About The Tao of Star Trek: Finding Your Inner Self Through Outer Space (Volume 2): What Sun Tzu and Lao Tzu Teach us about the Dueling Philosophies of War and Peace in the Very Best Star Trek Stories by Dr. Joseph D. Di Lella:
Similar in tone and content in book one of this series,The Tao of Star Trek: Finding Your Inner Self Through Outer Space (Volume Two), examines the very best stories of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager with an application of important ideas on war and peace as introduced by Sun Tzu and Lao Tzu centuries ago.
In just over ninety Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager stories reviewed in volume two, the book also links important concepts or proverbs attributed to either Sun Tzu or Lao Tzu with character arcs and problems in contemporary society.
In each lesson associated with specific Star Trek tales, story interpretation is used to show how the heroes – and villains, demonstrate the best and worst of human qualities as they attempt to work out problems in an interpersonal, inter-species or interplanetary way. Once these tales are reviewed, and prominent characters discussed, readers can more easily see how Taoist and militaristic ideas propel their favorite good and evil Bajoran, Ferengi, Cardassian, and others towards the right and wrong decisions in typical human dilemmas found in life and death matters.
Throughout this book, Star Trek stories in general are used as metaphors to illustrate the two Chinese philosophers wisdom in mini-lessons, applying their ideas to current day events. As such, Gene Roddenberry’s use of science fiction as an arena of social commentary works in an intellectual manner and not only for entertainment purposes. Thus, Star Trek can act as a self-help guide, showing us how to improve our personal outlook on society and ourselves. We need not surrender to violent tendencies commonly found in humanity, but should focus on the peaceful potential deep inside of all of us.
At the end of every story analyzed in this book, Everyday Reflections and Everyday Actions are recommended for the reader to take to heart and consider in their lives. Each Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager story discussed in this book provides an important lesson that we can tie into either historical or current day situations as well.
The author challenges the reader to connect Lao Tzu and Sun Tzu’s ideas to their everyday lives.
By taking a positive, proactive role in our everyday life with others, Star Trek stories can give direction for both self-improvement with interactions with others and in society in general.
Looking closely, we can more easily see why Captain Benjamin Sisko and Captain Kathryn Janeway made leadership decisions that shaped not only their crews but the lives of millions of other species across various quadrants of the galaxy?. If we examine the philosophy of Taoism and military leaders of the past, we can more easily understand their motives to preserve justice, life and freedom for their corners of the galaxy.
It is this author’s hope that the reader finds a personal road map on how to conduct his/herself in this complicated and dangerous world through the very human stories of Star Trek.
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Author Bio:
As a lifelong learner, teacher and writer, I have recently joined the independent writer’s circle here on Amazon/Kindle. My educational background is in the fields of sociology, bilingual education and literature. With my Ph.D. in Education, I have taught at over a dozen colleges, including Stanford University, UC San Diego, University of Oregon, USC, San Diego State and the College of the Marshall Islands. A longtime science fiction fan, I pitched stories to Star Trek: Enterprise for seasons two and three at Paramount Studios. My writing background includes screenplays, teleplays, poetry, short stories, fiction and non-fiction books. I now reside in Brazil and teach English as a Second Language as well as write, cycle and continue to muse on the mysteries of life.