Part travelogue, part history. Not sure what the point of the travelogue is really - there are some interesting encounters but the travelling group dynamic parts don't really seem to add much. Both aspects lack any kind of critical analysis or insight.
While there is a lot on Shamil, there are some anti-mythic or anti-hero facts and anecdotes included, which for me saves those sections. There is also a tantalizing section on Shamil Basayev, though again not particularly deep or well-analyzed.
Overall, a bit incoherent, rather like the group he is travelling with, but with some interesting points or passages that set it apart from some of the other books on the topic.
Includes a small bibliography for further reading.
Sunday 31 March 2013
The Ghost of Freedom: A History of the Caucasus - Charles King
I found this book to be a good overview of the history of the Caucasus as a whole. He covers the early periods, the Russian conquest, and has a few chapters on the post-Soviet situations. It is a good introduction to the topic, and I especially appreciate that he doesn't devote too much time to the whole Shamil story (which some books tend to overdo).
I found the chapter called "The Imaginary Caucasus" interesting. He examines the whole mythology of the Caucasus in Russian and world culture. These kinds of discussions of colonialism and its mentality are interesting. He draws a parallel the the American mythology of the Native Indains.
It includes an extensive bibliography for further reading.
To find:
Klaproth, Travels in the Caucasus and Georgia - 1812
Lermontov, A Hero of Our Time
Pushkin, Captive of the Caucasus
Tolstoy, The Wood-Felling (short story)
Tolstoy, The Cossaks (novella)
Freshfield, The Exploration of the Caucasus (1896)
Repentance (film) Tengiz Abuladze (Georgian)
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (film), Sergei Paradjanov (Georgian)
The Color of Pomegranates (film), Sergei Paradjanov (Georgian) - life of Sayat Nova
I found the chapter called "The Imaginary Caucasus" interesting. He examines the whole mythology of the Caucasus in Russian and world culture. These kinds of discussions of colonialism and its mentality are interesting. He draws a parallel the the American mythology of the Native Indains.
It includes an extensive bibliography for further reading.
To find:
Klaproth, Travels in the Caucasus and Georgia - 1812
Lermontov, A Hero of Our Time
Pushkin, Captive of the Caucasus
Tolstoy, The Wood-Felling (short story)
Tolstoy, The Cossaks (novella)
Freshfield, The Exploration of the Caucasus (1896)
Repentance (film) Tengiz Abuladze (Georgian)
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (film), Sergei Paradjanov (Georgian)
The Color of Pomegranates (film), Sergei Paradjanov (Georgian) - life of Sayat Nova
Turkey: What Everyone Needs to Know - Andrew Finkel
A good general introduction to modern Turkey. Finkel touches on many current issues and trends, and gives historical background where necessary. I would say it is a fairly balanced presentation, looking at strengths, issues and weaknesses. For me, I would like to see a bit more depth but I think it functions well as an overview or introduction to the present state of Turkey.
The Forgotten Palestinians - Ilan Pappé
Subtitle: A History of the Palestinians in Israel
A meticulous account of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the years immediately following the establishment of Israel in 1948. Pappé is a meticulous historian who made use of recently released archival material (such as notes and journals of some of the main actors and leaders of the time) to determine the exact nature of the policy towards Palestinians and Palestinian villages post 1948, and also to catalogue forced removals, destruction of villages, massacres and rapes as noted in these sources. It turns out these archival sources corroborate many of the actions and events Palestinians have claimed for decades.
His style is not hysterical or hostile; he maintains a historian's tone for most of the book. There are occasional glimpses of he feeling and reactions as he discovers the truth behind the propaganda and myths he has been fed growing up in Israel and passing through the education system.
There are interesting quotes at the beginning of chapters mostly taken from statements, descriptions and international reactions to what went on in Bosnia - these stand in stark contrast to the west's and UN's statements and reactions to the events that occured in Palestine. They also serve to back up his conclusion that the Palestinians were subjected to ethnic cleansing, given the similarities between the two conflicts.
A very important book because of who he is and his profession as a historian. A difficult read, but not brutal - there are very few graphic details. It's just the endless repetitive nature of the actions against the Palestinian villages over a period of years.
A meticulous account of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the years immediately following the establishment of Israel in 1948. Pappé is a meticulous historian who made use of recently released archival material (such as notes and journals of some of the main actors and leaders of the time) to determine the exact nature of the policy towards Palestinians and Palestinian villages post 1948, and also to catalogue forced removals, destruction of villages, massacres and rapes as noted in these sources. It turns out these archival sources corroborate many of the actions and events Palestinians have claimed for decades.
His style is not hysterical or hostile; he maintains a historian's tone for most of the book. There are occasional glimpses of he feeling and reactions as he discovers the truth behind the propaganda and myths he has been fed growing up in Israel and passing through the education system.
There are interesting quotes at the beginning of chapters mostly taken from statements, descriptions and international reactions to what went on in Bosnia - these stand in stark contrast to the west's and UN's statements and reactions to the events that occured in Palestine. They also serve to back up his conclusion that the Palestinians were subjected to ethnic cleansing, given the similarities between the two conflicts.
A very important book because of who he is and his profession as a historian. A difficult read, but not brutal - there are very few graphic details. It's just the endless repetitive nature of the actions against the Palestinian villages over a period of years.
Saturday 2 March 2013
The Happiness Advantage - Shawn Achor
While a bit skewed towards business leadership, this book is still worth the read. It makes some interesting points regarding achieving goals, being satisfied in life. I particularly the idea of studying the outliers in successful, happy lives as opposed the norm of studying the outliers of unhappiness, disturbance and sickness. This is part of a general movement in psychology referred to as the 'Positive Psychology' movement - it would be worth checking out their presence on the internet.
He has seven principles in creating the happiness advantage:
- happiness advantage: retraining the brain to focus more on positive experiences in life
- fulcrum and lever: adjusting expectations, way of looking at things to more positive, achievement oriented set
- tetris effect: changing the patterns we perceive in the world to focus on opportunities and possibilities
- falling up: using failures, stressful situtions as learning opportunities
- zorro circle: learning to divide large goals and difficult tasks into manageable bits that can be completed successfully one step at a time
- 20 second rule: changing patterns and habits by making it as easy as possible to follow the new path you want to set for yourself - limit the amount of choice so it's easier to get started on the new habit or activity you want to set
- social investment: the importance of establishing relationships and using them as support when experiencing difficulties
Each chapter has some techniques to help develop each mindset or skill, though many of them apply to a business environment more than a personal environment
He has seven principles in creating the happiness advantage:
- happiness advantage: retraining the brain to focus more on positive experiences in life
- fulcrum and lever: adjusting expectations, way of looking at things to more positive, achievement oriented set
- tetris effect: changing the patterns we perceive in the world to focus on opportunities and possibilities
- falling up: using failures, stressful situtions as learning opportunities
- zorro circle: learning to divide large goals and difficult tasks into manageable bits that can be completed successfully one step at a time
- 20 second rule: changing patterns and habits by making it as easy as possible to follow the new path you want to set for yourself - limit the amount of choice so it's easier to get started on the new habit or activity you want to set
- social investment: the importance of establishing relationships and using them as support when experiencing difficulties
Each chapter has some techniques to help develop each mindset or skill, though many of them apply to a business environment more than a personal environment
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