A sideways look at time
by Jay Griffiths
Published by Flamingo, £7.99
Review by Nick Griffiths-Haynes
I have finally finished reading this book. A journey through the
implications of how we measure time, how the hour, minute and second hold
inherent prejudice. How time (and its measurement) has been used as a tool
to dominate and oppress, a book as a polemic against the secular Christian
west's treatment of the rest of the world. Several points were laboured
too often perhaps throughout the book, and a certain bitterness at being a
part of the world she riles against seems to occasionally creep into her
writing. But her sheer knowledge of the subject and her masterful, playful
use of language more than make up for any minor shortfalls.
The first chapter reads almost like a list of all the different times and
measurements of it across all cultures and peoples around the world and to
be honest, its glory in the variety of human experience and invention can
be a little tedious at times. But, once thorough this list, the power of
Jay Griffiths' writing becomes apparent. The following chapters go on to
show how time has been used to take the freedom of carnival from the
common man, how its very form is an oppression of women's time, how
natural rhythms are ignored and native peoples tethered to the yoke of
western colonial imperialism all with the help of a clock.
Her treatment of this subject is fascinating and thought provoking, it
helps that there is a hint of a pagan undercurrent running behind the
text. It really helped me to feel the natural tides of time in the
landscape. Essentially this book is nothing less than a call to arms for
both the green movement and anyone interested in the rights of the poor
and oppressed.
A fascinating read and highly recommended.
Available from Amazon.co.uk
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