Aptly titled, Jordan Neben’s A LOT OF QUESTIONS (With No Answers)? offers readers a quasi-philosophical deep-dive replete with appropriately open-ended questions. A collection of six long-form essays, Neban tackles a variety of thought-provoking topics ranging from the standard philosophical touchstones (such as religion, cults, and the malleable nature of recorded history) to a ponderous examination of the relationship between governments and humanity. It’s heady stuff, for sure, but Neben does his best to tackle each ‘question’ with an easily-understood, uniform approach.
As is often the case when it comes to philosophical works, readers will struggle to find anything resembling an answer within the pages of A LOT OF QUESTIONS. Instead, Neben sticks to a tried-and-true template of encouraging readers to draw their own conclusions. As he points out in the book’s introduction, the topics Neban discusses are “immensely complex and multifaceted,” and an understanding and recognition of the ever-present nuance is essential for anyone looking to truly enrich their perspective. Still, the air of uncertainty permeating this text occasionally elicits frustration, especially when paired with Neben’s penchant for redundancy. Fortunately, Neben’s takes on mass-tragedy (Make Sure Your Death is Sudden and Violent) and tribalism (State of Generosity) offer a more tangible takeaway, and stand apart as high points in this text.
Utilizing a traditional essay format (intro, body, analysis and conclusion) that virtually everyone will recognize, Neban (for the most part) succeeds at presenting a list of focused, logical arguments. Where Neban struggles, however, is with his conclusions. While Neben asserts that he intends A LOT OF QUESTIONS to be the “beginning” of an ongoing discussion, there are points where the lack of discernible viewpoint undercuts the potential potency of Neben’s writing. For instance, a compelling case for scrutiny is made during the opening essay, Ruminations on Religion, but Neben’s ‘conclusion’ offers little in the way of insight. While the author readily admits that this particular essay is, more or less, an “opinion piece,” one may struggle to identify said opinion. The lack of citations or formal references also feels like a pronounced misstep, especially considering the scholarly air with which Neben confronts this material. There’s a fine line between stated fact and presumed conjecture. Long-form opinion piece or not, properly sourced names, dates, and figures would go a long way toward establishing credibility. While Neban’s passion for philosophy is clear from cover to cover, A LOT OF QUESTIONS is perhaps best viewed of as a placeholder for an evolving train of thought.
Readers may struggle with the wordy approach and overly-ponderous stance, but Jordan Neben’s A LOT OF QUESTIONS (With No Answers)? ultimately delivers on its promise, providing a quasi-philosophical deep-dive replete with appropriately open-ended questions.
~James Weiskittel for IndieReader