The Shock Doctrine, from back in 2007, was such a crucial book in understanding the misery of the post-9/11 neoconservative world at the time. I read The Shock Doctrine, from back in 2007, was such a crucial book in understanding the misery of the post-9/11 neoconservative world at the time. I read it as a young man, and it explained so much to me about how capitalism upends systems around the globe, giving me the vocabulary to make sense of it all.
I’ll forever be grateful to Naomi Klein for being one of my favorite political and social writers. I hadn’t read No Logo, but the urgency of the lessons learned from Shock Doctrine and the leftover hellscape of the whining-down Bush era did make it seem back then that the tools were starting to be formed so we could begin forming a better system.
Since then, the world has somehow gotten even worse. It’s incredibly frustrating, because every one of us should know better. Yet something has happened to humanity since then–spoiler: it’s cell phones and social media–and while there have been some gains, on the whole it seems harder than ever to get people to be on the same page and make sense of it all.
For the post-2015 world, the post-2020 world (that is, the post-COVID world), Naomi Klein has at last written another brilliant book to capture the current zeitgeist. At the same time, it’s quite the personal memoir, which turns out to be the perfect way to explain what the hell is happening. Utilizing the metaphor of the Doppelganger, used as a way to interpret various novels and films, then critiquing subjects from parenthood to personal branding and racism and most of all our online selves, the thesis begins with the absurdity of how Naomi Klein constantly gets confused with Naomi Wolf.
‘Other Naomi’, as Klein puts it. Naomi Wolf is of course the 1990s author of The Beauty Myth, who was always pretty bad at research and liked to make bombastic over-the-top statements over the years, has now become something of an internet joke. Look up the rhyme, if you don’t know. Wolf, the feminist who has since abandoned everything she seemingly once believed in to pal around with the far right (who have been very blatant about taking away women’s rights in recent years if you haven’t noticed), is fully within the right-wing misinformation internet land. This phenomenon specifically is what the bulk of the book Doppelganger analyzes.
Naomi Klein has been a consistent leftist, who strives to critique the system and is frankly too smart to be that much of an internet personality. Wolf is an altogether different sort of character. Since embarrassing herself and getting kicked out of the so-called mainstream, she has become a frequent guest on Tucker and Bannon. It was particularly COVID-19 which broke the brain of not only her but of half the world.
In many ways, Klein’s real target isn’t Wolf but Steve Bannon, that arch ghoul who is working so hard to steal elections and destroy democracy. Klein studied the famous strategist’s podcast, in order to discover how populists co-opt movements which has caused many to actually shift from left-of-center to the far right (and it’s often hippie/spiritual types who make this strange path). Some of this is due to the difference between lukewarm liberalism and true economic leftism, while much of it is admittedly because of the failure of the left to respond accordingly to the challenges of our times.
Klein labels the mediasphere of Bannon and the canceled conspiracy-obsessed, “the Mirror World.” It’s an excellent way to put it. A lot of that comes from internet addiction, the way we’ve been trained on our phones to value online clout instead of human connection. The damage happening is overwhelming, but like The Shock Doctrine, at least there’s a vocabulary we can use to highlight what is happening and hopefully deal with this.
Conspiracy theory subculture, as she says, often gets the feeling right but not the facts. There are valid reasons it’s become such a powerful way to manipulate the masses. By the way, Klein is much more sympathetic than I could ever be to those people who have fallen down such rabbit holes. It’s downright saintly of her how hard she tries to understand the truly lost.
Another thing to appreciate from Klein with regards to this book, is how very personal she gets when she makes these points. It’s not just about how annoying it is to be mixed up with Wolf, nor only the universal struggles of the 2020 lockdowns we’ve all experienced, but of her own family. She tells of her own child diagnosed with autism, with heartfelt authenticity, and about how this unfortunately led to early encounters with the anti-vax movement even before that movement became a powerful political force.
Furthermore, Doppelganger is also among the best books I have ever read about Judaism and anti-Semitism. The debates throughout the 1800s, the tragic history of Nazism and Zionism and so much, expertly researched and analyzed in a context that sadly matters right now as much as it ever has. Her take on Israel and Palestine in particular, the Doppelganger effect through history which turns victim into oppressor, this couldn't be more timely. It is in fact quite horrifying considering she wrote it before the war that began on October 7th of this year.
The book makes many connections on a spectrum of issues, and then ends on a somewhat depressing note. Because, I suppose, it has to. We still have a shit ton to work on with climate change and economic equity and so very many issues. A resurgence of a true left still hasn’t happened yet, and Klein’s descriptions of how the Sanders presidential campaign ended among online infighting instead of a bigger solidarity movement offers stark lessons on how much more needs to be done.
Maybe, just maybe, readers out there will work at slowly making a better world. We kind of absolutely have to. Sure no one book has all the answers, but this could help. We do need the language to understand what we are dealing with, and then build up the solutions. This book alone won’t save the world, nothing probably will, but is a decent step (and perhaps even crucial) however small along that long and difficult path. ...more
Seems appropriate to be writing this review on one of the worst Independence Days in recent memory…
What a horrifying book. Though titled The Next CivSeems appropriate to be writing this review on one of the worst Independence Days in recent memory…
What a horrifying book. Though titled The Next Civil War, it’s not exactly about civil war but rather about the inevitable fall of America. Multiple dispatch scenarios are laid out, thoroughly researched and written in a readable novelistic style, detailing plausible ways the country is about to implode.
Probably alarmist, and also probably accurate. The author being Canadian, it is written with the outsider’s point of view which makes it quite objective. Politically speaking, there is more blame to go around for the right-wing’s current tendencies towards violence and incoherent misinformation now tearing apart the nation’s social fabric. Some reviewers don’t like his taking sides, but the facts are facts.
Major causes include income inequality and climate change, and there seem to be no solutions. Irreconcilable partisan lines, racial animus, and illegetimate outdated electoral systems. Violent outbreaks will be one thing, but the coming economic collapse exacerbating everything else is going truly upend the relatively stable upward mobility we've enjoyed in the last century.
Oh well. Nothing lasts forever and it was fun for a while. Of course, nobody can truly know the future for sure. But we should be honest about what a deep hole we are, in if there’s any hope to get out of this growing mess. Unfortunately, such honesty does not seem to be in the cards at this time....more
Very informative book about Putin and the modern Russia context, which is more relevant than ever for obvious reasons. This books certainly takes a siVery informative book about Putin and the modern Russia context, which is more relevant than ever for obvious reasons. This books certainly takes a side, and is not trying to be dry and neutral. Which I think is appropriate in this day and age...
The amount of corruption is staggering. It's easy to get lost in the endless array of names as oligarchs rise and fall from the 90s Yeltsin-era to the present. The saga of Khodorkovsky and Yukos is explained in detail and quite an important chapter for understanding what has happened to Russia and what kind of corrupt system has taken hold.
Published only in 2020, it's very prescient how the book covers Ukraine and even Biden. In retrospect, the latest war shouldn't have been a surprise at all and the author knew it. There's also of course a chapter on the many connections to that last presidential administration, but not too much emphasis on the 2016 election which has frankly already been analyzed enough.
There is still lots of mystery of Putin's rise from the KGB to world's most notorious dictator, and much of the early years must be written about speculatively. The implications of the Moscow theater hostage crisis are particularly horrifying.
In the end, this is a pessimistic take. It's hard to say what to do with all this information. Russia has become more of a pariah than ever, and history will judge whether sanctions will enact change and if the Ukraine resistance will bring about anything better. Perhaps a freer world is on the horizon and authoritarianism will lose, or perhaps not. Either way, in trying to stay informed one would do well to read this book. ...more
I thought Fire & Fury was excellent, and these kinds of books were one of the best ways to deal with the stress of tI'm honestly just so sick of him.
I thought Fire & Fury was excellent, and these kinds of books were one of the best ways to deal with the stress of those horrible 4 years. But now that it's over with, as much as gossip about the worst administration in modern history is actually somewhat important, learning about it just leaves me feeling sick and empty.
Memories of this time are best left far behind. Yes, we must never be complacent and make sure that this never happens again (by also making sure that the current government performs to a higher standard)... But I really can't take any more of this era. That's me.
It's a fitting enough end to Michael Wolff's trilogy. It's well-written, more like creative nonfiction with the prose style and with the admittedly subjective takes on what's going on in these crazy character's heads. While 2020 was an important year in terms of the economy and don't forget that first impeachment, this book is primarily just about the end of the presidency. COVID is relegated background, only concerned with how that affected the election. Then he loses, then endless psychoanalysis of why he believed he didn't, then January 6th, then the second impeachment.
It's embarrassing, it's shameful. The book almost gives the guy too much credit, how he's indestructible and survives anything. Isn't it enough he lost the election? That should be the main thing in politics. Of course he is destructible.
Now, the country needs to move on already. I for one am ready for a boring Biden book however critical.
Full disclosure: I am a big fan of The Majority Report podcast. Watching their video clips online has become a daily habit of mine for keeping up withFull disclosure: I am a big fan of The Majority Report podcast. Watching their video clips online has become a daily habit of mine for keeping up with the political world, especially during these tense last few years.
Co-host Michael Brooks (who also hosts his own solo The Michael Brooks Show) always has a very poignant take which I enjoy listening to, with the ability to summarize complex issues in a way both intelligent and entertaining.
The news market nowadays is indeed very oversaturated, particularly when it comes to opinions on YouTube, yet there is a reason I find myself drifting towards the Majority Report more than sources like the more independent and objective Democracy Now. Because in this current climate, it’s not just about getting the most facts. Anyone can do so if they want.
The battle over messaging has really become about being able to fight back against misinformation as much as anything else. And that is what I truly love about Sam Seder and Michael Brooks, that they aren’t “above the fray” at all—unlike that example I’ll use again, Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman. They fully take on the trending online garbage of the extreme alt-right, refusing to cede the internet world over to those charlatans.
For whatever reasons of history, social media’s biases tend to reward the worst of the worst when it comes to extreme political rhetoric. Even the old medias of cable news and talk radio can’t compete with the unfortunately powerful trolls of today.
But at least some people are fighting back, and are damn good at it. Therefore, I was very intrigued when I heard about Michael Brooks’ book project titled Against the Web: A Cosmopolitan Answer to the New Right. The book is slim at only a hundred pages, which fits well as an e-book for those more low-attention spanned readers struggling to keep up with the information overload of the times.
The main focus of his critique concerns the so-called “Intellectual Dark Web,” the IDW, which is truly one of the dumbest names for the cheap yet successful motivational speakers who now pervade the gross right-wing. He starts of with an analysis of Sam Harris, who rose in fame as one of those New Atheist war-mongering neo-cons during the Bush era. Brooks lays out the laziness of his debate, which never truly was very intellectual at all. Particularly embarrassing is his email spat with Noam Chomsky, in which he actually says: “The history is completely irrelevant.”
And that’s it right there. These grifters cash in by presenting themselves as deep, yet don’t care to analyze how much of the state of the world is a product of historical context. Again and again, they are proven to have an authoritarian mindset, “a penchant for defending hierarchy” as Brooks expertly sums up. Even the late Christopher Hitchens was able to mock the “IQ obsessed.” He may have been wrong on Iraq, but I can’t imagine Hitchens today tolerating the logicbro nonsense of his old contemporaries.
Much of the book focuses on Jordan Peterson as well, the very definition of a self-help hack trying to cash in on the zeitgeist. Clearly, Peterson is not very good at being an academic as he flames the campus culture wars with his overuse of the term postmodernism—that catch-all nebulous term which is usually conflated with Marxism for no reason whatsoever. Peterson famously crashed and burned in his big Zizek debate, and has since gone so off the deep end that he is now in some of kind of rehab and/or in a coma in Russia of all places after hawking a bizarre all-meat diet. You can’t even satirize this stuff.
As Brooks says, “the Petersons of the world want to naturalize or mythologize the injustices we see around us instead of analyzing them as a function of historical process that, because they are human-made, can be rectified in the future.” They never were very interested in honestly learning what makes the world turn and, God forbid, trying to make the world better. The truth is, they only want Patreon subscribers.
The way they pretend to be victims and underdogs while growing in power is particularly infuriating. As he says, “The IDW and right in general love to have it both ways with free speech. On the one hand, if a reactionary is criticized for something they say, Free Speech is Under Attack. On the other hand, if a left-wing professor says something they find objectionable, or if too many faculty members have political views they dislike, they have no problem asking the government to step in to examine the curriculum and impose ‘balance.’” (Hell, check out the presidential Twitter fact-checking controversy happening right this very moment…)
“Still, right-wing media is one of the easiest gigs in the world.” You said it, Michael.
While it’s easy enough to dunk on the shallow Dave Rubins and Ben Shapiros of the world, that standard conservative trying to rebrand as wannabe intellectuals all of a sudden—and dunk he does, who couldn’t not reference Shapiro’s disastrous BBC interview with Andrew Neils—Brooks’ real point goes far beyond such critiques. The true core of his thesis is that it’s time for the left to do better in winning over that angry young man demographic these guys so easily convert.
Don’t let them use fake terms like “classical liberal,” don’t let them have free reign on Joe Rogan and then just hope the moral superiority of the left will actually win elections and change hearts.
In his final criticisms of the “ultra-woke” left, Brooks has much to say on why we should encourage moral growth instead of shaming and canceling, of which the latter often adds fuel to the bad faith arguments of the right. Personally, I think the apparent craziness of the university protest crowd has always been exaggerated and never was as big a deal as the clickbait merchants would have us think. But Brooks does have a point.
Like it or not, this new crop of right-wingers is a loud voice today. It’s time to understand them, so that the good guys can win. The end goal is a fair and just society, a cosmopolitan socialism as Brooks concludes which is able to express itself successfully in the modern landscape. That’s the fight worth having.
It is time to form an international message of solidarity, and the path forward with be both for the left to get it together and also to finally defeat the manipulative new right of the web.
An essential book for anyone who wants to understand modern Russia, that now almost mythical country making such an (unfortunate) impact on the world.An essential book for anyone who wants to understand modern Russia, that now almost mythical country making such an (unfortunate) impact on the world.
Masha Gessen is a great writer who focuses on individual human stories in order to give context to the last several decades of Russian history. A cast of academics, protesters, and LGBT characters highlight the immense struggles going on beyond what was once the Iron Curtain.
It's not just about Putinism, but Putin is of course lingering in the background always. As the stories begin, there is a lot to take in about the systems of the Soviet Union, and not just epic battles but very personal things like the national racial categories and how family planning was upended many times resulting in generations of single-mother households. And the fascinating concept of 'Homo Sovieticus.' There is also as good an explanation of how the Soviet Union fell as one could read anywhere--which is quite the complex topic. There's Yeltsin, and the various disappointing mistakes made during the volatile economic transition to the current Russian Federation.
As we lead up to the present we find ourselves in the purposefully confusing world that the political technologists have made: Putin's Russia. It's a place hard to define, although the scholars keep trying: mainly there's the debate over the definitions of authoritarianism and totalitarianism. People get assassinated and politically imprisoned every once in a while but it's not like a big deal to most. Overall the point seems to be that ideology doesn't matter as much as Westerners think it does. Vaguely, Putin support "family values" or something.
The saddest aspect of all is the homophobia of the current state. Pedophilia is equated with homosexuality and this is one of the the big bad enemies used to control the people. It makes for tragic stories to find out how it turns out for people we've been following since the 80s and 90s.
Finally, much culminates in the invasion of the Ukraine. Of course, that story is still unfolding...
As for the future, it's damn hard to say. Should we be optimistic or pessimistic? Should we really pretend anyone can know? Well, The Future is History. ...more
This is a very important book for understanding America (and it's place in the world) over the past twenty years.
It can certainly be argued that RogeThis is a very important book for understanding America (and it's place in the world) over the past twenty years.
It can certainly be argued that Roger Ailes has been one of the most important historical figures shaping the world that we live in right now. And it that sense, I mean, shaping it for the worse.
The Loudest Voice is a fascinating portrait of a political genius of the right and his long career in television. In his youth, from working as a talk show producer to a stint on Broadway believe it or not, Ailes certainly comes across as an interesting guy even if it's all just foreshadowing for the powerful force he will become later.
As we get into politics, campaigns, and ultimately Fox News, the scope of the book widens. It isn't only about Ailes, we also get to read up about the backstories of such iconic characters as Richard Nixon, Rupert Murdoch, Ted Turner; and eventually those terrible talking heads Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and Glenn Beck. As well as of course Fox, there's much to be said about behind-the-scenes action in the cable news wars between CNN and MSNBC as the networks are founded and evolve--or rather, devolve--over the years.
Roger Ailes, ultimately, is a villain. There's no question of that. Fox was problematic from the start. From the Clinton years, to war-mongering in the Bush years, and in the end Fox completely goes off the rails in the Obama years. With much juicy gossip as the ruthless Murdoch family fights along the way...
Although it's several years old now, the book is an excellent companion for fans of the underrated Showtime series The Loudest Voice. However, for anyone who had been following Ailes' true story, the book disppitates around the 2012 election in which Obama was reelected. It doesn't get to the shocking more recent history of when Ailes is fired for the sexual harassment of Gretchen Carlson, followed by the insane shakeup of 2016 as the right's anti-intellectual monster became fully out of control, and then he died.
Roger Ailes was a man who helped make America a worse place. He was a sexist, a liar, and utilized every racist dirty trick he could come up with to win and reshape the information wars in his own image. Now we are in a post-truth world that he was arguably personally responsible for.
Despite the pessimism this all leaves with the reader, it is important to learn these things. Often times in the story, Ailes and his extreme rightist cronies were underestimated by the "establishment" again and again. Let us take these dangers seriously, and never again underestimate the power of cynical pandering to the worst of America. Let us learn from them, and then fight harder....more
What a contrast that was with Woodward’s book. Instead of high-level leaks and national security, Wolff’s Siege is just pure gossip.
And that makes forWhat a contrast that was with Woodward’s book. Instead of high-level leaks and national security, Wolff’s Siege is just pure gossip.
And that makes for an entertaining read. The guy does know how to write.
There’s Karen Pence drama, Giuliani’s drinking, and behind-the-scenes family scuffles at Fox News.
For the most part, this book is comfort food for the resistance. The president is always portrayed as a total idiot, and there’s a certain reassuring satisfaction in having that confirmed. Apparently, absolutely everyone around him thinks he is the absolute worst.
Even when criticizing the left and quoting Bannon (and there is so much Bannon), the overarching theme is still that the president is dumb as shit.
Another overarching theme is how all the people in his circle are constantly trying to steer and manipulate the highest office in the land, with endless distractions and strategies and theorizing what makes that infamous reality show host tick.
And the reason they work so hard is, of course, so that they can save their careers. That’s about it when it comes to making the government go round.
It gets very disturbing to hear about how all these people seem to be in it only for themselves. Very seldomly do any of his inept kids or cohorts worry about what’s best for the country and for the world. More often they totally admit how unethical and often illegal the whole operation is, and yet they must try their best to win. Because it’s their team, or something.
This goes most for Bannon, who is basically the co-writer of this book. He goes on and on and on about how stupid and insane his chosen president is, but that’s okay because he’s fighting the so-called establishment. But after all those thousands of words, Bannon never truly tries to explain exactly how his “movement” would make citizens lives better in any way. He fights hard to win, and the question of why is never addressed.
The furthest Bannon seems to be able to think is that he’s against third world immigrants, and he’s against China. Oh, and the bad thing about democrats is that they only care about people in the margins. (Again, it is not addressed what people at all his party cares about.) The conclusion is that the new far right is only against things, and for nothing.
What horrible people.
Then the book ends on an anti-climatic note, due to the disappointment of the Mueller Report as we all know. Wolff certainly assumes the inevitability of the coming downfall, there’s no question as far as this author and all his sources are concerned. I most definitely do hope so myself. But without a proper ending for the book, as much as it’s worth reading as a Fire and Fury sequel, it simply doesn’t feel like it has a proper ending.
No doubt there will be at least a third in the trilogy, and many will want to read and analyze the historical trainwreck of it all. For this reader, however, I am left wondering why it is I keep coming back to these shitty Tr*mp books. ...more
Is it hyperbolic to say that this book may change the world?
If you've already read about Universal Basic Income (UBI), or really anything by a good mIs it hyperbolic to say that this book may change the world?
If you've already read about Universal Basic Income (UBI), or really anything by a good myth-busting economist which challenges our current era of capitalism, then Utopia for Realists may not teach you too much that you don't already know. Overall Rutger Bregman''s way is just to summarize some main big ideas into a readable paperback, and yet that is the whole point.
There are plenty of graphs which will convince the reader that income inequality is a leading social problem, and even some surprising historical examples of how realistic giving away free money to alleviate poverty would be. (The now famous Nixon example! And Speenhamland, what an unfortuante misinterpretation ... Bregman is primarily a historian after all.)
So read up to learn why value shouldn't actually be measured by a nation's GDP, and about how arbitrary it is that neoliberalism won out in the end because it could have gone so many other ways. Yet most of all, take this hopefully-important book as a manifesto. A call to stop accepting that the way it is now is the way it has to be, and instead embrace these valid possibilities for new utopias.
That is ultimately the point. The world has changed for the better before, and it can change for the better again. In bigger ways than we think. This in essence is what's being called for, to inspire leaders and citizens to have more ambition and actually improve everyone's lives.
Really, if we can't think harder about how to make life better then what's the point of civilization?
I truly hope this book fulfils such potential and does have that big an impact, I really do.
Therefore, of course, very recommended for everyone in the world to read. ...more
The Big Short. Remember that movie? We all should, and never forget...
If you're like me, and don't know anything about the Wall Street high finance, The Big Short. Remember that movie? We all should, and never forget...
If you're like me, and don't know anything about the Wall Street high finance, but just kind of suspect that it's all bullshit and nobody really knows what they are doing, then this is the book for you!
The 2007-2008 financial crisis was one of the most important historical events of the young 21st century. It wasn't even that long ago, and already we've mostly forgotten. Whether or not you're the type to have strong political opinions, on this it's just too complicated for most of us to care about.
Luckily, Michael Lewis has penned this fascinatingly entertaining book. A book which is in no way a dull summation of mortgage fraud, although you'll definitely learn a lot about CDOs and the culture which nearly destroyed the entire system. But really, this is a book about people. And that's the brilliance of it.
An engaging tome about those who were smart enough to predict what in retrospect should have been obvious all along. This is the best way to learn, by hearing it from the true experts themselves who are fascinating characters in their own right. That is why The Big Short is the best book for learning about all these things, because of Lewis' excellent writing readers will care on a deeper level.
(However, if you've watched the film first you may be a bit confused by how the film changed most of the names of these real people. Another reason why reading is ultimately superior to watching movies, if one truly wants to be educated, right?)
Sadly, upon finishing this you may be left with much pessimism. It doesn't seem that Wall Street and the government have learned any lessons at all from this catastrophe and we are doomed to repeat it all over again very soon. Seriously, think about who is in charge now and shudder.
Well, should make for a good sequel soon enough ~...more
The Mueller Report by Robert S. Mueller, a somewhat different kind of book review.
Well, I made it. I slugged through the entire report. It’s all freeThe Mueller Report by Robert S. Mueller, a somewhat different kind of book review.
Well, I made it. I slugged through the entire report. It’s all free online, and I didn't even have to steal it.
As eBooks go, this is not the most entertaining “page-turner.” There are a lot of footnotes, for example, which tend to interrupt the flow.
Moreover, as a narrative this is one of the all-time most anticlimactic tomes out there.
As a book on its own merits, it's really more about the news cycle context than anything else.
All this makes it rather difficult to judge.
But let us try. Firstly, there is Volume I. This section heavily details Russian interference in that infamous 2016 election via social media spamming as well the DNC hack. Is this still a controversial fact in some circles? If you are interested in learning about the IRA—the Internet Research Agency—this report is as good a source as any. If you dismiss it as a left-wing conspiracy theory or something, then nothing will really convince especially some legalistic government report.
The schizophrenia of the U.S. government at this time is quite fascinating, how the highest level of the executive branch can have such a different spin than the entire intelligence apparatus (although recent tweets may have finally admitted that he had help, if we are going to get into tweets).
Which perhaps is the whole point. In these post-truth times, can anyone be convinced of anything anymore?
Then we have endless detail on collusion. Yes, outright collusion. There’s a colorful cast of characters, such as foreign policy “expert” George Papadopoulos and the ever-present diplomat Sergey Kislyak. There’s Richard Gates, Roger Stone, and of course Don Jr. and the big tower meeting. What a stream of reports and reports and reports about how much they welcomed Russian help and even tried and failed to collude but couldn't get as far as they liked due to incompetence.
It does not make for a very satisfying read. To learn all this, and then find out that the legal term for conspiracy is so narrow that they ultimately find it inconclusive and then don’t charge the big guy. Cue the right-wing exoneration talking points.
One particularly close example of what may be illegal, as far as specifically trading campaign work for favors, is the question of the Republican party changing their stance on the Russian invasion of the Ukraine at the RNC convention. This highlights the entire problem with the report right there: we have a question that is unanswered. Did or didn’t officials in the campaign trade influence? It’s even part of the written answers with the president, which were dismissed and not followed up on. More on that failure of a Q & A below.
These near-misses continue, again and again it’s a running theme. Was it illegal for Don Jr. to have a meeting with Russians, whether or not it was really about adoptions? The answer is yes, due to campaign finance law. But then it is written that let’s go ahead and not charge him because he probably didn’t know it was illegal and it would be hard to prove intent in court and whatever in this case ignorance of the law is apparently a valid excuse.
So much painstaking research, and so much giving up. These impossible standards keep making it frustrating for the reader.
Not that there aren’t plenty of convictions and crimes uncovered. Paul Manafort was a pretty large get, let’s acknowledge that. But when it comes to the most powerful of the powerful, there is a sense of exasperation. That in the end, America is about protecting those who are too big to lose and the system will always find a way to make sure those on top will never face the consequences they deserve.
And now we have gotten to Volume II: Obstruction. Here is where it may or may not get good. There are the ten examples of the president unambiguously obstructing justice to the best of his ability. Public witness-tampering, changing the story on firing Comey, live on TV no less, demands of loyalty, the whole thing. There’s quite a lot.
[And please don’t give me that line about how there can’t be obstruction if there’s no underlying crime. 1: That’s not true, period. If it was true, wouldn’t it be an incentive to obstruct because if it works criminals would get away with the crime? 2: More importantly, there were so many crimes! The president’s personal lawyer Cohen lied about the Moscow tower, is in jail now, and let’s not even get into the campaign finance violation with the porn star affair hush money. If nothing else simply firing Comey in order to protect his friend Michael Flynn, a criminal, then that is clearly obstructing justice. It’s not only about evidence of collusion/conspiracy at the top. It’s still plenty about obstructing investigations to protect his dirty circle. If that’s not corrupt, what is?]
So, then it all ends in a pathetically lame copout in which DOJ guidelines say they can’t indict so they don’t bother indicting. Yes, Mueller went on television trying to explain his logic puzzle of how you can’t charge a crime with someone who isn’t on trial, even though at the same time it's not an exoneration, punting to Congress as he hints that only they can hold the office to account. Yeah, like that’s going to go well.
This is the core frustration of this document, and this entire era we live in. It is postmodern enough that everybody gets their own talking point. You get to interpret the whole investigation however you want, witch hunt or call to impeachment; pick and chose your own interpretation. Attorney General Barr certainly wants you to interpret it in a political way that benefits his side, based on his initial coverup-y behavior. Mueller simply wants you to be smart enough to read 400 pages and decide for yourself (one of the most naïve positions possible in this age).
In the end, everybody is unsatisfied and the waters couldn’t be muddier. So if you want a sense of closure after reading this, you will still have a long while to wait as we see how history unfolds. So far, to put it lightly, I’m not sensing anything close to a national consensus in the near future.
Isn’t it amazing? This was supposed to be it, and the polls still show that right-wingers believe what they believe, they even have a few quotes to highlight to defend their position. While the rest of the country vaguely listen to mainstream news summations and have ever so slightly leaned towards kinda’ maybe let's-investigate-more-and-maybe-impeach-even-though-it’s-for-naught-cause-of-the-Senate.
Sadly, it seems that perhaps obstruction totally works and the people will never know. The appendix in which the president submits his written answers are certainly more of the same. Mueller even says more or less outright that the questionnaire isn’t enough but he must give up because a subpoena would take too long and he wants to get this damn thing over with. Over thirty answers of “I don’t remember” with no chance to follow up. Once again, the system let’s the powerful get away with anything.
Hell, perhaps all the good stuff is redacted. There are a lot of redactions. So if this is a coverup, then one can only conclude that coverups work.
The story is still continuing. The television drama won’t be over any time soon. In the meantime, the vast majority of Americans will not read this free report. They won’t even read the summaries.
I suppose all that’s left is to depend on the Democrats, and that is a sad notion indeed.
The country is in trouble.
For these reasons above, for this humble reader at this particular time in history, one can only judge this report however full of facts to be a disappointment. Three stars at most....more
If you haven't been listening to podcast Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff--the great techno guru of the 90s who has now become more of a skeptic and theIf you haven't been listening to podcast Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff--the great techno guru of the 90s who has now become more of a skeptic and the social consciousness of the silicon era--do so now. Full of brilliant ideas and dialogues about our current confusing era. Then, after listening to most of the archive, get the book Team Human.
To be honest, it's rather light for Rushkoff. To delve deeper, try Life Inc. or Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus. Team Human could be accused of oversimplifying a host of issues, but the book does provide a valuable service by summing up the ethos that humanity needs to start living by if we are going to survive the digital landscape that we are in. These things do need to sorted in an orderly manner, like a manifesto or at least a starter, so that well-meaning people will have a foundation to fall back on.
Much of the book is fascinating, on the connection between computerized media and nationalism as opposed to the unifying nature of other mediums. On the absurd abstraction of the economy, and how we must care more about the foreground and not be lost in the background. Why the Renaissance, which takes in positive old ideas, is a better metaphor for the state of the world than 'revolution', which always ends up with the same power structures in the end. There is even an analysis about how story structure in cinema has warped people's expectations of reality, and even gets into the cyclical nature of time in cultures both pre- and post-agriculturalism. And my personal favorite, the dangerous concept of mechanomorphism in which humans start imitating the machines.
Team Human is an important book for anyone who cares about just that, humans. Armed with these ideas, let's choose a team that has our interests in mind before it's too late......more
I honestly cannot sing enough praises to this book. Absolutely brilliant. What a shame it's not a big hit, poor Anthony Atamanuik... He is of course tI honestly cannot sing enough praises to this book. Absolutely brilliant. What a shame it's not a big hit, poor Anthony Atamanuik... He is of course the star of Comedy Central's President Show, and in my view the greatest 45-impersonator out there. It is a crowded field these days, true, but his oddly deep take analyzes this tragical/satirical era like no one else.
I have no idea why there's not more President Show (or The Opposition for that matter, but that's a lament for another day), damn you Comedy Central!
The premise of American tantrum, is that an editor of a golf magazine is interviewing our illustrious prez for a presidental library pocktbook that needs to come out before Obama's actual presidential library opens. It starts out innocuous enough, this seemingly apolitical fellow as the straight man to Atamanuik's crazed commander-in-chief. In fact, at the start of the book it's pretty funny but not outstanding and one wonders if the joke can be sustained for an entire book.
Then, some kind of a plot begins to develop. The interviewer is apparently an alcoholic, and starts to go on his own rants which can get very dark and very racist, and also involve an infidelity episode. I shouldn't say more and spoil it. Then there's the weird Nikola Tesla references which actually taught me a few things.
Some of the funniest parts were the calls to various world leaders and business tycoons, with more smart impressions and unique takes on the state of the whole world not just America.
I also enjoyed the call to Area 51 and the Illuminati orgy party descriptions. What a wonderful blend of conspiracy theory (JFK stuff there too) and cutting edge topical analysis.
And lest I forget, Bannon's "Jack Renegade" stupid action hero self fan fiction makes horrible anti-Semitism a laugh riot! Seriously, this gets the essence of Bannon like you won't believe.
As the book comes to a climax, the Mueller and Cohen plot becomes more central. (The messages at his "consulting" firm, ha! Those election recordings, like that tower meeting and other collusions, are both absolutely hilarious and also seem surprisingly probable.
The epilogue absolutely blew me away. Like an essay on the darkness of America's soul, exposing what's bigger than who is in office now, the past and future and what to make of humanity's destiny, and then there's the 7-eyed raven. If only it was required reading all through the land...
After reading Woodward's book, I needed this. Even though it's comedy, Atamanuik and Casey are as qualified as anyone to frame just how the world works these days. I suppose one could make comparisons to Fire and Fury, in that much of it may not technically be confirmed but there certainly is a feeling of truth in this kinda-historical document.
In fact, Anthony Atamanuik has come up with actual predictions in character on multiple occasions. Look it up: he's done ridiculous bits on his show and then they've turned out to come true later. That's how good he is at getting into our demented leader's head.
This is a valuable skill. I just wish this book stood out more among all political tomes that swell the bookstore.
Lastly, give audiobooks a chance and experience this book by listening. With the prez in character among other great actors, it's basically a comedy album. Which also happens to be the culmination of the legendary President Show.
What a ride. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face as I'm crying.
I got a lot out of this book. I do understand the criticisms that Harari can be unfocused in this list of lessons, or rather questions without clear aI got a lot out of this book. I do understand the criticisms that Harari can be unfocused in this list of lessons, or rather questions without clear answers (but what's wrong with that?), and it is not quite the must-read that was Sapiens and even Homo Deus.
That said, having a book of Yuval Harari disjointedly riffing about the state of the world is about the most fascinating kind of read I could ask for. The more, the better. His ideas about religion, technology, story-telling, identity, meditation, the future, politics, nationalism, what went wrong with humanity and what went right... his very well-thought out takes on all these subjects are crucial indeed. (And for an atheistic author who doesn't believe in identity and basically disproves all religions, this sure turned out to be a surprisingly spiritual book.)
If only there was a way to make everyone in the world read Harari and have some real perspective about all that is going on. Seriously, those with power may be just the kinds to not to seek truth--as is expertly explained within--but it sure would be nice if they did read more.
This book is a series of conversation starters in many ways, but conversations that need to be had. How are the challenges of the planet earth, and not only the societal structure but the actual genetic makeup of the human species, how are they going to pan out in this dynamic century? Unfortunately, those in charge seem to have no idea what to do. Yes, the current regressive political movements are discussed, and one does come away more convinced than ever that such movements are extremely not equipped to deal with the problems that are coming?
So what are we going to do about it all? I don't know. But, for a start, at least having thinking more deeply about the right questions could lead to some better answers!...more
So you should all know the headlines at this point. The really attention-grabbing ones aren't the main point though, the main point of the book is of So you should all know the headlines at this point. The really attention-grabbing ones aren't the main point though, the main point of the book is of course about how 45 is a horrible boss and constantly fighting with his staff: to be specific, there's the military angle and the "globalism" free trade angle. Again and again it comes to that.
The main protagonist is Gary Cohn, who fought against protectionism but spoiler alert he loses in the end. The whole thing is just so frustrating to read. For fuck's sake, really, why is 45 so stupid when it comes to the meaning of trade deficits? And now we know, he will never ever learn.
Then there are the fights with the military. Mattis and McMaster always trying to keep the world order stable, and guess who wants to upend it? Another thing I learned is how much 45 hates South Korea for some reason, it came up quite a lot.
In trying to figure out just what 45 believes in, if there's any consistent set of values, it seems to be that he likes everyone who works for him to be miserable all the time and he likes to think of businessmen as superior to all other humans. This is a point of contention with those in the military, that they don't believe y'know that everything the United States does should be rated solely by money.
At this point one can't help thinking a military coup may be the lesser evil.
Lastly, there's the value system of how personal relationships are all that matters internationally. Like, being friends with Xi and liking him is gong to save the world. It is self-evident how stupid and overly simplistic that is.
All in all, read this and learn about the inner workings of the current chaotic white house and despair. Fire and Fury may make for a better read, but this is Woodward so we should be able to trust this. I suppose there are some criticism that Woodward is too deferential to the military/intelligence complex and the free trade status quo, usually sympathetic to their arguments. But, can't blame him at this point.
To be honest, who fucking cares. This is depressing. This is what? The fourth 45 book I've read lately? The dozenth best-seller out now? How much more does the public have to know before this is over already? These are objectively bad times, there's no rational defense anymore unless you really live in kookoo land, this administration is a disgrace. When are consequences going to catch up?
When is it going to end? On a very personal note, I need it to end soon because I can't think about this for much longer. ...more
Hong Kong on the Brink is a memoir by an American diplomat who writes about Hong Kong in the 1960s during the tumultuous days of the Cultural RevolutiHong Kong on the Brink is a memoir by an American diplomat who writes about Hong Kong in the 1960s during the tumultuous days of the Cultural Revolution. It’s a personal story with historical relevance.
The author, Syd Goldsmith, is not known as a particularly high-level diplomat. Yet his take as a Cantonese speaker at the American Consulate gives him a window into the inner workings of the time which makes this book about far more than just granting visas. With over fifty chapters, it covers a wide range showcasing both day-to-day life as well as complex international politics.
Goldsmith starts out with his backstory, explaining just how he became a Foreign Service Officer and found himself sent to Hong Kong in 1965. With an exceptional education, he decided to forego the business world and instead enter government service. He also delves into his personal life, his marriage and the birth of his first child, although those topics often seem to warrant less attention than the focus on his career (which he even admits in some critically self-reflective parts).
After a thorough screening process, he is sent to Hong Kong. It was not his first choice, but he soon starts to embrace it and studies Cantonese seriously. In the chapter entitled ‘The Tricks They Try,’ the book gets entertaining with an overview of the scams that immigrants utilized in the hopes of coming to the United States. Goldsmith always writes with no judgment. As a diplomat, he also gets to observe the high life of the rich and powerful. For the first third of the book all seems well even with the backdrop of Maoist China and the Vietnam War… Then, by chapter fifteen it is explained to him that “there was real trouble just below Hong Kong’s appearance of calm.”
The crux of the book is the communist riots of the year 1965, which is often foreshadowed until it finally explodes in the climax of the narrative.
The title of the chapter ‘The Labor Strife Boils Over’ shows an example of how economics caused much unrest in the British colony. In the following chapters it is noted how many of Mao’s infamous Little Red Books have taken over the streets. At first it may not be judged as a serious threat, but the reader can feel the rising tension.
Meanwhile, various chapters jump from one topic to another, from briefly meeting Richard Nixon to an expose of Macau. Eventually, the author becomes a sort of CIA analyst as he meets with Cold War agents to discuss what may come. Not to mention a source for journalists as the resident expert.
Goldsmith can be downright poetic at times. “It strikes me that fright can sear memory, etching it deeply into grooves,” he muses. “A needle will play it like a 33-rpm record, over and over for a lifetime. But the trauma can also reduce memory to ashes.”
I learned a lot in reading this book. There were many complicated factors that tied colonial Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China even during the heights of the Cold War. For example, even under the threat of a possible military attack they still hoped to be able to trade for water with officials across the border. But the book is still from the subjective perspective of one man, and not meant to be a complete history of all things Hong Kong during that decade. Still, a very informative perspective indeed.
Fortunately, cooler heads did prevail in the end although the city went through very challenging times. Syd Goldsmith made it. The extremism of the Cultural Revolution, as we all know, never did fully overtake Hong Kong. The cost of freedom was, however, rather high as the British ultimately seized control.
“By early 1968 Hong Kong’s emergency was pretty much behind me,” the author writers at the end of the book, as he reflects upon what he witnessed and survived.
Hong Kong on the Brink (appropriately subtitled An American diplomat relives 1967’s darkest days) is not introductory and is only recommended for those already familiar with Hong Kong and modern Chinese history. Hong Kong expats particularly curious would be most interested. For a certain kind of reader, this an excellent read....more
Personally I think the Michael Wolff's Fire and Fury is excellent and damn what a fascinating read, but there is a certain challenge in it. Not that IPersonally I think the Michael Wolff's Fire and Fury is excellent and damn what a fascinating read, but there is a certain challenge in it. Not that I think criticisms of the accuracy are what's wrong—I will defend them below. But the problem is that that living in this age and rehashing the past year has been very mentally stressful. And at the same time to read, there's keeping up with the endless barrage of new scandals which threatens to overwhelm my feeble mind.
Simply put, too much fucking Tr*mp. I get conflicted because this is important and worth paying attention to. Yet the sad fact of it is that he is the history’s all-time greatest attention whore and good or bad press he no doubt relishes in all the constant fretting. Note that in my small way I try to rebel against this by hereafter only referring to Prez you-know-who as 45.
As to the merits of the book, here I go: I genuinely think it is excellent and everyone should read it. It came at the right time, just when one may worry that we are getting used to it and normalization has set in, this amazing story was suddenly published to usher in more fresh outrages. And fatigue or not, outrages is the sensible reaction. Michael Wolff has done a great service.
Starting from the scene of election night at the campaign when they shockingly won, the premise from the get-go that no one expected him to win. The campaign was a terrible mess, as was reported on at the time, thought the one guy who believed he could make it happen was Bannon. From beginning to end, Bannon is certainly the protagonist of the book.
Wolff lays out the insanity of recent history in a readable and dare I say entertaining manner. It’s not only the dry facts, but a narrative arc that somehow all makes sense. Some may criticize that but I think it is a perfectly fair way engage the reader. There is even commentary on the reality show nature of the current presidency to create this sort of drama, which we’ve all been witnessing. Usually history is made sense of and turned into story long after the fact, but this is the new postmodern age isn’t it? Wolff is simply transcribing in the most appropriate way possible.
Some may think it grossly irresponsible for Wolff to relay rumors, but so far there isn’t anything specific which has turned out not to be true. No one has denied any quotes. Wolff is upfront in the book when the same events often have competing interpretations from different camps. I find the author’s judgment to always be fair. If there are later corrections made then so be it.
If one can just call a spade a spade, we know it’s all basically true. Like, the way the book states that 45 hated his own inauguration and was visibly fighting with Melania. Anyone can watch the videos to know this is truth. Another example that comes to mind is when Bannon gave the speech at CPAC which was a dig at Jared, it’s obvious! All the behind the scenes footage is valid and America knows it. Above all, the glaringly open secret that 45 is an idiot and everyone who works for him constantly talks about it.
Moreover, the rumory nature of the book is what has gotten headlines but for the most part it’s about Michael Wolff’s analysis of public happenings than just the gossip. Wolff, in omniscient narrator fashion, gives thorough critical examination to the firings and the scandals and panic, and without the lame partisanship in so much punditry. Although the central theme that 45 is shallow and empty and doesn’t read and constantly watches TV (an interesting term, he’s “post-literate”) and he can’t control his worst impulses and who refuses to even know that he doesn’t know, barring that overall important point the other characters are indeed analyzed with respect. There’s still more to learn about 45 beyond his mere stupidity, like the way he prefers loyalty of women. There are the the occasional pop psychological riffs on his motivations to just be liked, paternal-related and otherwise.
In any case, 45 and his defenders have rather had an enormous problem with the concept of objective truth… So why listen to their attacks on Wolff? I for one trust the leaks.
Michael Wolff is clearly talented at writing about politics in surprising ways. For example, he does repeatedly criticize the so-called liberal media. Makes it all the more poignant when he explains the world of right-wing media with its far lower standards of entry. And after all the due respect given to the original core members of the cabinet, it can’t be denied that the unqualified Hope Hicks and Stephen Miller’s promotions towards the end show an absolute problem with finding professional staff. Wolff simply, as they say, tells it like it is.
One of the most haunting analyses that come to mind is when white supremacist Richard Spencer is declared to be the intellectual base of “Trumpism”, which is all the more a horrifying concept because the more one thinks about it the more it can’t be denied to be true.
Overall, the book is about the disastrous and chaotic infighting which took place in the White House. From chiefs of staff Preibus to Kelly, when it all settles we find ourselves nearly caught up in the low morale present. There's the Scaramucci affair, which turns out to be yet worse knowing the backstory. Often it's 45's own family, Jared and Ivanka, who are the worst of the worst.
If Bannon is the main character, then the utterly incompetent “Jarvanka” family faction proves to be the antagonist. Spoiler: They win in the end. It’s hard to say if that’s a happy or sad ending.
In satisfying faction, by the time of the infamous Charlottesville “many sides” comment, absolutely everybody knows that 45 is a lost cause who cannot do this job. Not to mention the tweets. Then there’s the growing Russian scandal, which initially is given a lot of skepticism but grows worse and worse veering into that incredibly inept Comey firing and then revelations of inexplicable meetings and subsequent coverups and obstruction of justice allegations and Rosenstein’s revenge in the form of the Mueller Special Counsel. By the conclusion no less an authority than Bannon himself has to admit that eventually this will bring the administration down.
Because we are living this, the story goes on.
The odds indeed are very high that scandal is going to take this administration down, perhaps even soon, but for a reader who has learned so much I am left wondering why the hell it is taking so long.
At last, Bannon loses his job but remains hopeful for the future of his outsider revolution, and the book ends with as much feeling of closure that can be expected. Yet, now we know that due to the fallout of the book Bannon has even been let go from his Breitbart, which does seem just. I just hope to read in the paperback updated edition of Michael Wolff’s take on the latest.
A recurring motif is that 45 as such an anomaly to everyone in Washington, with everyone who doubted the loud-mouthed reality show host having to reluctantly work with what they have. Sadly, as true as the strangeness of this strange chapter of American history is, Wolff does leave something out after all that focus on 45 and his ilk. The question still remains on how America—even if not due to the majority of voters—could let this happen. How can this train wreck of a government have happened and so many citizens supporting such chaos and bigotry and corruption? Those questions may have to be answered by future historians after far more time passes.
Meanwhile, Wolff did his best to explain the inner workings withing Fire and Fury and America must wait and see to further understand and reflect....more
Another crucial book for understanding the modern era we live in, a fascinating tale of the hackers much of whom would be more Mr. Robot, this isn't!
Another crucial book for understanding the modern era we live in, a fascinating tale of the hackers much of whom would be more classified as just evil trolls than activist brilliant computer experts (although there are plenty of the latter as well).
The story spans from the beginnings with 4chan, to the loosely organized thing that is Anonymous which is not quite what most people assume. Much of the book is also about LulzSec, which others criticize, but perhaps the best way for author Parmy Olson to have researched such a book is by way of public knowledge after all the arrests and everything. I found it a fascinating expose by focusing on those colorful characters, even if not a complete overview of everything hacktavist.
Sabu, Topiary, and Kayla "herself" don't always come out looking like aspirational figures but it cannot be denied that they are truly intriguing characters.
So if you're not already an expert do read up and learn about imageboards and social engineering and DDoSing, and it might just be helpful to know one day......more
This book is sure to give one a lot to think about.
Firstly, I’d highly recommend reading Harari’s seminal Sapiens book before delving into Homo Deus. This book is sure to give one a lot to think about.
Firstly, I’d highly recommend reading Harari’s seminal Sapiens book before delving into Homo Deus. They are meant to complement each other in order to better understand humanity’s past and future. Much of Homo Deus repeats the previous themes, which is a bit of a flaw, and frames human historical patterns into broad categories which can seem rushed if one didn’t read Sapiens already. Still, the concepts are so important and take much energy to truly contemplate so they are generally worth repeating. While constantly mind-blowing, Harari writes in a readable engaging style which may or may not be oversimplifying depending on how good his research is…
I originally thought Homo Deus would be a book about transhumanism, and it is to some degree, but it’s not meant to give the details on how cybernetic movements will work in the technological sense. Rather, Harari seeks to contemplate the underlying philosophies of what he concludes will be the new techno-religions of the future. It’s interesting how he defines religions, which don’t require belief in the supernatural and rather any thought process which ends in ‘-ism’ can pretty much be a religion. Much is written about individualistic humanism for example, and it’s various 20th century branches nationalism-socialism-communism-liberalism etc. as he defines them. Also, everything is apparently all about algorithms.
I would criticize that he is too harsh at times, always saying that the ethics of human rights and whatnot are arbitrary and there is no sense that the social contract is any kind of evolution. Just one of many choices. It is true that borders and laws are intersubjective illusions, and it is true that human beings treat animals appallingly. But personally I still hope, however naively, that there is some kind of progress going on throughout the ages.
In any case it is fascinating to dissect how we got here and where we may go next. Harari is a master of the big picture, which is refreshing in times of turmoil when it becomes hard to see further from the events right in front of us. From superhumans to Dataism, what is being cooked up in Silicon Valley is supremely more important than the regressive reactionary forces which we are usually told are such a big deal.
The challenges to come as the human race changes are going to unlike anything imaginable. Indeed, much of it is by definition impossible to predict because the way our brains currently work is not the way brains will work in the future. The singularity must be mentioned as well. These are important things to think about even if it will be tricky to truly understand.
Ultimately Harari is raising questions and doesn’t pretend to know all the answers. But what questions. Readers are left hoping that if we contemplate these things seriously enough we might actually be able to avoid some of the disasters. Yet that will require a lot of foresight. Good luck, humans.
The final questions are these and I don’t think it’s a spoiler to share so here, please think:
1. Are organisms really just algorithms, and is life really just data processing?
2. What’s more valuable – intelligence or consciousness.
3. What will happen to society, politics and daily life when non-conscious but highly intelligent algorithms know us better than we know ourselves? ...more
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