**spoiler alert** This book sparked my interest for travelling to the North Far East region of Asia especially along the border with Russia.
Erika does**spoiler alert** This book sparked my interest for travelling to the North Far East region of Asia especially along the border with Russia.
Erika does a terrific job adding geopolitic facts regarding the relationships of Russia with its neighbouring countries across the centuries.
I loved the chapter about the region of Manciuria and its uneasy history with both Japan and Russia.
Probably the most interesting was the Chinesse city of Harbin , city build mostly underground in case the nuclear holocaust would start , a city where one could spend its entire day underground and not see the light of day , also the city where japoanese had done Mengele-style experiment just before WW2.
I definetly want to visit the chinese far west province of Xianjiang , the home of Uighurs, turcik people getting discriminated and sent to concentration camps and their resistance via muslim apartenence.
I also enjoyed Erika-s journey in Kazakhstan , i understood the intricate ethnic composition of the population (russian minority in the north and Kazakh in the south) hence the leader moved the capital from Almaty to Astana to better oversee the russians. Also important sites like the Russian cosmodrome of Baikonur where Yuri Gagarin took off an Sputnik satelites made history.
I now have a more clear understanding of which regions are populated by turcik ethnical groups and where do the chinese start.
The Caucasus chapter was incredible , Georgia's fight and resistance against Russia , and how its border gets moved by a few meters everyday in the province of Abkhazia, or how Suhumi was a leader worldwide in medicine , having thousands of monkeys for testing. Armenia is also covered with its Nagorno Karabakh troubles
Ukraine is covered very well including the Donbass region (from both Russian and Ukrainian side).
The baltics were impresive , especially Lithuania and the utopia that the russians in Latvia are living.
Another very interesting part of the book was Finland complex history with Russia and also with Germany right before and during WW2. Being first under swedish rule , then its borders moved around , fighting Russia , then declaring itself friend of Russia.
A well made book full of juicy details, plenty of dialogues with the locals around the main subject of the book : how do you view Russia, how has Russia shaped your mentality and how has Russia influenced the state of affairs of your country along the centuries.
Its really incredible and many times shizophrenic how Russia's former subjects see its former big daddy.
Wonderdul book, well researched, i recommend it wholeheartedly !...more
**spoiler alert** Mult prea lunga pentru ce era esential de zis. Exista o carte Etiquette Made Easy la doar o 1/2 din lungimea prezentei carti pe care**spoiler alert** Mult prea lunga pentru ce era esential de zis. Exista o carte Etiquette Made Easy la doar o 1/2 din lungimea prezentei carti pe care o consider net superioara.
S-au "atacat" in primele 20% anumite aspecte importante, cel mai interesant fiind cel legat de introducerea unor persoane intr-o conversatie/grup , cine si de ce are prioritate la prezentare. Cum te comporti ca gazda atunci cand joci rol de punte intre musafiri ce nu se cunosc etc...
Partea de eticheta la masa a fost slabuta , cu mentiunea ca am apreciat desenele tacamurilor pe care nu le-am utilizat niciodata si al caror scop nu il cunosteam pana acum.
Verdictul: mult prea mare pentru comtinutul cu adevarat valoros , unele aprecieri personale care nu isi aveau locul si destul de multe incercari de a fi trendy care nu prea au iesit....more
Loved this one, didn't expect to be such an eye opener on being more compassionate and respectful towards other people by putting the necessary effortLoved this one, didn't expect to be such an eye opener on being more compassionate and respectful towards other people by putting the necessary effort into the way you present and handle yourself in social situations.
A small guide to etiquette with some really powerful rules that have already stuck in my head ranging from daily activities such as the way you caress yourself, walk, speak, get out of the car, enter a new room or even take photos and of course.... dining !
Examples:
2/3 rule - There are three areas regarding the way you present yourself : skin, hair and clothing. Even when running errands and having a busy day, always prepare two of the three.
When you meet someone new you form a first impression in the first 7 seconds, so when entering a new room, do it with your right hand on the doorknob, and close it with your left hand so that your face/mug :) always targets the audience. You do not want to be with the back at your audience in that little interval.
In general the book is packed with really great examples, some enriched with illustrations.
The reason i gave it 4/5 is because it feels like a tutorial and i wanted some parts to be more meaty, have more substance.
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