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MY COMMENTS :   In the work written by the famous Lebanese writer Khalil Gibran, as in the author's other books, his views on universal concepts in life are discussed under headings in order.   At the beginning of the book, before moving on to the work, the author's biography is also mentioned. As can be seen in the excerpts from the biography section, it is seen that the author aimed to establish a Greater Syrian State before the First World War. Although it is understood from history that he did not quite achieve these goals, it is also clear that he played a role in instigating the events that took place during the breakaway of Syria and the Arab countries from the Ottoman Empire.   The author, who was born in Lebanon to a Christian family, stated that he took on the role of being the shadow of the saintly character by describing the important virtues of Jesus Christ in The Prophet. The author, who also conveys his observations in Europe and the USA, where he lived since his childhood and youth, can only be described as an Easterner by origin. On the other hand, it is seen that there are some aspects in which he preserves some of the basic values of the East.   It is clearly understood from the quotations in the work that he shares a lot of common ground with the Islamic view, especially in terms of his outlook on life and basic moral values. His evaluations in terms of social cooperation, family ties and children also show that the basic moral values between the two religions overlap. The most important distinction of the author here is that he expresses some of his views in his work on the subject of adaptation to Eastern culture as a result of the individualistic understanding, the basic notions of which he acquired at a young age in Europe and especially in the USA. However, this situation does not constitute a contradiction to the family structure and social values in Eastern culture, as it is the case with Western writers. In the determinations regarding universal human values mentioned in the work, it should be stated that everything has a meaning with its opposite as one of the issues that should be especially addressed. It is stated that man contains both good and bad in his essence and that he is granted the will to distinguish between them, and it is explained with clear examples that the responsibility for our actions belongs to us. Here, it is seen that the author especially differs from other thinkers who represent the concept of pleasure-seeking, such as Omar Khayyam, and that he attributes a meaning to human will. The importance of the responsibility of the will, which our religion also emphasizes, is touched upon quite effectively.   Again, as a result of this understanding, the author, who touched upon the fact that people should create their own added value, stated that some people distract themselves with human pleasures instead of achieving this. It was stated that some people's steps towards achieving themselves are fast, while others progress slowly at the speed of a lame person. No matter what, progressing, even if lame, is better than stopping or counting backwards.   Therefore, the work contains thoughts that simplify one's perspective on life and make one's goals clearer and easier to achieve if one realizes one's self-knowledge. Therefore, it can be considered as one of the books that manages to contain common messages for all of humanity.   In conclusion, it should be stated that the work is one of the books that people of all ages should definitely have in their libraries and read.   MY QUOTATIONS(*) :   The nationalist curriculum of this Maronite school included church writings, theology, and history. Gibran, who was rebellious and individualistic in nature, opposed the narrow curriculum and demanded a separate curriculum that would meet his own educational needs at the college level. The school accepted his request and added courses to the curriculum in accordance with Gibran's wishes. During this period of intense political activity that resulted in the Arab lands being freed from Ottoman rule, Gibran joined the Golden Circle, one of the semi-political Arab societies that emerged in many centers such as Syria, Lebanon, Istanbul, Paris and New York. Founded by a group of young Syrian immigrants, this society worked to improve the lifestyle of Syrian citizens wherever they were. Gibran's dream of an independent Syria was further strengthened by his meeting with the Italian general Garibaldi, with whom he discussed the idea of leading a legion of Syrian immigrants to overthrow Ottoman rule. Later, after World War I, Gibran became a major advocate and instigator of united Arab military action against Ottoman rule. He died at the age of forty-eight on April 10, 1931, in St. Vincent's Hospital in New York, unconscious from cirrhosis of the liver and advanced tuberculosis of the lungs. His body was brought to Beirut on August 21. However, the exile he lived throughout his life must have continued after his death, because his bones, which were stolen from his grave with a sentence written on them, " Close your eyes and look around, you will see me, I am with you .", are now continuing their life in exile who knows where. The marble sarcophagus is kept chained to the ground so that the insane do not steal it either. ( Excerpts from the Author's Biography Section ) If love has found you, instead of saying, “ I carry God in my heart, ” say, “ I have found the heart of God .” On the subject of marriage, “ Give each other your bread, but do not bite off the same piece of bread. Sing, dance, and have fun together, but do not forget that you are both alone. Give your hearts, but not to the protection of the other. Be always side by side, but do not press too close together. Because the pillars that support the temple are also separate from each other .” Regarding children, “ They live with you, but they are not your property. You may give them your love, but never your thoughts .” On the subject of giving, “ It is good to give when asked, but it is better to give before the person in need asks for it. You keep saying, ‘I want to give, but what I give should find its place, it should be worth it.’ A person who has seen days and nights worth living is certainly worth receiving what you can give .” To love life through labor is to be a sincere friend with the most mysterious secret of life. And I say that life is indeed darkness, one thing when there is motive, and every motive is blind, another thing when there is knowledge, and all knowledge is vain, another thing when there is work. And all work is vain, another thing when there is love, and whenever you work with love you bring yourself closer to yourself and to the other and to God. Your joy is really your sorrow unveiled. You will live in the tombs that the dead have made for you, the living. Your dwellings are magnificent and beautiful, but they will not contain your secrets, nor will they shelter your longings. For the boundlessness that is within you dwells in the mansion of the sky, whose door is the mist of the morning and whose windows are the songs and silences of the night. Your clothes hide most of your beauty, but they don't cover much of what's not. Remember that being modest and unpretentious is a shield that helps protect you from the dark, emotional gazes of the clean and impure. If one of you stumbles and falls, it is as if he has fallen to those who come after him; the stone that he trips over should be a warning to those behind him. He who will punish a criminal should also look into the heart of the person who caused the crime. If one of you comes along and decides to bring down his axe on an evil tree because he thinks it is right, let him first look at its roots. For there, in the silent heart of the earth, he will see the good and the bad, the fruitful and the barren roots intertwined together. " You like making laws, but you like breaking laws even more ," he told the lawyer. People of Orphales, you can muffle the drum and loosen the strings of the lyre, but which of you can stop the lark from singing? I have felt the pain deep down in my heart, because only if your search for freedom can be your security and if you can stop talking about freedom as a goal or a satisfaction, then you can be free. Or rather, you can be free when such troubles turn your life upside down and you can overcome them with your own independence and will. The truth is that everything within your being is intertwined. The desired and the feared, the hated and the celebrated, the sought after and the avoided are intertwined. Your thought and your ambition are the rudder and sails of your soul, which has set sail on the wide seas. For reason, when governed alone, is a limiting force, and passion, when left unaccompanied, is a flame that burns itself to ashes. Your suffering is the breaking of the shell that covers your perception. Just as the shell of a fruit must be cracked in order for its heart to see the sun, so is pain for you. If the teacher is truly wise, he will not try to lead you into the house of his mind, but will try to lead you to the threshold of your own mind. Your friend is your fulfilled need. He is your field, which you sow with love and reap with gratitude. Do not be sad when you are separated from your friend. For the thing you admire most about your friend becomes more apparent in his absence, just as a mountain becomes clearer to the viewer from the plain, not to the climber. What is a friend that you seek just to pass the time? Because he is there to meet your needs, not to fill your meaningless emptiness. In most of your speeches, thought is half killed. Because thought is a bird of space, when put in a cage made of words it may spread its wings but it cannot fly. There are some among you who, because they are afraid of being alone, seek out talkative people. Such people want to escape because they fear that the silence of their solitude will expose their naked selves. You are good when you give of yourself. But you are not bad when you seek to gain something for yourself. Because when you seek to gain something for yourself, you are nothing but a root attached to the earth and sucking its breast. When you are advancing towards your chosen goal with firm and courageous steps, you are good. But when you are limping, you are not bad. Because even those who limp are not walking backwards, they are moving forward. You are good in countless ways, and when you are not good, you are not bad. You are just too lazy and lazy in your ways. Unfortunately, gazelles cannot teach tortoises how to speed. You pray in times of distress and need; if only you could pray when you are joyful and on blessed days. We cannot ask of You for anything, for You know what we need before it is born in us. You are what we need, and You grant us everything by granting us more than You. Pleasure is a song of freedom. But it is not freedom. It is the blossoming of our passions. But it is not their fruit. Even the human body knows its heritage and its legitimate needs and can never be deceived. Your body is the instrument of your soul. It is up to you to extract sweet melodies or distorted sounds from it. Where do you look for beauty and how do you find it, unless beauty itself gets in your way and shows you the way. The passionate one says, " Beauty is something that inspires power and fear ." All these words you say about beauty are not actually about beauty, but about unfulfilled deficiencies. However, beauty is not a need, but the joy of fulfillment. People of Orphales, the beautiful life is life seen when it lifts the veil that covers its blessed face. But life and veil are you. Your daily life is your temple and your religion. Enter it with all your integrity. Take your plough, your anvil, your trowel, your instrument, and everything else you have that you can use or that will enlighten you. Your fear of death is like a shepherd trembling before the king who is about to bless him. You have been told, “ Just like a chain, you are as weak as your weakest link .” This is only a half-truth. You are also as strong as your strongest link. The part of you that seems the weakest and most exhausted is actually the part of you that is the strongest and most dedicated.   MY EVALUATIONS:   Subject : In the work, as in the author's other books, his views on universal concepts in life are discussed under headings in order.   Style: The messages intended to be given are conveyed quite clearly thanks to the simple and short paragraph structures seen in the author's other books. It is stated in the biography section that this structure was specifically worked on by the author and that the book was prepared for approximately 4 years before publication. When the work is read, the really detailed structure of the style manages to attract everyone's attention. Again, the fact that the author concretizes the messages given with examples immediately after them has a positive effect on the reader in terms of accustoming the given messages.   Originality : The work does not aim to be an original book due to its type. Therefore, in such works, it is necessary to focus on other elements rather than the evaluation given to the originality criterion.   Character : The work will not be evaluated in this category due to its nature.   Fluency : When the issues mentioned in the style section are taken into consideration, it should definitely be stated that the work is one of the books that flows from beginning to end. When the type of the work is also taken into consideration, it should be stated that it is impressive that it has this level of fluency. However, it is obvious that it is not an engaging work due to its type.   General : In the evaluation made out of 10 according to the criteria stated above:   Subject: 9 Style: 9.5 Originality: 4 Fluency: 8.5   The overall average of the work that received the scores is 7.8 points . It should be stated again that the work, which almost reached the 8 threshold and received 8 and above in 3 categories, is one of the books that should definitely be read when other criteria are taken into consideration rather than its score, as stated in the originality element evaluation.   (*) : All parts in the title Quotations: THE PROPHET Author : Khalil Gibran Publisher : Olympia Publications The photo used on the cover was used as a quote from the book.

MY COMMENTS :   In the work written by Khalil Gibran, a general evaluation of life and people and some observations about life are discussed.   The work written by the philosopher of Lebanese origin contains philosophical messages in situation-based narratives, not event-based as in the author's other books. It should be noted that the philosophical messages are formed especially in the form of some observations from life adorned with abstract messages. Otherwise, it should be stated that there is no abstract narrative like other philosophy books. It is useful to state that this is one of the most important elements that distinguishes the author from other philosophy writers. Because what is important is the development and change of our understanding of directing our lives by looking at the details in our lives with a different eye.   The main character, Mustafa, is also seen as a saint by his close circle and is known by this pen name. The author has conveyed to his readers some of the thoughts and observations he told his people after returning from the ship journey in a literary way. He has also transformed these into philosophical messages with a masterful narration.   Unlike the author's other works, there is a character scheme, albeit symbolic, and it is obvious that the main issue is the messages and observations given.   However, it should be known that we are faced with an author who succeeds in presenting one of the most consistent portraits of a philosopher to his readers, without contradicting the views expressed in his other works and in his different books.   As a result, the work can be considered as one of the books that people of all ages can and should read in one sitting.   MY QUOTATIONS(*) :   This is the rule of the sea and of sailors: if you want freedom, you must return to the mist. The formless forever seeks its form, just as millions of stardust become suns and moons; so we, who have been searching so hard for so long and returned to this island, must once again become mist and learn the beginning. There are times that enslave the eternity of separation. But separation is nothing more than the end of memory. Life itself is older than all that lives. Beauty was born before beauty was born, and truth was true before it was spoken. What a pity for a people who regard bandits as heroes and think that a rich conqueror is generous! What a pity for a people who do not raise their voice except during burial ceremonies and who only speak when their neck is between the sword and the block! What a pity for a people whose leaders are cunning, whose scholars are frauds, whose art is copying! Besides, none of you are stupid; in short, we are neither wise nor foolish. We are green leaves on the tree of life. Life itself is far beyond wisdom and, undoubtedly, beyond stupidity. Among what you have learned and understood, there is a secret path that you must find before you can become one with people and with yourself. When you think of your two hands as both giving and receiving, you can bridge the gap between them. Because when you know you have nothing to give and nothing to receive, you overcome the gap. If there is such a thing as ugliness, it is surely nothing but the veil that covers our eyes and the hatred that stops our ears. Call nothing ugly, my friend, except the fear of a person who brings back memories.   MY EVALUATIONS:   Subject : The work covers a general evaluation of life and people, as well as some observations about life.   Style: The author has chosen a simple and understandable style, as in his other books. However, the messages given with a simple plot have been made understandable by the readers with more concrete examples. It should be stated that the author has been able to successfully apply this method despite writing a situation-based work. For this reason, it should be stated that a more positive style has been preferred compared to his other works.   Originality : Although not in terms of its subject matter, it can be considered among the works that can be considered relatively original in terms of the expression of the messages it contains. However, it should be known that the main purpose is not to create an original work.   Character : In the work, except for the main character named Mustafa, the other supporting characters constantly take on the role of an intermediary in conveying the message that is intended to be given. However, considering the nature of the work, it is understood that it is appropriate to form the maximum character scheme in this way.   Fluency : Considering the issues expressed in the style section, it should be stated that the work is definitely a fluent book that can be easily read in one sitting. However, it should be stated that it is not a gripping work due to its type.   General : In the evaluation made out of 10 according to the criteria stated above:   Subject: 8 Style: 8.5 Originality: 6 Characters: 8 Fluency: 7.5   The overall average of the work, which received 8 points, is 7.6 points . Considering the subject it covers and the messages it contains, it should be stated that it is one of the philosophical books that should definitely be read, even if it does not pass the 8 threshold.   (*) : All parts in the title Quotations: THE GARDEN OF THE PROPHET Author : Khalil Gibran Publisher : Venice Publications Edition : 1st Edition - February 2021 The photo used on the cover was used as a quote from the book.

MY COMMENTS :   Written by Stefan Zweig, the work tells the story of an old painter and a Jewish girl named Esther, whom he wanted to use in drawing a portrait of the Virgin Mary.   The author, who deals with the centuries-long anti-Semitism in Europe, does not neglect to refer to the Jewish Holocaust in this work, as in his other books. In fact, one of the main characters that forms the backbone of the work is a Jewish character, but he is chosen as a model to portray the holy Virgin Mary of Christianity.   The old painter was asked to return to Antwerp, where he lived, with a letter from his father, to draw a portrait of the Virgin Mary for the city's cathedral. After evaluating many people, the painter decided to use Esther, who survived the genocide thanks to the bar owner she was with.   Esther is a shy woman who is quite prejudiced against Christians due to her experiences. At first, when she learns that she will be used as the Virgin Mary, she objects, but the painter tries to visualize Jesus' infancy by constantly placing a baby next to her. After a while, Esther develops a serious bond with the baby and as a result of her interest in him, the painter creates his best work to date.   After the painting was finished, Esther learned that she would never see the baby again and went to the cathedral every day to see her baby. However, due to the religious and throne wars that Europe was subjected to for a while with the Spanish, the cathedral was destroyed along with the painting inside. Esther, on the other hand, died next to the shattered painting in her struggle to protect the painting, or rather her baby.   As can be seen, the work mentions two divine religions before Islam and provides closer examples of Europe's attitudes towards Jews since the 16th century. Although the author himself encountered many incidents resulting from this anti-Semitism in Europe, he found a very original method in his work to bring the two religions together and convey a message of friendship.   Although anti-Semitism is not what it used to be today, the fact that there are many religious and ethnic communities that European and Western societies oppose has not changed the object and brought an end to this understanding. We are now witnessing a period in which racist policies are once again popular, rising against Muslims, Turks, Arabs and some other ethnicities instead of Jews.   I am sure everyone is curious about the reaction of the author when he sees that the genocide that was inflicted on Palestinians in the Second World War is much more severe today than it was in the Jewish identity. The fact that a community that survived a genocide that was not even 100 years old is treating Palestinians so cruelly and inhumanely brings us face to face with an incomprehensible reality. As long as Jews act in this way, they are doing nothing but preparing the ground for themselves to face the realities of a second Dreyfus affair.   The clearest evidence that the perception of civilization of both Europe and societies with this understanding has not changed due to the prosperity they have experienced is what is happening today. Since this understanding does not seem to change for a long time, it has become inevitable for eastern civilizations to strive to bring themselves back to their old days and gain the value they deserve.   In conclusion, the work is one of the books that should definitely be studied and thought about by readers who are interested in Zweig's works.   MY QUOTATIONS(*) :   There is nothing more frightening than knowing that if you take a bold step, the final pinnacle of your life is just ahead of you, and then you are seized by a great fear that you have taken the wrong path, that you have lost your strength, that you cannot take the last, final step. If you stare at her for a long time, she will curl up in a corner and cry so hard that your heart will not be able to bear it. You will wonder what trouble God has brought upon this girl. The old man realized for the first time in his long and intense life of painting and painting, brush after brush, that he really knew nothing. It was like those old fairy tales about magical genies who did their work in secret, but so well that people were astonished to see what they had been doing all night in the morning.   MY EVALUATIONS:   Subject : The work tells the story of the events between an old painter and a Jewish girl named Esther, whom he wants to use in painting a portrait of the Virgin Mary.   Style: It should be stated that the event-based and simple narration seen in all of the author's books is richer in this work, especially in terms of emotional descriptions. It should be stated that the combination of the emotional descriptions of the two main characters and the environmental descriptions that adorn these descriptions with an event-based story style is an important success.   Originality : Unlike most writers, the work has managed to convey the message it wanted to give to its reader in a rather unusual but also true-to-life way. In this respect, the work gives the impression of being both original and a slice of life.   Character : The character scheme in the work is built on the painter and Esther. Apart from the supporting characters at the beginning of the book, the supporting character, the bar owner, has no effect in the work in terms of conveying a message. In this regard, the most important supporting character can be shown as the baby standing next to Esther while she poses, although she has no words. With the person and understanding she represents, the messages that are intended to be conveyed are expressed by the author through the baby without even having to speak.   Fluency : Considering the style and other categories, the work has a fluent narrative and does not neglect to use an engaging narrative, especially towards the end of the book.   General : In the evaluation made out of 10 according to the criteria stated above:   Subject: 8 Style: 8.5 Originality: 8 Character: 8.5 Fluency: 8   The overall average of the work, which received 8.2 points, is 8.2 . Considering that it even passed the 8 threshold and many Zweig works are considered, it should be clearly stated that it is one of the modern classics that should definitely be read.   (*) : All parts in the title Quotations: MIRACLES OF LIFE Author : Stefan Zweig Publisher : Olympia Publications Edition : 1st Edition – Istanbul 2019 The photo used on the cover was used as a quote from the book.

MY COMMENTS :   Written by a psychologist named Gustave Le Bon, the work discusses the mindset of the masses, how they can be managed, and previous examples of this issue.   It is seen that the author naturally used the years following the French Revolution in his examples when he wrote the work and gave examples of leaders from the Napoleonic period before it.   It was mentioned that no matter how developed the intelligence and intellectual background of the individuals within the masses are, they behave equally with the same feelings and emotions within the masses, and therefore it was stated that the masses will be a very important tool in the governance of the country with their governance styles in the new century.   In addition, the author, who made important observations about the Latin education system, clearly stated that this education system adopted the rote learning method designed to train civil servants who had no intention of starting a business.   In this regard, it has been particularly mentioned that students who are subject to technical high schools and general education standards cannot show sufficient development and subsequently become more rebellious against society and prone to crime. When we see the stages our country has gone through from the past to the present in terms of education and training policies, it is obvious that sufficient progress has not been made and this system continues with minor changes.   As can be seen in the quotes, he sees race as one of the important factors of mass consciousness. Although the sentence in the quote refers to today's skull structure and anatomical race, he also stated that the definition of race in the human age has been constantly changing. Therefore, he clearly states that although the words are the same, the meanings they express stimulate different minds and ideas according to the conditions of the period.   Again, although the author prefers a pessimistic narrative language regarding the masses expressed in the quotes believing in a dream, it is obvious that those who generally block the dreams of societies and administrators can never be called leaders or leaders. However, leaders who push their countries to dream in pursuit of certain goals and then make them feel that these dreams are coming true step by step are defined as rare personalities who expand their influence both in their own masses and in other masses.   In some places, the author gives examples of great leader personalities, sometimes mentioning their impact on people in their bilateral relations and sometimes mentioning their ability to spread important discourses to their masses by using the art of eloquence in a short and memorable way. He also specifically stated that such identities are very rare. However, he stated that in order for people with leadership characteristics to increase their influence and impact, they sometimes have to resort to much stricter methods than an ordinary person should. Therefore, it is clearly understood from this work that people with leadership characteristics in the administration of the state and country must be tougher than average people or artists in other segments of society. Therefore, just like in law, it is useful to evaluate everyone according to the rules of the time and conditions in which they are located.   The author, who also made important observations regarding the concept of civilization, mentioned that civilization is dependent on traditions and that traditions, contrary to everyone's opinion, are a concept that needs to develop and change itself, even if only a little. One of the reasons for this is that, in addition to changing social conditions and technological advances, it is stated that adapting people to the conditions of education and culture is one of the important requirements for the advancement of civilization.   As a result, the work is an important textbook for those who are interested in psychology and sociology, as well as those who want to gain an idea about other human sciences and improve themselves.   MY QUOTATIONS(*) :   One of the fundamental characteristics of our age is that the unconscious movements of the masses have turned into highly conscious and appropriate activities of individuals. Although our old beliefs have been shaken and lost, and the old pillars of our societies have been torn down one by one, the pressure and influence of the crowd has become a power that is not dominated by anything and whose dominance is ever growing. Therefore, the age we are entering will truly be the Age of the Masses. The fate of nations is no longer prepared in the courts of rulers, but in the souls of the masses. Civilizations have so far been created and governed by a small aristocracy of ideas. Never by the masses. The crowds have only destructive power. Their superiority and dominance always mean chaos and disorder. A civilization must have unchangeable rules, a discipline. When the structure of a civilization decays, the masses hasten its collapse. Thousands of people gathered in an area without a specific purpose will never constitute a psychological mass. In order to become a mass, some stimulating factors must be present. No doubt, crowds often commit murder, but they are also often heroes. They can easily sacrifice their lives for the victory of a belief. It is needless to add that the exaggeration of the masses is by no means a matter of intelligence, but of feeling. Napoleon said in the Council of State: " I won the Vendee War by converting myself to Catholicism, I settled in Egypt after showing myself to be a Muslim, I gained priests in Italy as evidence that I was in favor of spreading the Pope's influence. If I had ruled over a Jewish people, I would have rebuilt the Temple of Solomon. " A person is not religious merely because he believes in a supreme being; he is religious when he devotes all the powers of his soul, all the obedience of his will, the fires of his fanaticism (being partial to something or someone) to the service of a cause or a person who has guided his feelings and actions. There can be no civilization without tradition, that is, without a national spirit. Since the day man came into being, he has been occupied with two things: Creating a chain of traditions for himself and destroying these traditions after their beneficial effects have worn away. There can be no civilization without an ingrained tradition. And if these traditions are not gradually changed, there will be no progress. In social events, as in biological events, one of the most powerful influences is time. Time is the greatest creator and the most powerful destroyer. Statistics confirm this view by stating that murders increase in proportion to the generalization of education, and that the most vicious enemies of society, the anarchists, are recruited from among those who graduate with honors from their schools. Guillot, a well-known judge, has pointed out that for every thousand illiterate murderers there are three thousand educated murderers today. He adds that most of the murders are committed by young people who have graduated from free and compulsory educational institutions, which have replaced the patronage institutions (vocational schools run by industrial owners and masters). The first danger of this education, which is most accurately described with the Latin adjective, is that it is based on a serious pedagogical error: This error is to think that memorizing books improves intelligence. Instead of preparing young people to earn their living, school prepares them for civil service positions, which do not require the slightest effort to achieve success. Gaining knowledge that is practically useless is the most suitable tool to make a person rebellious. (Since the British opened schools not to educate as in England, but only to inform the natives, an army of educated people has emerged in India. When these educated people, called Babou, could not find a job for themselves, they became the implacable enemies of British rule. The first effect of education on the Babou, whether they were civil servants or idle people, was to degrade their moral level to the utmost.) Ideas only emerge in their natural and customary environments. Since words have no connection with the meaning of the images they evoke in the mind, these images change from age to age and from people to people, even though the formulas remain the same. Words live on just like ideas. The power of words is so great that well-chosen words can provide the purpose to make people accept the most disgusting things. Within society, the same words have different meanings for different social classes. Different classes of society use the same words, but the language they speak is not the same. The masses have never thirsted for the truth. Those who manage to draw the masses into their dreams dominate them. Those who destroy the dreams of the masses and extinguish their hopes become their victims. Leaders emerge especially from among those who are neurotic, excitable by nature, and those who live on the edge of madness. Instilling faith in a person means increasing his strength tenfold. Ideas, feelings, emotions and beliefs have a powerful effect on the masses, as much as the contagion of microbes. Like animals, humans are imitators by nature. Imitation is a need for humans, as long as imitation is easy. The old revolutionary general Vandamme, who was tougher and more energetic than Augereau, said the following to General Ornano about Napoleon one day in 1815, while climbing the stairs of the Tuilere Palace: “ My dear, this devil bewitches me with an incantation that I cannot understand, so that I, who fear neither the devil nor god, tremble like a child when I approach him, and then he can pass me through the eye of a needle to throw me into the fire .” This mind-numbing power of influence explains that miraculous return from the island of Elba. One look at the sworn generals who came to capture him was enough for them to surrender without resistance. The English general Wolseley writes: “ Napoleon escaped from the island of Elba, his kingdom, landed alone in France, and in a few weeks, without bloodshed, overturned all the institutions of the French state under the rule of its legitimate king .” The radicals had discovered that a centralized republic is a monarchy in disguise. A person's knowledge of Greek and mathematics, his being an architect, a doctor, a veterinarian or a lawyer does not give him a special light in emotional matters. The Jacobins provided the most typical example of simplicity in assemblies in our Great Revolution. It has been rightly said of them, " They passed through the middle of the Revolution without seeing it ." It is useful for leaders to resort to incredible exaggeration. The peoples, who have fallen victim to the erroneous illusion that freedom and equality will be better protected by the increasing number of laws, are surrendering themselves to heavier and more intolerable yokes every day.   MY EVALUATIONS:   Subject : The work covers the mindset of the masses, how they can be managed, and previous examples of this issue.   Style: The author has used an analytical narrative method and has meticulously organized the subheadings related to the subject. Although it is written in a didactic style, the use of understandable expressions without much technical jargon is a factor that makes it easier for the work to appeal to readers of all ages. However, it should be said that using the art of exemplification a little more and in impressive sections would ensure that the messages intended to be given would be better conveyed to the reader.   Fluency : When the type of the book is taken into account, it is obvious that it is more static than event-based books such as novels and stories. However, such a work written in a didactic style should not be expected to be gripping. However, although the topics are written in an analytical structure, it should be said that sometimes the lack of examples has a small negative effect on the fluency element. However, it should be stated that it is definitely a book that can be considered fluent according to its type.   General : In the evaluation made out of 10 according to the criteria stated above:   Subject: 8 Style: 7.5 Fluency: 7   The overall average of the work that received the points is 7.5 points . When the type of the work is taken into consideration, it is seen that it has clearly passed the 7 threshold. It definitely deserves to be examined for a book that deals with specific branches. It should be stated that it is an important work for readers of all ages to notice the important elements in the state system in particular.   (*) : All parts in the title Quotations: CROWD PSYCHOLOGY Author : Gustave Le Bon Publisher : Olympia Publications Edition : 1st Edition The photo used on the cover was used as a quote from the book.

MY COMMENTS :   Written by the author Paulo Coelho, the work tells the story of a young girl named Veronika who goes through a suicide attempt.   The main character, who has no expectations from life and feels helpless against the unjust order, attempts to commit suicide with pills at the beginning of the book, but when he opens his eyes, he finds himself in the hospital. Following his behavior in the hospital, it is decided that he will be kept in the mental hospital called Villete for a while.   During his time in the hospital, he meets an activist woman named Zedka and learns important lessons about life from her. He also spends a long time in the hospital with a famous lawyer named Mari and with the life lessons he learns from her, he begins to understand the value of his life better.   Then, she meets an ambassador's son named Eduard and discovers her interest in music. She tries to spend more time with him because she likes Eduard. During this process, she is told that she has a heart problem after her suicide attempt and that she has 10 days left to live. However, this claim is applied to her as a treatment method in order to hold on to life with a medicine given to her by Dr. Igor. During this time, she realizes the value of her life after thinking about death for a long time. On the day before her death, Veronika, who received the electric treatment given to her after Eduard's crisis, asks Dr. Igor to release her and that she wants to spend her last day outside. However, when the doctor rejects this request, they escape from the hospital together after Eduard's treatment. Seeing that he did not die that day after they escaped from the hospital, Veronika will see each day she lives as a miracle according to Dr. Igor's plan and will begin to appreciate her life better.   The messages given in the work show that psychological cases, which are increasing especially in modern society, increase due to the increase in prosperity and luxury. However, it also clearly shows that the successful people people see in their environment, no matter how good their living conditions are, cause them to see themselves as inadequate and ineffective after a while. The people who have the most important problems seem to be in this category. In this respect, it should be stated that it is a work that can also be pregnant with a social research topic.   As in the author's famous work, The Alchemist, the blending of the plot with philosophical messages has created a novel that can be read in one sitting for the reader.   In conclusion, the work is one of the books that should definitely be examined, as it manages to appeal to both readers who love fiction novels and readers who love psychological novels with its messages and subject matter.   MY QUOTATIONS(*) : Veronika knew many people who talked about the terrible things that happened to others as if they were truly sorry and wanted to help, but the truth was that they took pleasure in the suffering of others because it allowed them to believe that they were happy and lucky. Insulin is used to treat high blood glucose in diabetics. On the other hand, if the dose is kept much higher than normal, the drop in blood glucose will create a coma. Zedka “ People never learn anything from what they are told, they only learn by their own efforts .” When a society faced a serious problem such as war, hyperinflation, epidemics, etc., there was a slight increase in the number of suicides, but a significant decrease in cases of depression, paranoia, and psychosis. When the problem was solved, the cases returned to normal. According to Dr. Igor, this meant that people only had the luxury of going crazy when the conditions were right. Dr. Igor: “ The higher people’s chances of happiness, the more unhappiness they experience .” Reality is whatever the majority says it is. Not necessarily the best or the most logical, but the one that most closely meets the desires of society as a whole. Mari: " Even if I decide to leave this place for good, I will not return to the legal profession. I will not waste my time with crazy people who consider themselves normal and important, but whose only function in life is to make things difficult for everyone ." The one who is right is the strongest. In this case, there is a paradox, the most cowardly are also the bravest, because they can impose their ideas on everyone. Normality is nothing more than consensus. That is, the majority thinks something is right, so it is right - normal. The first typewriter was invented in 1873 by Christopher Sholes to compensate for the difficulty and slowness of handwriting. But a problem arose immediately; when the machine was typed too fast, the bars would get tangled and the machine would not work. Sholes then invented the QWERTY keyboard. A keyboard that allowed typewriters to type slower! Typewriter and PC keyboards are set up so that users can type slower, not faster. Dr. Igor: " You are a different person, but you want to be like everyone else. In my opinion, this is a serious illness. But you consider being different to be crazy, and that's why you chose to stay in Villete, because here everyone is different and so you consider yourself as normal as everyone else ." Diplomacy is the art of keeping the other person waiting. First loves may never be forgotten, but they definitely end. However, diplomacy was not only the art of waiting, but also the art of maintaining the appearance of normality, no matter what the circumstances. He would then take notes and write down the details of Vitriol's only known cure: the consciousness of living. He would then explain the drug he used in his first important trial on patients: the consciousness of death. Dr. Igor also knew that those who failed to kill themselves sooner or later repeated their attempts and eventually committed suicide. So Dr. Igor had done what he had done. He had artificially induced the symptoms of a heart attack using a drug called Phenotal. This drug had been given to the girl continuously for a week; she too had obviously been very frightened, because she had had time to think about death, to examine her life. Thus, according to Dr. Igor's thesis (the last chapter of his book would be titled "A Consciousness of Death Makes Us Live More Intensively"), the girl had eliminated all the Vitriol from her system and would most likely never attempt suicide again. The girl would see every new day she lived as a miracle, which is a miracle when you consider the unexpected events that can happen to us at every moment of our fragile lives. MY EVALUATIONS:   Subject : The work tells the story of the events that a young girl named Veronika goes through after her suicide attempt.   Style: The author's narrative, which is enriched with both event-based and psychological elements, has managed to convey the messages intended to be given in a simple way. However, the messages intended to be given are clearly conveyed to the reader without using elaborate words. Therefore, it should be noted that it is an important book that can appeal to readers who like both psychological and fictional novels in terms of style.   Originality : It should be stated that the work has an original structure, considering the subject it deals with, the environment in which it takes place and the storylines in which it conveys the messages it gives.   Character : It is seen that the character scheme in the work is as dense as it should be and that the narrative is enriched with 3 supporting characters in addition to the main character. In addition, the author has also treated the family members of other supporting characters as supporting characters when appropriate and has succeeded in enriching the narrative in a positive way as well as strengthening the connections in the plot.   Fluency : When the style and other elements are taken into consideration, it is obvious that the work is an engaging work in terms of its subject. However, it should definitely be stated that it has a fluent narrative thanks to its style. It can be said that the only element that negatively affects the fluency element is the repetition of some philosophical messages. However, this situation did not affect the narrative much and this deficiency was quickly remedied with the plot.   General : In the evaluation made out of 10 according to the criteria stated above:   Subject: 8.5 Style: 8.5 Originality: 7.5 Character: 8.5 Fluency: 8   The overall average of the work that received these scores is 8.2 points . It should be stated that it is one of the rare works that passed the 8 threshold and managed to receive high scores in all categories, and it is definitely one of the books that should be examined.   (*) : All parts in the title Quotations: VERONICA WANTS TO DIE Author : Paulo Coelho Publisher : Can Publications Edition : 73rd Edition - February 2023 The photo used on the cover was used as a quote from the book.

MY COMMENTS : In the work, which is one of Amin Maalouf's cult novels, the events related to the lives of historical figures named Ömer Khayyam, Hasan Sabbah and Nizamülmülk are discussed in a fictional narrative. The work, which begins with Ömer Khayyam's arrival in Samarkand, is primarily about his meeting with the judge named Ebu Tahir. Since the influence of the Seljuk State was expanding in this period, one day they went to greet Nizam al-Mulk and the vizier told him that they would meet in a year. On the way to the meeting, Ömer Hayyam met Hasan Sabbah on the road and they met without knowing that he was also going to Nizamülmülk. Hasan Sabbah, who made himself stand out with his intelligence, wanted to overthrow the vizier with the support of Melikşah after he quickly rose in the ranks of the state officials. However, as a result of the trick played by the vizier, he managed to save his head thanks to Omar Khayyam. After this process, Sabbah, who captured the famous Alamut Castle and founded the sect known today as the Assassins, began to specifically train his disciples and increase his number of subjects. Taking advantage of the rift between Melikşah and the vizier as a result of the power struggle, Sabbah had Nizamülmülk killed by one of his famous assassins. Afterwards, Melikşah's death was caused by poisoning by Nizamiye soldiers who were loyal to Nizamülmülk. Later, although Sabbah had power in the region, Hasan Sabbah could not resist the Mongol invasions and was killed. Omar Khayyam, from the very beginning, always made it his motto to stay away from the palace and politics as much as possible and focus on art and science. However, at some point, after the murder of Melikşah, he had to escape from the palace and the manuscript was kidnapped by Sabbah. The author, who portrays Omar Khayyam as the main character in the work and claims that his views on Islam are the ideal Islam, has the ability to persuade a reader who has not read the author's work, Ruba'is. However, it should be stated that Omer Khayyam had scientific theories that were far ahead of his time in many areas and that he had very advanced knowledge, especially in the fields of geometry and astrology. As can be seen in the following paragraphs, it can be said that the understanding of Islam described by the author contains important clues about the understanding of Islam that the West wants to see and dominate. While the first parts of the work are about a historical novel about Iran and the Turkish states a thousand years ago, the second part is about how a fictional character who wrote this story obtained this information. To summarize briefly, the manuscript, which was initially found in the possession of some Iranian assassins after the death of Hasan Sabbah, was examined by Mr. Lesage, who characterizes the author, thanks to the Iranian Princess he fell in love with, and managed to lead to an important love story between them. However, due to the events that took place during the period of destruction of the Iranian government, the manuscript was last described as lost. In the work, the author makes observations about many civilizations and their dynamics, and as expected, the civilization that he treated most harshly was the Turkish civilization. Although it is stated by the author that people of all races and beliefs were brought together in the Seljuk state, it has been claimed that the real people who ruled the country were never Turks. This was sometimes portrayed as a duty performed by Terken Hatun, Melikşah's mother, and sometimes as a duty performed by the vizier and Iranian origin Nizamülmülk. Moreover, the fact that the author, who also provides some information about the reign of Abdulhamid, does not touch upon any other issues other than the allegations of the sultan's cruelty and madness, clearly reveals his approach to the Turkish states. It is necessary to leave the comments about the administration of a civilization that created three world rulers by designing many races and understandings to live together, with the help of side figures, and the effectiveness of the Turkish rulers being almost ignored, to the readers of the work. In addition to his view on the Turks, it should be known that the author's curiosity about Iran, that is, Persian civilization, is at the highest level. Moreover, it should be stated that some of the sociological findings he made in his work are valid even today for Turkey, Iran's Muslim neighbor. Since the elements written in the quotations section regarding this subject will strengthen the narrative, they will not be detailed here. As a result, the work definitely deserves to be considered as one of the important novels of the new period, both with its fictional aspect and sociological findings. However, it should be noted that it would be wrong to use it as a resource for those who want to enrich themselves with historical information. MY QUOTES(*) : Is there anyone in the world who does not sin, tell me; Tell me, is it possible to live without committing any sins? If you are going to call me bad and do evil, Almighty God, tell me how different you are from me. Nothing, what they know is nothing, what they want to know is nothing, look and see these ignorant people, they have set up on top of the world, if you are not one of them, they will call the man an infidel, ignore them, Khayyam, follow your own path. I have always stayed away from the busybodies of bigots, but I have never said that One is two. Was it poverty that brought me to your presence? The poor are not the ones who know how to be content with little. I don't expect anything from you other than respect. If you know how to respect an honest and free person. There is no neighbor from the sea, no friend from the ruler. This is the law of science; There is no such law in poetry, it does not deny anything that came before it and is not denied by those that came after it, it passes the centuries in peace. That's why I write rubai. In the following months, Khayyam attempted to write a very serious work dealing with third-degree equations. In this algebra work, Khayyam used the Arabic term "thing" to indicate the unknown number; This word, which was mentioned as Xay in the scientific works of the Spanish, was shortened over time and reduced to only its first letter, and then x became the symbol of the unknown number all over the world. Every day someone comes out and starts to say "it's mine" and to boast about their gold and silver. Just when his affairs are in the order he wishes, death comes out of the ambush: "I am mine." Don't be surprised by anything, truth and people have two faces. During their first encounter with Hasan Sabbah, Ömer Hayyam said to Hasan, who expressed his reservations because his name was Ömer, " I will neither change my path because of my name nor my name because of my path ." Ömer Khayyam " That peaceful age is passing by, I drink wine to forget it. Is it bitter? I like it that way, and the taste of my life is bitter ." A legend circulates in the books. This legend tells about three Iranian friends, each of whom left their mark on the beginning of the millennium we are in: Omar Khayyam, who observes the world, Nizamulmulk, who rules that world, and Hasan Sabbah, who spreads terror to the world. It is rumored that they studied together in Nishapur. Of course, this cannot be true, because he is 30 years older than Ömer and Hasan completed his education in Rey, maybe he also took some lessons in Qom, the city where he was born, but he definitely did not go to school or madrasah in Nishapur. Was the truth in the Samarkand Scroll? According to the chronicle that fills the margins, the three men met for the first time in Isfahan, at the Vizier's council, at the initiative of Khayyam, a blind toy in the hands of fate. Tell him that the skills needed to govern are not the same as those needed to be in power. The good conduct of affairs requires one to forget oneself and concern oneself only with others, especially with those most in need; However, in order to come to power, one must be the most greedy of people, think of nothing but himself, and be ready to crush even his closest friends. Hasan Sabbah “ I come from a traditional Shiite family. I was always taught that Ismailis are heretics. Until I met an Ismaili dai... This dervish argued with me for a long time and shook my faith. When I decided not to talk to him for fear of giving in, I fell into bed. I became so seriously ill that I thought my last hour had come. I saw this as a sign, a sign from my Almighty Lord, and I vowed that if I survived, I would embrace the Ismaili faith. Of course, I kept my promise, took the oath of allegiance to the sect, and two years later they gave me a mission: I would go to Nizamulmulk and infiltrate his Council to protect our Ismaili brothers in a difficult situation. I left Rey and headed towards Isfahan and stopped at the Kashan caravanserai on the way. When I was alone in my small room, I was thinking about how to get in touch with the Vizier, when the door opened. Who do you think came in? Khayyam, the great Khayyam whom Allah sent there to me to make my task easier .” Abu Tahir, “ Do you remember how the person named Face-faced Softa (the leader of the group who accused Ömer Khayyam of being an atheist at the beginning of the book and tried to kill him at the entrance of Samarkand) attacked him as if he were breaking his chains against the slightest suspicion of atheism? Yes, this man has been an Ismaili for three years and today he preaches sins with the same fanaticism as he defended the true faith yesterday. I have visited the Inn many times. You knew Nasser Khan, may God have mercy on him, I remember his name in every prayer I say, you saw his bouts of violence or generosity, how he blew and roared and then how quickly his anger calmed down. Today, power is in the hands of his nephew Ahmet; He is an immature, indecisive, unruly young man, I was confused about how to approach him. Then I had Façalı Surat followed and one day I had Hasan Sabbah identified and caught. Thereupon the khan asked me to bring him to him and asked me to open his mouth and the bonds of his legs. He wanted to bring the man back to the path of truth. At the end of his speeches, he himself became an Ismaili. The ruler of Samarkand, the ruler of Transoxiana, the heir of the Karakhanid dynasty, joined the heretics. Of course, he avoided explaining this and continued to act as if he was committed to the Way of Truth, but nothing was ever the same again. The Khan's advisors were replaced by Ismailis. The guard commanders who captured Sabbah were killed one after another. My guards were replaced by Facial Face's men. What else could I do? I set out with the first pilgrim caravan and ran to explain the situation to those who hold the sword of Islam, Nizamülmülk and Melikşah .” Hasan was teaching his disciples: “ It is not enough to kill our enemies. We are not murderers, we are officials executing a sentence. We must carry out our actions in public places, in public, to set an example. Thus, when we kill one person, we spread terror to a hundred thousand people. However, it is not enough to execute and terrorize; it is also necessary to know how to die; Because by killing, we instill fear in our enemies and deter them from doing things against us, and by dying in the most courageous way, we gain the admiration of the crowd. And people from these crowds come and join us. Dying is more important than killing. We kill to defend ourselves, but we die to convince people and win. "Winning people is a goal, defending oneself is just a means ." At the top of the hierarchy was Hasan Sabbah, the Sheikh, the Imam, the owner of all kinds of secrets. In his immediate circle there were a handful of propagandist dervishes, or dais, three of whom were the assistants of the Thing. One from Eastern Iran, Khorasan, Kuhistan and Transoxiana; the other from Western Iran and Iraq; The third was responsible for Syria. One step below them were the cadres of the movement, the refiks. Because they received the necessary training, they had the authority to command a castle or manage a city or state organization. The most talented ones were made into dai when the time came. Further down the hierarchy were the lesiks, that is, those affiliated with the organization. These were rank-and-file disciples with no special aptitude for knowledge or acts of violence. Among them were many shepherds from around Alamut, as well as many women and elderly people. Then it was the turn of the creators, those who responded, those who responded to the offer, that is, those who were candidates for membership in the organization. After the initial education they received, they were directed, depending on their abilities, to further education stages, either to become a refik, or to the mass of disciples, or to the category of sacrifices, the category that constituted the real power of Hasan Sabbah in the eyes of the Muslims living at that time. The last time the Persian name found a place in the pages of the Annapolis Gazette and Herald was in 1856, when Cunard's pride, a transatlantic, the first metal-hulled paddle steamer, hit an iceberg. Seven sailors from our region lost their lives in this accident. The name of the unfortunate ship was Persia. Merpeople never make fun of signs of fate. For this reason, in the introduction of my article, I found it necessary to state that "Persia" is a misnomer, and that the Iranians call their country "Iran", which is a shortened version of a very old expression, Airania Vaeca, meaning Land of the Aryans. “ We are really on a puppet stage: The puppeteer is Master Felek, and the puppets are us. We go out to play, one by two; "Is the game over? We are all at the ballot box ." The USA, which is a young nation but an old democracy, and Iran, which is an ancient nation but a young democracy for thousands of years. “ I, Şirin, who applauded the American when he first arrived, approved everything he did, and saw him as a kind of savior, now say, I wish he had stayed in that distant America and never come here .” “ What mistake did he commit ? “ He made no mistakes, and this is the clearest evidence that he does not understand Iran. ” “ I don't really understand what you mean .” “ A minister is right to his king, a wife is right to her husband, a cause is right to her officer; Aren't all of these subject to double punishment? For the weak, being right is a crime. Iran is weak against the Russians and the British and should have acted like a weak country .” If we had managed to gain time, Russia would perhaps have had to deal with wars in the Balkans or China. Moreover, the tsar is not going to drive stakes forever, he too may die, and his throne may be shaken by new uprisings and rebellions, as happened six years ago. We had to be patient and wait, we had to be a little cunning, we had to cheat, we had to bend over and lie, we had to make promises. This is what is called Eastern wisdom from time immemorial; Shuster tried to move us forward with the Western rhythm, but he also sank the ship. “ You are asking about the source of our breath of life, to summarize a very long story, I would say that it emerged from the depths of the ocean (ocean) and then the ocean swallowed it again .” MY REVIEWS: Subject : In the work, the events related to the lives of historical figures named Ömer Hayyam, Hasan Sabbah and Nizamülmülk are discussed in a fictional narrative. Style: The stylistic method used by the author from the beginning of the work is as simple and clear as in stories, even though he is a novelist. In this respect, although the work is long-winded, it has managed to attract its readers in general terms, both in terms of its subject and style. Originality : Considering the subject they cover and the fact that they are created as a result of a combination of some historical events and a fictional narrative, there are many historical novels. However, considering the scarcity of novels dealing with these characters and subjects, and the fact that the author dealing with these subjects is French, it must be stated that it has a structure that deserves to be among the original novels. Character : Although the main character in the character scheme of the work appears to be Ömer Hayyam, the other two supporting characters, Nizamülmülk and Hasan Sabbah, also have the appearance of the main character. Considering both their effects on the plot and the direction they give to the general flow of the novel, it should be taken into account that the character arc in the work reflects three main characters. It should be stated that this situation adds a lot of richness to the novel. Moreover, the fact that the characters are historically important figures increases the effects of the topics and dialogues. Fluency : Considering the issues stated in the style section, although the work is generally fluent, it has the feeling of losing its immersion in some places. Here, especially the part where the author's research is discussed in the thousand years after the events took place, causes a lack of interest in the reader. General : In the evaluation made out of 10 in accordance with the above-mentioned criteria: Topic: 9 Style: 8.5 Originality: 7 Character: 8.5 Fluency: 7 The overall average of the work that received the highest scores is 8 points . With the score it has received, the work deserves to be among the must-read historical fictional novels. However, it is obvious that by reading the work, it is necessary to confirm the historical facts. Since it is natural to make some additions and descriptions in such fictional novels to make the plot more impressive, given the type of work, it would not be right to directly reference academic history. (*) : All parts in the Quotations heading: SAMARKAND Author : Amin Maalouf Publisher : Yapı Kredi Publications Edition : 100th Edition – January 2022 The photo used on the cover was used as a quote from the book.

MY COMMENTS: Despite being adorned with the most utilitarian and rational methods of its time and Western values, Francis Bacon's essays reveal an England in its developmental stage, still influenced by some outdated and meaningless medieval discourses. With the Renaissance, rationality and a production-focused lifestyle became crucial, while religion was relegated to a controllable domain. Although most views were shaped this way, as seen especially in the footnotes, the influence of religion had not entirely diminished in the author and society. From this perspective, it is evident that Europe was still internally conflicted; on one hand, the horizon of innovative and positive sciences had begun to expand, but on the other hand, it had not completely rid itself of the vulgarity and fanaticism inherited from the Middle Ages. Moreover, though rarely mentioned, Turkish and Eastern civilizations are almost non-existent in the book. Comparisons extending only to the Eastern Roman Empire might either be a deliberate filtering method by the author or stem from the belief that the small cycle within Continental Europe maintained the foundations of the entire world. Although many deficiencies of the West before the Renaissance are evident, the significance of science due to advancements in positive sciences in the new era should not be overlooked. However, as seen, the West has never fully grasped the intricate and layered belief systems of the East. Therefore, philosophical thoughts were mostly confined to a few pragmatic and materialistic templates. The most important message for the Eastern world from this work is that the only tool Eastern civilizations should incorporate from the West is science. Trying to imitate the West in other matters will trigger identity crises and subsequently solidify nobility issues, resulting in the most impactful aspect of being left behind the West: witnessing the struggles of countries unable to escape this situation. In conclusion, it must be noted that this work is one of the important thought pieces containing significant information about its era and should definitely be examined. MY QUOTES(*): 1. "He who takes revenge becomes equal with his enemy, but in passing it over, he is superior, for it is a prince's part to pardon." 2. "The best composition and temperature is to have openness in fame and opinion, secrecy in habit, dissimulation in seasonable use, and a power to feign, if there be no remedy." 3. "Parents ought, in good time, to find for their children fit and proper occupations, and not to leave the decision thereof to the children’s own inclinations." 4. "The great parts of the world have a greater influence upon the lesser than the lesser parts do upon the greater." 5. "Certainly, custom is most perfect when it beginneth in young years: this we call education, which is, in effect, but an early custom." 6. "The Turks have at the present time a policy to keep their people from too much knowledge; which, amongst them, chiefly consisteth in the law of their prophets." 7. "The expense of care and labor is oftentimes greater than that of the material, as is found in the case of the Netherlands, who have won a greater benefit from their works of draining and transportation, than from the riches of the earth." 8. "Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue." 9. "The greatest trust between man and man is the trust of giving counsel." 10. "All rising to great place is by a winding stair." 11. "The virtue of prosperity is temperance; the virtue of adversity is fortitude, which in mortals is the more heroical virtue." 12. "Young men are fitter to invent than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and fitter for new projects than for settled business." 13. "Judges ought to remember that their office is to interpret law, and not to make law or give law." MY EVALUATIONS Topic: The Western world during the Renaissance is evaluated by an English author, along with significant observations about the era's Western world. Style: The author generally uses a short and concise narrative style. However, some sentences are long to elaborate on the elements he wants to emphasize, which doesn't negatively affect the flow. Originality: Not applicable due to the nature of the work. Characters: Not applicable due to the nature of the work. Flow: Given the style mentioned, the book effectively conveys its messages with a fluent narrative. However, it is not a thrilling read due to its genre. Overall: Based on the above criteria, the book scores: - Topic: 8 - Style: 8 - Flow: 7.5 The overall score is 7.8, making it a must-read for essay writers interested in medieval Europe. All sections under the Quotes heading are from the book "Essays" by Francis Bacon, published by Yapı ve Kredi Yayınları, 16th Edition, January 2019. (Translation of this page made by ChatGPT

MY COMMENTS : The book The City of the Sun, written by the author Campanella, one of the leading representatives of the Italian Renaissance who lived in the 16th century, is considered one of the masterpieces that the author wrote during his imprisonment years, when he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Inquisition. In the work, the management of an island state called the The City of the Sun with the most ideal form of government and education for humanity is discussed in a utopian narrative. As one of the forms of government that was frequently discussed by the author, especially in his period, absolute monarchy is mentioned as a management model in which the power changes according to aristocratic foundations rather than lineage. In this respect, it can be said that the work is based on Socrates' definition of the ideal state. However, the author, who is highly critical of Socrates' concept of family and the reproductive system, offers a different alternative in this regard, stating that the loss of the family structure will cause radical harm to society. One of the main reasons why the designed country has utopian qualities is that the rules accept people as honest and trustworthy. On the other hand, sanctions are also mentioned in some places to appear realistic and show that measures are being taken. It can be said that one of the main contradictions appears here. If a state where everything is based on the ideal human being takes into account that its people still resort to bad actions despite all the education and imposes serious sanctions on this, it shows that it is aware of its own utopia and is talking about a dream that is difficult to realize. Although at first glance it seems that there are some deficiencies in the country's justice system, some of the models he mentioned, especially regarding the education system, seem to be applicable in the modern world. In particular, the model prepared for directing children at an early age to branches that require agriculture, mastery, physical or mental development according to their abilities is quite impressive. It also contains important messages that foreign language teaching should be done at a very young age. It is stated that the country's administration is administered by a ruler and his 3 deputies. The ruler also has the title of high priest. However, it is stated here that the title of priest requires both intense knowledge of other religions and significant competence in every branch of positive sciences. It is mentioned that if another person has these elements, this person can claim the right of Hoh and overthrow the current ruler. In this respect, it is based on the fact that the power is deemed appropriate as an absolute monarchy, but that the most competent person among the aristocrats receives his rights without being reduced to lineage. However, as it sounds, it stands out as a structure that can leave room for quite arbitrary power discussions. It has been stated that the country's forces, which are said to have mastered many war tricks in military terms, should embrace some methods such as the Turan tactic used by the Turks, especially in the battlefield. Although this issue is not explicitly dedicated to the Turks by the author, considering the period in which the work was written, it shows that the military success of the Turks constitutes an example for the West. As a result, although the work contains some messages that should be examined and taken as an example as a philosophical book trying to find the ideal form of state, it seems to be far from applications since it is generally in the utopian genre. However, considering the period in which it was written, it should be stated that it is among the books that should be examined. MY QUOTES(*) : He spent 30 years of his life in prison. This period was extremely productive for Campanella, and he wrote many books, especially Metaphysics and The Redemptive Monarchy, and his most important work, The State of the Sun, in 1602. He defended the existence of human experience as the basis of philosophy. According to Campanella, all people are united by the natural bond of religion. Drawing a picture of a society he considered ideal, Campanella advocated a state in which science and philosophy would dominate, as in Plato's ideal state. Those who govern the state are those who are best trained in theory and practice. In his book, the State of the Sun, which a Portuguese sailor found on an island in the Indian Ocean, is headed by a ruler who is both a philosopher and a priest. On this island, all citizens live under the strict control of the state, and a full partnership is implemented to ensure that the state is permanent and strong. There is no private property in this state; The benefit of the community comes to the fore in every matter. ( Excerpts from the preface and the author's life section ) The biggest ruler of the city is a high priest. People call him Hoh. If we were you, we would call you metaphysician. He is the head of both worldly affairs and the affairs of the hereafter. His authority is absolute. The judgments he makes are final; no one can raise a voice against them. The metaphysician, together with his three assistants, manages all the affairs of the city from above: nothing is done without his wishes. These four people manage all the affairs of the state, but whatever the metaphysician decides, the three assistants obey him. We have more confidence in such a wise man's ability to govern the state well than you - who have often appointed ignorant people as your rulers and considered them fit to govern simply because they came from the line of rulers or were elected by a powerful party. Because you call those who know the rules of grammar and logic of Aristotle or others the most, and thus in your country, science is a job that only requires tedious work and slavish memorization. This dulls a person's thinking, prevents him from going deeper into things, causes him to be satisfied with a lot of verbiage, degrades his soul, and fills his head with the dead words of books. Therefore, such scholars do not know how God governs all beings, the rules and customs of nature and nations. Moreover, in our opinion, a person who devotes himself to only one science and is satisfied with books alone is a person whose mind is not fully developed and worthless. When the time comes, the head midwife opens the doors for the man and the woman. The astrologer and the doctor decided in advance, by looking at the stars, the most suitable time for the couples to be united and the children to be born. Sun Cities do not fear death. Because they believe in the immortality of the soul. According to them, the soul that leaves the body meets with good or bad souls, depending on its good or bad behavior in earthly life. Sometimes they pretend to retreat: each soldier quickly retreats and joins his own flag. The enemy, thinking that the Sun Cities people left the battlefield and fled or attempted to escape, attacked; But the Sun Cities immediately form groups into two joined wings, then rest for a moment and take a breath. These intermediate cannons disperse the enemy by showering them with bullets. The Sun Cities use many war tricks of this kind. (Turanian tactics and military tactics from the time of Mete Khan are included.) The person at the head of each business group is called the king. But this name is given to the masters of the craft. Men and women follow their kings in orderly groups, going about their business in orderly groups. If you see it, your heart will overflow with respect. The rule they follow in terms of food is this: They eat meat one day, fish the other day, and vegetables the other day. On the fourth day, they return to meat so that their stomachs do not get tired and the organism does not become weak. The working body sweats; Otherwise, it throws out poisonous vapors that spoil the blood and marrow. Tuberculosis is one of the rare diseases in the Land of the Sun. Because the lungs of Güneş Cities are not poisoned by harmful tissue fluids. As for epileptic seizures, they prevent them by suddenly frightening the patient or by making him drink the juice of certain herbs. Under the rule of Reason, one of Hoh's assistants, there are: Grammar, logic and physics scholars, physician, politician, moralist, economist, astrologer, cosmographer, geometer, mathematician, musician, poet, wordsmith, painter, sculptor. People who are responsible for tasks such as reproduction, education, clothing, agriculture and animal breeding are dependent on Love. Officials who deal with war tricks, weapon making, financial affairs, architecture, reconnaissance, infantry, cavalry, artillery units and recruiting soldiers are also under the command of the Power. Those who have the authority to judge are also dependent on the Power. Only the people impose the death penalty; they kill the criminal by shooting or stoning him. The accusers and witnesses cast the first stone. Since the people of Güneş Kent always live and work together, in order to accuse someone, it is necessary to find at least five witnesses whose statements agree with each other. If there are fewer than this number of witnesses, the defendant is released after swearing that he is not guilty and is warned to be careful not to appear before the judge again. If the defendant ignores these warnings and comes before the judge for the second time with an accusation, this time two or three witnesses are enough for him to receive double the punishment. If all perversions, famines and wars frequently cause troubles in human societies, this is because people act contrary to reason instead of restraining their sexual instincts and following the path shown by reason. However, it should also be acknowledged that there are no situations in which a person becomes so justified in his anger that he drags himself into a just war. It is a natural right for people to study God's works, to travel the world, to conduct research, and to leave nothing untested. But citizens in such a state will be no different from priests who learn everything from books. If they come across something that is not in the books, they will be stunned. As a matter of fact, they do not attach much importance to Galileo's thoughts at the moment, and they do not believe that Colombo found a new world, just because St. Augustine does not accept it. This state order (Land of the Sun) is the best order, and the most important thing is that it is established and functions well as well as being long-lasting. Disorder and disorder are the source of evil, and every need that forces us to do good is a happy need. If you pay attention, you will see that if believers move away from religion, it is not because of the strictness of religious rules, but rather because they fall in love with non-religious people, pursue fame and honor, are carried away by the love of wealth and desires of the flesh. They say that Socrates considers it necessary for a state to have certain classes, such as soldiers, craftsmen and administrators, for good governance. Accordingly they say; If everything is shared, everyone becomes a soldier to get rid of heavy field work, and in wartime, they want to work in the fields and do not want to fight without getting paid; Or everyone aspires to be a ruler, a judge, a priest. Thus, while giving higher ranks to some, the burdens of others are increased, while some work less, others work more, and in the end, injustice and unfairness arise again. For him, the best thing is to give up the property partnership. Socrates says that if everyone considers the elderly as parents, the young as children, and their peers as brothers, love and respect among citizens will increase. But then the love of every old man for the young melts away like a drop of honey poured into too much water; This love disappears immediately because no father can recognize his own child and no child can recognize his own father. Disagreements will arise between women, especially between fathers and children of unknown origin. The heresy of the Nicolaitans was this: According to them, a man could sleep with any woman he wanted, whenever he wanted. This, as said before, is against natural law and also prevents the reproduction of the human race. In our Land of the Sun, unions are made in accordance with the rules of philosophy and astrology, and care is taken to ensure that the children to be born are both good and numerous. MY REVIEWS: Subject : In the work, the subject of the work is a utopian narrative in which an island state called the Land of the Suns is equipped with the most ideal forms of management and education for humanity. Style: It is seen that the style used by the author from the beginning to the end of the work is quite simple and understandable. In this respect, the work has drawn a portrait for the reader of the country it wants to describe with the messages it wants to give, and has managed to explain important examples in terms of some management models in a clear language. Originality : Considering the management style it proposes, the work cannot be considered as a very original work as it deals with alternative methods of previously tried and considered models rather than suggesting extraordinary management styles. Character : The work will not be evaluated in this category due to its quality. Fluency : Considering the issues mentioned in the Style section, it is obvious that the work should not be expected to be gripping due to its subject. According to his style, it can be seen that he has succeeded in achieving a clear modeling of the country's management type that he wants to convey to the reader in a fluent language. General : In the evaluation made out of 10 in accordance with the above-mentioned criteria: Topic: 8 Style: 8 Originality: 6 Fluency: 8 The overall average score of the work is 7.5 points . Although it could not reach the 8 threshold, it should be noted that the work, which exceeded the 7 threshold, is one of the state utopias that should definitely be examined due to its type. (*) : All parts in the Quotations heading: THE CITY OF THE SUN Author : Tommaso Campanella Publisher : Olympia Publications Edition : 1st Edition - Istanbul 2023 The photo used on the cover was used as a quote from the book.