E. J. Gold's
The Human Biological Machine as a Transformational Apparatus.
One of his descriptions of "sleep" (Pp. 51-2) follows.
"Sleep presents in many different ways. In sleep, the machine
exerts its own will and we have no voice in its behavior; our
higher aims are lost in the organic storms of the machine as it
follows one organic distraction and attraction after another.
We are carried along helplessly by the machine in its mechanical
pursuits.
"Another symptom of the sleep of the machine is that we find
ourselves for some inexplicable reason actually following what we
know to be trivial aims.
"We find ourselves protecting property, trying to enhance our
personal behavior and appearance. To our utter amazement we find
ourselves really caring about the kind of car we drive or the
quality of manufacture of our Italian shoes and fourteen-karat
gold chains, or whether or not we look good in sunglasses.
"We suddenly discover that we care what people think about us
and we really are concerned about which politican gets into
office. We find ourselves immersed in the excitement of a
Tupperware plastic food-storage container sales party, and in a
frenzy over exactly which Tupperware set we should buy. And if
not Tupperware, then the new miracle Cambridge weight-loss diet
power or the new French Moulinex food-processor."
