Here are the books I finished last month.
Agemoglu, Daron and Robinson, James A: Why Nations Fail. The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty (2013). A good span-of-history book, which asserts the importance of political institutions in explaining why some countries are rich and others poor. The authors show how countries are impoverished by kleptocratic rulers who steal their countries’ resources on a massive scale and obstruct local enterprise by allocating monopoly to their families and other cronies. The authors also note how several states (such as Columbia) fail at their most basic task of maintaining control over their territory, and how others (such as Argentina) have systematically looted the savings of their ordinary citizens. However, the authors do not discuss how democratic political institutions can themselves become corrupted such that wealth is increasingly concentrated in elites who become secure from taxes or effective regulation.
Armstrong, John: In Search of Civilisation (2009). This is a short but engrossing discussion of the meaning of civilisation. Armstrong is able to put philosophical ideas into simple language, illustrated by poetry, literature and history. I would have liked some discussion of how civilised ways of life can co-exist in the same society with gross barbarity.
Galbraith, Richard: The Cuckoo’s Calling (2013). This is a tremendous thriller, written by JK Rowling. There is a wide range of loathsome suspects, each of whom typifies a different aspect of the corrupting wealth of London society. The detective is at first presented as the cliché of the man with integrity who has failed in his personal and work life. His new temporary secretary appears empty-headed. But the reader’s understanding of both of them is transformed as the book progresses. This is the best murder mystery I have read.
Goudsblom, Johan and Mennell, Stephen: The Norbert Elias Reader (1998). I dipped into this book, which summarised the work of the great sociologist Norbert Elias. Unlike most of his kind, Elias knew that a good understanding of history is essential in understanding social stability and change. His work was highly-regarded by such eminent historians as Eric Hobsbawm. I read one Elias book in November, and will tackle others later this year.
Lyman, Robert: Japan’s Last Bid for Victory. The Invasion of India 1944 (2011). This book filled a gap in my knowledge of the brutal campaign in Assam, when Japan began an invasion of India in the hope that this would set off a popular uprising against British rule. Each stage of the campaign is described in details, including the appalling siege of Kohima, when the British and Japanese fought without a break for days across opposite sides of a tennis court. The staggering brutality of the Japanese army is described, and how this strengthened the determination of the British. If you knew that the Japanese killed all their prisoners, then you never surrendered.
Suchet, David: Poirot and Me (2013). This was a Christmas present from my daughter Rosemarie. It was signed by David Suchet at the Chepstow Literary Festival. Rosemarie met the great man, gave him a picture of Poirot she had drawn, and then burst into tears. The book is an engaging read, and illustrates how a great character actor works hard to understand the character he plays.
There was also one book I began but did not complete:
Schama, Simon: The Story of the Jews, Volume 1 (2013). This is a fascinating subject, but proved frustrating to read. Schama seems uncertain of his readership. It would have been helpful for those of us who are not Jews to have had more background information about Jewish religion and customs. The main problem, however, is that Schama is not a narrative historian, and that the book was developed from a television series. As a result, the book seems oddly episodic.
Agemoglu, Daron and Robinson, James A: Why Nations Fail. The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty (2013). A good span-of-history book, which asserts the importance of political institutions in explaining why some countries are rich and others poor. The authors show how countries are impoverished by kleptocratic rulers who steal their countries’ resources on a massive scale and obstruct local enterprise by allocating monopoly to their families and other cronies. The authors also note how several states (such as Columbia) fail at their most basic task of maintaining control over their territory, and how others (such as Argentina) have systematically looted the savings of their ordinary citizens. However, the authors do not discuss how democratic political institutions can themselves become corrupted such that wealth is increasingly concentrated in elites who become secure from taxes or effective regulation.
Armstrong, John: In Search of Civilisation (2009). This is a short but engrossing discussion of the meaning of civilisation. Armstrong is able to put philosophical ideas into simple language, illustrated by poetry, literature and history. I would have liked some discussion of how civilised ways of life can co-exist in the same society with gross barbarity.
Galbraith, Richard: The Cuckoo’s Calling (2013). This is a tremendous thriller, written by JK Rowling. There is a wide range of loathsome suspects, each of whom typifies a different aspect of the corrupting wealth of London society. The detective is at first presented as the cliché of the man with integrity who has failed in his personal and work life. His new temporary secretary appears empty-headed. But the reader’s understanding of both of them is transformed as the book progresses. This is the best murder mystery I have read.
Goudsblom, Johan and Mennell, Stephen: The Norbert Elias Reader (1998). I dipped into this book, which summarised the work of the great sociologist Norbert Elias. Unlike most of his kind, Elias knew that a good understanding of history is essential in understanding social stability and change. His work was highly-regarded by such eminent historians as Eric Hobsbawm. I read one Elias book in November, and will tackle others later this year.
Lyman, Robert: Japan’s Last Bid for Victory. The Invasion of India 1944 (2011). This book filled a gap in my knowledge of the brutal campaign in Assam, when Japan began an invasion of India in the hope that this would set off a popular uprising against British rule. Each stage of the campaign is described in details, including the appalling siege of Kohima, when the British and Japanese fought without a break for days across opposite sides of a tennis court. The staggering brutality of the Japanese army is described, and how this strengthened the determination of the British. If you knew that the Japanese killed all their prisoners, then you never surrendered.
Suchet, David: Poirot and Me (2013). This was a Christmas present from my daughter Rosemarie. It was signed by David Suchet at the Chepstow Literary Festival. Rosemarie met the great man, gave him a picture of Poirot she had drawn, and then burst into tears. The book is an engaging read, and illustrates how a great character actor works hard to understand the character he plays.
There was also one book I began but did not complete:
Schama, Simon: The Story of the Jews, Volume 1 (2013). This is a fascinating subject, but proved frustrating to read. Schama seems uncertain of his readership. It would have been helpful for those of us who are not Jews to have had more background information about Jewish religion and customs. The main problem, however, is that Schama is not a narrative historian, and that the book was developed from a television series. As a result, the book seems oddly episodic.
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