This is a thought provoking book which such an enjoyable style.
This is fascinating study of human kind from its genesis to the present day. Yuval NoaThis is a thought provoking book which such an enjoyable style.
This is fascinating study of human kind from its genesis to the present day. Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens takes you on a journey from the beginning of time.
Sapiens traces our species through the last 100,000 years and the Cognitive, Agricultural, Scientific, and Industrial Revolutions. Harari speaks of Communism, Capitalism, Democracy, Liberalism, Christianity and Islam etc. as if they are all religions. We all have to believe in some abstract concept such as equality or liberty to get us through the day. Harai demonstrates how even paper money and banking lending regulations are a bit of a sham. But belief in all these myths have fueled growth and progress. Harari argues that storytelling and dreaming is what sets us apart from all the other animals.
This book is a tumult of wonderfully provocative ideas. Many of these ideas, particularly those about human evolution and cognitive development, have been around in various guises for years, but this book does a wonderful job bringing together.
Continuing with my plan to read about Polar adventures in the dead of the winter. This was another classic.
In 1914 Sir Ernest Shackleton set out on aContinuing with my plan to read about Polar adventures in the dead of the winter. This was another classic.
In 1914 Sir Ernest Shackleton set out on an expedition to make the first land crossing of the barren Antarctic continent from the east to the west coast. The expedition failed to accomplish its objective, but became recognized instead as an amazing feat of endurance.
That these men were able to survive in the harsh, barren conditions of Antarctica, where temperatures frequently fell below zero is amazing. It’s nearly unimaginable that these men could survive for almost two years, their lives marked by a seemingly endless stretch of misery, suffering, and boredom, not to mention the threat of starvation. At every turn, their situation seems to go from bad to worse. If this were a work of fiction, one would be inclined to claim the story was simply too far-fetched. But Endurance isn't just a tale of misery, it is a vivid description of their journey, the dangers they faced, and the obstacles they overcame. Through all of this, Shackleton has never lost a man. Of course, at crucial times they had luck as well, but you know what they say. You make your own luck and these men certainly did through everything that the nature could throw at them. This is one of the great adventure stories of our time. Don’t miss it....more
This is history on a grand scale. The narrative spans from the per-Alexander the Great days to the Bush's disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The essThis is history on a grand scale. The narrative spans from the per-Alexander the Great days to the Bush's disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The essence of the book is that, in the West, our history is viewed through a very narrow lenses. Schools teach its students of the Roman Empire, the subsequent Dark Ages, the reformation and the renaissance. Basically, overlooking the rest of the world. Peter Frankopan has attempted to redress this imbalance.
Moreover, Frankopan gives the reader a perspective on the rise of Mesopotamia, Alexander the Great, the rise of Christianity in the eastern Roman Empire and then the subsequent rise of Islam throughout much of Asia. He then proceeds to discuss the Crusades, the rise of Genghis Khan and his mighty Mongol Empire and then the rise of China more specifically.
Because the scope of the period covered is so enormous, he is bound to be criticized for giving too little attention to certain periods in history. All in all, this is a must read for any history buff. I have learned so much from reading this book....more
This book pretty much provides the backstory of the current Middle East and how it came about. It gives us a broader picture of how the Arab Revolt anThis book pretty much provides the backstory of the current Middle East and how it came about. It gives us a broader picture of how the Arab Revolt and Lawrence's roll tied into other World War I campaigns. The deception of the imperial powers mainly Britain and France to secure their own imperial goals and how it has lead to the situation we mostly find ourselves in today.
The book tries to be a biography of Lawrence asking how did Lawrence do it (answer no one was looking) and three others: Curt Prufer a German spy who tries to get Arabs to attack the Suez Canal, Aaron Aaronsohn the Jewish Zionist who along with his sister set up pro-British spy ring in Palestine, and William Yale who working for Standard Oil traveled the Middle East. I know that some reviewers had a problem with that but I actually liked how it broadened the subject from different point of views.
I gave it a four star because for me there is something lacking in the narrative. I am not sure I can put my finger on it right now, but it just feels that somehow this was a very good book though not a great one. Perhaps, it has to do with the fact that the author is a Journalist and not a historian? Maybe that is the case, but it is still a great read. ...more
This books summarized the crucial year, where Washington's rag tag of a continental Army took on the might of the British empire. It took body blows bThis books summarized the crucial year, where Washington's rag tag of a continental Army took on the might of the British empire. It took body blows by losing battle after battle but perseverance, determination and luck (divine providence) lead by a capable General Washington enabled it to survive the worst.
It is not a very detailed book but it gives anyone interested in the American history of the struggles that founding fathers had to go through. McCullough makes clear how close the American Revolution came to failing that year. British overconfidence and Washington's determination (for his battlefield experience as a military commander was nil) were the difference. ...more
This books gives a great synopsis about the Arab spring and its failures. The stories are human and show us how things unravel even with the best of iThis books gives a great synopsis about the Arab spring and its failures. The stories are human and show us how things unravel even with the best of intentions.
The book is well-written and researched -- it's clear that the author has spent a lot of time in these countries and spends a lot of it on the street, in cafes and in general, learning to know the people.
This book is great historical journalism and is quite the riveting read. It will give the reader a greater understanding of the current Middle East events post Arab spring....more
A fairly good book but with a slight bias towards the Indian National Congress and the unfair role that Lord Mountbatten played in the partition of thA fairly good book but with a slight bias towards the Indian National Congress and the unfair role that Lord Mountbatten played in the partition of the subcontinent. Research is pretty good and makes for a light and interesting read. ...more
This was an immensely pleasurable read. It is great story of tragedy and of some trimph. I read it in the winter nights when the temperatures in MarylThis was an immensely pleasurable read. It is great story of tragedy and of some trimph. I read it in the winter nights when the temperatures in Maryland were plummeting into single digits with negative wind-chills. It added to the mood of the adventure read.
My knowledge of the polar exploration is pretty rudimentary. This was a great way to get introduce to the subject. Hampton Sides is a terrific writer with a talent to bring an historic event to life by drawing his characters into a current reality and weaving them so skillfully into an engrossing plot that forces the reader to keep turning the pages hungrily. The Captain and his team will remain in my thoughts for sometime. ...more
This book is a good read if you want to get a good know-how about how the war unfolded to a certain degree in both Iraq and Afghanistan. What it is noThis book is a good read if you want to get a good know-how about how the war unfolded to a certain degree in both Iraq and Afghanistan. What it is not, is a thesis on its title; why we lost the war. The author comes out as being an apologist for the Military. It does not bode well when even after such a loss of blood and treasure we can hardly decide why we actually lost the war.
Even with the 100,000+ deaths and trillion-dollar waste, Bolger still seems to considers the war well-justified, bringing up "Saddam's ties to Al-Qaeda" as if those accusations had not long been discredited. In his view, naysayers basically just have differences of opinion; for example, referring to a couple of old artillery shells as evidence of a WMD presence, nonetheless accuses “detractors refusing to see anything there".
Bolger mixes field action descriptions with attempted portraits of the military commanders, some bureaucrats, native politicians and warlords. Overall, the writing is unimpressive. But Bolger makes his point: in a long, slow torturous process, military victory was turned into defeat.
A brilliant book. The initial part of the book, especially the first Punic war may not have had the pulse racing but once Hannibal comes into the pictA brilliant book. The initial part of the book, especially the first Punic war may not have had the pulse racing but once Hannibal comes into the picture, the story moves at a thrilling pace. It is the story of the Super Power of the day, Rome against its Mediterranean rival Carthage. The battle is of relatively unequal before the arrival of Hannibal, but the genius of the Punic General turns the table on the Romans in the Second Punic War. How Rome responds to this humiliation, and is able find a brilliant General of its own, in Scipio Africanus makes for quite a read. It is history written at an easy to read style. So fascinating and utterly engrossing. A must read for History genre fans....more
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