This coming-of-age story is narrated in the third person, often with a satirical and cynical undertone, about an ordinary and naive protagonist and thThis coming-of-age story is narrated in the third person, often with a satirical and cynical undertone, about an ordinary and naive protagonist and the events and experiences that broadened and shaped his perspective.
At the surface, this is a story that's set in a Swiss sanatorium where patients from all around the world (mostly from Europe) treat their pulmonary diseases while constantly battling a smoldering fever that many don't take seriously. However, the the underlying theme being the simmering state and illness of European societies prior to WWI.
The Magic Mountain (1924) also shares great dialogues between the philosophies (Germanocentric) that shaped the Age of Enlightenment, communism, and religious beliefs. The book was a bit long but worth it. The introduction of a new character towards the end was a little exhausting but I was able to get through it. Nevertheless, I would recommend the book.
Primo Levi narrates a moving autobiographical memoir of his survival in an Auschwitz concentration camp while deciding to spare the reader from the hoPrimo Levi narrates a moving autobiographical memoir of his survival in an Auschwitz concentration camp while deciding to spare the reader from the horrifying details and descriptions of the horrendous acts he and his fellow inmates had both witnessed and endured during their imprisonment. Hence, Levi, with his considerate approach, only in brief sentences and in a subtle manner, recalls the atrocities for which these concentration camps were so infamous.
Rather, we learn more about Levi's thoughts and dreams of sating his hunger, quenching his thirst, and struggling to overcome the harsh cold winters. We discover that gold teeth, spoons, tobacco, and bread were the main commodities of the camp. While the recipe for survival was achieved by evoking a sense of pity from your superiors, regularly engaging in theft, and learning the "underground art of economizing on everything, on breath, movements, even thoughts."
This English edition of the original book is titled Survival in Auschwitz but I prefer the original title If This Is a Man (1947). Levi is an Italian Jewish citizen that worked as a chemist by day and a writer by night. I found his accounts convincing and his observations real. He doesn't ask for pity, he remains gentle with the reader but at the same time honest. His objective is not to emotionally exhaust his audience but to correctly depict the remaining images in his mind of the events that had occurred and to accurately illustrate the thoughts he had at the time. ...more
Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921) narrates the first half of his life in his Memoirs of a Revolutionist (1899) through historical events, ideals, and peoplePeter Kropotkin (1842-1921) narrates the first half of his life in his Memoirs of a Revolutionist (1899) through historical events, ideals, and people he was surrounded by while occasionally sharing his inner thoughts and contemplations. He unveils the accounts of his life, which seem credible and never exaggerated, that left the greatest impression on him emotionally and the circumstances, travel and attained knowledge that formulated his thoughts which led him to become the most famous anarchist in the world by 1886.
Kropotkin was born and brought up in a Russian aristocratic family in the affluent Old Equerries Quarter of Moscow. He was homeschooled throughout his childhood by French, German, and Russian teachers and grew up surrounded by books where he developed his love for reading. Respecting his father's wishes he attended the military academy in St. Petersburg, while after graduation, and not to his father's liking, spent the next five years in Siberia as a Cossack officer. His written illustrations of the Amur River, Manchurian flora, Lake Baikal, and his experiences in Siberia made me long for adventure. He later returned to St. Petersburg and enrolled at the university for scientific study and research which led him to achieve an important discovery in topography that rectified the inaccurately illustrated physical features of Asia; Kropotkin redrew the map of Asia.
Even though Kropotkin was born into privilege with a status of a prince and became a prominent scientist, he decided to give it all up to improve the social and economical status of the peasants and labor workers. Kropotkin sacrificed his social status and personal safety for the benefit of all those in a society that were discriminated against.
He dedicated the remainder of his life to raising the intellectual well-being and awareness of the peasants and labor class and participated in the development of the founding principles, organization, recruitment, and advocacy of the socialist movements of the 19th century in Western Europe and Russia.
As a scientist and anarchist, he draws interesting parallels between political revolutions and human evolution. He presents nihilism in a positive light compared to the press of his time that labeled it as terrorism. His firsthand accounts of the cruelty and injustice of serfdom in Russia, as his father possessed 1,200 male serfs, were heart-wrenching while the chapters of his imprisonment and escape were exhilarating to read. Although, Kropotkin does not touch upon stories relating to any romantic involvements, neither his nor someone else's, but I am not sure if these accounts would have improved or possibly weakened the essence of the book? Nevertheless, he continuously expresses, throughout the book, his unconditional love for his older brother, Alexander, that at times he felt like the central character in some of the memoirs.
Thank you, Ilse, for bringing this book and author to my attention. I enjoyed every single page and found Kropotkin's character, motives, and actions an embodiment of altruism at its finest. This read broadened my perspective of anarchism and in addition, I become more acquainted with this historical period that's rich with theories of social organization.
What I appreciated most about this book is that it recognizes the lesser-known pioneers of our time. To be more precise, the book in large part, introWhat I appreciated most about this book is that it recognizes the lesser-known pioneers of our time. To be more precise, the book in large part, introduces and acknowledges some of the barely known Western scientists (along with the famous ones) that researched, discovered, and in part laid out the foundation for modern astronomy, geology, paleontology, chemistry, physics, biology, but never received the deserved recognition!
The author answers the questions, how and with whom, we arrived at the scientific knowledge we know today, and what those results are. The book very briefly discusses the evolution of the cosmos and our planetary system and in more details the evolution of planet Earth and its living organisms. We also see that the field of science, like in any other field of profession, is full of greed, deceit, and bitterness.
As far as the title and content of the book is concerned, I have my remarks. The book is called A Short History of Nearly Everything and it only covers science and scientists. Not what I expected.
Also, not introducing and discussing, in a history of science book, the Mesopotamian, ancient Egyptians and Greeks, Mesoamerican civilization, the Islamic Golden Age period, and others, deprives the reader from seeing and grasping the whole picture of the chronological development of the study of the physical and natural world.
Lastly, all the short stories revolve around Western European and North American scientists. Which I personally love and appreciate. For example, as far as Asia is concerned, the author dedicated space within the book to inform us that Tokyo could be expecting a devastating earthquake, and the Asian shark finning cruel practice brings in their restaurants up to $100+ per bowl of shark fin soup. But, no mention of Asian scientists, and their achievements.
Therefore, in general the content of the book can be viewed as US-Eurocentric, which in return presents the reader with a short-sighted view of the history of science, all wrapped up in an ambiguous title.
Not to end on a negative note, Bryson is an enjoyable storyteller and the many short stories, along with the science lessons, nicely flow together. Bryson is not a scientist, but he did a fine job.
Loading...
