I take issue with one thing on your nightstand - the big glass mug collecting pocket change. That's what mason jars are for. That thing should be fulfilling its duty holding a bunch of German weisen or pils.
I'll have to take a look at these books, they seem very prescient for our current situation.
For a decent non-fiction account from someone who was attempting to warn the world about Russia, take a look at the book "Disinformation" by Ion Mihai Pacepa and Ronald Rychlak. Pacepa is the highest ranking Soviet Bloc defector to the west during the Cold War. He was a general in charge of the Romanian DIE under Ceacescu. He was an architect of Soviet "dezinformatzya" or disinformation. He focuses mainly on how the Soviet empire sought to discredit the Catholic Church by spreading the notion that Pope Pius X collaborated with Hitler during WWII (many people still believe this). He continues with how this method continues to this day, and starts name dropping (ahem, Hillary Clinton).
This book was published in 2013, well before the words "disinformation" and "misinformation" were as popular as they are today. He helps the reader understand how this type of propaganda is generated and utilized to further ulterior motives of the Soviet states, but warns that it didn't stop with the fall of the Soviet Union. He warns in the book that "The Soviet Union didn't go away. It simply re-branded." I read this a handful of years ago, and now it seems to me to have been very prophetic.
I grew up there. I mainly didn't mind the crowds and found elements of it exciting when I was younger, but I never did like the general absence of privacy and lack of civility that pressing people together creates, even when it was my native land.
Bwa-ha-ha! My wife swears like that, and is generally quite inventive. When she sets her mind to it, you'd think she could cut frozen fish by talking at it.
I'm having a hard time wading through my collection, it's so hard to know what to prioritize, plus there's always a few articles on substack, podcasts to listen to etc. Feels like I'm playing catch-up for a lifetime of not bothering - it's all suddenly become much more urgent!
I like historical analysis. I tried to read Nietzsche etc but I find pure philosophy too abstract. Most recently I've focused on Soviet analysis; the push-pull of ideologies (ie Nazis and Commies) in the old Soviet bloc is absolutely fascinating.
Do something practical and physical in between chapters. Like, read one chapter of "The Gay Science", chop firewood for an hour, read another chapter, darn socks for an hour.
Or you could do what one of my professors did: she read while walking (pre-internet days it was). Nietzsche as is most german philosophy and political literature is very well suited to walking about, reading aloud and making grand gestures. French equivalents are more languid and tepid in a passive-aggressive way while british are full of acidic and sardonic little sharp points hidden in a great mass of words. And americans seem to be paid by the word, no matter how poignant or not.
I'm serious, here. Try it. It helped me immensely when i learned to match philospher and subject matter with my mood and chores. Otherwise I'd just fall asleep and start to snore.
It is a testament to my faith in your taste that I just used my precious Audible credits to pick up “The Ministry of Bodies” and “How to Think Like a Roman Emperor” (the latter having been on my wishlist for years since I’m a big fan of “Meditations”). I also downloaded Sebastian Rushworth’s book via Kindle Free or whatever it’s called and purchased Colleen’s book on Kindle as I’ve been meaning to get it for a while.
And, of course, I’m happy to see “Ordinary Men” on here, which you’ve likely seen me frequently quote (most notably in “Letter to a Colluder” @ https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/letter-to-a-colluder-stop-enabling). If you haven’t yet read it, Milton Mayer’s “They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933–45” is a MUST-read for everyone who wants to understand the progression of totalitarianism and how easily they can get swept up in the tsunami.
Thanks for the faith! I think you'll like all the ones you've purchased.
I left off "They Thought They Were Free" because I've seen it recommended a million times around here and didn't want to waste a slot on well-trod ground, like Gulag Archipelago and so on. It is definitely a good read.
thankyou, i think i'll start with Donald Robertson’s How To Think Like a Roman Emperor
Let me know how it goes!
I too was drawn to this. I needvto try to find it off Amazon. Because 1) Fuck Amazon. 2) reread last reason
I take issue with one thing on your nightstand - the big glass mug collecting pocket change. That's what mason jars are for. That thing should be fulfilling its duty holding a bunch of German weisen or pils.
I'll have to take a look at these books, they seem very prescient for our current situation.
For a decent non-fiction account from someone who was attempting to warn the world about Russia, take a look at the book "Disinformation" by Ion Mihai Pacepa and Ronald Rychlak. Pacepa is the highest ranking Soviet Bloc defector to the west during the Cold War. He was a general in charge of the Romanian DIE under Ceacescu. He was an architect of Soviet "dezinformatzya" or disinformation. He focuses mainly on how the Soviet empire sought to discredit the Catholic Church by spreading the notion that Pope Pius X collaborated with Hitler during WWII (many people still believe this). He continues with how this method continues to this day, and starts name dropping (ahem, Hillary Clinton).
This book was published in 2013, well before the words "disinformation" and "misinformation" were as popular as they are today. He helps the reader understand how this type of propaganda is generated and utilized to further ulterior motives of the Soviet states, but warns that it didn't stop with the fall of the Soviet Union. He warns in the book that "The Soviet Union didn't go away. It simply re-branded." I read this a handful of years ago, and now it seems to me to have been very prophetic.
Thanks for the recommendation. It's a good one for my list.
Husbandmouth is on the wagon so those mugs rarely see service for beer. And my mason jars are full of milk and canned veg. :)
Duly noted on the mug. A fine pocket change collector it is then!
Your night stand looks like ours. I should read the Roman Emperor one , but Ordinary Men sounds more interesting. Glad to hear you escaped from NYC.
Thanks, it was a shit hole.
I agree, but I have never understood the "charm" of having millions of other people breathing down my neck. It gives me the willies.
I grew up there. I mainly didn't mind the crowds and found elements of it exciting when I was younger, but I never did like the general absence of privacy and lack of civility that pressing people together creates, even when it was my native land.
It's not a long book, definitely worth a read.
Thank you, always looking for a good read…
You're welcome! Let me know what you pick up and how it was.
There is no way that glass with coins is your swear jar, is it?
I have to empty it a couple times a day.
I dump it into the dryer because I know how much Husbandmouth enjoys the sound it makes and I'm a good wife.
Bwa-ha-ha! My wife swears like that, and is generally quite inventive. When she sets her mind to it, you'd think she could cut frozen fish by talking at it.
I'm having a hard time wading through my collection, it's so hard to know what to prioritize, plus there's always a few articles on substack, podcasts to listen to etc. Feels like I'm playing catch-up for a lifetime of not bothering - it's all suddenly become much more urgent!
I like historical analysis. I tried to read Nietzsche etc but I find pure philosophy too abstract. Most recently I've focused on Soviet analysis; the push-pull of ideologies (ie Nazis and Commies) in the old Soviet bloc is absolutely fascinating.
Try this when reading Nietzsche:
Do something practical and physical in between chapters. Like, read one chapter of "The Gay Science", chop firewood for an hour, read another chapter, darn socks for an hour.
Or you could do what one of my professors did: she read while walking (pre-internet days it was). Nietzsche as is most german philosophy and political literature is very well suited to walking about, reading aloud and making grand gestures. French equivalents are more languid and tepid in a passive-aggressive way while british are full of acidic and sardonic little sharp points hidden in a great mass of words. And americans seem to be paid by the word, no matter how poignant or not.
I'm serious, here. Try it. It helped me immensely when i learned to match philospher and subject matter with my mood and chores. Otherwise I'd just fall asleep and start to snore.
It is a testament to my faith in your taste that I just used my precious Audible credits to pick up “The Ministry of Bodies” and “How to Think Like a Roman Emperor” (the latter having been on my wishlist for years since I’m a big fan of “Meditations”). I also downloaded Sebastian Rushworth’s book via Kindle Free or whatever it’s called and purchased Colleen’s book on Kindle as I’ve been meaning to get it for a while.
And, of course, I’m happy to see “Ordinary Men” on here, which you’ve likely seen me frequently quote (most notably in “Letter to a Colluder” @ https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/letter-to-a-colluder-stop-enabling). If you haven’t yet read it, Milton Mayer’s “They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933–45” is a MUST-read for everyone who wants to understand the progression of totalitarianism and how easily they can get swept up in the tsunami.
Thanks for the faith! I think you'll like all the ones you've purchased.
I left off "They Thought They Were Free" because I've seen it recommended a million times around here and didn't want to waste a slot on well-trod ground, like Gulag Archipelago and so on. It is definitely a good read.
Haha, I figured you’d seen me quote “They Thought They Were Free” a thousand times already but wanted to make sure you’ve read it :-)
Have you read “Dissolving Illusions” yet? That’s my current mind-nuking adventure.
P.S. Love Pippi!!
Roman Emperor for me. Thanks a million
Cheers, let me know what you learned.
Thank you for taking the time to do this. Added to my list of must reads.
I promise there will be more to come. I'm glad this is of value to people!
Much oblidged.
Let me know what you end up reading!
I have, and I do, so fuck you too🤓