Mmmm, I'm learning more and more that all of these sorts of practices are very common, at all levels of scale. But nonetheless, each particular instanMmmm, I'm learning more and more that all of these sorts of practices are very common, at all levels of scale. But nonetheless, each particular instance is upsetting and demoralizing. I'm a quarter Irish, always pulling for my favorite Island to come out ahead. Was happy when things were going well, very sad to hear when it turned. This sounds fascinating, in that bleakest way possible. ...more
Sounds great! I really haven't learned very much about Marx yet, which is intolerable. This sounds like a good entrant for my education.Sounds great! I really haven't learned very much about Marx yet, which is intolerable. This sounds like a good entrant for my education....more
The other main book that my daughter's world history class is using this year (along with other individuals selections, etc..). Sounds fascinating!The other main book that my daughter's world history class is using this year (along with other individuals selections, etc..). Sounds fascinating!...more
My daughter will be assigned readings from this in her history class this year. Sounds fascinating! Oddly (or not so), the teacher mentioned the kids My daughter will be assigned readings from this in her history class this year. Sounds fascinating! Oddly (or not so), the teacher mentioned the kids often don't like it much. Yet they'll know it's there as they get older and wiser, and they can return and appreciate it later (certainly most do). (perhaps).
The especially interesting thing about this is that it approaches these events and this period from an epistemological perspective. That is, it's all about what people thought they knew, why they thought they knew, what the differences were people the truth and what people thought they knew, the processes controlling the misinformation, etc.. And, in a nutshell, Brendon says in the intro that this period (the 30's) was marked in the vast disinformation spread and consumed, in the lack of truth actually possessed by most people, etc..
Relevance to today with the tactics in use still by many is profound.
On Hitler, speaking, early on in his quest for power (1922-1923 or so): "As Otto Strasser said, 'His words go like an arrow to their target, he touches each private wound on the raw, liberating the unconscious, exposing its innermost aspirations, telling it what it most wants to hear.'"
By the way: Marx really said 'Peasants are like potatoes in a sack.'?????
I finished it!! I finished it!! I finished it!! Woo-hooooo!!!! Yes, this is one of *those* books, when turning the last page is immensely satisfying. And also among the least satisfying, because there was so much there that I didn't get. So many words I'd honestly never heard of before, and references to things that I was oblivious to. Since I don't know what all the references were to, I can't be sure, but it seems one would need to be familiar with European & East Asian history from about 1850 forward, plus all the literature of those regions in that period as well. And then a smattering of ancient greek and roman times wouldn't hurt either. Despite that though, it was very informative. I especially liked towards the end when Piers would describe what this or that person believed, and then how totally, profoundly wrong they were. The primary example being Stalin, when he signed the pact with Hitler. Both this book and my companion text 'Concise Atlas of World History' stress that Russia lost more in resources and people than any other country. There is definitely a psychological thread that runs through this - specific cases of people knowing something, and maintaining denial of it enthusiastically, wishful thinking, manipulation, constructions of reality, etc.. Six weeks is all the time it took Hitler to take over France? Wow, no Verdun that time .. I've totally to read up on WWII itself again. The weirdest thing for me about this- hardly any mention of the Jewish people. Sure, there were brief descriptions of a few of the main points. But amazingly little, considering. And from my personal interest in India, I paid attention to all mentions of it. There were more than enough to be indexed, seems to me (but India wasn't), and unfortunately all did speak to a certain English chauvinism which I guess shouldn't surprise me. Highly recommend! ...more
Clearly this is one of those areas where written material exists mainly in left-wing newspapers and magazines and websites etc.. more than books yet. Clearly this is one of those areas where written material exists mainly in left-wing newspapers and magazines and websites etc.. more than books yet. Books are much easier to store though. Hence, this in case is of use. ...more
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