I'm not sure I have the words to describe how I'm feeling after just finishing this wonderful book. Let me try: peaceful, emotional, calm, glad, and, I'm not sure I have the words to describe how I'm feeling after just finishing this wonderful book. Let me try: peaceful, emotional, calm, glad, and, finally, happy. I've been following Mo since finding him talking about AI on Impact Theory and I'm simply blown away by the grace of this man. This is the kind of man I aspire to emulate. His philosphy and intelligence combine to create such beauty in the world; the generous way he shares his worldview is so helpful that he might just achieve his goal of a billion happy. It's worked for me and given me something to dip into when I'm struggling -- which, right now, is rather a lot. Maybe I ought to get a physical copy too. ...more
A decent listen, picked up after hearing Sophie Spital's interview on TRIGGERnometry. I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed it were I not a studeA decent listen, picked up after hearing Sophie Spital's interview on TRIGGERnometry. I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed it were I not a student of Soviet Russia, but I am, so I did. I listened to it on Audible and it was narrated by the author. That helped, as his slow delivery gave me time to take in the tale. I listened at 1x speed, which I don't normally do, but the pacing of the delivery at 1x really added to my enjoyment. ...more
Outstanding. I found the author through the podcast Impact Theory and have been binging his content since then. I’d like to reread this and take notesOutstanding. I found the author through the podcast Impact Theory and have been binging his content since then. I’d like to reread this and take notes, because I listened at 2x ...more
I just finished this for the second time because I stopped after the third one and need to refresh before reading the fourth. What an absolute belter I just finished this for the second time because I stopped after the third one and need to refresh before reading the fourth. What an absolute belter of a book. As a man in my 50s searching for meaning, this book is giving me so much. I mean, does it get any better than "act with honour and honour will aid you"?
It's also good for my fitness, because it gets me into the hills for long hikes just so I can listen to the book for long stretches. It's going to be a good summer! ...more
It's probably a really good book, but the audiobook was so poorly narrated that I had basically no chance of actually following it. Maybe I'll return It's probably a really good book, but the audiobook was so poorly narrated that I had basically no chance of actually following it. Maybe I'll return to it in written form, but probably not. It's one of the poorest narration jobs I've come across, and I've been listening to audiobooks since around 1985. I discovered the author on TRIGGERnometry, and enjoyed all his four appearances on that podcast. He speaks well and is easy to listen to when interviewed. It's a shame that that enthusiasm and style of delivery doesn't translate into narration. Matthew, if you're reading this review, please hire a narrator next time. I see that you've narrated your latest one, too; I'll not be listening to that one, either. Possibly on Kindle? We'll see. ...more
What a chilling book. It's superbly well-researched and surprisingly easy to read, given its subject matter. I was led to it after reading Michael MalWhat a chilling book. It's superbly well-researched and surprisingly easy to read, given its subject matter. I was led to it after reading Michael Malice's book, The White Pill: A Tale of Good and Evil.
I'd be fascinated to read another couple of chapters from when the book left off with the events of 2014 and the secession of Crimea.
Just as a point of interest, I spent a year in Odessa in 1995–96 as a student of Russian, and at that time it seemed to be an exclusively Russian-speaking city, albeit with the Ukrainian 'H' sound replacing the hard Russian 'G' sound. And the household in which I rented a room from a Ukrainian woman and her son spoke Russian and watched exclusively Russian-language TV. Maybe Ukrainian was more common outside the city.
I had a similar experience when I spent two years in Almaty, Kazakhstan, although I did hear Kazakh more than I heard Ukrainian in Ukraine. I'd be interested to read a book like Red Famine about what went down in Kazakhstan, as it received only short mentions in Red Famine. If anyone knows of any that you can recomment, drop a comment!
It was interesting to read in Red Famine about Gareth Jones' walking trip through Ukraine. Michael Malice mentioned this in an interview I heard him give to either Chris Williamson or Lex Fridman. (I listened to both can can't recall which one it was). In the interview, he talked about a book called Experiences in Russia--1931—credited on Goodreads as being written by Gareth Jones, but it was actually written by the Jack Heinz II mentioned in Red Famine. The full text is available here....more
I’ve read a lot about Soviet and Russian history. Some of it is dry and challenging. This book is not. It has led to a pile of books appeaWhite-pilled
I’ve read a lot about Soviet and Russian history. Some of it is dry and challenging. This book is not. It has led to a pile of books appearing on my desk as I have a strong urge to follow up on some of source material. It’s the first book I’ve read that juxtaposes the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact with what was happening concurrently in the UK and USA; that added a lot of context for me that I hadn’t thought about before. I was born in 1971 in the UK, so I was aware of some of what was going on geopolitically and politically—thanks, largely, to Spitting Image—but I was much more interested in BMX and booze. I would really have liked for the story to have gone further forward, through Yeltsin’s presidency and into Putin’s era. Is the white pill still a possibility? I hope Malice is researching for the sequel!...more
This was a bit above my pay grade but I’m glad I persevered through the somewhat boring history sections. I’m here after listening to Hazony’s interviThis was a bit above my pay grade but I’m glad I persevered through the somewhat boring history sections. I’m here after listening to Hazony’s interview on TRIGGERnometry, which I’ve watched twice and actually transcribed to get a better handle on Hazony’s teachings.
I’m 51, married with two teenaged kids, and I’m seeking meaning for my life after 17 years following the teachings of Alcoholics Anonymous. I’ve never really known who I was, politically speaking, but reading Hazony’s book has gone a long way to helping me figure that out. I may follow up by reading some of the source material cited in the last chapter....more
A very well-written book that sets out its themes clearly and backs them up well with citations from other sources. The chapter on Culture was particuA very well-written book that sets out its themes clearly and backs them up well with citations from other sources. The chapter on Culture was particularly enjoyable. It will be interesting to look back at this period in history, and I would imagine that anyone who follows Douglas Murray will have similar hopes on how they (we) would like it to go. ...more
A nice easy-to-read precis covering 100 years of history of one of the most fascinating regions. It inspires more reading for depth, but as a surface-A nice easy-to-read precis covering 100 years of history of one of the most fascinating regions. It inspires more reading for depth, but as a surface-level outline of the story, I really enjoyed reading this. I'm going to head into Philip Short's Putin: His Life and Times now, and will perhaps reread Svetlana Alexievich's Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets at some point too.
I read the second half of this book during a period of insomnia and low mood over a difficult couple of days. It was a good topic for my mood. ...more
A decent read with a highly satisfying ending. As crime fiction goes, I don't think I've read better. A decent read with a highly satisfying ending. As crime fiction goes, I don't think I've read better. ...more
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