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76 reviews
A History of Writing by Steven Roger Fischer
This book provides a wonderful overview of the vast variety of scripts that the world has used and still uses. According to Fischer, writing has had a similar level of impact on humanity as the invention of the wheel or the mastery of fire.
I began this book without much knowledge about the different scripts the world has seen. Not that I realized this when I started reading it. It was one of my unknown unknowns. However, after reading this book, I feel that my knowledge of writing systems has significantly increased.
For example, I didn’t know that over half of all known scripts are from India, yet, paradoxically (or perhaps because of this?), India has a high rate of illiteracy (though this has improved from below 50% to 73% since the book was written). I also didn’t know that modern printing technology was invented in Korea some time before Gutenberg. Unfortunately, due to the type of script Korea used, this invention didn't really take off. Additionally, the incredibly vast variety of historical scripts was a huge blind spot for me. Wales, Ireland, Scandinavia, Iberia, Germany—each had its own script that differed considerably from Latin. And that’s just Western Europe. Due to the invention of the printing press, scripts have been largely homogenized, and many local dialects have (mostly) disappeared. Major decisions regarding language were made in the first printing presses about which words from which dialects became standard and are still in use today.
The reason why one script survives and another does not is not because one is easier used over the other but instead of this mostly economic and political. Nevertheless, the most widespread script in the world (Latin, with which this review is written) is quite flexible and suitable for our current civilization. Less efficient systems are often (and for most but not all languages) those in which entire words (logograms) or individual syllables (syllabograms) are expressed. The problem with these systems is that they result in an overflow of new words and syllables, and there’s also an issue with the import of foreign words. For example, Chinese has more than 50,000 symbols, and a language like Japanese is super difficult to learn, with the result that students are still learning to write their language well into their teenage years. It's all the more impressive that despite the learning burden, these countries produce exceptionally well-educated students. I suspect that these Asian countries would achieve even greater academic success if they set aside their nationalistic pride and adopted an alphabetical system.
The author didn't go so far in claiming the Latin script is superior. He explicitly states that this is not the case, although you can read between the lines that he does consider it an especially good system. And I actually agree with that. The Western script has vowels and consonants, good punctuation, and is very orderly. Moreover, it can be easily expanded or adapted to national needs, as was done with the Vietnamese script, for example.
I found this a particularly interesting book. It also had quite a few illustrations that explained the scripts. However, one minor downside was that many illustrations were rather unclear in the Kindle version. This didn't spoil the fun for me at all, however.
I enthusiastically move on to part 3 of Fischer’s trilogy, "A History of Reading."
I began this book without much knowledge about the different scripts the world has seen. Not that I realized this when I started reading it. It was one of my unknown unknowns. However, after reading this book, I feel that my knowledge of writing systems has significantly increased.
For example, I didn’t know that over half of all known scripts are from India, yet, paradoxically (or perhaps because of this?), India has a high rate of illiteracy (though this has improved from below 50% to 73% since the book was written). I also didn’t know that modern printing technology was invented in Korea some time before Gutenberg. Unfortunately, due to the type of script Korea used, this invention didn't really take off. Additionally, the incredibly vast variety of historical scripts was a huge blind spot for me. Wales, Ireland, Scandinavia, Iberia, Germany—each had its own script that differed considerably from Latin. And that’s just Western Europe. Due to the invention of the printing press, scripts have been largely homogenized, and many local dialects have (mostly) disappeared. Major decisions regarding language were made in the first printing presses about which words from which dialects became standard and are still in use today.
The reason why one script survives and another does not is not because one is easier used over the other but instead of this mostly economic and political. Nevertheless, the most widespread script in the world (Latin, with which this review is written) is quite flexible and suitable for our current civilization. Less efficient systems are often (and for most but not all languages) those in which entire words (logograms) or individual syllables (syllabograms) are expressed. The problem with these systems is that they result in an overflow of new words and syllables, and there’s also an issue with the import of foreign words. For example, Chinese has more than 50,000 symbols, and a language like Japanese is super difficult to learn, with the result that students are still learning to write their language well into their teenage years. It's all the more impressive that despite the learning burden, these countries produce exceptionally well-educated students. I suspect that these Asian countries would achieve even greater academic success if they set aside their nationalistic pride and adopted an alphabetical system.
The author didn't go so far in claiming the Latin script is superior. He explicitly states that this is not the case, although you can read between the lines that he does consider it an especially good system. And I actually agree with that. The Western script has vowels and consonants, good punctuation, and is very orderly. Moreover, it can be easily expanded or adapted to national needs, as was done with the Vietnamese script, for example.
I found this a particularly interesting book. It also had quite a few illustrations that explained the scripts. However, one minor downside was that many illustrations were rather unclear in the Kindle version. This didn't spoil the fun for me at all, however.
I enthusiastically move on to part 3 of Fischer’s trilogy, "A History of Reading."
The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World by David W. Anthony
The Horse, the Wheel, and Language is a book that has been proven right by more modern science, confirming that Proto-Indo-European was spoken by the peoples in the Pontic-Caspian steppes between 4500 BCE and 2500 BCE. It's a splendid example of how these people, through the use of horses and chariots, transformed the world, from England to China. The linguistic part was highly intriguing and had a significant 'wow' factor.
While the archaeological aspect was occasionally a bit too detailed for my taste, it provided an even better understanding of how people lived. This book further underscores the message of 'Against the Grain' by James C. Scott that stateless peoples (although there were very few states in the book's time frame) are by no means primitive. These peoples supplied materials, animals, and slaves to the states, and, in fact, the first states were more reliant on the 'barbarians' than the other way around.
While the archaeological aspect was occasionally a bit too detailed for my taste, it provided an even better understanding of how people lived. This book further underscores the message of 'Against the Grain' by James C. Scott that stateless peoples (although there were very few states in the book's time frame) are by no means primitive. These peoples supplied materials, animals, and slaves to the states, and, in fact, the first states were more reliant on the 'barbarians' than the other way around.
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
Collapse is a chilling book that provides examples of many societies from the present and the past making wrong choices and ultimately failing, mainly due to a variety of ecological reasons. The book ignites anger towards 'misguided' politicians who, driven by self-interest, knowingly or unknowingly jeopardize the foundations of society. The book provided me with a feeling I got as a novice vegan, albeit somewhat milder.
(Off topic:) It's unfortunate that the sympathetic author, who is undoubtedly scientifically gifted and well-informed about many aspects of the envirenment, appears not to have conducted any research on veganism. Although veganism certainly has its weak, insoluble points (such as dealing with non-native pest species and the contemporary very occasional necessity of animal testing), it offers the best prospects for the environment and sustainability. By not purchasing animal products and adopting a relatively minimalistic lifestyle, you individually contribute most to solving these problems.
Nonetheless, Collapse is still absolutely a valuable book that provides a clear understanding of environmental issues while the author also maintains a cautionary optimistic tone, providing examples of succeeding societies as well.
(Off topic:) It's unfortunate that the sympathetic author, who is undoubtedly scientifically gifted and well-informed about many aspects of the envirenment, appears not to have conducted any research on veganism. Although veganism certainly has its weak, insoluble points (such as dealing with non-native pest species and the contemporary very occasional necessity of animal testing), it offers the best prospects for the environment and sustainability. By not purchasing animal products and adopting a relatively minimalistic lifestyle, you individually contribute most to solving these problems.
Nonetheless, Collapse is still absolutely a valuable book that provides a clear understanding of environmental issues while the author also maintains a cautionary optimistic tone, providing examples of succeeding societies as well.
Mesopotamia: The Invention of the City by Gwendolyn Leick
"Mesopotamia: The Invention of the City" is a beautiful book that describes the Mesopotamian region from the first cities (starting with Eridu, over 7000 years ago) to Babylon around 500 BCE. The book details a total of 10 cities, each with a unique story. Eridu stands as one of the world's oldest cities. Uruk, for a significant period, served as a crucial capital, reportedly encompassing half the perimeter of ancient Rome in 100 CE. Shuruppak, though more modest in size, played a foundational role in the tale of Noah's Ark. Akkad laid the groundwork for the world's first known empire, established by Sargon of Akkad, though the exact location of the city remains unknown. Ur was the principal city just before 2000 BCE and was reconstructed by Nebuchadrezzar after its destruction much earlier. Nippur served as a vital trade city and persists today in the form of scattered villages. Sippar featured the remarkable Naditu women, possibly among the earliest nuns, while Ashur was instrumental in the rise of the Assyrian Empire. Nineveh, recurring in biblical stories was the world's most powerful city for a brief century, and Babylon stood as the world's first true metropolis.
Besides providing information about Mesopotamia's religion and architecture, the book provides a clear overview of the politics of the time, a period lasting longer than the Christian Calendar era. While I would have liked to read about the common people and the challenges (or ease) of city life compared to rural life, this was a very welcome addition to my reading list. I look forward to delving into more books on Mesopotamia in the future.
Besides providing information about Mesopotamia's religion and architecture, the book provides a clear overview of the politics of the time, a period lasting longer than the Christian Calendar era. While I would have liked to read about the common people and the challenges (or ease) of city life compared to rural life, this was a very welcome addition to my reading list. I look forward to delving into more books on Mesopotamia in the future.
History of Reading by Steven Roger Fischer
It was a pleasure to read this book. This isn't surprising in itself because I enjoy reading about history. And this book happens to be a history of my greatest hobby: reading. What stands out about "A History of Reading" is that, despite its modest length of about 300 pages, it contains an enormous amount of information.
The meaning of reading has changed significantly over the years. Early texts (besides accounting) were often meant for gods or to impress the illiterate masses. Those who could read did not read in the way we do now. Reading in the past was equivalent to reading the text aloud. So, even though there were people who could read, they were often not as well-read or literate as modern people. Writing was also much less accessible and more difficult to decipher compared to today's polished letters, punctuation, capital letters, vowels, and spaces between words. Silent reading only became widespread in the Middle Ages.
Only a couple of centuries ago, a book was of great value. Not only because of the expensive material but also because of the immense process of copying the entire content. In the fourteenth century, a comprehensive book could sometimes cost as much as three houses. Even later, books retained great symbolic value. The Dutch humanist Erasmus, for example, would kiss the works of Cicero every time before he opened them, and Machiavelli would put on his best clothes before reading his books. For stealing a book, the punishment in those times could be death.
Modern printing with the invention of Gutenberg (c. 1450) has had an enormous impact on various phenomena in Europe. Along with printing came the sale of glasses. The technology had existed for some time, but it only became lucrative to innovate in this business when large-scale reading took off, and the production costs of glasses subsequently dropped. Printing also marked the death knell for inscrutable scholasticism, which required decades of study. As books became more accessible and cheaper, and were increasingly printed in languages other than Latin, the scholastic method became less popular. The rise of Protestantism is, of course, also tied to printing. Literacy rates rose significantly, as did the promotion of languages other than Greek or Latin. Publishers realized there was much more money to be made by using the languages of the people.
Less illiteracy means more development and a freer people. Because of the second phenomenon, governments and religious authorities, historically in Catholic Southern Europe, but still today in many repressive countries, have banned many books. However, banning books is also detrimental to that first phenomenon: the development of the people. This is why, according to the author, the Industrial Revolution likely began in England. This country had the least censorship. In the Catholic countries in Europe each book had to be checked by Church authorities before it could be published.
Due to the ease with which the Latin script could be printed (unlike, for example, Chinese), it was more likely that ideas could be shared in the West than in the East. This was despite the fact that after the collapse of the Roman Empire, the East was miles ahead of Europe.
It is thus due to a fluke in history—the introduction of paper in Europe (a Chinese invention), the coincidental use of the Latin alphabet with only a few dozen characters (versus tens of thousands in China), the invention of printing, and the lack of censorship in places like England—that the West gained such a huge lead over the rest of the world. While many other factors probably also played a role, this is a theory that comes across to me as quite credible.
There is much more described in this engaging work: the invention of writing, reading in Antiquity, in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and the future of reading, among other things. I can wholeheartedly recommend this conclusion to Steven Roger Fischer's trilogy, just like "A History of Language" and "A History of Writing."
The meaning of reading has changed significantly over the years. Early texts (besides accounting) were often meant for gods or to impress the illiterate masses. Those who could read did not read in the way we do now. Reading in the past was equivalent to reading the text aloud. So, even though there were people who could read, they were often not as well-read or literate as modern people. Writing was also much less accessible and more difficult to decipher compared to today's polished letters, punctuation, capital letters, vowels, and spaces between words. Silent reading only became widespread in the Middle Ages.
Only a couple of centuries ago, a book was of great value. Not only because of the expensive material but also because of the immense process of copying the entire content. In the fourteenth century, a comprehensive book could sometimes cost as much as three houses. Even later, books retained great symbolic value. The Dutch humanist Erasmus, for example, would kiss the works of Cicero every time before he opened them, and Machiavelli would put on his best clothes before reading his books. For stealing a book, the punishment in those times could be death.
Modern printing with the invention of Gutenberg (c. 1450) has had an enormous impact on various phenomena in Europe. Along with printing came the sale of glasses. The technology had existed for some time, but it only became lucrative to innovate in this business when large-scale reading took off, and the production costs of glasses subsequently dropped. Printing also marked the death knell for inscrutable scholasticism, which required decades of study. As books became more accessible and cheaper, and were increasingly printed in languages other than Latin, the scholastic method became less popular. The rise of Protestantism is, of course, also tied to printing. Literacy rates rose significantly, as did the promotion of languages other than Greek or Latin. Publishers realized there was much more money to be made by using the languages of the people.
Less illiteracy means more development and a freer people. Because of the second phenomenon, governments and religious authorities, historically in Catholic Southern Europe, but still today in many repressive countries, have banned many books. However, banning books is also detrimental to that first phenomenon: the development of the people. This is why, according to the author, the Industrial Revolution likely began in England. This country had the least censorship. In the Catholic countries in Europe each book had to be checked by Church authorities before it could be published.
Due to the ease with which the Latin script could be printed (unlike, for example, Chinese), it was more likely that ideas could be shared in the West than in the East. This was despite the fact that after the collapse of the Roman Empire, the East was miles ahead of Europe.
It is thus due to a fluke in history—the introduction of paper in Europe (a Chinese invention), the coincidental use of the Latin alphabet with only a few dozen characters (versus tens of thousands in China), the invention of printing, and the lack of censorship in places like England—that the West gained such a huge lead over the rest of the world. While many other factors probably also played a role, this is a theory that comes across to me as quite credible.
There is much more described in this engaging work: the invention of writing, reading in Antiquity, in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and the future of reading, among other things. I can wholeheartedly recommend this conclusion to Steven Roger Fischer's trilogy, just like "A History of Language" and "A History of Writing."
Van Neanderthaler tot rendierjager by Marcel Niekus, Yuri Van Koeveringe
Een boeiend boek over het paleolithicum en de laatste ijstijden die Drenthe kende. Interessant, maar ik vond de foto met een dood dier en de passages over experimentele archeologie wel wat minder. De rest van het boek was daarentegen prachtig vormgegeven. Het is leuk om te weten dat in de Drentse akkers ongetwijfeld nog een hoop vuurstenen te vinden zijn die tienduizenden jaren geleden door onze voorouders zijn gebruikt. Ik kijk uit naar de volgende delen van de serie en ben van plan om naar aanleiding van dit werk ook de serie Archeologie in Fryslân te lezen, waar mijn ouders en grootouders vandaan komen.
Social Cognition: Making Sense of People by Ziva Kunda
Social Cognition elegantly reveals a multitude of cognitive errors and flawed assumptions ingrained in the Western mindset. It is beautifully articulated, though somewhat abstract and challenging to retain, particularly for those not immersed in the subject regularly. The message that resonates most with me is the importance of maintaining humility about our own assumptions. For instance, we often have a tendency to attribute behavior to individual characteristics rather than considering contextual circumstances. Additionally, the book highlights the significance of diversifying the aspects of our personality that define our self-worth. This diversification can help us remain resilient in the face of setbacks in any one area.
Moreover, the realization that various cultures, whether from the East or West, the North or South, can significantly differ in their social cognition is a powerful insight. In summary, it was undeniably a valuable and enlightening reading experience!
Moreover, the realization that various cultures, whether from the East or West, the North or South, can significantly differ in their social cognition is a powerful insight. In summary, it was undeniably a valuable and enlightening reading experience!
Ramesses: Egypt's Greatest Pharaoh by Joyce Tyldesley
Tyldesley provides a fine overview of Ramesses II, his immediate predecessors, his large entourage, and the period up to Ramesses XI. Naturally, the emphasis is on Ramesses II.
As expected, there isn't much discussion about Ramesses' personal characteristics. There is too little evidence to know what he was like as a person. However, it is mentioned that Ramesses was a product of his time. The boastful inscriptions on monuments and the stealing of materials from his predecessors' monuments were practices common among both Ramesses' predecessors and the pharaohs who followed him.
Ramesses is known for his long reign: an impressive 66 years. He is also known from Biblical texts, apocryphal stories, many monuments, the Ramesseum, his role in the Battle of Kadesh, and his many children, which modern estimates put between 70 and 100. I'm not a geneticist, but if you had so many children over 3,000 years ago, wouldn't that make you an ancestor of a substantial part of today's world population?
Another remarkable aspect of Ramesses is the fact that his likely mummy, though damaged, has been preserved. In the 1970s, extensive research was conducted by a team in Paris.
Tyldesley has created a well-readable work that is neither too long nor too short.
As expected, there isn't much discussion about Ramesses' personal characteristics. There is too little evidence to know what he was like as a person. However, it is mentioned that Ramesses was a product of his time. The boastful inscriptions on monuments and the stealing of materials from his predecessors' monuments were practices common among both Ramesses' predecessors and the pharaohs who followed him.
Ramesses is known for his long reign: an impressive 66 years. He is also known from Biblical texts, apocryphal stories, many monuments, the Ramesseum, his role in the Battle of Kadesh, and his many children, which modern estimates put between 70 and 100. I'm not a geneticist, but if you had so many children over 3,000 years ago, wouldn't that make you an ancestor of a substantial part of today's world population?
Another remarkable aspect of Ramesses is the fact that his likely mummy, though damaged, has been preserved. In the 1970s, extensive research was conducted by a team in Paris.
Tyldesley has created a well-readable work that is neither too long nor too short.
Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others by Anonymous
Stephanie Dalley demonstrates that science has considerable expertise in the translation of millennia-old texts, yet the puzzles of the myths described in this book won't be completely unraveled by science. There's simply too much unknown. Especially for the casual reader, like myself and certainly 99% of others, understanding the puns embedded in logograms is impossible. I have no doubt that many esoteric wordplays elude modern science as well. This book is not really one to leisurely read on the beach.
Nevertheless, the book reveals the Mesopotamians had a rich mythological world, raising the question of whether it occasionally served predominantly political purposes. It's said that the people believe in the myths, the wise doubt them, and leaders see mythology (or religion) as mainly useful. Does this also apply to ancient Mesopotamia? We'll never know. What we do know is that many traditions trace back to Mesopotamia: Greek mythology, the Old Testament, and the Arabian Nights. Even Islam seems to have adopted small elements from the Mesopotamian tradition.
Don't expect polished stories within the book but rather a fascinating glimpse into the early stages of civilization.
Nevertheless, the book reveals the Mesopotamians had a rich mythological world, raising the question of whether it occasionally served predominantly political purposes. It's said that the people believe in the myths, the wise doubt them, and leaders see mythology (or religion) as mainly useful. Does this also apply to ancient Mesopotamia? We'll never know. What we do know is that many traditions trace back to Mesopotamia: Greek mythology, the Old Testament, and the Arabian Nights. Even Islam seems to have adopted small elements from the Mesopotamian tradition.
Don't expect polished stories within the book but rather a fascinating glimpse into the early stages of civilization.
After the Ice: A Global Human History, 20,000-5000 BC by Steven Mithen
After the Ice was a highly comprehensive and nearly encyclopedic book about the lives of our ancestors. It beautifully describes the transition from the Paleolithic to the Mesolithic to the Neolithic in various locations around the world. It's also fascinating to see how many different food sources were domesticated in different regions of our planet. The lives of these people were certainly no walk in the park and required a great deal of expertise. If our current human species, with our knowledge of the present, were transported back to 20,000 BC, we would not survive without the assistance of the people who populated the Earth during that time. Therefore, it is, in my opinion, incorrect to refer to these ancient humans as 'primitive.' The Stone Age inhabitants were undoubtedly resourceful, courageous, and intelligent. In conclusion, it's a wonderful book, although it could have benefitted from more tables, illustrations, and photographs