Adam’s Comments (group member since Aug 10, 2018)

Adam’s comments from the Deep State Radio Book Group group.

A couple that are relevant today (8/28) and may still be interesting come November:

Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead

Holding the Line (out Oct. 29): https://smile.amazon.com/Holding-Line...

I love the group; my lessened involvement (even having a book I recommended half-finished on my shelf) is entirely a result of life circumstances (welcoming our baby daughter a month ago) and not any lack of desire. I’d suggest maybe that is the case for others.

Maybe take a sabbatical after September and ramp it back up during the Christmas season (to take advantage of gift-giving opportunities) and through the winter months? See how that goes, either here or on Slack?

Excited for this book! I did find a minor historical flaw on the first page (the USS Arizona was hit by bombs, not torpedoes), but a couple chapters in and loving it! I’m finding it to be an engaging read, and look forward to everyone’s comments.

Carrie, you are doing a great job, and I encourage you to keep it up!

I enjoy the group, even though I’ve been less engaged the past few months. I like seeing others’ engagement with the books, even though I don’t always read along. I’m excited for the “offline” read of the Syria book right now, and hope to reengage more this summer.

Thanks for the links!

I started reading early, not a long way in but it is quite illuminating. I continue to be amazed at how long the shadow of colonialism continues to affect our world. This is reflected in fears that America would roll in as an imperial power, which then shored up support for Assad.

Also struck by this comment:

“Under Assad, loyalty was prized above all; corruption and incompetence therefore flourished.” P 12

It’s about Assad Sr, but applies to current regime as well.

A final observation: opposition to Assad in his first decade was there, but it couldn’t work together and thus failed to maintain pressure and motivate the general population. There’s a lesson there, I think.

How to Lose an Empire

Just give the word!

I picked up the ebook a while back. I’m good with waiting a bit.

I would be interested

How to Hide an Empire by Daniel Immerwahr. Heard a podcast with him and it was fascinating!

Hear hear!

Two to consider:

The Death of Truth by Michiko Kakutani (a previous finalist)

How to Get Rid of a President by David Priess (historical coverage of what can happen)

How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley. It looks at common elements of fascist politics.

I second The Death of Truth. A vital read.

I read the book a while back, then loaned it out. I can't remember who I loaned it to, and they never returned it.

This is good for me - because I have now bought an autographed copy! Looking forward to rereading it.

My remembrances of the book are that it was grounded in history, which I loved, and it addressed specifically the many situations around the globe where fascists (whether they call themselves that or not) are in power, and how that impacts their people and the world. Far too often, the only examples we use of the dangers of rejecting democracy are the Nazis and (sometimes) the Italians. Secretary Albright gives us many other examples to pull from and learn from.

In addition, the book calls attention to the steps that are made by democracies that have historically laid the groundwork for totalitarian/fascist rule. Often, fascist dictators have taken power democratically. It is something to be cognizant of and watch for.

I just finished The Death of Democracy: Hitler’s Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic by Benjamin Carter Hett, and would recommend it to the group for our read.

Kings and Presidents: Saudi Arabia and the United States since FDR by Bruce Riedel

Safe Passage by Kori Schake

The Death of Truth by Michiko Kakutani

So I love the list of books for December - in fact, I have several (some already read, some not) and marked several others as "to-get"! I also recommended at least a couple, and I'd be happy to read any of them.

However...I ended up voting for one that I didn't recommend because it's a novel. It occurred to me, it might be nice moving forward to alternate (or at least consciously include) some fiction in and among the non-fiction. Might keep us (1) from bogging down in too many similar books (not a problem now, but could be later); and, (2) engage us in a wider array of authors and topics; and, (3) stimulate creativity.

Just a thought, I'd be interested to hear from others.

One more suggestion:

Kings and Presidents
Saudi Arabia and the United States since FDR
By Bruce Riedel