#it really annoys me becayse i can tell the nonfiction writer is probably

[mejomonster]

I'm reading an entertaining little book called Spook. But, while it's summary says it's to investigate if there is life after death... the reality is that this book is entertainment. The author writes with a voice clearly trying to pull in a skeptic to read, and tries to insult and joke about all the avenues it investigates *at least as far as I've read so far.

For example, the writer meets a reincarnation investigator. She comes along on one case, a case the investigator thinks is probably not a genuine case. Then that is her only case she judges in deciding if reincarnation is real, not the other dozens of cases that particular investigators institute is researching recently. Not the 2000 case book collection her American colleague wrote, which I imagine being in print would at least be easier to quickly go through and rule out X cases as probably useless for proof, and Y cases with specific elements as "possibilities" with no confirmation of being certain. Instead she sees one case, decides since it's unlikely true then they probably all are. Cool. Also the way she described India just... screams upper middle class American writer trying to sound like she visited some undeveloped rustic poor place and is so traveled and stuck up about it. (I had the same problem with some great informational books I read in college about the fucked up food industry complex, but the info was presented in such an upper middle class "hunting is so barbaric and not normal" perspective that it felt out of touch with people in small town America who hunt deers regularly for food by necessity, out of touch of the many Americans who actually WORK in meat plants and are well aware of how bad it is on their physical and mental health - they aren't as akin to the livestock the writer makes them out as, which felt really out of touch).

She then goes on to the weighing a soul chapter. I feel she breaks down the original guy well (he had a penchant for wanting fame, and could not replicate his results on multiple patients). However, she only asks one current modern day scientist their opinion. That's not a very in depth look, either to prove the soul weighing was unreliable or to discuss in depth the modern opinions from scientists with up to date information on regular body weight loss over a given day while alive.

She is so clearly writing For Entertainment, not to figure anything out scientifically. She wants to be scully but she's not even an iota as thorough. I get it's partly my fault... I am researched inclined, I would read a big boring dry book on Data and proof and counterarguements for what proof is unreliable. I assume her reader base would not tolerate anything so dry and fact driven (rather than snarky comedy narrative driven). So I am just trying to enjoy the book and take note of the books it's referencing, which is where I'll probably actually find more in depth data to look into. And yes, I flipped to the end and her conclusion is "I'm still not sure what I believe" lol. Well 1. No kidding, you did a very poor job at researching so no shit u feel you barely have any new certainty either way. 2. Of course she'd make no firm conclusion at the end, because that could turn off part of her audience if they disagree with her opinion.

Lastly just... God why do certain non fiction narrative (entertainment writing style) writers tend to do this angle that is SO goddamn insulting to the poor and to places unlike their (I assume suburban upper class) own background? It is. Utterly repulsive. I hate the way it dehumanizes and insults and paints as exotic stuff that is... also just as mundane and possibly more normal than the writers particular life. I get that painting their travels as miserable or exotic or freakish makes their narrative get peoples attention but. Idk to me I'd rather read something more respectful or you know... appreciative of that which is different than their own life.