[Maybe 4.5 stars? I have a couple of quibbles, mostly of the practical bent, but I think this is the next GTD: in other words, a life-changing book. F[Maybe 4.5 stars? I have a couple of quibbles, mostly of the practical bent, but I think this is the next GTD: in other words, a life-changing book. Full review coming soon on my blog.]
Recommended reading for all Canadians — and anyone who idealizes Canada’s culture of “inclusivity” and “diversity.” Desmond offers just a year’s worthRecommended reading for all Canadians — and anyone who idealizes Canada’s culture of “inclusivity” and “diversity.” Desmond offers just a year’s worth of representative cases to show the real reason we are the Great WHITE North....more
Gaiman’s audiobooks are always good, especially when he shows up as a creepy narrator, but this drama, with all the great foley and musical score was just brilliant. Just look at that cast list! There is one arc that was a bit too gore-horror for me, but in general it was all top-notch creepy Gaimanisms. I respect him so much as a storyteller, his ability to weave such emotional tales with the barest of suggestions, rather than saying anything outright. I admire the way he sets up his stories with a simple hook that pays off by the end with an arrow to the listener’s heart. The final chapter of The Sandman, involving a performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is the perfect example of Gaiman’s use of historical and literary references as a guide for the reader, only to subvert the reader’s expectations in a particularly heart-wrenching way. While reading Gaiman I feel as though I am his mere plaything, and this is only enhanced by the performance of professional actors whispering sweet nothings directly into my ears.
The audio is read by André Alexis himself, which is surprisingly good (only a couple of production errors, but that is not his fault). I didn't realizThe audio is read by André Alexis himself, which is surprisingly good (only a couple of production errors, but that is not his fault). I didn't realize the book is 2nd in a series... I am definitely going back to get the first one. I don't know if the rest of the series is like this one: a gentle pulling on deep philosophical strings that all of us have within us, and that bind us to those we love. It is completely accessible and emotionally compelling. This is what literary fiction should be, and I am not surprised at all that this book was prize-winning. It is deserving of the plaudits....more
There is nothing I can say that can measure up to what people before me — more informed, closer to the time or geography or experience, American, BlacThere is nothing I can say that can measure up to what people before me — more informed, closer to the time or geography or experience, American, Black — have already said about this book. I can only add my voice as a human to the chorus. READ THIS BOOK. I couldn’t put it down. Written 55 years ago, it captures generations and generations of pain. 55 years later and… unfortunately much more pain, pain that Malcolm X predicted. Hindsight. Justification. We must look at now with a hard eye and sharp tongue, like HIM. Especially in today’s media environment. If he had a podcast/newsletter I totally would have subscribed... Today, I think this new generation is doing it and I will support them how I can. #BLM
Anyways, I digress…
Alex Haley did a wonderful job as a writer. I really like how he constructed the book. It did its job, projecting Malcolm’s voice naturally, with an engaging narrative, even though we all know the end of the story.
While reading I also listened to the original audio by Joe Morton who also was excellent (normally I listen to audiobooks at 1.5 or 2x speed, but this one I kept at 1x since Joe Morton sounds excellent). I look forward to the upcoming Lawrence Fishburne release in the fall, but I would say you don’t have to wait for it.
I have the Spike Lee film queued up for a rewatch and am looking for a follow up on Malcolm for my next book. Any recommendations? ...more
Pankaj Mishra delivers a sweeping account of the intellectual history of anti-colonial thought in the early years of Western colonialism. He builds thPankaj Mishra delivers a sweeping account of the intellectual history of anti-colonial thought in the early years of Western colonialism. He builds this narrative through mini-biographies of two lesser-known intellectuals: Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī and Liang Qichao. These early thinkers diagnosed the challenge of Western imperialism faced by Asia. The evolution of their thought is influenced by historical milestones such as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, a failed uprising to gain independence from the West, and the 1905 Battle of Tsushima, where an Asian nation defeated a Western military power for the first time. Japan’s victory was a turning point for optimism in the oppressed Asian psyche, celebrated by anti-colonialists like Gandhi, Ataturk, and Tagore. Here was an Asian country beating the West at its own game.
The first time I read this book I only gave it 3 stars. Maybe I found it confusing and thus unsatisfying? This time round I saw what he was doing, andThe first time I read this book I only gave it 3 stars. Maybe I found it confusing and thus unsatisfying? This time round I saw what he was doing, and I admired his craft much more. This is maybe a 4.5 star book, since there is some confusing stuff in there that I think narratively could be drawn out, furthermore the pacing is unbalanced and I wanted to know more about what happens after the story (a good sign I suppose — leave them wanting more — and potentially a good setup for a sequel). Speaking of sequels, I am moving on to Agency next....more
**spoiler alert** Filled with funny anecdotes and awesome behind-the-scenes stories of some of your favourite products from Japan, Matt Alt engages wi**spoiler alert** Filled with funny anecdotes and awesome behind-the-scenes stories of some of your favourite products from Japan, Matt Alt engages with his storytelling skills (and prodigious one-liners) to give us a popular history of post-war Japan through the products we interact with.
A handy read on KJU and where he fits in the constellation of the Kim family history and North Korean power politics. The book is short, and has a relA handy read on KJU and where he fits in the constellation of the Kim family history and North Korean power politics. The book is short, and has a relatively minimal amount of moralizing. There isn’t really a good breakdown of all the internal power dynamics (only one really matters in the end I suppose) but you get a bit of a profile of each of the other Kim family players and their offspring. All in all, I found this book pretty illuminating....more
Best one yet! It is a bit of a slow burn, but when the main action happens hold on your grav boots! Dan is getting better and better with each book, aBest one yet! It is a bit of a slow burn, but when the main action happens hold on your grav boots! Dan is getting better and better with each book, and I look forward to the next installment....more
Imagine sitting at an outside cafe on a brisk autumn Sunday morning, steam rising from three coffee cups as you look across the cold, green, metal tab
Imagine sitting at an outside cafe on a brisk autumn Sunday morning, steam rising from three coffee cups as you look across the cold, green, metal table at your Uncle A and your other Uncle O. They both super smart, well read, and are going through a sort of mid-life crisis, questioning everything. Also, the only way they can communicate is in references, stringing together literary quotations like a pair of (Philadephia-based) conspiracy theorists. Furthermore, they have been meeting here every Sunday for weeks and still haven’t come up with any solution. But there have been lots of conclusions.
After listening to Japan on the Record's interview with the author I picked up this book to learn more about Japan's strategic thinking within Asia. TAfter listening to Japan on the Record's interview with the author I picked up this book to learn more about Japan's strategic thinking within Asia. This book is specifically about geoeconomic strategy, and pretty academic, but I appreciated its breadth as it covered quite a bit of economic history that I only knew pieces of. There are lots of interesting threads here to follow up on if you are working on issues involving post-war Japan.
Katada's key argument is that Japan's geoeconomic strategy, while trending towards regionalism, has a mix of approaches across different areas, some more successful than others. Katada offers analysis of three areas: Trade has seen the biggest move from bilateralism, as demonstrated by Japan's leadership on TPP+11, with a focus on building an environment where Japanese businesses can thrive. In finance, the Asian financial crisis spurred Japan to promote formal rules and standards, it made some headway in Asian bonds, but was not able to internationalize the yen. Foreign aid remains bilateral, but has evolved into a more values-based policy, building institutions where private firms would be able to implement projects (which they resist due to perceived risk).
One insight I appreciated has been the disembedding of Japanese businesses from government policy. This has all sorts of implications for Japanese policymakers, as she details in the book. Japan's geoeconomic strategy is not the developed in the unified way it was in the post-war period. That said, the newest threat of BRI might see the Japanese government reinvent its usefulness in developing regional geoeconomic strategy. There is opportunity for Japan....more
Robin Miles gives an amazing performance, having to cover so many accents, NYC or otherwise. Extra kudos to her.
The tale is a little to3.5 rounded up.
Robin Miles gives an amazing performance, having to cover so many accents, NYC or otherwise. Extra kudos to her.
The tale is a little too heavy on the allegory, and I still cannot get into N.K. Jemisin’s action sequences (same for Broken Earth…) but I really did like the anti-Lovecraft stuff, and she has a lot of excellent lines. I have only visited NY, and don’t know it well, but all the Boroughs were recognizable to me (if only through my own stereotypes due to American media). I couldn’t really come to like many of the characters (even though I thought they were really well fleshed out). They are a product of their city I suppose, and have to play to the stereotypes for the story to work out. Soooo many F-bombs! People revere New York in the same way that other people revere Sparta. Reading various histories and accounts it seems like such a brutal place, where survival is paramount — not particularly civilized. Despite that I enjoyed the tour. Surely I missed some of the fine detail, but NK Jemisin’s love for the city definitely came though. This is a protest novel exactly for our times. I don’t know if it will be a classic, but it will certainly serve as a useful snapshot of These Days....more
I first heard Mark Ravina on the Meiji 150 podcast and bookshelved a few of his books. I was looking at some Great Courses for something light and epiI first heard Mark Ravina on the Meiji 150 podcast and bookshelved a few of his books. I was looking at some Great Courses for something light and episodic to listen to on my commute and I recognized his name on it, so I downloaded it right away.
I think he is super lucky to be putting together such a wide-ranging and fun series of lectures such as this. The first few chapters are straight history, but then he bounces all over the place including food, art, theatre, film, etc. But that doesn't make it shallow. I was still able to learn cool new facts about all kinds of stuff that I was already pretty familiar with. There is certainly depth as Ravina turns a scholar's eye to some everyday things....more
Very accessible and enjoyable read about a club I don't know much about. Picked it up after listening to the excellent discussion of the book on the FVery accessible and enjoyable read about a club I don't know much about. Picked it up after listening to the excellent discussion of the book on the Football Ramble's podcast (direct MP3 link).
I admire Hesse's craft in writing this book. He wrote it in English, as apparently he does for all his English-language books. It is in direct language that flows and is easy to read. Although it is chronological, it isn't just a listing of events. He peppers his writing with anecdotes and foreshadows a lot. He does an admirable job in the early chapters setting the economic and social context of the region and of the city, without delving into economic/statistical reporting (which is what I tend to do...). He gives you just enough to get a sense, and then moves on with the story. Every few pages there is an "action scene" which is a few paragraphs of a match report. This gives the book the pacing of a novel, making it easy to turn the page.
Probably the only criticism I have is the abrupt ending. I wish there was more than a few paragraphs in the epilogue, some sort of deeper analysis on the legacy of the club to cap off the book.
The story is great, I am super-excited about BVB now, but I think the craft of this book is even better. I will pick up another of his books for sure....more
After reading about 2 dozen books from various traditions of Buddhism, this was just the book I needed to tie it all together. Very fast-paced, but soAfter reading about 2 dozen books from various traditions of Buddhism, this was just the book I needed to tie it all together. Very fast-paced, but something I feel I can go back to to review certain chapters when I need to just get the bones of a particular period/tradition....more
This book that put me in a very introspective mood. I put a roundup of the book on my blog. Don't read the post if you don't want spoilers! But do reaThis book that put me in a very introspective mood. I put a roundup of the book on my blog. Don't read the post if you don't want spoilers! But do read the book if you want to learn more about how the reasons people travel has changed through time, and some prompts for thinking about why you travel....more
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