Eschewing the usual attempts at getting to know people at local bars, resulting in only getting to know over and over again that I am too shy for this stuff, I spent many an evening reading.
Here is a short list:
- The decline and fall of the Ottoman empire: previously described. A few high-level facts stuck in my head this time, but man the days of photographic memories are gone.
- Brave New World: I think I started reading this at least once before but got put off by the whole "Fordliness" rubbish. Plowing past that, this was a pretty powerful book and certainly one to engender some deep thought.
- Tightrope Men (by Desmond Bagley): apart from a weak ending, what a lark of a book. Characteristically, I spat out laughing in public, for there is plenty of dry humor.
(The two books above purchased second-hand at Art Bridge Cafe in Yerevan)
- Ram Chander's Story (Mark Tully): narrated with a simple yet effective delivery style, this 60-pager was a terrific read.
Purchased at Dubai duty-free, a book on Attila and another on the history of the Arab peoples.
Tomorrow, back to work and I will be reading emails all day. Fuckin' hell.
Here is a short list:
- The decline and fall of the Ottoman empire: previously described. A few high-level facts stuck in my head this time, but man the days of photographic memories are gone.
- Brave New World: I think I started reading this at least once before but got put off by the whole "Fordliness" rubbish. Plowing past that, this was a pretty powerful book and certainly one to engender some deep thought.
- Tightrope Men (by Desmond Bagley): apart from a weak ending, what a lark of a book. Characteristically, I spat out laughing in public, for there is plenty of dry humor.
(The two books above purchased second-hand at Art Bridge Cafe in Yerevan)
- Ram Chander's Story (Mark Tully): narrated with a simple yet effective delivery style, this 60-pager was a terrific read.
Purchased at Dubai duty-free, a book on Attila and another on the history of the Arab peoples.
Tomorrow, back to work and I will be reading emails all day. Fuckin' hell.
4 comments:
I read both Brave New World and 1984 almost 20 yrs ago - when perhaps understanding was a little lacking. Never had the photographic memory referred to. But check this out - a contrast btw the 2 books : It is eerie how accurately almost Huxley had predicted this brave new world ....
"What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions." In 1984, Orwell added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we desire will ruin us."
Whoa! As in that was thought-provoking
Whoa! As in "20-years ago, what are you a dinosaur?"
Whoa!
Right. Given the demographics of your fan-zone (missing in action, btw) - being able to read Huxley 20yrs ago would make me a dinosaur or a mensa member at the age of 1 ..... I would like to choose the latter - however I admitted foolishly to not having a photographic memory. So .. dinosaur it is.
Whoa - ain't I really clever and catty too?
Meow. free lifetime membership for that, feisty.
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