**spoiler alert** Great book covering the life of the junior british officrs in WW1 from their public schools draft, the journey from Britain to Franc**spoiler alert** Great book covering the life of the junior british officrs in WW1 from their public schools draft, the journey from Britain to France and Flanders , the entrance in the trenches, trench life , troop composition , morale, trench dangers, death , cammarederie, injury, billets , fun on leave and the eventual end of the war, getting back to civiliam life, wounds phisical and psichological and adendum.
This book is about the young britsh generation which was lost in WW1; young lords, knights, barons which attended the public schools like Eton, Oxford, Cambridge, imbued with the valors of honor, courage, fairplay , the creme a la creme, the most patriotic, and with high ideals part of the British society , THE ones that died in the largest proportion in WW1 compared to any other military rank.
They were the ones in the first line, the ones who had to jump over the trench parapet and run towards the noman's land straught into german machine guns and shelling, to inspire the regular soldiers to follow them .
The germans were prioritizing them over any other rank since they represented the core of the british doggedness and valor.
A whole generation of elite boys wiped out in just 4 years. It is said by many , this was a reason Britain lacked the skill to navigate the turbulent politics of the 30's.
Awesome read, penetrating all aspects of these young men short but glorious life....more
**spoiler alert** This book served me as a gateway to Africa in so many ways.
The main thing i got, is that we should stop seeing jihadism and esential**spoiler alert** This book served me as a gateway to Africa in so many ways.
The main thing i got, is that we should stop seeing jihadism and esentially the field commanders (that is how they are called , the leaders of terror cells in different regiona throughout this book) and terror organisations as some plague some diseases , some virus that gets hold of the local population and makes them suffer.
We should see jihadists more like entrepreneurs, more like political agents. Whenever there is discontent within a country, whenever some minority, some ethnicity or tribe has a feud with another, a grieviance , something that they can't solve alone (they are either too weak , too few, lack finances or etc) , they tap into a helping hand...a hand which is usually a terror organisation that wants to open shop in that country.
The locals use the jihadists groups as much as jihadis use them. Many times the state is alot worse than terror groups , such being the case in the Sahel, the stretch of land south of Sahara encompassing Mauritania, Mali, South Algeria, Niger , Burkina Faso, Chad , North Nigeria and Sudan.
The book is about how jihadi field commanders operate at a meso level , how they navigate through complex a complex web of relationships with locals , state authorities, foreign gonverments, tribes and of course each other, how they employ diverse tactics of collusion , schism , accomodation etc and how they fared in each of these Sahelian countries , where they found support in local discontented youth , villagers , politicians , where they were evicted , where they just as entrepreneurs took a bigger bite than they could chew and ended up annihilitated ( ex: in 2013 their jihad went from North Mali to Mid Mali , city of Mopti , which triggered a French military intervention - Operation Serval, which wiped them out).
This book taught me so much about what a big role geography plays into the development of a country, also how important ethnical lines are around Africa (arabs , berbers, touareg , Fulani etc) , minorities, how gonverment deals with terrorism, and how true the old adage "violence breeds violence" is.
Some facts i got - how pourous the borders really are in the Sahel , the gonverments focusing on the central power leaving peripheries at the mercy of local militias and drug traffikers , thus serving as a great recruiting ground of young discontented people into terror organizations. - terrorist organizations emerged in Algeria in the 90s when algerians that fought in Afghanistan against the russians came back and started grouping against the "infidel state that is a pawn of France" Thus came GIA , a terror organization that wrecked havoc agaisnt the state , an organization very diverse with very different terror groups , diversity which in the end proved to be their undoing once the unifying figures got killed fighting the Algerian state. The problem in GIA was that there was alot of infighting , no compromise and everybody.was calling the other infidel. The groups that emerged afterwards understood that they can function and tolerate each other without sparking religious incriminations. By the time these groups emerged the Algerian state recovered and started systematically dismantling them, thus Al Queada had to move shop from Algeria to.North Mali and then Burkina Faso and Niger - Mauritania is probably the country that reached a middle ground with jihadis employing a stick and carrot approach , letting preachers speak freely against USA , Israel but closely monitoring them - Mali is the real shitshow here , a place where Touareg , Arabs , Blacks , Fulani have to deal with draught, declining resources, state brutality and French foreign interventions. How so many times one of these ethnicities welcomed foreign jihadi aid to leverage against another actor. - Niger is so poor but yet so important serving as a gateway and transport hub for jihadis into the Sahel and beyond. - Burkina Faso serves as an example of how a minority (Fulani) can radicalize itself very quickly due to discrimination and be taken up by a convincing jihadi leader
**spoiler alert** This is the go to book for understanding the slave trade.
It describes literally every issue regarding the slave trade with the cente**spoiler alert** This is the go to book for understanding the slave trade.
It describes literally every issue regarding the slave trade with the center position being the slave ship. The book describes how slave ships were being built in UK and USA , how they were fitted and retrofitted to stow , carry , comtain , feed , discipline , kill both slaves and sailors. We meet the actors : the slaves , the sailors , the captains ,and the ones that made everything possible , the merchants. It describes the africans , their socieites , relations and even testimonies on how they got kidnapped and forced to walk even 1000 miles from inside the continent to the sea. Getting on a slave ship for a black was "The point of no return" as none (besides some notable exceptions) would ever get back to their homeland.
How a voyage would go :
Basically you have one merchant that pays up to 300k usd (today money) builds a ship , finds a captain. The captain goes to the docks and fools some sailors or gets them out of jail in return for manning the ship.
The ship then is loaded with food , wine, rum, weapons and trade manufacuturing items to be traded for slaves in Africa.
The ship sails from UK to one of the 7 regions of Africa at the Atlantic (Senegambia, Windeard and Gold coast - Ghana today , Bight of Benin , Bight of Biafra - East Nigeria , Congo , Angola) . This is known as the Outward Passage
It stays on the coast for several months to gather slaves. (Waiting for black merchants/milititas to bring "war prisoners" as they would call them when in reality the people broughht were mostly kidnapped from their villages).
Slaves are mostly villagers that are kidnapped by other tribes and sold to european ships for rum and weapons.
When the ship is full it heads to Caraibbean or US colonies in the hardest part of the voyage known as the Middle Passage.
Upon reaching "the New World" slaves are sold and unloaded. The ship goes back to the UK in what was known as the Homeward Passage. The captain and the mates collects his pay and also stake, the remaining sailors drink their money in the next 3 weeks.
You basically get a triangular global trade. UK merchants and US ones fund the voyages. The ships bring the workforce from Africa to the plantations of cotton and sugar in US and Carraibbean. Many times the money from these pkantations goes into building new ships and nee voyages and you get a self-reinforcing circle.
During the voyage somewhere around 11% of the "cargo" perishes. A ship carries 1 slave per ton usually, and a medium sized ship has 200-300 tons.
Its needless to talk about the horrific lives of the negroes kidnapped in Africa.
What amazed me was how wretched the life of the common sailor was , many times worse than that of the slaves.
Sailors would be beaten to death and malnourshied and many times left to die on the Middle Passage just for the captaim to get their money.
This book is an enciclopedia of the slave trade in its heyday during the 18 century i would've given it 5 stars if the author didn't put so many stories and a little politically corectness here and there.
The fact is , the white man was not the only one that should be put to blame for this trsgedy. Blacks would enslave blacks and kidnap them for weapons , rum and manufacturing items, also arabs....its a collective fault....more
**spoiler alert** Started the book expecting some hard drama/thriller, "X strangers stranded in a bus during a storm". This book wasn't the case. Its a**spoiler alert** Started the book expecting some hard drama/thriller, "X strangers stranded in a bus during a storm". This book wasn't the case. Its about different people from different walks of life sharing a bus ride in southern California, each with his own insecurity, dreams and all looking for something in post World War 2 America. Due to the unusual course of the ride each of them is taken out of their cofmort zone and their true colors are marvellous.
The reason its marked with 3 stars instead of 4 is because i felt the author lingered too much in the intro and one particular character, while abruptly ending when the story gets juicy. I really wanted to share the ride a couple more miles with the characters...
The book is open ended and the idea of free will is contoured, which i felt was like a draft or experimenting on the part of the author before writing the masterpiece East of Eden , 5 years later.
I really enjoyed the way a character is first seen and stereotyped by others and then we get into his mind ajd thoughts, and we see the beauty in each Jane/Joe Doe with his feelings, trauma/frustrstions , dreams and aspirations....more
**spoiler alert** Dupa nenumarate dictaturi militare in anii 50', singura initiativa puternica de a transforma Guatemala intr-o democratie autentica, **spoiler alert** Dupa nenumarate dictaturi militare in anii 50', singura initiativa puternica de a transforma Guatemala intr-o democratie autentica, initiativa, care incearca, precum Taiwan-ul, sa imparta pamanturile in parcele si sa le distribuie cetatenilor de rand pentru a facilitata competitia si libera initiativa, este innabusita in sange de armate de mercenari internationali. Acesi mercenari sunt finantati de o America prost informata, o America care se lasa prostita de teama aparitiei comunismului la ea in ograda.
Basically coporatia United Fruit , cea care a adus banana in America de Nord si a facut-o "staple food in SUA" , corporatie ale carei activitati in Guatemala erau total neregularizate, de teama aparitiei legilor si a controalelor si evident a TAXELOR , provoaca zbonuri si stiri false cum ca noua conducere (care incearca sa aduca democratia in Guatemala) defapt este pro rusa si comunista. Guvernul de la Washington distruge orice sansa la democratie si stabilitate pentru Guatemala, inflacarand astfel spiritul revolutionar in tarile americii latine pentru deceniile urmatoare (inclusiv in Cuba) apropiindu-le astfel de Rusia. They basically fucked up big time.
O carte care imprumuta si se foloseste destul de mult de o opera precedenta a lui MV Llosa si anume Sarbatoarea Tapului ce descrie dictatura lui Trujillo din Republica Dominicana.
Desi personajele nu sunt atat de contrastante, si ritmul si desfasurarea actiunii nu sunt nici pe departe atat de alerte precum cel din celalata carte mentionata, volumul de fata aduce claritate in ceea ce priveste situatia politica din Guatemala si America Latina a mijlocului de secol XX....more
**spoiler alert** Nu stiu de ce dar nu ma asteptam sa fie atat de deprimanta cartea aceasta. Ma asteptam sa fie citesc ceva apropiat de stoicism , pre**spoiler alert** Nu stiu de ce dar nu ma asteptam sa fie atat de deprimanta cartea aceasta. Ma asteptam sa fie citesc ceva apropiat de stoicism , precum Seneca, Marcus Aurelius ; ceea ce am citit aproape ca m-a bagat intr-o depresie majora. Aviz anxiosilor !
Ideea principala este faptul ca medicina in ziua de azi nu se mai preocupa cu geriatria , cu a ajuta omul ,care e pe moarte, sa isi traisca particica de viata ce i-a mai ramas intr-o maniera indestulatoare , si in a ii compensa simptomele ce ii altereaza degenerativ claitatea.
Autorul este un medic chirurg si ne poarta in aceasta calatorie prin spitalele, ospiciile , si asociatiile ce se ocupa cu oamenii batrani sau care "trag sa moara" si ne arata cat de oribili sunt defapt acesti ultimi ani sau luni , zile , momente.
Din cauza medicinei care a evoluat , medicii sar sa recomande cele mai noi tratamente experimentale si interventii care de cele mai multe ori distrug si putinul ramas al suferindului. Accentul se pune pe prelungirea vietii in dauna calitatii acesteia.
Medicul nu incearca sa mai inteleaga care sunt defapt fricile si temerile pacientului si sa ia impreuna cu acesta deciziile grele. Medicul e ori tipul informativ "ai varianta A , B ,C , fiecare cu sansa si riscurile sale" degrevandu-se astfel de la orice responsabilitate morala , sau este tipul autoritar, paternal care ii decide suferindului soarta fara a empatiza cu acesta.
Ajungem in spital crezand si tragand de viata fara a mai analiza daca chiar merita sa trecem prin diversele chinuri ale procedurilor propuse, iar medicii sunt mai mult decat bucurosi sa actioneze.
Batranii sunt bagati in ospicii fara a fi intrebati daca nu ar prefera sa isi asume riscurile si a isi continua viata in locuintele lor solitare ; de multe ori aceste centre sug si ultimul dram de energie din acestia.
O carte care trateaza o tema tabu, perioada vietii la care nu ne gandim , de care credem ca scapam sau ca "mai e destul pana atunci" , perioada care incepe pentru cei mai multi printr-un soc, printr-o brusca alterare definitiva a identitatii si a calitatii vietii, printr-o oprire a activitatilor care ne plac si inceputul vietii de dependenta fata de prieteni , copii, medici si infirmiere.
Deprimant , tragic dar adevarat de la primul pana la ultimul cuvant....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
**spoiler alert** What do you get when a Cambridge Educated researcher and historian lives in Pakistan for more than 15 years and decides to share his**spoiler alert** What do you get when a Cambridge Educated researcher and historian lives in Pakistan for more than 15 years and decides to share his educated insights ? You get a masterpiece.
Anatol Lieven's current book is basically a compendium , a synthesis, a very very intense one, of years upon years of travelling throughout Pakistan and interviewing people from all walks of life from tribal chieftains, policemen , peasantry, taliban fighters, political party members to senior officials , army generals , officers, mayors down to the mere private , ISI(Pakistan secret services) operatives , police intendents , constables to businessmen , shop keepers, blue collard workers, laywers, judges, mullahs, pirs...you get the idea.
So on one hand you have this dimension of such a wide and varied range of people telling their stories and how they see things and on the other you also have each province/region of Pakistan being firmly delimitated , explained by all accounts be it poltiical , military, exonomical , religious , social, and the cherry on the cake , how each province interacts and views the other and all internal tensions that appear whenever there is a ecological disaster or an insurgency both of which can displace millions of people.
This book has totally rocked me , and i will be forever grateful that such people still exist , people that do the hard meticulous work of writing first grade non-fiction literature, people that research and research and research more across multiple years, just to synthetise everything in a mere 600 pages. I was wrong believeing everything contemporary is trashy self development non-books and easy-to-sell-buzzword bonanzas. This one is one of those rare ones so treat it with care and don't rush through it !
A couple of ideas that stuck with me:
- Pakistan is a working chaos, a negotiated state, a state where you need to take into consideration each party of the transaction,a state where patronage, prestige and above all clan affiliation is everything. For example: on one hand you have a city like Karachi, a pearl of modernity at the Indian Ocean, a city founded by Mohajirs(muslim that fled India) on the other you have the NWFP (north western frontier province) where people are at peace only when they wage war on anybody that represents authority, be it US on their relatives in Afghanistan or the Police and Pakistani Army. In one city you have modern IT and Road infrastructure while in the other crime is negociated via a community assembly and does not result in punishment but in compensation, girls are killed for choosing suitors outside their clan and Taliban can always find a safe heaven and a regrouping ground while running from US forces.
-Everything appears to point that nothing is working , the state services are abysmal , there are insurgencies upon insurgencies , there are 3 juridical codes: state law, sharia law and local law (e.g Pashtunwali) , huge portions of the country are subjected to tribal feuds and mediated via Jirgas (community gatherings act as both the law givers and enforcers). Despite all this, despite a this chaos, Pakistan manages to negotiate and keep the state flowing, by using negotiation, bribery as well as brute force whenever it needs to.
-Sharia is basically a written law code , the code that Muhammad placed upon the tribes to unform and get rid of local barbaric customs. Sharia is not primitive compared to what local traditions can be , like in Pakistan. Sharia is actually a sign of modernity of uniformity.
- We do not realize the importance of having a single supreme judicial authority in the country, a single organ that can change and keep tabs of the law code. Pakistan has 3: sharia , state law (based on former british administrations) and local law. Everybody is exasperated that the state does nothing and solves nothing (including delivering justice to criminals) while the typical Pakistani follows whichever code benefits him in any given situation.
- Pakistan helps the Talibans from Afghanistan even if that means supplying weapons and intelligence , hsoting them , despite US warnings, because its main fear is a non-taliban India- friendly gonverment in Afghanistan , a gonverment that could (backed by India) attack Pakistan from the west , while India does it from the East in a two pronged assault.
There are too many things to add but i will stop here. The book is beyond terrific and i recommend it wholeheartedly ! -...more
**spoiler alert** Steinbeck ne poarta dintr-un capat al Americii (New York) pana la Pacific (California) intr-o calatorie cu dubita impreuna cu cainel**spoiler alert** Steinbeck ne poarta dintr-un capat al Americii (New York) pana la Pacific (California) intr-o calatorie cu dubita impreuna cu cainele sau batran. E ca si cum as fi citit un roman al lui Tolkien in care Pamantul de Mijloc este SUA anilor 1960 iar orcii , elfii , si diferitele semintii de oameni sunt tacutii din Maine, pasnicii din Nebraska , ardentii Texani , rasistii din Louisiana.
Cartea are deosebit de multe momente de contemplare asupra vietii, a modului de trai american , a existentei si foarte multe dialoguri amuzante dar pline de povete cu cainele insotitor Charlie.
Cel mai mult m-au impresionat momentele de oprire la marginea drumului si contemplare asupra unui naturii si a vietii , asupra directiei in care se indreapta lumea.
Steinbeck asta chiar a reusit sa prevada in anii 1960 crizele si chestiunile ce provoaca tensiuni din zilele noastre.
Am apreciat ca in roman a intrat si drumul inapoi catre New York , drum identic dar in sens invers, parcurs de eroii din romanul sau Fructele Maniei in goana lor catre bogatiile Californiei mergand din Oklahoma prin coada de castron a Texasului , New Mexico , Arizona.
Am apreciat si faptul ca a aruncat lumina asupra inceputurilor tensiunilor rasiale , din statele sudiste din anii 60 atunci cand miscarea lui MLK era inca in pruncie.
As fi dat 4 stele dar au fost momente cand m-am plictisit , cum ar fi descrierea copacilor de tip Sequoia.
Per total o lectura foarte buna de aventura si viata , ce ar fi putut fi si mai buna daca ar fi fost oleaca mai scurta....more
This book is a real bang for the buck ! A mind bending perspective on violence , criminal activity , self defense. This piece does not only tackle theThis book is a real bang for the buck ! A mind bending perspective on violence , criminal activity , self defense. This piece does not only tackle the misgivings of self defense in all its plethora of forms and variations , but it goes deeper , it challenges the reader on his own perception about life and conflict, about what you are capable of doing. Psichological implications checked , philosophical ones checked , society checked.
Awesome read. I recommend it to anyone intrigued or wanting to know more about the mechanics, dynamics and complexity of violence....more
A great book for understanding Iran from the 40s till the present day.
Some key points i've learned: - Mohammad Mossadeq the premier of Iran , the greatA great book for understanding Iran from the 40s till the present day.
Some key points i've learned: - Mohammad Mossadeq the premier of Iran , the great man of the people of the 50's was not actually coup-ed by US but by his own compatriots , due to his inability to resolve the largest legal oil fiasco between the then operating british oil company AIOC and Iran. He came to power through the people , but the people devoured him - the Shah of Iran was a man that would accumulate as much pwoer as possible but would retreat and let others take responsibility when the going would grt tough. He was a really lame leader on internal politics. He tried to modernize Iran and rightfully managed to in a way (building hospotals , universities and infrastructure) , he was the first monarch to distribute land to the masses. This being said he never let the masses interfere in politics, during his tenure meritocracy was at its lowest point... This is one of the main reason people started to hate him. -On the other hand the shah was a master of foreign policy , being a friend of USA , while selling oil at high prices to Russia, befriending arab states while being a friend and trade partner with Israel - USA has supproted the shah during his reign but has always tried to make him do internal reforms for his country. Truman , Eisenhower , Kennedy , Johnson and all their administrations tried as much as possible to quell his thirst for weaponry and make him focus on his people.
The most important and interesting part of the book of course was the begining of the end , the era of Khomeini. The way this dude manage to be everything for everybody , disgracing the shah and galvanizing the clergy , bazaar and students against the shah whose reforms benefitted many. Khomeini was an ambitious ruthless yet had a chameleonic speech.
His policy was no policy , he promised pardoning of all his enemies , yet as soon as the revolution was succesful the wave of summary trials started and waves of people got murdered with the even now present accusation of "corruption on earth" . This basically meant a sham of a trial of 10-15 minutes followed by the accused getting shot in the back of the neck. Khoemini sent countless people to their deaths , starting ironically with the ones that have helped him along the way.
A great book. Its a 4/5 because i found the period of 1945 to 1953 (Mossadeq reign and the shah quite off the stage) quite boring as in happenings , not authors writing.
**spoiler alert** Dezastru, foarte greu am terminat cartea asta. As spune ca 80% sunt cugetari fara sens , se porneste de la o idee apoi se trece la u**spoiler alert** Dezastru, foarte greu am terminat cartea asta. As spune ca 80% sunt cugetari fara sens , se porneste de la o idee apoi se trece la un eveniment istoric care nu are nici o legatura cu ce s-a spus , nici macar ca fabula. Inteleg ca e fluxul liber al gandirii si as intelege daca ar fi cum insusi spune autorul "parerile mele se mai si bat in cap"... Ei bine nu se bat cap in cap ci pur si simplu nu au legatura una cu alta.
Mult prea mult gunoi intelectual in 230 pagini.
Din cand in cand citind pe diagonala (caci la un moment dat nu am mai rezistat - dupa 80% din carte) mai dai de cate o idee superba , filozofica care chiar te loveste in moalele capului.
Cel mai fain capitol a fost cel despre relatii amoroase. Mi-a placut cum stilul de viata boem si libertin este apreciat, ba mai mul, sprijinit cu o intreaga suita de dovezi , demonstratii si exemple din societatea inalta.
Per total o carte greu de parcurs cu mici scantei pe ici pe colo....more
"Daca maica-ta zice ca te iubeste , dute si verifica !" , aceasta este deviza unui adevarat jurnalist.
Cartea aceasta iti cam arata diferenta dintre ar"Daca maica-ta zice ca te iubeste , dute si verifica !" , aceasta este deviza unui adevarat jurnalist.
Cartea aceasta iti cam arata diferenta dintre articolele mizerabile scrise in ziua de azi bazate pe supozitii, interpretari ca sa nu mai vorbim de minciuni deliberate si cele scrise in era de aur a ziarelor intre anii 60-80'.
Omul asta a acoperit Razboiul din Vietnam (masacrele My Lai) , Afacerea Watergate , Submarinul Rusesc scufundat in Pacific si cautat de americani , Razboiul din Golf , Razboiul Impotriva Terorii, Crima Organizata din Chicago , a scris un urias volum despre matrapazlacurile lui Kissinger , l-a dat in Vileag pe Dick Cheney, a cautat sa inteleaga Orientul Mijlociu intervievand pe presedintele sirian , Assad (cu ocazia asta am aflat ca nu a dat cu gaz sarin cum se zicea) , pe conducatorul Hezbollah , Hassan Nasrallah , torturile din Iraq etc.
Este un jurnalist de talie mondiala pentru ca curajul, etica ,perseverenta, dedicarea si calitatea muncii sale sunt incontestabile.
A scuturat de-a lungul timpului Casa Alba , armata, Pentagonul , Congresul American . Oamenii intotdeauna i-au oferit ponturi si informatii pentru ca stiau ca etica lui este exemplara. Si-a protejat sursele cat de bine a putut in ciuda presiunilor imense a tertelor parti implicate , a informat persoanele despre care scria articolele negative apriori , a cautat adevarul oricat de murdar si neplacut a fost , fapt ce i-a adus renume mondial precum si admiratia tuturor adversarilor sai .
Un moment ce m-a impresionat : cautarea soldatului ce a autorizat masacrarea a 100 de civili in Vietnam. Jurnalistul nostru l-a cautat prin toata America , a mers pe toate pistele de pe o coasta pe alta. Pana la urma printr-un lant de surse indirecte, mergand din aproape in aproape, i-a dat de urma intr-o baza americana. Nu s-a lasat pana nu a reusit sa se infiltreze in baza , l-a gasit pe un prieten al soldatului , l-a luat cu masina , iar acesta seara i-a facut legatura cu soldatul.A durat luni de zile cautarea , dar articolul ce a iesit a influentat politica americana din Vietnam , si probabil ca a inclinat balanta in favoarea retragerii. Ulterior visul sau s-a implinit si i-a fost oferita o slujba permanenta la ziarul sau de suflet The New York Times.
Daca a reusit ceva aceasta carte , este faptul ca mi-a intarit convingerea ca fac bine ca nu citesc ziare sau urmaresc stiri din surse traditionale, preferand site-uri controversate , precum 4chan, Liveleak , unde e la latitudinea cititorului sa filtreze tot ce citeste dar totodata este si locul unde apar informatiile nefiltrate de multe ori chiar de la sursa....more
**spoiler alert** Acest Steinhardt...mare om. O expunere superba a vietii de parnaie , a modului in care omul incarcerat incearca sa isi pastreze mint**spoiler alert** Acest Steinhardt...mare om. O expunere superba a vietii de parnaie , a modului in care omul incarcerat incearca sa isi pastreze mintea netulburata impotriva celui mai de temut dusman , dusman ce nu este reprezentat de bataile sau torturile gardienilor , nici de frig, malnutritie , mizerie , boala, accidente sau ci de timp !
Este de-a dreptul fascinant sa citesti cum oameni cat se poate de diversi din punct de vedere social/moral/religios..etc precum tarani, bancheri , directori, fosti militari, profesori , figuri monahale, legionari , evrei ,reactionari ,unguri , regalisti, jurnalisti, ... oameni care in oricare alte imprejurari nu ar fi avut cum sa se intalneasca, ajung tovarasi de celula si cum reusesc , sau nu, sa coabiteze, cum se toarna unul pe altul, cum se jignesc, cum se mascaresc, sau, dimpotriva, cum invata unul de la altul, cum gasesc raspunsurile la interbarile vietii in religie , filosofie , istorie...., cum improvizeaza adevarate cenacluri literare in care discuta, dezbat, argumenteaza sau pur si simplu se educa in literatura romana si universala. Fabulos !
As minti daca as spune ca a fost o calatorie lina. Pe alocuri cartea m-a plictisit deoarece unele crampeie nu erau de interes pentru mine, dar am continuat pentru ca la fel ca la pacanele, stiam ca urmeaza va urma la scurt timp o victorie, o runda castigata, ceva interesant.
**spoiler alert** The reason this one gets such a low score is me rising the bar very high for Horrible Histories books.
I know what and how Terry Dear**spoiler alert** The reason this one gets such a low score is me rising the bar very high for Horrible Histories books.
I know what and how Terry Deary writes and and i am really big fan of him , however as a critical reader i consider this volume below par ; though it probides valuable ideas and gimmicks from WW2 i just felt it was hollow compared to oher titles.
I felt like this book just tip toed around such a huge event in the history of man kind....more
**spoiler alert** Ce stiam despre ceceni apriori: - popor mandru , dur , darz aflat la periferia Federatiei Ruse in Caucaz - luptatori deosebit de iscus**spoiler alert** Ce stiam despre ceceni apriori: - popor mandru , dur , darz aflat la periferia Federatiei Ruse in Caucaz - luptatori deosebit de iscusiti , cu doar cateva mii din randurile lor , ISIS aproape reusise sa il invinga pe Assad in Siria pana sa intervenina Putin in 2015 - teroristi de meserie , nemernici ce au omorat o gramada de nevinovati in multiple atentate incepand cu anii '90 si pana in ziua de azi (scoala din Beslan din 2004 in care au murit sute de copii imi vine in minte). - Rusia ii vede ca pe o leziune canceroasa la periferia sa , un popor de rang inferior ce trebuie izolat si ideal inlaturat.
Totul incepe cu Boris Yeltsin care castiga alegerile prezidentiale in anii 90 promitand independenta /autonomie pentru multiple foste republici sovietice. Printre acestea se afla si Cecenia al carei lider Dudayev a fost un fervent sustinator al lui Boris. In 1995 cand Cecenia isi cere dreptul la autodeterminare , Yeltsin trimite armata in Caucaz sa le scoata din cap "gargaunii".
Asaltul asupra provinciei dintr-o victorie sigura pentru rusi , se transforma repede intr-un razboi de uzura , razboi ce scoate la suprafata bestialitatea umana de ambele parti.
Autoarea da dovada de un curaj iesit din comun cand pleaca ca jurnalist al armatei in Cecenia. Acolo printre rafale de mitraliera ploi de obuze , sosele pline de mine , ea se strecoara dintr-o tabara in alta luand interviuri atat soldatilor rusi , a populatiei cecene , a liderilor rezistentei.
Acest demers continua pe parcursul a mai multor ani incluzand al doilea razboi cecen, ascensiunea lui Putin , reconstructia provinciei , viata distrusa a supravietuitorilor , patrunderea Wahabismului - forma cea mai extrema a islamului in randul tineretului , provenita din Arabia Saudita , abuzurile , torturile oamenilor liderului marioneta Razman Kadyrov si in general nimicnicia vietii.
Este o lume deosebit de dura , o lume in care familii intregi invinuite de apartenenta la o anumita tabara/secta religioasa sunt executate fara probe substantiale , copii care sunt luati noaptea din casele parintilor si nu se mai intorc niciodata , soldati raniti care sunt efectiv aruncati la gunoi de statul rus .
Pe langa faptul ca ni-se ofera o buna lectie de istorie a regiunii , cartea ofera o cronologie deosebit de solida , suprinde latura groteasca a umanului , precum si implicatiile social-economice , demografice , financiare si religioase ale conflictului.
O lucrare jurnalistica ce , clar , merita citita !...more
**spoiler alert** O carte exceptionala ce descrie viata si cariera lui Simon de Bolivar cel ce a eliberat America de Sud de sub secole de dominatie sp**spoiler alert** O carte exceptionala ce descrie viata si cariera lui Simon de Bolivar cel ce a eliberat America de Sud de sub secole de dominatie spaniola.
Simon de Bolivar este cunoscut si ca Washington al continentului sud american. Nu sunt de acord. Este mult peste Washington !
Daca in revolutia americana avem multiple personalitati cheie ce au asigurat o coeziune si o cauza comuna impotriva imperiului britanic, in America de Sud, Bolivar a fost mai mult sau mai putin singur in a sa cruciada impotriva Spaniei, ducand de unul sigur cu o energie si un elan nemaiintalnit greul.
Populatia din America de Sud, geografia si mentalitatile sunt mult prea diverse. Notiune de bine colectiv , stat de drept si lege nu existau in secolul XIX in SA si nici in ziua de azi nu s-a ajuns la un nivel acceptabil in multe tari.
Pe langa faptul ca a dus un razboi de aproximativ 20 de ani impotriva spaniolilor calarind (~75000km) prin munti , razbind prin jungle , fluvii , cetati fortificate, cea mai mare provocare au reprezentat-o oamenii pe care trebuia sa ii uneasca. A trebuit sa negocieze sa inchida si sa execute foarte multi generali si guvernatori , oameni in subordine, oameni duplicitari , mandri si de cele mai multe ori , la cel mai mic semn de slabiciune de-a dreptul tradatori.
Bolivar nu a fost ca Washington care l-a avut pe Hamilton ca om in subordine pe care se putea baza in permanenta, nu a avut oameni (cu exceptia lui Sucre mai tarziu) pe care ii putea lasa de capul lor sa guverneze. Trebuia in permanenta sa revina , sa pacifice , sa dea dispozitii sa fie si putere legislativa si judecatoreasca si executiva.
Poate cea mai interesanta parte din aceasta carte este finalul si epilogul. In ciuda meritelor sale incontestabile in final dusmanii sai mediocri l-au atacat din toate partile , in ciuda faptului ca a eliberat Venezuela , Columbia , Peru , Ecuador, Bolivia si Panama, in ciuda faptului ca toate economiile sale le-a dedicat campaniei sale , a refuzat sa primeasca indemnizatii , in final toti l-au alungat, i-au barat intrarea in tarile lor , a ranas singur si sarac , bolnav de tuberculoza , nevoit sa se refugieze in Caraibe si sa moara . Abia dupa moartea si-au dat seama urangutanii ce au facut...si ce au pierdut...dintr-o data din persoana non-grata a devenit un idol , ideile sale fiind repurtate de generali , guvernatori , figuri religioase , profesori , mii de carti scrise pe seama sa .....
Am fost de-a dreptul scarbit de-a lungul cartii de conationalii sai, de sud americani , iar la final scarba s-a trabsformat intr-i puternica greata , modul in care prostia, trufia, mediocritatea, ingratitudinea reusesc sa omoare spiritul unui titan precum Bolivar.
Bolivar a fost un vizionar, un spirit luminat, un spirit neinteles pentru vremea lui. Pentru mine viata lui a fost o tragedie...
O carte superba, o carte ce descrie atat razboiul de eliberare cat si geopolitica primei jumatati a secolului XIX, relatiile cu Anglia , Franta , SUA, relatiile cu statele din Sudul americii de sud si cum au fost acestea eliberate de San Martin si multe altele.
**spoiler alert** The amount of knowledge , facts , curiosities and events in this book is maddening.
I didn't know shit about late XIX century america**spoiler alert** The amount of knowledge , facts , curiosities and events in this book is maddening.
I didn't know shit about late XIX century american foreign policy , nor could i have imagined the race to claim islands full of Guano (crystalized bird shit used as fertilizer) , the wars fought on foreign soil with the Spanish and then the Philippines, the continous usage of Puerto Ricans as Guinea Pigs especially in experiments with mustard gas and later chemotherapy or sterilization and planned parenthood.
The book shines on world war 2 , in regards to the massive global transport infrastructure built by USA around the globe (Egypt airbases , Iran , Lebanon) , the continous airbridge over the Himalayas in keeping the chinese resistance strong against the japanesse , the complete bomb and napalm pounding of Manilla in the later stages of the war resulting in millions of deaths.
The book continues with the post war order , the standardization across all industries and domains imposed by the USA , the way it built bases all over the world on areas which were given as 90 year leases , the rapid growth of countries that had these bases withing their local communities
We also get into the dirty stuff of the 90's and 2000 s with Osama Bin Laden , Afghanistan , Iraq , Guantanamo etc.
This guy is terrific , i recommend the book wholeheartedly to any history , geopolitic lover and not only !...more
De cand eram copil si rasfoiam manualele de istorie universala, tin minte cu stupoare, ca nici macar o singura data nu m-am lovit de acest nume, atuncDe cand eram copil si rasfoiam manualele de istorie universala, tin minte cu stupoare, ca nici macar o singura data nu m-am lovit de acest nume, atunci cand era tratata revolutia americana, nici macar o singura data !
Am dat neincetat de cuvinte precum : 1776 , Washington , Saratoga, Ben Franklin, Declaratia de Ceai de la Boston, razboi civil,regele George al Angliei ....dar nici macar o singura data de Alexandru Hamilton.
Sunt deosebit de inversunat si consider ca este o mare nedepretate faptul ca o persoana cu atat de multe merite, o persoana sine qua non-a cu guvernul Statelor Unite ale Americii a ramas de-a lungul istoriei in umbra.
Un om care printre multele sale merite a : - pornit ca orfan de tata din nimic din Caraibe, s-a scolit singur , a ajuns pe continent si a terminat deosebit de devreme o univeristate de prestigiu - a intrat in razboiul de independenta si s-a ridicat la gradul de colonel si la scurt timp a.devenit mana dreapta a lui George Washington si a ramas astfel mult dupa revolutie - a scris mai mult de 3 sferturi din constitutia americana intr-un timp record - s-a luptat toata viata sa pentru uniunea statelor, pentru federalizare. - a intemeiat sistemul.financiar american modern , banca americana , bursa americana, paza de coasta , rezerva federala , academia militara - a pus bazele miscarilor abolitioniste
Cartea este fara doar si poate o capodopera , este o biografie muncita in adevaratul sens al cuvantului. Autorul a colaborat cu zeci de persoane , a efectuat deosebit de multe calatorii de-a lungul Statelor Unite , Caraibe , Londra , Scotia pentru a reusi sa ne ofere o perspectiva atat de ampla asupra unui om atat de ilustru, un titan al epocii sale , sau cum il clasifica marele diplomat francez Talleyrand "cel mai mare om al vremii, mai mare chiar si decat Bonaparte".
Cartea incepe incet sa prinda interesul , pana undeva la 30%. A urmat apoi o depresiune, un usor plictis , iar apoi de la 42% nu am mai putut efectiv sa o las din mana. Stilul e efervescent, cuprinzator , detalii si evenimente politice , culturale , economice, sociale , spirituale...tot.
Multumita acestui roman pot spune ca am obtinut primul meu model din punct de vedere al virtutilor afisate, precum si o perspectiva deosebit de larga asupra secolului XVIII.
Cititorul ce decide sa se inhame la o astfel de lectura, va fi satisfacuti inzecit !
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