The History Book Club discussion
ARCHIVE
>
GYOZA'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2015
JANUARY
1. (no image) Sur le paupérisme by
Alexis de Tocqueville
Finish date: January 2015
Genre: Economics, History
Rating: A
Review: This book contains 2 essays Tocqueville presented to the Royal Academic Society in Cherbourg in 1835 & 1838. Both are about poverty and the pros and cons of various measures undertaken to alleviate it.
In the first part, Tocqueville outlines the paradox of the wealthier, more prosperous nations (e.g. Great Britain) having much larger percentages of their populations claiming poverty and getting on the dole than poorer nations have (such as France and Spain). He talks about the Poor Laws (basically an early government welfare program), which originated under Elizabeth I after Henry VIII destroyed the monasteries and seized their property, leaving the English poor without recourse, charitable works having once been one of the functions of the Church. By Elizabeth I's time, the problem was so bad that the Poor Laws were passed, which made it the responsibility of each town council to tax their residents to support the poor in that town. Tocqueville outlines the corrupting effects of these laws both on the poor and on those who are taxed to support them. He sat as an observer in a court of a British justice of the peace, where these poverty cases were heard, and his observations are as logical and as prescient as those in Democracy in America.
The second part is about the advantages and disadvantages of the French caisse d'épargne, a sort of special savings bank reserved for the poor. It pays a higher interest rate than normal and it is meant to teach the poor to practice thrift and acquire habits of capital accumulation. Tocqueville gives a very clear explanation how this institution works and his thoughts about it such that even a non-economist like me found it easy to follow.
I highly recommend this slim little book to anyone interested in the problem of poverty and the ways in which various solutions to the problem that look good on the surface can make it worse.
Update 8/22/16: In order to make this book more accessible to English speakers, as well as to practice my language skills, I decided to start translating this book into English and post it online in blog form. You can access it here. It is not finished yet, but I plan to post a part of it every day until I get through!
1. (no image) Sur le paupérisme by
Alexis de TocquevilleFinish date: January 2015
Genre: Economics, History
Rating: A
Review: This book contains 2 essays Tocqueville presented to the Royal Academic Society in Cherbourg in 1835 & 1838. Both are about poverty and the pros and cons of various measures undertaken to alleviate it.
In the first part, Tocqueville outlines the paradox of the wealthier, more prosperous nations (e.g. Great Britain) having much larger percentages of their populations claiming poverty and getting on the dole than poorer nations have (such as France and Spain). He talks about the Poor Laws (basically an early government welfare program), which originated under Elizabeth I after Henry VIII destroyed the monasteries and seized their property, leaving the English poor without recourse, charitable works having once been one of the functions of the Church. By Elizabeth I's time, the problem was so bad that the Poor Laws were passed, which made it the responsibility of each town council to tax their residents to support the poor in that town. Tocqueville outlines the corrupting effects of these laws both on the poor and on those who are taxed to support them. He sat as an observer in a court of a British justice of the peace, where these poverty cases were heard, and his observations are as logical and as prescient as those in Democracy in America.
The second part is about the advantages and disadvantages of the French caisse d'épargne, a sort of special savings bank reserved for the poor. It pays a higher interest rate than normal and it is meant to teach the poor to practice thrift and acquire habits of capital accumulation. Tocqueville gives a very clear explanation how this institution works and his thoughts about it such that even a non-economist like me found it easy to follow.
I highly recommend this slim little book to anyone interested in the problem of poverty and the ways in which various solutions to the problem that look good on the surface can make it worse.
Update 8/22/16: In order to make this book more accessible to English speakers, as well as to practice my language skills, I decided to start translating this book into English and post it online in blog form. You can access it here. It is not finished yet, but I plan to post a part of it every day until I get through!
2.
by
Josef Pieper
Finish date: January 2015
Genre: Philosophy, Religion
Rating: A
Review: Josef Pieper examines the traditional concept of leisure and how it gave rise to the achievements of Western civilization. He contrasts it to our modern idea of leisure and the low value we place on it. Traditionally, leisure was something people aspired to have because it was the time they had in which to do the things most important to them; one worked in order to have leisure. Today, leisure is mostly thought of as time to recuperate so as to prepare one to work some more; one has leisure in order to work. This book raises important questions about priorities and ways of thinking about work and leisure that we take for granted.
by
Josef PieperFinish date: January 2015
Genre: Philosophy, Religion
Rating: A
Review: Josef Pieper examines the traditional concept of leisure and how it gave rise to the achievements of Western civilization. He contrasts it to our modern idea of leisure and the low value we place on it. Traditionally, leisure was something people aspired to have because it was the time they had in which to do the things most important to them; one worked in order to have leisure. Today, leisure is mostly thought of as time to recuperate so as to prepare one to work some more; one has leisure in order to work. This book raises important questions about priorities and ways of thinking about work and leisure that we take for granted.
3.
by
Paul Gallico
Finish date: January 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: Beautiful World War II story set in the British Isles about a lonely artist with a great love for animals, and a little girl who comes to his doorstep with an injured (and rare in those parts) Canadian snow goose. The artist became one of the hundreds of British civilians who came to the aid of the stranded British army on the beaches of Dunkirk, helping to get the soldiers off the beach in little fishing boats, pleasure cruisers, yachts, and any kind of small craft they could find.
You'll need a box of Kleenex within arm's reach for this one.
by
Paul GallicoFinish date: January 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: Beautiful World War II story set in the British Isles about a lonely artist with a great love for animals, and a little girl who comes to his doorstep with an injured (and rare in those parts) Canadian snow goose. The artist became one of the hundreds of British civilians who came to the aid of the stranded British army on the beaches of Dunkirk, helping to get the soldiers off the beach in little fishing boats, pleasure cruisers, yachts, and any kind of small craft they could find.
You'll need a box of Kleenex within arm's reach for this one.
4.
by Simon Leys(no photo)
Finish date: January 2015
Genre: History, Literature, Culture
Rating: A
Review: Great collection of essays from an author whom I think is one of the best essayists ever! The topics in this collection are wide ranging, from literature to China to history to the sea. My favorites were the ones on Chinese art and history (a subject I know little about, so I learned a lot reading them), the ones on Cervantes, Victor Hugo, and Magellan.
by Simon Leys(no photo)Finish date: January 2015
Genre: History, Literature, Culture
Rating: A
Review: Great collection of essays from an author whom I think is one of the best essayists ever! The topics in this collection are wide ranging, from literature to China to history to the sea. My favorites were the ones on Chinese art and history (a subject I know little about, so I learned a lot reading them), the ones on Cervantes, Victor Hugo, and Magellan.
5.
by
Mitch Albom
Finish date: January 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: The premise of this book is that after you die, your life will be explained to you by 5 people whose lives were touched by yours in some way. They are not necessarily those who were closest to you; they could be people you barely knew, chance encounters, or even complete strangers. This story is about a Vietnam vet/carnival maintenance man and the 5 people who helped him figure out the purpose of his life.
I found it to be a page turner and could not put it down.
by
Mitch AlbomFinish date: January 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: The premise of this book is that after you die, your life will be explained to you by 5 people whose lives were touched by yours in some way. They are not necessarily those who were closest to you; they could be people you barely knew, chance encounters, or even complete strangers. This story is about a Vietnam vet/carnival maintenance man and the 5 people who helped him figure out the purpose of his life.
I found it to be a page turner and could not put it down.
6.
by
C.S. Lewis
Finish date: January 2015
Genre: Religion, Philosophy
Rating: A
Review: This book is a thorough discussion of why pain exists in a world created by a benevolent God. I always enjoy reading C.S. Lewis's books because of his clear presentation of complex ideas and straightforward readable writing style. This book was no exception. It is an intellectual approach to the subject, so it would be a great choice for someone mulling dispassionately over the problem of reconciling the existence of pain with that of God, but perhaps not so much for someone who is looking for consolation because they are actually going through hard times.
by
C.S. LewisFinish date: January 2015
Genre: Religion, Philosophy
Rating: A
Review: This book is a thorough discussion of why pain exists in a world created by a benevolent God. I always enjoy reading C.S. Lewis's books because of his clear presentation of complex ideas and straightforward readable writing style. This book was no exception. It is an intellectual approach to the subject, so it would be a great choice for someone mulling dispassionately over the problem of reconciling the existence of pain with that of God, but perhaps not so much for someone who is looking for consolation because they are actually going through hard times.
FEBRUARY
7.
by
Robert H. Bork
Finish date: February 2015
Genre: History, Politics, Culture
Rating: A-
Review:
In depth exploration of the ideas of modern liberalism (in the American sense), the political movements of the 1960's and how the people who believe in these ideas managed to gain ascendancy over institutions that shape American culture such as the courts, the media, the movie and music industries, and the universities.
If you've ever wondered why the professors at your university (particularly in the humanities courses) didn't make much logical sense, why their discussions seemed to have little to do with the book you were supposed to be discussing in class, or why modern movies and music are of much lower quality than vintage stuff, Slouching Towards Gomorrah goes quite a long way towards an explanation.
7.
by
Robert H. BorkFinish date: February 2015
Genre: History, Politics, Culture
Rating: A-
Review:
In depth exploration of the ideas of modern liberalism (in the American sense), the political movements of the 1960's and how the people who believe in these ideas managed to gain ascendancy over institutions that shape American culture such as the courts, the media, the movie and music industries, and the universities.
If you've ever wondered why the professors at your university (particularly in the humanities courses) didn't make much logical sense, why their discussions seemed to have little to do with the book you were supposed to be discussing in class, or why modern movies and music are of much lower quality than vintage stuff, Slouching Towards Gomorrah goes quite a long way towards an explanation.
8.
by
Jacob Burckhardt
Finish date: February 2015
Genre: Religion, Philosophy
Rating: A
Review: Interesting and concise study of various patterns that often appear in history, particularly those involving the interactions among the three powers Burckhardt identifies at the start of the book: State, Religion, and Culture. Reading this book, which is not specific to any particular time or country, will make one more alert to spotting and remembering these patterns when they are encountered in studying the history of any time or people.
by
Jacob BurckhardtFinish date: February 2015
Genre: Religion, Philosophy
Rating: A
Review: Interesting and concise study of various patterns that often appear in history, particularly those involving the interactions among the three powers Burckhardt identifies at the start of the book: State, Religion, and Culture. Reading this book, which is not specific to any particular time or country, will make one more alert to spotting and remembering these patterns when they are encountered in studying the history of any time or people.
9.
by
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Finish date: February 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: C
Review: For some reason I just couldn't get interested in this story, maybe because it was too weird. Also, I listened to it as an audiobook and the incessant repetition of the long Russian names kind of got annoying after awhile. You know how characters in Russian novels will address each other by the first name plus the patronymic? Maybe I would like this better if I just read the book.
by
Fyodor DostoyevskyFinish date: February 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: C
Review: For some reason I just couldn't get interested in this story, maybe because it was too weird. Also, I listened to it as an audiobook and the incessant repetition of the long Russian names kind of got annoying after awhile. You know how characters in Russian novels will address each other by the first name plus the patronymic? Maybe I would like this better if I just read the book.
10.
by
William Bradford
Finish date: February 2015
Genre: History
Rating: B
Review: This is a firsthand account of the founding of the Plymouth settlement in Massachusetts by the pilgrims who came over in the Mayflower. Reading (or rather, listening to the audiobook) it really brought home to me just how difficult it is to settle a new land, especially given the conditions back in the 1600's. Like any other ambitious group enterprise there was politics, intrigue, and all the ups and downs of getting along with one another, dealing with people's foibles, keeping the investors financing the enterprise interested, cultivating alliances with local Native American tribes, and so forth.
There are times when the book drags as Bradford will occasionally go into painstaking detail over things I wasn't too interested in, like exactly what was the cargo on a particular ship or what the terms of a particular agreement were, but this was written as a straightforward record of the settlement's founding, not a novel for readers' entertainment, so I won't quibble over that.
You'll have a new appreciation for what Thanksgiving is all about after reading this.
by
William BradfordFinish date: February 2015
Genre: History
Rating: B
Review: This is a firsthand account of the founding of the Plymouth settlement in Massachusetts by the pilgrims who came over in the Mayflower. Reading (or rather, listening to the audiobook) it really brought home to me just how difficult it is to settle a new land, especially given the conditions back in the 1600's. Like any other ambitious group enterprise there was politics, intrigue, and all the ups and downs of getting along with one another, dealing with people's foibles, keeping the investors financing the enterprise interested, cultivating alliances with local Native American tribes, and so forth.
There are times when the book drags as Bradford will occasionally go into painstaking detail over things I wasn't too interested in, like exactly what was the cargo on a particular ship or what the terms of a particular agreement were, but this was written as a straightforward record of the settlement's founding, not a novel for readers' entertainment, so I won't quibble over that.
You'll have a new appreciation for what Thanksgiving is all about after reading this.
MARCH
11.
by
Pope Benedict XVI
Finish date: March 2015
Genre: History, Politics, Religion, Culture
Rating: A
Review: In this book, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) analyzes the source of the malaise that has affected the West through most of the 20th century: the currents of thought that brought it about, why it persists, and how it can be cured. Very worthwhile read and gives a lot of food for thought. Given its short length, it took much longer than I thought to finish it because I often had to stop and think about what I had just read and how it related to popular ways of thinking and acting.
11.
by
Pope Benedict XVIFinish date: March 2015
Genre: History, Politics, Religion, Culture
Rating: A
Review: In this book, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) analyzes the source of the malaise that has affected the West through most of the 20th century: the currents of thought that brought it about, why it persists, and how it can be cured. Very worthwhile read and gives a lot of food for thought. Given its short length, it took much longer than I thought to finish it because I often had to stop and think about what I had just read and how it related to popular ways of thinking and acting.
12.
by
Georges Simenon
Finish date: March 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B+
Review: Dispassionately told little tale about a young boy from small town America who decides one day to commit a crime and how this affects his father, who owns a small clock repair business and who, as far as we know, is very much a creature of stability and habit. In a way he's a lot like the clocks he repairs. One is tempted to see this story as a lesson on the dangers of boredom, or of a kind of intellectual inertia that leads one to chase after thrills so that life might be worth living. By the end of the story the father reflects upon his own life and concludes that the apple didn't fall very far from the tree.
by
Georges Simenon Finish date: March 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B+
Review: Dispassionately told little tale about a young boy from small town America who decides one day to commit a crime and how this affects his father, who owns a small clock repair business and who, as far as we know, is very much a creature of stability and habit. In a way he's a lot like the clocks he repairs. One is tempted to see this story as a lesson on the dangers of boredom, or of a kind of intellectual inertia that leads one to chase after thrills so that life might be worth living. By the end of the story the father reflects upon his own life and concludes that the apple didn't fall very far from the tree.
Gyoza.....what a great job with the citations and format. Just let me call your attention to a couple of things that need modified and you will be on your way.*In post #2 and #5, you do not need to used the avatar if the book cover or author photo is not available. See my example below which illustrates how that situation should be addressed.
*The month only needs to be shown on the first post of the particular month. You do not need to repeat it for all the book read in that month. And it should be in bold; eg. JANUARY
Book citation examples:
(no image)Sur le paupérisme by
Alexis de Tocqueville
by Simon Leys (no photo)Happy reading!!!!
APRIL
13.
by
Dinesh D'Souza
Finish date: April 2015
Genre: History, Religion, Philosophy
Rating: A
Review: This book makes a great introduction to 10 Catholic authors and the works for which they were best known:
1. St. Augustine (Confessions)
2. Boethius (Consolation of Philosophy)
3. St. Bede (Ecclesiastical History of the English People)
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica)
5. Dante Alighieri (Divine Comedy)
6. Blaise Pascal (Pensées)
7. Thomas à Kempis (Imitation of Christ)
8. John Henry Newman (Apologia pro vita sua)
9. G.K. Chesterton (Orthodoxy)
10. Thomas Merton (Seven Story Mountain)
The introductions to each author are concise and include biographical information about each author, the main features of their thought, the circumstances in which they wrote their books, and how their books were received. This book is a great choice for anyone with an interest in learning about these 10 authors or who might be starting to read their works.
13.
by
Dinesh D'Souza Finish date: April 2015
Genre: History, Religion, Philosophy
Rating: A
Review: This book makes a great introduction to 10 Catholic authors and the works for which they were best known:
1. St. Augustine (Confessions)
2. Boethius (Consolation of Philosophy)
3. St. Bede (Ecclesiastical History of the English People)
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica)
5. Dante Alighieri (Divine Comedy)
6. Blaise Pascal (Pensées)
7. Thomas à Kempis (Imitation of Christ)
8. John Henry Newman (Apologia pro vita sua)
9. G.K. Chesterton (Orthodoxy)
10. Thomas Merton (Seven Story Mountain)
The introductions to each author are concise and include biographical information about each author, the main features of their thought, the circumstances in which they wrote their books, and how their books were received. This book is a great choice for anyone with an interest in learning about these 10 authors or who might be starting to read their works.
Jill wrote: "Gyoza.....what a great job with the citations and format. Just let me call your attention to a couple of things that need modified and you will be on your way.
*In post #2 and #5, you do not need ..."
Thanks Jill. Will make changes.
*In post #2 and #5, you do not need ..."
Thanks Jill. Will make changes.
14.
by
T.S. Eliot
Finish date: April 2015
Genre: Poetry
Rating: B
Review: Collection of fun poems about cats and their varied personalities. I learned from this book that I have a Jellicle Cat, a Rum Tum Tugger, and an Old Gumbie Cat. But I think my favorite poem is the first one about the Naming of Cats.
by
T.S. Eliot Finish date: April 2015
Genre: Poetry
Rating: B
Review: Collection of fun poems about cats and their varied personalities. I learned from this book that I have a Jellicle Cat, a Rum Tum Tugger, and an Old Gumbie Cat. But I think my favorite poem is the first one about the Naming of Cats.
15.
by
George F. Kennan
Finish date: April 2015
Genre: History, Politics, Culture
Rating: A-
This book is a collection of essays, articles, and speeches written by historian George F. Kennan in the 80's and 90's at the tail end of the Cold War. He was in the U.S. Foreign Service from the 1920's to the post WW2 era and even served briefly as American ambassador to the USSR. His views on the USSR, Eastern and Central Europe, the Cold War, American foreign policy, and the sometimes baleful effects of the American political process on foreign policy are very interesting, sometimes surprising.
Great read for those interested in Cold War history. Also particularly educational for people who may have lived through the 80's or 90's as children, vaguely remember newscasts and commentary about these events but weren't old enough to understand much of it. I learned a lot reading this book. Since each chapter is a self-contained article or speech, the book lends itself well to reading in short spurts, and the chapters don't have to be read in order.
by
George F. KennanFinish date: April 2015
Genre: History, Politics, Culture
Rating: A-
This book is a collection of essays, articles, and speeches written by historian George F. Kennan in the 80's and 90's at the tail end of the Cold War. He was in the U.S. Foreign Service from the 1920's to the post WW2 era and even served briefly as American ambassador to the USSR. His views on the USSR, Eastern and Central Europe, the Cold War, American foreign policy, and the sometimes baleful effects of the American political process on foreign policy are very interesting, sometimes surprising.
Great read for those interested in Cold War history. Also particularly educational for people who may have lived through the 80's or 90's as children, vaguely remember newscasts and commentary about these events but weren't old enough to understand much of it. I learned a lot reading this book. Since each chapter is a self-contained article or speech, the book lends itself well to reading in short spurts, and the chapters don't have to be read in order.
16.
by
George Orwell
Finish date: April 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A-
This is a very witty, readable little fable that illustrates the historical pattern that often plays out before, during, and after revolutions that promise utopian results. The moral of the story is that we don't live in the Garden of Eden anymore and it's futile to hope that those kinds of perfect conditions can be realized here on earth. The only sensible attitude to take towards those who promise paradise is distrust.
by
George OrwellFinish date: April 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A-
This is a very witty, readable little fable that illustrates the historical pattern that often plays out before, during, and after revolutions that promise utopian results. The moral of the story is that we don't live in the Garden of Eden anymore and it's futile to hope that those kinds of perfect conditions can be realized here on earth. The only sensible attitude to take towards those who promise paradise is distrust.
MAY
17.
by
Dietrich von Hildebrand
Finish date: May 2015
Genre: Philosophy, Religion, History
Rating: A
Review: Dietrich von Hildebrand explains the philosophical errors behind the misinterpretation of the documents of Vatican II and how they led to changes in the liturgy/ other religious practices of Catholics--and not for the better. I'm a Catholic who was born long after the council, so I have no firsthand experience of the preconciliar church; however I'm also a classical music and vintage movie aficionado who learned something about what it was like by listening to sacred music by various composers and watching old film footage. I definitely learned a lot reading this book. Dr. von Hildebrand must have been a great professor. He writes clearly and concisely such that even I, with no philosophical training, could follow his arguments.
17.
by
Dietrich von HildebrandFinish date: May 2015
Genre: Philosophy, Religion, History
Rating: A
Review: Dietrich von Hildebrand explains the philosophical errors behind the misinterpretation of the documents of Vatican II and how they led to changes in the liturgy/ other religious practices of Catholics--and not for the better. I'm a Catholic who was born long after the council, so I have no firsthand experience of the preconciliar church; however I'm also a classical music and vintage movie aficionado who learned something about what it was like by listening to sacred music by various composers and watching old film footage. I definitely learned a lot reading this book. Dr. von Hildebrand must have been a great professor. He writes clearly and concisely such that even I, with no philosophical training, could follow his arguments.
I think you put something other than your review in your post #13.....take another look at it. Thanks.
Jill, I can't see any issue here. It's all fine.
Jill wrote: "I think you put something other than your review in your post #13.....take another look at it. Thanks."
You must mean the list of chapters! Yes it is a part of my review. Each chapter of the book focuses on one important Catholic author and the work they are best known for. I thought it might be helpful for people to know which authors are included in the book as it might make a difference in whether or not they want to read it.
You must mean the list of chapters! Yes it is a part of my review. Each chapter of the book focuses on one important Catholic author and the work they are best known for. I thought it might be helpful for people to know which authors are included in the book as it might make a difference in whether or not they want to read it.
Mod
José Luís wrote: "Jill, I can't see any issue here. It's all fine."It is post #7 now, Jose Luis....see Vicki's note above.
Jill wrote: "José Luís wrote: "Jill, I can't see any issue here. It's all fine."
It is post #7 now, Jose Luis....see Vicki's note above."
Just finished updating my reviews. Thanks for the heads-up!
It is post #7 now, Jose Luis....see Vicki's note above."
Just finished updating my reviews. Thanks for the heads-up!
Mod
18.
by
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Finish date: May 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: I enjoyed this story of life in a 19th century German spa town whose main attraction, besides the medicinal properties of the water, is the casino. There is a very good old Gregory Peck/Ava Gardner movie based on this story and that's what caused me to want to read the book. The movie did take liberties with the plot, as the original story does not have much of a plot; it's more like a detailed study of the characters and their lifestyle.
by
Fyodor DostoyevskyFinish date: May 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: I enjoyed this story of life in a 19th century German spa town whose main attraction, besides the medicinal properties of the water, is the casino. There is a very good old Gregory Peck/Ava Gardner movie based on this story and that's what caused me to want to read the book. The movie did take liberties with the plot, as the original story does not have much of a plot; it's more like a detailed study of the characters and their lifestyle.
19.
by
Joseph Conrad
Finish date: May 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: ** spoiler alert ** These are two very dark novellas in seafaring, colonial settings. Joseph Conrad excels in evoking an atmosphere and creating realistic characters and situations.
Heart of Darkness is a story told by a seaman named Marlowe to his shipmates about an eventful voyage he took down an African river many years ago to an isolated trading post belonging to the company he worked for. Mr. Kurtz, the man in charge of the post is their most productive agent by far but there is something mysterious about the man's methods the company doesn't like and they want to remove him. Marlowe comes to a slow realization of what those methods are as the voyage progresses and is shocked at how a seemingly normal, civilized man could descend to such depths. There is little direct interaction with Kurtz in the story; we get to know him mainly by what others think and say about him and by Marlowe's observations of the trading post and its surroundings.
Secret Sharer, on the other hand, is set in the Far East. The narrator is a young captain brought in at the last minute to replace the skipper of a ship whose crew has worked as a team for a long time. As he's the only newcomer on board and this is his first command he feels ill at ease with the crew. He soon gets a friend with whom to share his predicament in the shape of a fugitive officer from another ship who is in trouble for having killed a man during an emergency. He decides to help the fugitive by hiding him on board even from his own crew until there is a chance to escape. The captain's solidarity with the fugitive is even greater than that with his crew, and the satisfaction of secretly and successfully helping this man escape is what ultimately gives him the confidence to hold his own as captain.
by
Joseph ConradFinish date: May 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: ** spoiler alert ** These are two very dark novellas in seafaring, colonial settings. Joseph Conrad excels in evoking an atmosphere and creating realistic characters and situations.
Heart of Darkness is a story told by a seaman named Marlowe to his shipmates about an eventful voyage he took down an African river many years ago to an isolated trading post belonging to the company he worked for. Mr. Kurtz, the man in charge of the post is their most productive agent by far but there is something mysterious about the man's methods the company doesn't like and they want to remove him. Marlowe comes to a slow realization of what those methods are as the voyage progresses and is shocked at how a seemingly normal, civilized man could descend to such depths. There is little direct interaction with Kurtz in the story; we get to know him mainly by what others think and say about him and by Marlowe's observations of the trading post and its surroundings.
Secret Sharer, on the other hand, is set in the Far East. The narrator is a young captain brought in at the last minute to replace the skipper of a ship whose crew has worked as a team for a long time. As he's the only newcomer on board and this is his first command he feels ill at ease with the crew. He soon gets a friend with whom to share his predicament in the shape of a fugitive officer from another ship who is in trouble for having killed a man during an emergency. He decides to help the fugitive by hiding him on board even from his own crew until there is a chance to escape. The captain's solidarity with the fugitive is even greater than that with his crew, and the satisfaction of secretly and successfully helping this man escape is what ultimately gives him the confidence to hold his own as captain.
20.
by St. Gregory the Great (no image)
Finish date: May 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: Concise little biography of St. Benedict that is perfect for those who want to learn what this saint was about. I would have liked for it to go into more detail about the Benedictine Rule, as this saint is known for setting up numerous monasteries and establishing the traditions for Christian monastic life.
by St. Gregory the Great (no image)Finish date: May 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: Concise little biography of St. Benedict that is perfect for those who want to learn what this saint was about. I would have liked for it to go into more detail about the Benedictine Rule, as this saint is known for setting up numerous monasteries and establishing the traditions for Christian monastic life.
21.
by
Thomas Hardy
Finish date: May 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: I first read this story years ago in high school. We had just read Tess in English class and I liked it so much I went on a Thomas Hardy reading binge that summer. I reread Far from the Madding Crowd in preparation for seeing the new movie coming out this weekend. I'm glad I did as I am reminded again of why I like Hardy's novels so much. He is so skilful at depicting realistic characters and his descriptions of country landscapes and country life are such that you feel you are there. I also like how he peppers the narrative with shrewd observations about life and human nature.
Far from the Madding Crowd is about a woman who gains financial independence when she inherits a farm from a rich uncle. She is courted by three very different men, who love her in three different ways, and she must choose among them. There are some plot twists that seem a bit too contrived to me, like the part where Fanny Robin comes within a hair's breadth of marrying Sergeant Troy (which would have prevented a whole lot of trouble) but goes to the wrong church and the embarrassed sergeant is angry enough so he won't marry her anymore. Other than that this is a book that I just got engrossed in.
Come to think about it, maybe it's time for another Hardy reading binge!
by
Thomas HardyFinish date: May 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: I first read this story years ago in high school. We had just read Tess in English class and I liked it so much I went on a Thomas Hardy reading binge that summer. I reread Far from the Madding Crowd in preparation for seeing the new movie coming out this weekend. I'm glad I did as I am reminded again of why I like Hardy's novels so much. He is so skilful at depicting realistic characters and his descriptions of country landscapes and country life are such that you feel you are there. I also like how he peppers the narrative with shrewd observations about life and human nature.
Far from the Madding Crowd is about a woman who gains financial independence when she inherits a farm from a rich uncle. She is courted by three very different men, who love her in three different ways, and she must choose among them. There are some plot twists that seem a bit too contrived to me, like the part where Fanny Robin comes within a hair's breadth of marrying Sergeant Troy (which would have prevented a whole lot of trouble) but goes to the wrong church and the embarrassed sergeant is angry enough so he won't marry her anymore. Other than that this is a book that I just got engrossed in.
Come to think about it, maybe it's time for another Hardy reading binge!
22.
by
Natan Sharansky
Finish date: May 2015
Genre: History, Politics
Rating: A
Review: Natan Sharansky, an erstwhile political prisoner in the Soviet Union, writes about how to accurately tell a free society from a "fear" society (one in which people do not enjoy basic liberties and are kept in check by their leaders through fear of punishment). He makes a good case for why it is in the interest of free societies to conduct their foreign policy in such a way as to link benefits granted to fear societies with requirements that the fear society reform its domestic practices.
Fear societies tend to be poorer and less innovative than free ones, so they often need aid, technology, and other things from free societies, but two of the ways they keep their population in check is 1) to distribute the benefits received so as to keep their population dependent on the dictator's good graces and 2) to present the free society to their people as an enemy in order to produce a state of internal solidarity and hostility against it (as if there were a war going on). Appeasement of dictators is therefore counterproductive to the interests of the free society as it leads to a vicious circle of increasing the dictator's power, aggravating tensions between the two countries, and further appeasement by the free society.
It was particularly interesting to read this book shortly after George Kennan's At a Century's Ending: Reflections, 1982-1995 because Kennan has a more traditional view on foreign policy, i.e. stay out of other countries' domestic policy and just concern yourself with their foreign policy. Sharansky uses the relations between the US and USSR during the Cold War and the (seemingly endless) Israeli-Palestinian peace process as examples to illustrate why the traditional approach doesn't work when dealing with fear societies.
by
George F. Kennan
by
Natan SharanskyFinish date: May 2015
Genre: History, Politics
Rating: A
Review: Natan Sharansky, an erstwhile political prisoner in the Soviet Union, writes about how to accurately tell a free society from a "fear" society (one in which people do not enjoy basic liberties and are kept in check by their leaders through fear of punishment). He makes a good case for why it is in the interest of free societies to conduct their foreign policy in such a way as to link benefits granted to fear societies with requirements that the fear society reform its domestic practices.
Fear societies tend to be poorer and less innovative than free ones, so they often need aid, technology, and other things from free societies, but two of the ways they keep their population in check is 1) to distribute the benefits received so as to keep their population dependent on the dictator's good graces and 2) to present the free society to their people as an enemy in order to produce a state of internal solidarity and hostility against it (as if there were a war going on). Appeasement of dictators is therefore counterproductive to the interests of the free society as it leads to a vicious circle of increasing the dictator's power, aggravating tensions between the two countries, and further appeasement by the free society.
It was particularly interesting to read this book shortly after George Kennan's At a Century's Ending: Reflections, 1982-1995 because Kennan has a more traditional view on foreign policy, i.e. stay out of other countries' domestic policy and just concern yourself with their foreign policy. Sharansky uses the relations between the US and USSR during the Cold War and the (seemingly endless) Israeli-Palestinian peace process as examples to illustrate why the traditional approach doesn't work when dealing with fear societies.
by
George F. Kennan
You are doing a great job with your reviews and citations, Gyoza....but don't forget, that if you mention another book in your review, it must be cited at the end of your text. You gave it a good try by linking the book in the review but a full citation is necessary, as shown below. Thanks so much and keep up the good work!!!
by
George F. Kennan
Jill wrote: "You are doing a great job with your reviews and citations, Gyoza....but don't forget, that if you mention another book in your review, it must be cited at the end of your text. You gave it a good t..."
Ok--I fixed it!
Ok--I fixed it!
23.
by
Thomas Hardy
Finish date: May 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: I read this book after Far from the Madding Crowd. In some ways it is a simpler, more lighthearted version of the later novel. Like Far from the Madding Crowd, the heroine, a young schoolmistress and organist named Fancy Day has three suitors, very different from one another, and she must choose among them. The passions depicted and the events surrounding her choice are much more down to earth and not nearly so dramatic as those of Bathsheba Everdene, so the story has a more serene and relaxing atmosphere. Interwoven with the marriage is that of the pastor's decision to replace the unreliable crew of church musicians with Fancy, who can play the organ, and the musicians' unhappiness and speculations about the reasons behind this, the pastor being one of Fancy's suitors.
I have to say I enjoyed Far from the Madding Crowd more than this book, but it was a pleasant and quick read.
by
Thomas Hardy
by
Thomas HardyFinish date: May 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: I read this book after Far from the Madding Crowd. In some ways it is a simpler, more lighthearted version of the later novel. Like Far from the Madding Crowd, the heroine, a young schoolmistress and organist named Fancy Day has three suitors, very different from one another, and she must choose among them. The passions depicted and the events surrounding her choice are much more down to earth and not nearly so dramatic as those of Bathsheba Everdene, so the story has a more serene and relaxing atmosphere. Interwoven with the marriage is that of the pastor's decision to replace the unreliable crew of church musicians with Fancy, who can play the organ, and the musicians' unhappiness and speculations about the reasons behind this, the pastor being one of Fancy's suitors.
I have to say I enjoyed Far from the Madding Crowd more than this book, but it was a pleasant and quick read.
by
Thomas Hardy
JUNE
24.
by
Robert Louis Stevenson
Finish date: June 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: I read the book after watching the excellent 1941 Spencer Tracy movie based on it and was surprised (although maybe I shouldn't have been) at the liberties Hollywood took with the text. Neither the barmaid Ivy (Ingrid Bergman) nor Dr. Jekyll's fiancée Beatrice (Lana Turner) are in the book and they are major roles in the movie!
Instead, the book focuses on the observations of Dr. Jekyll's friends and servants about his mysterious and strangely repellent friend Mr. Hyde who is seen visiting his office frequently and at odd hours. He does not seem like the type of person the morally upright and influential Dr. Jekyll would normally associate with, so there is a lot of speculation about him. In the end, Dr. Jekyll confesses the truth in a letter to one of his friends.
I see the story as a lesson of what can happen when a person decides to give himself permission to occasionally indulge in something evil. He thinks he is in control as he only gives in now and then, and he can keep it in a separate watertight compartment from the rest of his life. But the indulgence becomes a habit and soon it controls him and takes over.
24.
by
Robert Louis StevensonFinish date: June 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: I read the book after watching the excellent 1941 Spencer Tracy movie based on it and was surprised (although maybe I shouldn't have been) at the liberties Hollywood took with the text. Neither the barmaid Ivy (Ingrid Bergman) nor Dr. Jekyll's fiancée Beatrice (Lana Turner) are in the book and they are major roles in the movie!
Instead, the book focuses on the observations of Dr. Jekyll's friends and servants about his mysterious and strangely repellent friend Mr. Hyde who is seen visiting his office frequently and at odd hours. He does not seem like the type of person the morally upright and influential Dr. Jekyll would normally associate with, so there is a lot of speculation about him. In the end, Dr. Jekyll confesses the truth in a letter to one of his friends.
I see the story as a lesson of what can happen when a person decides to give himself permission to occasionally indulge in something evil. He thinks he is in control as he only gives in now and then, and he can keep it in a separate watertight compartment from the rest of his life. But the indulgence becomes a habit and soon it controls him and takes over.
Hollywood can never leave a good thing alone but I didn't think that the addition of the two female characters ruined the main thrust of the story. A good movie based on a great book!!
25.
by
Mary Shelley
Finish date: June 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: **spoiler alert**Frankenstein is one of those stories that everyone thinks they know because of so many allusions to it in popular culture, movies based on it, etc. But the book turned out to be quite different. It’s very much in the style of a Gothic novel with intertwined plots and subplots rather than the simple horror story I was expecting.
It turns out Frankenstein is not the name of the monster, but the surname of Victor the brilliant university student who created him, who does not at all fit the mad scientist stereotype. The student, after years of hard work, succeeds in creating a rational being in his lab. His problem stems from the fact that playing God in no way makes him God. He does not have the deep love for his creature that God has and he does not have the foresight or the power to provide it with companions or an environment where it would fit in. His contempt for his own creature and refusal to honor a promise to at least make a companion for it causes it to retaliate by killing its creator’s own loved ones. By the end of the story, Victor Frankenstein is in a futile pursuit of his creature, having resolved to destroy it so that it can do no more harm.
Frankenstein is basically a cautionary tale about the unpredictability of powerful new technologies: they do not exist in a vacuum and they are not necessarily a force for good if their effects are not thought through.
by
Mary ShelleyFinish date: June 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: **spoiler alert**Frankenstein is one of those stories that everyone thinks they know because of so many allusions to it in popular culture, movies based on it, etc. But the book turned out to be quite different. It’s very much in the style of a Gothic novel with intertwined plots and subplots rather than the simple horror story I was expecting.
It turns out Frankenstein is not the name of the monster, but the surname of Victor the brilliant university student who created him, who does not at all fit the mad scientist stereotype. The student, after years of hard work, succeeds in creating a rational being in his lab. His problem stems from the fact that playing God in no way makes him God. He does not have the deep love for his creature that God has and he does not have the foresight or the power to provide it with companions or an environment where it would fit in. His contempt for his own creature and refusal to honor a promise to at least make a companion for it causes it to retaliate by killing its creator’s own loved ones. By the end of the story, Victor Frankenstein is in a futile pursuit of his creature, having resolved to destroy it so that it can do no more harm.
Frankenstein is basically a cautionary tale about the unpredictability of powerful new technologies: they do not exist in a vacuum and they are not necessarily a force for good if their effects are not thought through.
26. (no image) Two Essays by Wilhelm Roepke: 'The Problem of Economic Order' and 'Welfare, Freedom and Inflation' by (no photo) Wilhelm Röpke
Finish date: June 2015
Genre: Economics
Rating: A
Review: These two essays are actually a series of lectures delivered by the author in the 1950's and they discuss problems that are still very relevant today.
In the first essay The Problem of Economic Order, Roepke shows how socialism, contrary to its partisans' claims, does not solve the problems that arise from the market economy--in many ways socialism aggravates them. He addresses three different forms of socialism: 1) The redistributive type- the government taxes income and redistributes it among the lower earning population, while leaving the business world alone otherwise, as in many Western countries today, 2) The Marxian type- industries are nationalized so that government becomes the owner of the means of production, as in the USSR, 3) The St. Simonian type- government controls how various industries interact with each other to produce goods or services while leaving formal ownership to private owners, as in Nazi Germany. One of the things I learned from this essay is that inflation tends to lead to increased collectivist tactics on the part of the government: As money loses its value in inflation, prices go up, and the government tries to cover up the inflationary effects through wage or price controls, at least for necessities. This leads to shortages of the things people want the most, and overproduction of nonessentials whose prices are not subject to the controls, what Roepke calls "the artistic ash-tray economy."
In the second essay Welfare, Freedom, and Inflation, Roepke concentrates on the first type of socialism, which in the West at least is the most popular kind. He discusses how the establishment of a provider state both increases inflation and decreases freedom and emphasizes the point that increased credit and investment that is not backed up by increased savings leads to inflation.
I am not an economist, but I found these essays very clearly written and I learned a lot from them.
Finish date: June 2015
Genre: Economics
Rating: A
Review: These two essays are actually a series of lectures delivered by the author in the 1950's and they discuss problems that are still very relevant today.
In the first essay The Problem of Economic Order, Roepke shows how socialism, contrary to its partisans' claims, does not solve the problems that arise from the market economy--in many ways socialism aggravates them. He addresses three different forms of socialism: 1) The redistributive type- the government taxes income and redistributes it among the lower earning population, while leaving the business world alone otherwise, as in many Western countries today, 2) The Marxian type- industries are nationalized so that government becomes the owner of the means of production, as in the USSR, 3) The St. Simonian type- government controls how various industries interact with each other to produce goods or services while leaving formal ownership to private owners, as in Nazi Germany. One of the things I learned from this essay is that inflation tends to lead to increased collectivist tactics on the part of the government: As money loses its value in inflation, prices go up, and the government tries to cover up the inflationary effects through wage or price controls, at least for necessities. This leads to shortages of the things people want the most, and overproduction of nonessentials whose prices are not subject to the controls, what Roepke calls "the artistic ash-tray economy."
In the second essay Welfare, Freedom, and Inflation, Roepke concentrates on the first type of socialism, which in the West at least is the most popular kind. He discusses how the establishment of a provider state both increases inflation and decreases freedom and emphasizes the point that increased credit and investment that is not backed up by increased savings leads to inflation.
I am not an economist, but I found these essays very clearly written and I learned a lot from them.
27.
by
Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: June 2015
Genre: History, Politics, War
Rating: A
Review: This is the first volume of the abridged version of Winston Churchill's series on the Second World War. It mostly covers the events leading up to the war, from the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the formation of the League of Nations, the defense treaties of Locarno, and the unwise manner in which the treaties were enforced, with the former Allies putting undue emphasis on Germany's reparations payments while at the same time being lenient about seeing to it that Germany stayed disarmed. Churchill also discusses how the economic conditions of the 1920's and 1930's destabilized German society and brought about conditions favoring Hitler's rise to the chancellorship and also the presidency after the death of Hindenburg. This book spans all the way up to the German takeover of Czechoslovakia and Poland, and Churchill's own rise to the prime ministership.
Besides his knowledge and being one of the major players in World War II, Churchill is an excellent writer and storyteller. I listened to the CD twice. The reader of this audiobook, Christian Rodska, does an excellent job and his voice is somewhat like Churchill's so that you feel rather like the author himself is reading the book to you.
by
Winston S. ChurchillFinish date: June 2015
Genre: History, Politics, War
Rating: A
Review: This is the first volume of the abridged version of Winston Churchill's series on the Second World War. It mostly covers the events leading up to the war, from the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the formation of the League of Nations, the defense treaties of Locarno, and the unwise manner in which the treaties were enforced, with the former Allies putting undue emphasis on Germany's reparations payments while at the same time being lenient about seeing to it that Germany stayed disarmed. Churchill also discusses how the economic conditions of the 1920's and 1930's destabilized German society and brought about conditions favoring Hitler's rise to the chancellorship and also the presidency after the death of Hindenburg. This book spans all the way up to the German takeover of Czechoslovakia and Poland, and Churchill's own rise to the prime ministership.
Besides his knowledge and being one of the major players in World War II, Churchill is an excellent writer and storyteller. I listened to the CD twice. The reader of this audiobook, Christian Rodska, does an excellent job and his voice is somewhat like Churchill's so that you feel rather like the author himself is reading the book to you.
Great reviews,Gyoza. I enjoy reading them.
Jill wrote: "Great reviews,Gyoza. I enjoy reading them."
Thanks, Jill. I enjoy writing them, and I'm finding that writing reviews actually helps me sort out and remember what I learned and thought while reading the book, so the process is definitely helpful!
Thanks, Jill. I enjoy writing them, and I'm finding that writing reviews actually helps me sort out and remember what I learned and thought while reading the book, so the process is definitely helpful!
JULY
28.
by
Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: July 2015
Genre: History, Politics, War
Rating: A
Review: his is the second volume in the audiobook version of the abridged World War II series by Winston Churchill. It spans from Churchill's rise to Prime Minister in Britain and his formation of a government to the start of the German invasion of the USSR (Operation Barbarossa). On the way it includes an account of the fall of France, the Battle of Britain, and the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern battles.
Until I listened to this audiobook, I did not realize how important the Middle Eastern and North African battles were to the British war effort, as they were determined to keep the Germans and Italians from taking control of the Mediterranean, the Suez canal, and the oil fields in the Middle East.
Churchill is in top form as a writer and storyteller, as in Milestones to Disaster. The main drawback to listening to this as an audiobook is that you don't have maps to reference as you probably would have in the book. I had to look up many of the towns on the Internet with whose location I was not familiar. Christian Rodska does an excellent job as reader.
by
Winston S. Churchill
28.
by
Winston S. ChurchillFinish date: July 2015
Genre: History, Politics, War
Rating: A
Review: his is the second volume in the audiobook version of the abridged World War II series by Winston Churchill. It spans from Churchill's rise to Prime Minister in Britain and his formation of a government to the start of the German invasion of the USSR (Operation Barbarossa). On the way it includes an account of the fall of France, the Battle of Britain, and the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern battles.
Until I listened to this audiobook, I did not realize how important the Middle Eastern and North African battles were to the British war effort, as they were determined to keep the Germans and Italians from taking control of the Mediterranean, the Suez canal, and the oil fields in the Middle East.
Churchill is in top form as a writer and storyteller, as in Milestones to Disaster. The main drawback to listening to this as an audiobook is that you don't have maps to reference as you probably would have in the book. I had to look up many of the towns on the Internet with whose location I was not familiar. Christian Rodska does an excellent job as reader.
by
Winston S. Churchill
29.
by (no photo) Charles Forbes René de Montalembert
Finish date: July 2015
Genre: History, Politics, War
Rating: A
Review: I saw and heard references to Montalembert in various books and lectures as one of the prominent liberal thinkers of the 19th century so I decided to look him up on Google books. When I saw this title I was immediately interested. As an American residing in the South I learned quite a bit about the reasons behind the Civil War in school from the perspective of Northerners & Southerners but almost nothing about how the war was perceived abroad. If you are curious about this subject, this slim little book is a great read. The original French text available here, and an English translation is available here.
Montalembert wrote this after Lincoln's assassination and apparently there were many in Europe who mourned him as a great man. The author saw the Civil War and the resolution of the issue of slavery as a test to see if the American people deserved to be ranked among the great peoples of the world. The outcome of the war and resulting abolition of slavery led him to conclude that we passed with flying colors.
Montalembert includes a detailed refutation of the idea that any other issue besides slavery was the main cause of the war. Living in the South I have certainly heard this idea before--that the Confederate states seceded over of tariffs, protectionism for Northern industries, states' rights and other political issues. Montalembert makes a good case that even when disputes arose about those other issues, the dispute could in the end be traced back to slavery. Despite this, he does not demonize Southerners, notes that the valor and moral character they displayed in wartime were equal to those of Northerners, and acknowledges that many probably did go to war for reasons other than the maintenance of slavery. But they put their gifts in the service of a bad cause.
Another part I found interesting is when he contrasts how victorious American (and British) generals use their influence--that is, with humility, to help preserve the peace and stability of their countries rather than to seize as much power as they can for themselves. He compares Grant and Wellington favorably to Napoleon.
by (no photo) Charles Forbes René de MontalembertFinish date: July 2015
Genre: History, Politics, War
Rating: A
Review: I saw and heard references to Montalembert in various books and lectures as one of the prominent liberal thinkers of the 19th century so I decided to look him up on Google books. When I saw this title I was immediately interested. As an American residing in the South I learned quite a bit about the reasons behind the Civil War in school from the perspective of Northerners & Southerners but almost nothing about how the war was perceived abroad. If you are curious about this subject, this slim little book is a great read. The original French text available here, and an English translation is available here.
Montalembert wrote this after Lincoln's assassination and apparently there were many in Europe who mourned him as a great man. The author saw the Civil War and the resolution of the issue of slavery as a test to see if the American people deserved to be ranked among the great peoples of the world. The outcome of the war and resulting abolition of slavery led him to conclude that we passed with flying colors.
Montalembert includes a detailed refutation of the idea that any other issue besides slavery was the main cause of the war. Living in the South I have certainly heard this idea before--that the Confederate states seceded over of tariffs, protectionism for Northern industries, states' rights and other political issues. Montalembert makes a good case that even when disputes arose about those other issues, the dispute could in the end be traced back to slavery. Despite this, he does not demonize Southerners, notes that the valor and moral character they displayed in wartime were equal to those of Northerners, and acknowledges that many probably did go to war for reasons other than the maintenance of slavery. But they put their gifts in the service of a bad cause.
Another part I found interesting is when he contrasts how victorious American (and British) generals use their influence--that is, with humility, to help preserve the peace and stability of their countries rather than to seize as much power as they can for themselves. He compares Grant and Wellington favorably to Napoleon.
AUGUST
30. (no image) The Magna Carta by (no photo) Anonymous
Finish date: August 2015
Genre: History, Politics, War
Rating: A
Review: The Magna Carta just turned 800 years old this past June 15 as I was reminded on several websites I visit regularly, so I figured it was time to read it. It is one of those documents whose importance is impressed on people in school, but that few actually read, so I figured that the procrastination went on long enough and that this would be the year I would read it. I read the text off the Project Gutenberg website, which is a translation of the original into modern English, so it was an easy read.
Basically, it is a list of new laws limiting the King's power. The English barons had King John sign it after they won the battle at Runnymede. Most of the items have to do with the rights and duties of the king and the barons (especially the elected council of 25), inheritance laws, laws about the rights and duties of creditors and debtors, laws protecting the rights of merchants, and taxes. It dispels popular myths about medieval kings being all-powerful and shows the important part historically played by the aristocracy in bringing about the tradition of mixed (and limited) government in the West.
One item (no. 20) in the Magna Carta struck me as glaringly relevant to current events. It says that a man should be fined only in proportion to the degree of his offense and that whether his offense was trivial or serious, the fine should not be large enough to deprive him of his livelihood. Moreover, the fine could not be imposed until reputable people in the same neighborhood assessed it to be appropriate. It brought to mind certain small bakers and florists who have been fined out of their livelihoods within the last few years...
When 800 years is not enough time for a lesson to be learned once and for all, it is safe to assume that the condition is chronic and requires perennial management.
30. (no image) The Magna Carta by (no photo) Anonymous
Finish date: August 2015
Genre: History, Politics, War
Rating: A
Review: The Magna Carta just turned 800 years old this past June 15 as I was reminded on several websites I visit regularly, so I figured it was time to read it. It is one of those documents whose importance is impressed on people in school, but that few actually read, so I figured that the procrastination went on long enough and that this would be the year I would read it. I read the text off the Project Gutenberg website, which is a translation of the original into modern English, so it was an easy read.
Basically, it is a list of new laws limiting the King's power. The English barons had King John sign it after they won the battle at Runnymede. Most of the items have to do with the rights and duties of the king and the barons (especially the elected council of 25), inheritance laws, laws about the rights and duties of creditors and debtors, laws protecting the rights of merchants, and taxes. It dispels popular myths about medieval kings being all-powerful and shows the important part historically played by the aristocracy in bringing about the tradition of mixed (and limited) government in the West.
One item (no. 20) in the Magna Carta struck me as glaringly relevant to current events. It says that a man should be fined only in proportion to the degree of his offense and that whether his offense was trivial or serious, the fine should not be large enough to deprive him of his livelihood. Moreover, the fine could not be imposed until reputable people in the same neighborhood assessed it to be appropriate. It brought to mind certain small bakers and florists who have been fined out of their livelihoods within the last few years...
When 800 years is not enough time for a lesson to be learned once and for all, it is safe to assume that the condition is chronic and requires perennial management.
Mod
31.
by
C.S. Lewis
Finish date: August 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A-
Review: I am not much of a science fiction person, so I did not think I would like this book. But C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite writers, so I gave it a go. And I'm glad I did. As in The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis creates a very convincing world and characters--one I could lose myself in. Setting the story in another planet with different life forms and different ways of life offers plenty of opportunity to examine ideas and attitudes that are taken for granted today, but that are actually disordered and unnatural.
Already looking forward to Perelandra, the next in the series.
by
C.S. Lewis
by
C.S. Lewis
by
C.S. LewisFinish date: August 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A-
Review: I am not much of a science fiction person, so I did not think I would like this book. But C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite writers, so I gave it a go. And I'm glad I did. As in The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis creates a very convincing world and characters--one I could lose myself in. Setting the story in another planet with different life forms and different ways of life offers plenty of opportunity to examine ideas and attitudes that are taken for granted today, but that are actually disordered and unnatural.
Already looking forward to Perelandra, the next in the series.
by
C.S. Lewis
by
C.S. Lewis
SEPTEMBER
32.
by
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Finish date: September 2015
Genre: Fiction, History, Politics
Rating: A
Review:
This is an account of what daily life is like for prisoners in a Siberian labor camp, written by one who knew them only all too well. Ivan Denisovich Shukhov is a Russian soldier who was not actually guilty of anything other than having been captured by the Germans during the war and held as a POW for some time. But that's enough to get him convicted as a spy by his own government and sentenced to 10 years. When we meet him, he is on the 8th year of his sentence. Through his eyes, we experience the hard conditions of life in the camp, including the cold, the Spartan meals, the penalties inflicted on the newer prisoners when they make mistakes, the way even the smallest bit of luxury is treasured and savored, whether it's a piece of bread saved from breakfast or a little bit of sharp metal that can be used as a knife. It is a story of endurance and survival and shows how even great hardship and injustice can be borne with dignity.
32.
by
Aleksandr SolzhenitsynFinish date: September 2015
Genre: Fiction, History, Politics
Rating: A
Review:
This is an account of what daily life is like for prisoners in a Siberian labor camp, written by one who knew them only all too well. Ivan Denisovich Shukhov is a Russian soldier who was not actually guilty of anything other than having been captured by the Germans during the war and held as a POW for some time. But that's enough to get him convicted as a spy by his own government and sentenced to 10 years. When we meet him, he is on the 8th year of his sentence. Through his eyes, we experience the hard conditions of life in the camp, including the cold, the Spartan meals, the penalties inflicted on the newer prisoners when they make mistakes, the way even the smallest bit of luxury is treasured and savored, whether it's a piece of bread saved from breakfast or a little bit of sharp metal that can be used as a knife. It is a story of endurance and survival and shows how even great hardship and injustice can be borne with dignity.
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Mrs. Dalloway (other topics)Death of a Salesman (other topics)
The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny And Terror (other topics)
Warning to the West (other topics)
Keep The Aspidistra Flying (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Virginia Woolf (other topics)Arthur Miller (other topics)
Natan Sharansky (other topics)
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (other topics)
George Orwell (other topics)
More...
Our Required Format:
JANUARY
1.
Finish date: January 2015
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.