Status Updates From Peace, They Say: A History ...

"The churchman Beilby Porteus said, 'War its thousands slays, peace its ten thousands." Then there is the classic, 'They made a desert and called it peace." And, of course, it always pays to beware the talker about peace - the mere talker about peace."

"When people debate whether their country should go to war, they are divided into 'pro-war' and 'anti-war' camps (and we speak here of democratic countries, because, in non-democratic countries, there is no real debate).

"Peace is generally good in itself, but it is never the highest good unless it comes as the handmaid of righteousness; and it becomes a very evil thing if it serves merely as a mask for cowardice and sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy." - from T. R. Roosevelt's acceptance speech

"Her lecture- given in April 1906- was titled 'The Evolution of the Peace Movement.' That word 'evolution' is meaningful. Like so many of her contemporaries, Sutter was fired by Darwin's theory and its application to the affairs of humanity." - quote about the first female Nobel Peace laureate

"Peace, one learns, is not a field for small egos."

"The point to make is, every award was given in. earnest, at the time" (p. 5).

Love the book. Jay Nordlinger does not disappoint-- same witty but informative style I know him for in his NR columns and essays. The pleasure of this book for me is that it's a collection of dozens of mini-biographies, both the Nobel Laureates and the great historical figures also on stage at the time.

Great so far...

My daughter Sara & I have started a Dad-Daughter Book Club. This is our inaugural book! Looking forward to a good read.

Interesting so far...will continue and evaluate more later