City Builders And Vandals In Our Age

by Caleb Maupin

Chaos seems to be all around us. Living standards are dropping and unrest is rising in western countries amid a backdrop of rising tension around the world. Drawing from classical history, Rome, Greece, Mesopotamia, as well as geopolitics, mythology and a re-examination of Marxism, Caleb Maupin argues that there are two distinct drives within human beings, one that seeks to build and the other that seeks to plunder and destroy. In this book, the well-known journalist and political analyst examines the broken political compass and why the concepts of left and right are not as clear in the 21st century. Maupin also describes the crisis hanging over the global apparatus of production, as the irrational profit motive gets in the way of human creativity. This book points toward the way out of societal decay in the west, and to the underlying causes of the unfolding Eurasian renaissance. In an age cursed by pessimism, this book presents an optimistic view of the potential within technology and the computer revolution. From many different angles, Maupin points toward the hope for international cooperation and friendship with a win-win model of global trade. The book present an analysis of the Iran nuclear deal's demise, the efforts to crush Huawei Technologies and the Nordstream 2 natural gas pipeline, the rise of New Energy Vehicles, the contradictory behavior of the Trump White House, the rise of the New Right in Europe, the Bernie Sanders "Democratic Socialist" phenomena in America, and so much more. In his analysis, Maupin offers a repudiation of both post-modern liberal deconstruction and "greed is good" economic theories, arguing that the rational side of human beings will once again reassert itself in order to fulfill the dreams of peace and growth that seems to unite us all.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

444 pages, Paperback

Published July 4, 2019

Reviews

[Gracemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny that the worst reviews included no reason why they did not like the book. This book provides such a great history of "city builders" like Julius Caesar and the Soviet Union. This is an inspiring description of what people need to get together for, the optimistic Marxist history and outlook as opposed to the pessimistic Malthusian fake leftist outlook that has plagued the West since the CIA's Congress for Cultural Freedom was created in 1950, which the CIA publicly brags about the success of on their own website. Fun fact: Modern art including Jackson Pollock was promoted by the Congress for Cultural Freedom.

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

How does Caleb convince anyone he's a communist?

He's just a massive racist antisemite who embodies the strawman of what people think when they say "tankie" in a derogatory way, who will twist and turn quotes to say the opposite of what the speaker originally said.

He's a dishonest totalitarian red-brown Nazboll and all his literature makes that obvious if you just look into some of the things he says, rather than trust him blindly.

[Jamie Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastically hopeful book illustrating the need for constructive (pun intended) politics which unite all persons across all demographics; black, white, gay, straight, muslim, christian, atheist; all people want a better, more stable, prosperous future. This book shows how we can get there.

It also contains warnings against those whose interests it is to prevent such futures from being achieved. Those who stand in the way of stability, prosperity, and growth. Those who wish to revert to a lower state of human development.

[Rhys · Rating 3 out of 5]

An accessible read of leftist essays from the author but sometimes feels more polemical, value laden and rhetorical than substantive and material. Worth reading for some ideas but it's not earth shattering new revelations

[James Carey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was hella gay

[Simon Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of facts that you probably won't have heard anywhere else, facts that will transform your understanding of the world.

For those who have a negative impression of the rivals and enemies of the U.S government, such as China, Cuba, Iran, Russia or Venezuela, you can learn many facts from this book that will transform your understanding of those countries from "bad countries" with "bad governments" to something much more nuanced, accurate and conducive to happiness.

For those who are resigned, pessimistic or in despair about our world, this book shows us facts that can make us happy about recent history, and gives us knowledge to help us to achieve a happier, more peaceful, and prosperous future.

I recommend this book above almost every other book I have read!