The Ascent of a Barbarious Court Squatter, a Novel Hitting the High Score: How To Achieve Your Goals with
Persona Theory
By John Royce Holtz, J.D.
 

The Ascent of a Barbarious Court Squatter by John Royce Holtz, J.D., is an autobiographical, visionary fiction that illuminates how to tackle adversity within, regardless of external thwarts or realities. The novel is a Metaphysical Discussion on multiple personas within consciousness that vie for dominion over the self to champion and supersede harsh, life impediments. Inter-disciplinary facets of consciousness amalgamate to best hone our collective resolves towards not only self-preservation, but winning.
The Ascent... is a heavyweight proponent of social conscience, sociology, a philosophical analysis of spirituality, an enlightening romantic celibate’s implausible contravention of empirical norms via multi-generational, harrowing abstinence and triumph.
 

I have discovered that there are four personas within all human beings that may become accentuated at our command to steamroll our obstacles and ennoble our well-being. There is a hierarchy of personas for the first, second place, third best, and worst opportunity to champion our consciousness as fighters for thriving survival in an otherwise impediment-laden world. These archetypes offer a game plan to steamroll the readers’ peskiest problems. *Prosper* with little need for external, emotional validation! Learn to liberate your life within your inner reserves and ward off life’s unyielding detractors, including yourself.
 

Illuminating how to tackle adversity internally, regardless of external thwarts or realities, The Ascent of a Barbarious Court Squatter is a viable exercise in self-improvement. My autobiographical, literary fiction emboldens the reader to conquer adversity by channeling varying degrees of the competitive sports mindsets and ego, informing optimum self-image. The book is a roadmap for internal emotional buoyancy, a bonafide Barbarious Court Squatter’s Bucket List.
 

The novel is also a literary masterpiece that is bold, objectively compelling, a “linguistical preponderance” via vivaciousness, breadth of subject matter, aphorisms, intricacy of language, edgy, avant-garde, dramatically humorous, an inspiring and relentless athletic odyssey, a hopeful romantic’s delight.
I’m not saying that my unique spin on persona theory metamorphosize’s the finest transformation since sliced bread...But does anyone have any butter knives?! The novel will definitely skyrocket your Emotional as well as your Intellectual Quotients!
 

The literary work is entertaining as well as enlightening: Tennis and surfing are contrasted on their merits with a surprising conclusion! D'Artichoke has reason to believe his tennis nemesis might go cannibal on him. Win front-row highlights of Jacque's cocky, tennis odyssey gone kerflooie!
The Ascent's...true adventures are often amongst the most bizarre: In law school, 30 pairs of Jacque's briefs are "lifted" from the rejuvenating laundry after his redhead neighbor discovers a purple bell pepper...The good-natured wrath of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is conjured when D'Artichoke falls asleep...Jacque experiences his flashy tennis coach before and after his coach becomes a convicted, armed robber... Picture NORTH BEACH, S.F., like no other scintillation!
 

Those purely fictional vignettes of the novel are brazen: Engage in hypothetical conversations with inanimate monoliths, Coit Tower and Mount Tamalpais! When D'Artichoke forces a truth serum down his psychiatrist's throat, harvest keen insights regarding human strengths and shortcomings.
 

"Browsers show up in North Beach for the controlled thrill of out- maneuvering misadventure... Ralphed, two buck chuck settles unevaporated and putrid. A foot away, a knit couple noshes on an oven roasted calzone.”
Which persona(s) will you adopt for the after-hours soiree this evening, with or without exclusive company?!

● PURPOSE OF THE ASCENT OF A BARBARIOUS COURT SQUATTER by JOHN ROYCE HOLTZ, J.D.
PERSONA THEORY
 

What is this barebones, illustrious persona theory I exceedingly more hilariously expound upon in my autobiographical visionary fiction, The Ascent of a Barbarious Court Squatter?
Simply put, persona theory is an insulating theoretical framework that has saved my life from ongoing, catastrophic emotional breakdown while suffering as a romantic celibate. The theory has served as a life promulgator during squandered, hopeless stagnancy and it has buffered me amidst relentless societal scrutiny. Do you think that you have had it rough?? Persona theory has vast, universal applications for everyone.
 

One of my greatest external challenges has been the less than comfortable romantic celibacy for the overwhelming bulk of the past half a century. (It has been quite a long haul!) My persona theory has kept me emotionally afloat throughout the bereft desolation. The Ascent... informs the reader with vivid portrayals of both challenges and victories alike, while living an ascetic existence.
 

I have been operating from a dearth of authentic expression as a result of my dampening predicament. I am the same old, decent guy. I am not less authentic; I just do not always don and project my “A” game unequivocally. My authenticity has usually been intact but dormant, skewed and diverted. My overt intentions have been stymied and confused out of nervous and self-belittling pre- occupation.

Wondrous persona theory restores my feeling and appearance of authentic, good will that might otherwise remain wholly stunted and unknown. With self-esteem optimally restored, my decimated confidence presently re-instates, at least to the standpoint of purposefully duping myself about my multiplicity of vulnerabilities and choosing to bypass them— in favor of invincibility! Zero weaknesses to speak of...Impervious to loss and immune from rejection, I can eliminate the chokehold of human need. I harpoon life with a no holds, barred approach. On one level, I f-ing love myself for no other reason than for the heck of it—And it makes the corrosive machinery run much smoother!!!
I mostly suit up into persona theory to combat adversity internally, regardless of external thwarts or realities.
 

The four personas of G-d, Jacque D’Artichoke, Sir Arthur C. Stackerazz, and the Eghost engage in a rhetorical bout with rebuttals to best buttress our interior bubbles against obstacles. These four hierarchical archetypes have unique and hilarious characteristics. They utilize varying degrees of the competitive sports mindsets and ego to champion our capacities to triumph over an otherwise encroaching world that would not ordinarily enlighten us about the personas’ respective, off-the-hook boons and shortfalls.
 

MARKET ANALYSIS
 

While the potentially devastating hypothetical of a multi- generational, romantic celibate is a tall order and one that all lonely (and justifiably intrigued!) people may compellingly identify with to circum-navigate, it is one of the higher bars for a human to overcome without present consummation. Yet, the humour, boldness, and pedantic nature of the writing as well as the optimistic perspective on the circumstance compensate for this weakness by transforming it into a bonafide strength. Thus, my persona theory to a certain extent steamrolls adversity internally, regardless of external thwarts or realities.
 

Persona theory is far more detailed than the aforementioned bullet points. It is even more comprehensive than zany, figurative and hyperbolic, imaginative exemplars portrayed in my novel. The theory has kept me relatively emotionally buoyant. It has saved my life throughout lonely generations. Nonetheless, it has virtuous, broad applications for most everyone. I believe the theory’s pragmatism can salvage a preponderance of your dreams and comfortability levels, as well.
 

Because the theory has worked to a substantial degree with my own lonely travails without my changing immediately, I am confident that my archetypes may help the reader conquer major thwarts as well. Within the setting of a hilarious, visionary fiction, The Ascent of a Barbarious Court Squatter will help ward off the attack of most detrimental impediments headed anyone’s way. Thus, donning one or more of various personas, the competitive sports mindsets, and their respective egos are a viable theory of self-help that may well prove transformative for the reader.
 

According to the Autumn Conference 2023 of the SAP (Society of Analytical Psychology), Carl Jung “was a pioneering psychology figure of the 20th Century...He developed a characteristic...way of understanding the human psyche and its functioning.”

Jung believed “the whole of the individual’s experience should be respected and included, rather than aspects being pathologised or disavowed; this included the individual’s ‘shadow’ aspects (my version of the Eghost)—such as their aggressive, envious, destructive qualities—as well as their spiritual longings and experiences.” Unlike Jung, I believe that the healthy aspect of the Ego in Sir Arthur Stackerazz should help obliterate the pernicious ‘shadow qualities’ of the parasitic, annilistic, and never satiated Eghost. The Eghost may never be appeased; It’s unceasing aim is to addict us until we self-destruct by implosion or aggression. Therefore, to prevent our otherwise inevitable destruction or irrevocably compromised status, Sir Arthur Stackerazz should invoke the healthy side of the Ego to eliminate the ‘shadow’ detriments, perhaps along with the help of G-d and Jacque D’Artichoke.
 

“The most famous idea of Jung’s is his recognition of the psychological value of spiritual experience.” I vehemently agree that belief in G-d as a default awareness elicits joy, serenity and mysticism and ennobles us to inundate ourselves with wholesomeness. Because G-d bestows upon us temporal existence v. non-existence, G-d wants us to be unconditionally content. This is true especially when G-d can broadly be defined as Goodness and our relationship to It. Thus, most everything may potentially be viewed as a blessing immersion that we may constantly partake in, if we will only make ourselves aware and allow. G-d is #1, G-d is One, and just like humanity’s collective loneliness, G-d is perhaps Alone! So, on our shared continuum of loneliness, yank the funny out with a wrench!

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
 

In Saul Bellow’s Seize the Day, the anti-hero, Tommy Wilhelm, is possessed by a similar persona I describe in The Ascent...as the Eghost. Wilhelm is despondent, grasping for non-reciprocated straws from his father and the commodities trader due to a desperate, lack of self-esteem, he has not worked in eons, he has little empathy for different people, and he is estranged from his love interests. Similar to when the Eghost acts like a parasitic robber of all a person’s dignity due to its inability to become satiated from the depths of despair, Wilhelm also feels like a loser who is always down in the dumps and cannot find love, let alone love himself. Wilhelm’s character is somewhat morally delinquent as well. After completing the novela, the reader is left with a dampening feeling.
 

Contrasting Seize the Day with Saul Bellow’s Henderson the Rain King, the anti-hero Henderson is also morally delinquent. He places a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the maid when he finds her dead in his house.
However, instead of living a life of despair, Henderson maintains emotional buoyancy with unparalleled grit and cockiness. Thus, he lifts himself up and rejuvenates the reader as well, with his adventurous exploits from winning The Purple Heart in World War 2 to experiencing a mid-life journey to Africa to find Himself. Of course, his three million dollar inheritance helps the intrigue (and perhaps, but not necessarily, his jubilant mood.) Regardless of the peril that Henderson experiences, he remains fearless, full of hefty, inflatable b.s, doubt-free, and he never second guesses himself— even when blundering...This is apparent in his rationale for sustaining relationships with various women as well as the imminent peril he often finds himself in and extricates himself from during his African adventure. As in The Ascent..., with Sir Arthur Stackerazz’s tennis, law, music appreciation, and other exploits, Bellow’s Henderson’s Ego is off the chart: It also sustains the character immaculately. Henderson’s cockiness delights the reader, regardless of his plethora of shortcomings.
 

Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea is the consummate book about the Ego, even though Hemingway’s genius is illuminated in the fact that the Ego is never directly alluded to once! Everyone initially thinks that the cancerous old man is washed up as a fisherman—his understated pride and entire life’s work. Then, he voyages out to sea alone to prove himself after a year of not catching anything (like my persona, Jacque D’Artichoke, who has been losing a very long time but who knows he is not a loser.) The old man has a three-day battle with the biggest fish the village has ever seen. He compares his hurt hands in the delirious, fast action struggle with one of the most behemoth fishes hooked in the sea with baseball great Joe DiMaggio’s caliber of excellence! The old man’s manifest Ego is to show himself and the Boy that he still wants to commandeer nature in one of the ultimate, life and death ways he has ever learned, even at his antiquated age. He wants to prove that he not only can survive out there by himself on the wild sea, but that he still has what it takes to win big. The Old Man’s Ego is off the hook, much like Sir Arthur Stackerazz’s. It is actually somewhat comical, albeit sad, when the old man’s catch of the biggest fish after the most valiant, drawn-out struggle imaginable gets eaten completely by sharks, leaving only the gargantuan bones still tied to the old man’s shipping vessel—proof without the pudding! This is an example of The Ascent’s... Jacque D’Artichoke having to yank the funny out with a wrench! He utilizes humour to embrace weakness, thereby neutralizing pain, hurt, and loss.

A comparable rock song all about Hype and Ego, also without mentioning them directly, is Eminence Front by The Who.
 

My autobiographical, visionary fiction is partially comparable to Tim Galleway’s winning psychology of The Inner Game of Tennis within mentally tough competition. Both books embolden the reader to conquer adversity by channeling varying degrees of the Competitive Sports Mindsets and Sir Arthur Stackerazz’s confident, focused, and gritty Ego—informing optimum self-image to win.
 

In The Inner Game of Tennis, as well as in The Ascent..., the more covert alpha, often under-rated persona of Jacque D’Artichoke is also evoked because even every world-ranked, professional tennis player on the ATP Tour frequently makes some ridiculous mistakes during professional matches, let alone the vaster mistakes made by mere weekend warriors or “anonymous hackers!” In the court of life too, all of us make major screw-ups. So, all players must embrace a sense of humour about inevitable blunders (weaknesses) to neutralize pain, hurt, and loss while moving on immediately to the proximate point without looking back on even the lamest of foibles, rendering them virtually irrelevant—without getting unduly phased. The Ascent... is a roadmap for internal emotional buoyancy, a bonafide Barbarious Court Squatter’s Bucket List.
 

The Ascent...parallels metaphysical Herman Hess’ visionary Siddhartha in terms of gleanable life wisdom.
Plus, my visionary novel is inordinately quirky, edgy, and humourous (and therefore perhaps more enjoyable than some of the aforementioned books) as well as perchance deeper in psychology, philosophy, spiritual intricacies, and metaphysical discussion. Also, The Ascents’...breadth of subject scope and intricacy of bold language is uncanny. Not to mention the overwhelmingly compelling and relatable yarn of a hopeful romantic who has been solo-hoofing it for so long and still has potential to tackle the adversity internally, regardless of external thwarts or realities...Or, one may harpoon life with a no-holds-barred approach and actually ennoble the unbridled Ego, Sir Arthur Stackerazz, to change matters by asking a nice gal out on a date...with suave cockiness as well as reciprocity!
 

OUTLINE
1. THE BIRTH OF JACQUE
2. CHECKMATE
3. INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE SPOON
4. SYMPHONIC CONSTRUCTION
5. SUMMER SEEPING THROUGH THE PHOSPHORESCENT FOG
6. FORGETTABLE MILESTONE
7. THE PURPLE LIGHT PART ONE
8. THE EGHOST

9. ROGER

 10. G-D
11. THE NET
12. TENNIS ODYSSEY GONE KERFLOOIE
13. M.C. AND THE STREET OF DREAMS
14. MICROLENS
15. B.E.-K.
16. OBJECTIVITY V. SUBJECTIVITY
17. THE UNOFFICIAL KNIGHTING OF SIR STACKERAZZ
18. BIKRAM YOGA
19. LAW SCHOOL
20. WIMPY SYNDROME
21. POLY DIGS SHANGRILA
22. NORTH BEACH NOIRE
23. FLOWER IN SAN FRANCISCO
24. SURFING V. TENNIS

25. PURPLE LIGHT REVISITED 

26. THE SEMI-FINALS
27. MOUNT TAM
 

BIOGRAPHY
 

With a renewed mindset, through Sir Arthur Stackerazz, I have forged a generational odyssey of big topspin gone kerflooie as an NCAA Division I varsity tennis slugger, I graduated from harrowing law school as a tenacious straggler, and I wrote several world-class books— all without a dream soulmate.
Persona theory has helped me remarkably thrive during a more recent decade of prolific authorship, the sleepless forging of 65 “new wave/popping/rocking” songs with a 48-key Nectar Midi “dumb board” hooked up to my Mac and $20 external head set microphone, and athletic accomplishments almost like when I was 19 (while actually 48-years-old) on the tennis court.
 

I may subjectively love myself in an unquantifiable manner as well as my hardly beaten tennis!!!

https://www.amazon.com/Ascent-Barbarious-Court-Squatter/dp/146370898X