Status Updates From Arts of Power: Statecraft a...

Not much has changed (I had to read very new little for this particular assignment). The only new thing I have to say is that it's weird how many of these books about diplomacy emphasize the importance of the ability to eat anything.

This is not all that interesting and pretty inartfully written. The complete lack of examples makes it difficult to comprehend, or even trust.

The cold, textbook-like tone just makes this information creepy. It's like a handbook for an evil regime, but not presented as such.

I find it a little unsettling how there's been no discussion so far of the human consequences to diplomacy; very little indication that there are lives at stake, or that the well-being of people is something we should value. This book reflects a single-minded focus on the goals of one's nation, without any indication of what those goals should be; in theory, they could be totally arbitrary or even evil.