Chapter synopses

 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue: Story of a young child building a dam. Experimental play or the desire
for control?
Introduction: Readers are presented with two points to consider: 1) Does control
exist or is it just an illusion? 2) Should control be considered positive or negative?
Chapter 1-Gwilym (“Will” + “helmet”): A hard-headed man is obsessed with the
desire to control his girlfriend and the level of emotional commitment.
Chapter 2-Suri (“Knife”): A woman feels she must control her neighbors and
surroundings.
Chapter 3-Griffith (“Strong,” “powerful” + “chief” or “fighter”): A man is bent on
controlling his wife and daughter.
Chapter 4-Kameron (“Crooked Stream”): A man tries to control his life and his
future by avoiding all responsibility.
Chapter 5-Taurean (“Bull”): A man creates a superficial sense of control over his
marriage by involving himself in extra-marital activities.
Chapter 6-Consumption: A chapter about how a person can become obsessed with
control of his or her possessions.
Chapter 7-Berk (“Solid” or “rugged”): A man who for many years allows himself
to be controlled by family members and friends.
Chapter 8-Work: The aspects of control and micro-management in the workplace
and its disastrous effects.
Chapter 9-Anorexia: A discussion on the story of Karen Carpenter and anorexia as
a superficial but fatal attempt at control.
Chapter 10-Divorced Families: How parents throughout a divorce try to win
emotional control over children.
Chapter 11-Jasper (“Treasure-holder”): A story about a man who attempts to
control everyone around him using his charm and a sense of humor.
Chapter 12-Kali: (“Black goddess” or “time, the destroyer”): A woman is obsessed
with money and material things and her attempts to control people.
Chapter 13-Neurosis and Sociopathology: A discussion on people who attempt to
destroy other people while they destroy themselves and how sociopaths attempt to
dominate and control other people.
Chapter 14-Child Celebrities and Performers: How parents control their children
in unnatural and detrimental ways.
Chapter 15-Reed (“Red-haired” or “ruddy-skinned”): A man’s need for control
over material things consumes his life.
Chapter 16-Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery and Other Body Issues: A chapter about
people who create a superficial sense of control through the pursuit of physical
perfection.
Chapter 17-Credit Card Companies and Other Money Issues: A discussion of
people who allow themselves to be controlled by the temptation of easy credit.
Chapter 18-Medical/Pharmaceutical Companies: This chapter touches on the
attempts of the pharmaceutical companies to control people via the use of television
commercials and other media.
Chapter 19-The Menendez Brothers: In a desperate attempt to escape being
controlled by their parents, they ultimately wind up being controlled or contained
by the system for life.
Chapter 20-Leila (“Born at night”): A woman attempts to control her son’s
emotional state of mind and the disastrous effects it has on him.
Chapter 21-Aderes (“Outer garment” or “cape”). A woman tries to control men
and women using false pretenses.
Chapter 22-Garner (“Armed sentry”): A man is obsessed with controlling women
and everyone around him.
Chapter 23-Mallory (“Unlucky”): A woman who, in an attempt to exact revenge,
becomes controlled by her own fate.
Chapter 24-Javier (“Owner of the new house”): A man is obsessed with his home
and the superficial sense of control that it provides.
Chapter 25-Jamie (“Supplanter” or “heel”): A young man has a tragic accident and
subsequently tries to control others.
Chapter 26-The Adult Film Industry: This chapter discusses the tragic story of
Colleen Applegate and the adult film industry in general.
Chapter 27-The Media, Privatization, and Special Needs Students, and the Public
School System: This chapter centers around the state of the public school system
and the attempts of private businesses to control a piece of the public’s tax dollars.
Chapter 28-Peg (“Pearl”): A woman allows herself to be controlled by an abusive
husband and her fear of leaving.
Chapter 29-Sadie (“Princess”): A woman is obsessed with a strong appetite for
wealthy men and gourmet restaurants.
Chapter 30-Malika (“Industrious” or “striving”): This chapter is tied in with
Chapter 31. A woman allows herself to be controlled by a tyrannical, abusive
boyfriend.
Chapter 31-Mojag (“Never quiet”): An abusive tyrannical boyfriend desires to
dominate his girlfriend Malika (see Chapter 30).
Chapter 32-Addictions: Alcohol, Drugs, and Food: A brief discussion on obsessive-compulsive
disorders and the excessive need for control.
Chapter 33-Pets: How the unconditional love of a pet can become a substitute for a
relationship with another human being.
Chapter 34-Dating Services: How dating services often attempt to control men and
women with the false promise of an ideal relationship.
Chapter 35-Jordan (“To descend”): A woman is obsessed with her career and the
desire for perfection.
Chapter 36-Todd (“Fox” or “fox hunter”): A man allows himself to be controlled
by the false pretenses of his own image and the damage that ensues.
Chapter 37-Food and the Dieting Industry: The attempts of the dieting industries to
control consumers with the false promise of quick and effortless methods of weight
loss.
Chapter 38-Merle (“Blackbird”). A man is controlled by his obsession to know all
things and the ultimate effect it has on his marriage and relationships.
Chapter 39-The High Dose Caffeine Industry: How some manufacturers control
their consumers with the false promise of increased performance.
Chapter 40-Energy, Consumption, and Pollution: This chapter encourages the
reader to consider the question “How much is enough?”
Chapter 41-Kyra (“Lord” or “ruler”): A woman’s desire to control her family
produces disastrous effects.
Chapter 42-Petrice (“Stone” or “rock”): A woman allows herself to be controlled
by her pre-conceived notions on what a relationship is and what it should be.
Chapter 43-Steele (“One who resists”): A man allows himself to be controlled by
anger and hate.
Chapter 44-Devorah (“Bee”): An exotic dancer/dominatrix desires to control people
through sexual manipulation.
Epilogue: The reader is encouraged to consider the pervasive effects of control and
the possibility of becoming free.