use of light and shadow. His works are considered some of the greatest in the history of art. Plato and Socrates were also important philosophers. Plato was a student of Socrates and his dialogues have been studied and debated for centuries. However, when these great figures are simply mentioned in a confused and haphazard way, it fails to do justice to their significance and the interesting stories and ideas that surround them.

The statement "The death of no person is as important to the future as the literature about it" holds a profound truth.

Death is an inevitable part of life, and while each individual's passing is significant in its own right, it is the literature that commemorates and reflects upon these deaths that often has a lasting impact on the future.

Literature has the power to capture the essence of a person's life, their struggles, their achievements, and their significance. It can preserve their memory and pass it down through the generations, inspiring others and shaping our understanding of the human experience.

Through literature, we can learn from the deaths of others, gain insights into the meaning of life and death, and perhaps even find comfort and solace in the face of our own mortality.

In this way, the literature about death becomes a valuable resource for the future, helping us to make sense of the past and guiding us as we move forward.

It is a testament to the enduring power of the written word and its ability to touch our hearts and minds long after the physical presence of the person has passed away.

I read Crito and the Apology for work.

These are works that I have to study and analyze as part of my job.

The last thing I want to do for pleasure is to read long quotes from them, especially when they are combined with a barrage of relentless facts about the sale of Rembrandt's paintings.

I have a great love for Catch-22. It's a book that I truly enjoy and I'm also quite a fan of some of Heller's other books.

However, Closing Time didn't quite hit the mark for me.

But this particular reading experience was one of the least enjoyable ones I've had in a long time.

It felt like a chore rather than a source of entertainment or intellectual stimulation.

I hope that in the future, I can find more books that bring me the kind of joy and satisfaction that Catch-22 did.

An excellent book that I should reread is truly a gem. It has the power to transport me to different worlds, introduce me to a plethora of characters, and make me think deeply about various aspects of life. Rereading such a book allows me to discover new details and nuances that I might have missed during my first reading. It gives me a chance to relive the emotions and experiences that the story evoked within me. Moreover, as I grow and change, my perspective on the book may also change, leading to new interpretations and insights. Each rereading is like embarking on a new adventure, and I look forward to uncovering the hidden treasures that this excellent book has to offer.

This is an excellent and typical Heller read.

It is extremely funny and witty, yet it also incorporates life's serious philosophical contemplations.

The story is always thought-provoking and provides historical information as well.

It is truly a very fine book and just a damn good read.

One can't help but be drawn into the world that Heller has created, filled with unique characters and situations that both amuse and make one reflect on the deeper aspects of life.

The combination of humor and philosophy makes this book a standout, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Whether you are a fan of Heller's work or new to his writing, this book is definitely worth picking up and spending some time with.

It will make you laugh, make you think, and ultimately, make you appreciate the power of a great story.

This book is without a doubt not suitable for everyone.

If you have a penchant for light reading that delves into the lives of Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato, then perhaps you'll find it appealing.

I wholeheartedly relished Heller's account of Rembrandt's life. There, I gleaned a plethora of amusing details.

However, the sections on Plato and Aristotle were rather dull.

Socrates, at the very least, is always fascinating to read about.

Heller demonstrates greater prowess in writing about the students these philosophers instructed or the people they were acquainted with, such as Alexander the Great and Pericles.

His viewpoints on monarchy, particularly regarding the Egyptian pharaohs, are also a delight to peruse.

Not unexpectedly, Heller's anti-war sentiments are ever-present, but at times, it became a bit tiresome.

At least in Catch 22, there was always something to make me laugh.

Overall, this book has its strengths and weaknesses, and whether one enjoys it or not depends on their personal interests and reading preferences.

It seems to me that Heller essentially invents a new genre of book every time he writes one.

And I think Picture This is my favourite genre of his, even though I think Catch-22 and Something Happened are better overall.

The genre is almost indescribable. It's kinda just history, except with a lot of political criticism and phenomenal dialogue woven into it.

One chapter you'll be reading about Rembrandt having trouble with money whilst painting a portrait of Aristotle contemplating the bust of Homer.

The next chapter will be about Aristotle in exile thinking about philosophical disagreement with Plato.

The next will be a critique of all of American politics through the lens of political systems throughout history.

There are individual sentences that jump through three separate timelines. The execution of Socrates is talked about at least 5 separate times.

And yet, the whole picture just works. It's hardly ever boring, even in the purely historical section, and every part strengthens every other part.

The Rembrandt sections would not be as interesting if it weren't for the commentary that Aristotle adds while being painted, or for the contrast to ancient Rome, or for the critique of western society more broadly, as applied to our time as well, and so on.

But more than just being in awe at Heller somehow managing to pull this book off, it's also just such a fun read.

Heller has a certain quality I've also praised in Vonnegut, where he makes a joke that first makes me laugh, then I stop to think about what it is I'm laughing about, then I'll stop.

Picture this has this quality when it simply describes historical events. "Because the titanic was unsinkable, there were insufficient lifeboats," is said after the last sentence outlines other historical events in the year of the Titanic's sinking - predominantly the US sending troops to other countries to promote American interests.

I think my favourite joke in the whole book is when a paragraph describing Aristotle's state philosophy in terms so broad you can't really understand much from it concludes that in his society, people would be up before daybreak. "Aristotle was up before daybreak one morning and concluded that women have fewer teeth than men. Today we are inclined to believe they probably have the same amount."

Art History and Classics buffs will appreciate this much more than me.

As it stands, I lack sufficient knowledge about the paintings, artists, or philosophers that are so prominent in this work to truly follow along. Consequently, my interest waned rapidly.

Heller ventured into some outside-the-box and unconventional territory here, resulting in a kind of free association overlay of historical narrative and magical realism. However, I didn't believe the payoff justified the experimentation.

I rate it 3 stars. I didn't finish it, but I wouldn't dissuade others from giving it a try. After all, different people have different tastes and perspectives. What might not appeal to me could potentially be a captivating read for someone else with a greater affinity for the subject matter or a more open-minded approach to experimental literature.

Perhaps with further exploration and a deeper understanding of the relevant historical and artistic contexts, I might have been able to better appreciate the nuances and subtleties of Heller's work.

Maybe later.

This is not what I wanted to read right now. I have already done 40 pages of other tasks or readings, and my mind is a bit tired.

I was looking forward to something more engaging and interesting at this moment.

Perhaps a story that could capture my attention and take me to another world.

But this particular piece didn't seem to have that allure for me at present.

Maybe when I'm in a different mood or have more time to focus, I might give it another chance.

For now, I'll put it aside and look for something else that can satisfy my current reading cravings.

I was sharing with someone about The Anatomy Lesson, which is a fictionalized account of the renowned Rembrandt painting.

Subsequently, they recommended Picture This to me. Ostensibly, it is about Rembrandt's Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer. However, in reality, it presents Heller with the opportunity to grapple with our human history encompassing war, chaos, capitalism, democracy, art, and power.

Heller truly has an in-depth knowledge of the Greeks. It is astonishing to think that this book was written in 1988. It feels as if it could have been penned just yesterday. It is an exceptionally brilliant novel that offers profound insights into various aspects of human existence and history through the lens of art and the works of Rembrandt.

It makes one reflect on the complex and intertwined nature of these elements and how they have shaped our world. Picture This is not just a book about a painting; it is a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition.

I got bored while studying the Ancient Greece parts. It seems that I have been spending too much time on this particular topic and my interest has started to wane. Maybe it's because I have already covered a lot of the basic information and now I'm getting into the more detailed and complex aspects. However, I know that understanding Ancient Greece is important as it has had a significant impact on Western civilization. So, instead of giving up, I decided to take a break and come back to it with a fresh perspective. I might try to approach it from a different angle, such as looking at the art, architecture, or mythology of Ancient Greece. This way, I can hopefully reignite my interest and continue to learn more about this fascinating period in history.