Hallman, J.C.: In Utopia

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In his latest book J.C. Hallman explores the subject of utopias. He discusses both the history of utopian thought in literature--from Plato to Thomas More to B.F. Skinner--as well as real-world attempts to create utopia, or, if not utopia, at least a somewhat better world. Going into the book I expected a more straightforward discussion of a handful of communal societies, but Hallman has found examples of utopian thinking in surprising places. The book's second chapter, for example, concerns "Pleistocene rewilding"--an ostensibly crazy idea whose proponents would like to reintroduce to North America the large animals--or their modern equivalents--that roamed the continent during the late Pleistocene period. Utopia may also be found--or sought, at least--at sea: The World is a floating residence that is owned cooperatively by its residents and sails permanently around the world.

In Utopia is at its most interesting when the author is describing his hands-on research--his stay at the Twin Oaks community in Virginia, the four-day defensive handgun course he took in Nevada: "Back on my hip, the gun felt awkward, like a colostomy bag at capacity." I could have used some dumbing down of the literary sections of the book, however, as they are often thick with the author's erudition. An audience that's better read on the subject than I would probably get much more out of those parts of the text than I did.