Status Updates From Hammer

This book's biggest flaw is Armand's blandness in the face of objectively world-historical turbulence. The second biggest flaw is that it's fraudulent; not just in details, but the whole story. Currently reading it side by side with EJ Epstein's vivisection.

'War is not "a continuation of political relations by other means"; it is nothing so nice. It is hell on earth.'

Hammer's agressive shallowness is starting to outweigh the witnessing for a couple hundred pages now

Millionnaire at 19 by monopolising the US ginger tincture trade which, in prohibition times, was used for booze. Then became a practicing medical doctor by 20. Then led an aid convoy to the Soviet Union and met Lenin by 23. I get why he might've become cocky.

Russo-Ukranian émigré family becomes politically split (conservative republican & Marxist-De Léonist) petty entrepreneur kernel in the 1910's Bronx. Liking this witnessing, even though Armand really loves to toot his own horn.