Field of Gourds: A Guide to Intellectual Rebellion - Softcover

Intellectual, geeky, and highly creative, Field of Gourds: A Guide to Intellectual Rebellion is presented as a dialogue between Rob Fisher with his dog, Bella. They explore the nature of rationality and discuss how, as a society, we are on the verge of losing what constitutes the foundation of individual and spiritual freedom. The author argues that most people are trapped in an intellectual prison, consuming ideas and culture like they are eating macaroni and cheese their mothers cooked for them. Believing knowledge—culture, art, science, and religion—are consumables meant to be received from others, they might find some interesting, others boring, but they never think of exploring for themselves. In other words, they fail to wield their own intellectual prowess. They do not construct knowledge, or even realize that they have an active and critical role to play in building their own understanding of things. Rather than take responsibility for what they think, believe, or feel, they passively digest other people’s visions of the world, and in the cacophony of viewpoints that characterize modern life, they wonder why they are left feeling confused with no sense of purpose. As it entertains, inspires, and challenges the reader, this book romps through some big ideas on the interrelationships among science, economics, technology, politics, democracy, religion, and theater and suggests how one should navigate the modern world. A unique cross between the self-help genre and philosophy of science, it shows how to free your mind from false traps and actively engage in creative and collaborative projects with those around you in order to manifest your full capabilities and achieve ultimate happiness. It could even change your life.

Rob Fisher graduated from Gonzaga High School in Washington DC, where he broke his leg playing football on the opening kick-off of senior year. He was a wrestler at Duke University, although not particularly good at it. He received a PhD in economics from Duke and a law degree from Harvard Law School (magna cum laude). He worked as a gas station attendant and a motel clerk, labored on a tobacco and cattle farm, taught at a number of colleges and universities, clerked for a federal judge, and toiled at a consulting firm, various law firms, and for the government. He was also a volunteer fireman. His avocation—along with his brother—is the collection and restoration of antique fire trucks, although his brother is the brains behind the operation. He is the very proud father of four. His dog and co-author of Field of Gourds is named Bella and is more trouble than you can imagine.