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ethanhedman's reviews
149 reviews
From the Ruins of Empire: The Revolt Against the West and the Remaking of Asia by Pankaj Mishra
challenging
informative
fast-paced
3.5
The Age of Extremes: A History of the World, 1914-1991 by Eric Hobsbawm
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
Hobsbawm necessarily paints with a broad brush, but still paints a picture complete and deserving of praise. The author does not necessarily have a specific overarching argument beyond the title: the century was perhaps the most transformative in the history of mankind and several paradoxes and destruction and creation happen in the span of 80 years.
Hobsbawm, himself a German born in the early 1900's, analyzes the economic, political, social, and artistic ebbs and flows of the twentieth century. The first world war was horrific, but only horrific enough that its resolution perfectly set up a conflict that would dwarf it in scale and suffering. Before going into the history of the second world war, the author does touch on the Spanish Civil War - which he correctly identifies and the first proxy battle between competing ideologies in the Cold War to come.
The second world war forms the brief cooperative union of these ideologies - communism and capitalism (only due to Hitler's insistence on attacking the USSR) - and its devastating aftermath vast swaths of the world with the exception of the United States perfectly places it in control. *In 1959 in the USSR there were 7 women for every 4 men.* The outcome of the ideological split is somewhat predetermined.
Hobsbawm's strongest analysis comes in the failure of the Communist camp (specifically the USSR) to capitalize at various hinge points where it could have, if not spread thoroughly throughout the world, have maintained its position juxtaposed to the Capitalist world.
Finally, the author does appear prophetic at moments in predicting not only the ecological breakdown "The forces generated by the techno-scientific economy are now great enough to destroy the environment, that is to say, the material foundations of human life" (584), but also in his analysis of how inept governments are to deal with this crisis - ineptly. He is, as obvious as it may seem now (he wrote this in 1994), correct because of the effect that the trauma and joy - the experience - of the Age of Extremes had on the world, the political system, communication, and people's ideas of themselves and each other. How could one operate under other assumptions that would allow for empathy for people one has never met? or for those who have yet to be born?
Hobsbawm, himself a German born in the early 1900's, analyzes the economic, political, social, and artistic ebbs and flows of the twentieth century. The first world war was horrific, but only horrific enough that its resolution perfectly set up a conflict that would dwarf it in scale and suffering. Before going into the history of the second world war, the author does touch on the Spanish Civil War - which he correctly identifies and the first proxy battle between competing ideologies in the Cold War to come.
The second world war forms the brief cooperative union of these ideologies - communism and capitalism (only due to Hitler's insistence on attacking the USSR) - and its devastating aftermath vast swaths of the world with the exception of the United States perfectly places it in control. *In 1959 in the USSR there were 7 women for every 4 men.* The outcome of the ideological split is somewhat predetermined.
Hobsbawm's strongest analysis comes in the failure of the Communist camp (specifically the USSR) to capitalize at various hinge points where it could have, if not spread thoroughly throughout the world, have maintained its position juxtaposed to the Capitalist world.
Finally, the author does appear prophetic at moments in predicting not only the ecological breakdown "The forces generated by the techno-scientific economy are now great enough to destroy the environment, that is to say, the material foundations of human life" (584), but also in his analysis of how inept governments are to deal with this crisis - ineptly. He is, as obvious as it may seem now (he wrote this in 1994), correct because of the effect that the trauma and joy - the experience - of the Age of Extremes had on the world, the political system, communication, and people's ideas of themselves and each other. How could one operate under other assumptions that would allow for empathy for people one has never met? or for those who have yet to be born?
Ages of American Capitalism: A History of the United States by Jonathan Levy
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
One of the 3 books I would recommend about the history of the United States.
Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History by Bruce Cumings
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
The World Turned Upside Down: A History of the Chinese Cultural Revolution by Yang Jisheng
medium-paced
2.25
American Cipher: Bowe Bergdahl and the U.S. Tragedy in Afghanistan by Michael Ames, Matt Farwell
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
3.0