Peter Ormerod's 'David Bowie and the Search for Life, Death and God' is a tour de force that recontextualizes the iconic musician's life and art through the lens of spirituality. Ormerod expertly weaves together Bowie's eclectic faith journey, from his Anglican upbringing to his immersion in Tibetan Buddhism and occultism, to create a rich tapestry that not only deepens our understanding of Bowie but also offers profound insights into the human condition.
Bowie's oeuvre is often characterized as a zone of chaos and fragmentation, with Ormerod astutely pointing out how this mirrors the state of the world we live in today. The internet, once hailed as a revolutionary force, has become a harbinger of disaster and social collapse. Bowie's music reflects this disillusionment, with songs like "This Ain't Rock'n'Roll, This Is Genocide" from Diamond Dogs serving as a stark warning about the dangers of unchecked ideology.
Ormerod's book is particularly strong when it comes to analyzing Bowie's later work, such as Heathen and The Next Day. These albums are recontextualized as texts that invite close reading, and Ormerod's insights offer a new level of understanding about the creative process behind them. The chapter on Lazarus, Bowie's final musical theatre project, is a particular highlight, with Ormerod skillfully teasing out the emotional and philosophical undertones of the work.
One of the most compelling aspects of this book is its exploration of Bowie's spiritual preoccupations and how they inform his art. Ormerod draws upon philosophers like Kierkegaard and Nietzsche to shed light on Bowie's thought process, but it's when he turns to medieval Christian mystics that the real magic happens. The connection between Bowie's work and the concept of "decreation" – a notion that negates any proposition in favor of embracing ambiguity – is nothing short of revelatory.
Bowie himself was acutely aware of his own spiritual journey, often expressing a desire to transcend the boundaries of identity and experience. In this sense, Ormerod's book offers a fascinating case study on the role of spirituality in creative expression, one that suggests that Bowie's music was never just about art or entertainment but about something deeper – life itself.
Ultimately, "David Bowie and the Search for Life, Death and God" is less a biography than an exploration of the human condition. It's a work that asks us to reexamine our assumptions about spirituality, creativity, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. And if Peter Ormerod has managed to do just that – make me sing in the choir with him, as he so eloquently puts it – then this book is a triumph.
Bowie's oeuvre is often characterized as a zone of chaos and fragmentation, with Ormerod astutely pointing out how this mirrors the state of the world we live in today. The internet, once hailed as a revolutionary force, has become a harbinger of disaster and social collapse. Bowie's music reflects this disillusionment, with songs like "This Ain't Rock'n'Roll, This Is Genocide" from Diamond Dogs serving as a stark warning about the dangers of unchecked ideology.
Ormerod's book is particularly strong when it comes to analyzing Bowie's later work, such as Heathen and The Next Day. These albums are recontextualized as texts that invite close reading, and Ormerod's insights offer a new level of understanding about the creative process behind them. The chapter on Lazarus, Bowie's final musical theatre project, is a particular highlight, with Ormerod skillfully teasing out the emotional and philosophical undertones of the work.
One of the most compelling aspects of this book is its exploration of Bowie's spiritual preoccupations and how they inform his art. Ormerod draws upon philosophers like Kierkegaard and Nietzsche to shed light on Bowie's thought process, but it's when he turns to medieval Christian mystics that the real magic happens. The connection between Bowie's work and the concept of "decreation" – a notion that negates any proposition in favor of embracing ambiguity – is nothing short of revelatory.
Bowie himself was acutely aware of his own spiritual journey, often expressing a desire to transcend the boundaries of identity and experience. In this sense, Ormerod's book offers a fascinating case study on the role of spirituality in creative expression, one that suggests that Bowie's music was never just about art or entertainment but about something deeper – life itself.
Ultimately, "David Bowie and the Search for Life, Death and God" is less a biography than an exploration of the human condition. It's a work that asks us to reexamine our assumptions about spirituality, creativity, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. And if Peter Ormerod has managed to do just that – make me sing in the choir with him, as he so eloquently puts it – then this book is a triumph.
it's like Peter Ormerod took all the fragmented bits of Bowie's life and art and wove them into this epic tapestry that's both nostalgic and thought-provoking at the same time 
. I mean, Bowie's music always felt like a warning sign for something deeper going on, and this book totally amplifies that vibe 
. The way Ormerod connects Bowie's spirituality to our modern world is just mind-blowing... we're living in a world where the internet is supposed to be revolutionary but ends up being a disaster 
. And Bowie was like, "yep, I'm gonna make music about this mess" 
. The insights Ormerod gets from medieval Christian mystics are, like, totally revelatory 
. It's not just a biography, it's an exploration of what it means to be human in a world that's constantly fragmenting 
. Overall, I'm sold on this book... if you haven't checked it out yet, get on that ASAP 
It's like, Peter Ormerod has taken a deep dive into Bowie's spiritual journey and come out with some really profound insights 
. I mean, we all know Bowie was all about exploring different identities and pushing boundaries, but this book shows just how deeply spirituality influenced his music and art 
. The way Ormerod connects Bowie's work to philosophers like Kierkegaard and Nietzsche is mind-blowing 
. And the idea of "decreation" – it's like, totally a game-changer for understanding creativity and spirituality 
. This book is more than just a biography, it's like, an exploration of what it means to be human in this crazy world 
. If you're a fan of Bowie or just interested in spirituality and creativity, you need to get your hands on this book ASAP 
. Trust me, it's going to blow your mind! 
he's like a genius or something for figuring out how bowies music and art are actually connected to his spiritual journey 
Bowie was always so mysterious and ahead of his time, but now i feel like i finally understand what made him tick 
can't wait to dive into more books by this author 
. I mean, his music was always about questioning the norms and pushing boundaries, and that's something we can all relate to. The way Ormerod connects Bowie's spiritual explorations with modern concepts like decreation is also really insightful - it shows us that our search for meaning isn't just about finding answers, but about embracing the questions themselves 
. What I love about this book is how it makes you want to dive deeper into your own spirituality and creative expression, rather than just reading about it 
. Scientists are warning that we're on track for a 3°C rise by 2100, and it's going to be catastrophic. I mean, have you seen the ice cap melting like crazy? It's heartbreaking. And don't even get me started on the coral reefs... 
. It's been months and I'm starting to lose hope. The lack of transparency from our leaders is just infuriating 
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. The way Ormerod talks about Bowie's spiritual journey and how it relates to his art is just so insightful 
. It makes me think that maybe we've been looking at Bowie's music all wrong and there's actually something really profound going on beneath the surface 
. I don’t usually comment but this book has made me want to go listen to some Bowie again with new ears 
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idk how many ppl understand bowie's music on that level tho 
