The Song and the Swallow

Authenticity and Love

Non-Fiction - Religion/Philosophy
162 Pages
Reviewed on 08/30/2022
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Author Biography

Matthew Anghelos March is a philosopher in the pursuit of helping humanity. With a focus on logic, ethics, and epistemology, he attempts to provide useful perspectives that anyone can adopt to find meaning in their life, and ultimately, truth. He hosts a philosophy podcast that promotes critical thinking and honest discussion. Though he once planned to become a vigilante, he now works to redeem himself as an instructor for the federal government, delivering a variety of material including mental health courses designed to help officers reduce workplace stress and PTSD. He has a keen interest in the welfare of others, and is always seeking to develop his understanding of human nature and the human condition. He lives in Milton, Ontario, with his books.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite

The concept of the existence of life on earth often triggers a myriad of not only tenets, impressions, and perceptions, but also heightened sentiment among human beings. The arguably insufficient knowledge from our universe about life does not do much to help answer the prevailing questions encompassing the latter. While the original source of life is still subject to debate, the meaning of life itself is a question − or perhaps a mystery − that has left many human beings thoroughly preoccupied with quenching it. However, finding the meaning of life has proven to be one tough journey, as finding or losing one’s (authentic) self is both possible eventualities or guarantees of the same. How then can one go about this? Matthew Anghelos March delves deeper into this in his compelling book The Song and the Swallow: Authenticity and Love.

Matthew Anghelos March’s The Song and the Swallow: Authenticity and Love is a must-read for enthusiasts of philosophy, religion, and self-help. Exploiting his rich background in the philosophical and religious realms, March took me on a self-discovery ride riddled with thought-provoking and insightful stances of great intellectual depth. He allowed me to explore his line of thought − which he conveyed through succinct and intense sentences − with his chatty tone, making the reading experience engaging. He taps into a vast knowledge of Greek mythology and uses it to interestingly elaborate on some of the concepts he addresses, which include self-doubt, entitlement, punishment, relationships, and love, among others. This book is just what you are looking for if you are seeking more enlightenment or assistance to see you through your journey of finding the meaning of your life, your authentic self, and consequently your purpose.

Pikasho Deka

What is the purpose of our existence on this tiny blue rock floating through space? Do our lives truly have meaning? Delve into these questions and more with The Song and the Swallow: Authenticity and Love in which where Matthew Anghelos March takes a deep dive to explore the different facets of the human condition. Through this book, March examines some underlying tenets of humanity and how closely they resemble the traits of the gods portrayed in Greek mythology. He offers some legitimate criticisms like how leaders in western society no longer seem to be interested in representing the public but instead are more focused on managing them. The role of the devouring mother is not only limited to parents but also seems to be applicable to governments, dictatorships, and other governing institutions.

Thoughtful and provocative, The Song and the Swallow: Authenticity and Love is a poignant study of human existence in all its myriad forms. Matthew Anghelos March has a way with words, and he delves into some complex themes and ideas with a natural linguistic flair that makes it not only riveting to read but also easily understandable. There are some very intriguing topics discussed within the pages. For example, how external forces shape our lives, real or imagined. I especially liked the quote, and I may be paraphrasing here -- Doubt is the cornerstone of wisdom, and wisdom is the apex of understanding. The Song and the Swallow: Authenticity and Love is one of those rare books that make you introspect and contemplate. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy stimulating philosophical discourse.

Miche Arendse

The Song and the Swallow: Authenticity and Love by Matthew Anghelos March is a thought-provoking look into how human beings conceptualize the meanings and reasons surrounding the ambiguous concept of life and love. Taking a look at the various relationships one is bound to encounter throughout one’s life, the reader is encouraged to look at these relationships through various lenses. Using themes often found in Greek mythology, we see how our feelings and actions directly impact our lives and the world around us.

The Song and the Swallow: Authenticity and Love by Matthew Anghelos March is what I would call food for thought. It is a book that looks at life and the relationships between people through a philosophical perspective and offers up various points of view in that regard. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this as it mirrored a lot of my own thoughts and beliefs regarding how you should treat not only yourself but others. I also really enjoyed the comparisons using Greek mythology and the unique take March put on it. Whether or not these myths and legends are true or were based on real people or not, we stand to learn so much from them and March makes this abundantly clear. The writing style complemented the tone of the book and overall this book was well written, with very in-depth analysis and explanations. I really loved this book and found the topics discussed to be refreshing and intriguing. I would definitely recommend giving The Song and the Swallow a read.

K.C. Finn

The Song and the Swallow: Authenticity and Love is a work of non-fiction in the religion and philosophy subgenre. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author Matthew Anghelos March. The book explores the human need to find meaning in existence, and the pitfalls that appear for many who rely on this meaning for happiness. By drawing parallels to the modern sense of meaningless with tales as old as Greek mythology, the author explores how it is our ability to care that defines our lived experience, and it is the pursuit of the variety of love that helps us care and be cared about that can bring the happiness we seek.

Tragically, given its importance, the topic of philosophy can seem like such a difficult subject for the layman to comprehend, musing on concepts and ideas that only truly exist in the abstract such as meaning and morality. Fortunately for readers who wish to get started on understanding their place in the universe and how to find fulfillment within it, there are authors like Matthew Anghelos March who have clearly spent a long time studying and considering the nature of human beings and the world in which we live; authors who are able to bring their considerable understanding to the table thanks to a gift for accessible and evidence-based discourse. Overall, The Song and the Swallow is a tour of some of the most important philosophical concepts that we contend with today, taking a deep dive into the issues that affect our daily lives the most and presenting the ideas within in such a way that any reader can pick up and appreciate the wisdom of this book.

Ammaarah Seboa

The Song and the Swallow by Matthew Anghelos March brings up important questions regarding how we think of ourselves. Four points in the first chapter invite us to critically analyze what we know about ourselves and how we can become more self-aware. The rest of the book talks about topics such as law, punishment, and even how stories throughout history have repeated themselves, as well as the misplaced sense of a god complex, and the role society and our nurturers play in our lives. This is a truly enlightening book that I feel all young adults should read.

This book was quite the page-turner and had me thinking long and hard about the issues addressed. Learning about a topic is like looking at an iceberg; we only really know information about the 10% peeking out on top, and are not knowledgeable on the topic. Each section flows coherently into the next about the topics, from pop culture references to Greek mythology. As a sociolinguistics student, the mention of humans being social creatures resonated with me. In sociolinguistics, we were taught that communication is innate to human beings. This book encompasses so many fields which I found only enriched my current knowledge, from finding ourselves to how to deal with toxic individuals. Matthew Anghelos March focuses on critical topics for human development in The Song and the Swallow, which provides us with a set of tools to assist us in being better humans. A definite reread and recommendation!