The OFFICIAL NPR Book Thread

[Niegs]

Recently finished this rip-roaring yarn. Normally, I like historical fiction to be factual, but this was full of anachronisms and quite funny.


Now onto a somewhat 'boring' but enlightening non-fic about how the RCMP were terrible at sussing out KGB operations in Canada in the 50s and 60s.

[Hugo]

Got through some decent books of late -

History of Mexico by Henry Bamford Parkes. Decent overview of Mexican history, my biggest takeaway was how the Catholic church was such a big impediment to the development of a modern, liberal state. What was massively encouraging from a human point of view was how (despite all of the problems that emanated from the Catholic church, American interference, European interference and the hangover from the Spanish colonial era) Mexico has produced reform minded patriots that genuinely care about the country and want to make it better for the Mexican people. Despite all the corruption and all the political and social chaos leaders like Benito Juarez and Cardenas strove to make Mexico a better country and even though they only partially succeeded they still laid the groundwork by which further improvements can be made. From the outside looking in it seems that AMLO is trying to reform Mexico in a similar vein.

The Strange Death of Europe by Douglas Murray. Pretty depressing read tbh. The stuff that really hit home for me was how some of the more egregious crimes committed by migrants/asylum seekers have been deliberately downplayed in the media and by govt. officials not just in one place but throughout the continent. Parts of Sweden have been transformed into no go areas by a combination of mass migration and the failure to integrate the migrants. There was a story in the Economist this week on how low the murder conviction rate has fallen in parts of Sweden where the police are either ineffective or refuse to work.

Taming American Power by Stephen Walt. Was recommended Walt's stuff by assfly and it did not disappoint. Some good stuff in there on how countries play the game with the United States and use American power to their own ends and how they extract concessions from the US. It made me wonder (as I often have) whether Britain is too willing an American ally and if British interests would be better served being a reluctant American ally.

[Uncle fester]

Got through some decent books of late -

History of Mexico by Henry Bamford Parkes. Decent overview of Mexican history, my biggest takeaway was how the Catholic church was such a big impediment to the development of a modern, liberal state. What was massively encouraging from a human point of view was how (despite all of the problems that emanated from the Catholic church, American interference, European interference and the hangover from the Spanish colonial era) Mexico has produced reform minded patriots that genuinely care about the country and want to make it better for the Mexican people. Despite all the corruption and all the political and social chaos leaders like Benito Juarez and Cardenas strove to make Mexico a better country and even though they only partially succeeded they still laid the groundwork by which further improvements can be made. From the outside looking in it seems that AMLO is trying to reform Mexico in a similar vein.

The Strange Death of Europe by Douglas Murray. Pretty depressing read tbh. The stuff that really hit home for me was how some of the more egregious crimes committed by migrants/asylum seekers have been deliberately downplayed in the media and by govt. officials not just in one place but throughout the continent. Parts of Sweden have been transformed into no go areas by a combination of mass migration and the failure to integrate the migrants. There was a story in the Economist this week on how low the murder conviction rate has fallen in parts of Sweden where the police are either ineffective or refuse to work.

Taming American Power by Stephen Walt. Was recommended Walt's stuff by assfly and it did not disappoint. Some good stuff in there on how countries play the game with the United States and use American power to their own ends and how they extract concessions from the US. It made me wonder (as I often have) whether Britain is too willing an American ally and if British interests would be better served being a reluctant American ally.

Not exactly an impartial observer our Douglas...

[Paddington Bear]

Read Singapore Burning by Colin Smith on holiday. Reads like a novel but very well sourced and accurate.

Would be particularly grim reading for an Aussie, he spares no blushes for the behaviour of the Australian forces on Singapore island itself and Bennett gets a bit of the shoeing he deserves.
An interestingly sympathetic account of Percival's war - my impression was always that he was an effete upper class ditherer out of his depth, clearly there was a lot more to him than that. Unlike Bennett he also endured captivity like his men, and spent the rest of his life campaigning for their interests.
I also hadn't realised that the fall of Singapore didn't at all take Churchill and the War Cabinet by surprise and a lot of their communications on the subject have been misinterpreted.

Very interesting account of a severe fuck up, but with everything spelled out as it is the fall of Singapore becomes almost inevitable. Highly recommended.

[Slick]

Read a couple over the last few weeks:

Sour Grapes by Dan Jones - really enjoyed this. Pretty easy reading, laugh out funny in places and overall a good pisstake of the literary scene although his bitterness does occasionally come through. In fairness he takes the piss out of himself as well which is always a good thing. Oddly with this one, Private Eye gave it a real kicking a few weeks back which then had the author writing a letter asking what their problem was and why a book published by a very small, independent, publisher that had at that point sold only a few hundred copies should get so much attention from them. Interesting!

The other was Infinite Ground by Martin Macinnes. Utter self indulgent shite. One of only a handful of books I haven’t finished

[mat the expat]

Read Singapore Burning by Colin Smith on holiday. Reads like a novel but very well sourced and accurate.

Would be particularly grim reading for an Aussie, he spares no blushes for the behaviour of the Australian forces on Singapore island itself and Bennett gets a bit of the shoeing he deserves.
An interestingly sympathetic account of Percival's war - my impression was always that he was an effete upper class ditherer out of his depth, clearly there was a lot more to him than that. Unlike Bennett he also endured captivity like his men, and spent the rest of his life campaigning for their interests.
I also hadn't realised that the fall of Singapore didn't at all take Churchill and the War Cabinet by surprise and a lot of their communications on the subject have been misinterpreted.

Very interesting account of a severe fuck up, but with everything spelled out as it is the fall of Singapore becomes almost inevitable. Highly recommended.

Will give that one a try

[Happyhooker]

Just finished the Lincoln highway by amor towles.

Really nicely constructed book, loved it. Not quite at the level of a gentleman in Moscow, but still amongst the best I've read recently

[Slick]

Just finished the Lincoln highway by amor towles.

Really nicely constructed book, loved it. Not quite at the level of a gentleman in Moscow, but still amongst the best I've read recently

Just bought A Gentleman in Moscow on the basis of this post so hope it’s decent!

[Happyhooker]

Just finished the Lincoln highway by amor towles.

Really nicely constructed book, loved it. Not quite at the level of a gentleman in Moscow, but still amongst the best I've read recently

Just bought A Gentleman in Moscow on the basis of this post so hope it’s decent!

One of the best written books in years. Odd premise, but he makes it work

[Hugo]

Recently read Born in blood and fire, a basic, accessible overview of the history of Latin America.

Some good threads in there that are worthy of further exploration so on that note I just got a copy of Bitter Fruit. Its about the CIA organised coup to overthrow the Guatemalan govt. in 1954.

[vball]

Just finished Robert Low's trilogy set at the time of the Border Reivers. None of your romantic historical novels, just evil and brutal bastards.

Wonder who would play the main character of Batty Coalhouse if it was made into a film.

[Plim]

Got through some decent books of late -

History of Mexico by Henry Bamford Parkes. Decent overview of Mexican history, my biggest takeaway was how the Catholic church was such a big impediment to the development of a modern, liberal state. What was massively encouraging from a human point of view was how (despite all of the problems that emanated from the Catholic church, American interference, European interference and the hangover from the Spanish colonial era) Mexico has produced reform minded patriots that genuinely care about the country and want to make it better for the Mexican people. Despite all the corruption and all the political and social chaos leaders like Benito Juarez and Cardenas strove to make Mexico a better country and even though they only partially succeeded they still laid the groundwork by which further improvements can be made. From the outside looking in it seems that AMLO is trying to reform Mexico in a similar vein.

The Strange Death of Europe by Douglas Murray. Pretty depressing read tbh. The stuff that really hit home for me was how some of the more egregious crimes committed by migrants/asylum seekers have been deliberately downplayed in the media and by govt. officials not just in one place but throughout the continent. Parts of Sweden have been transformed into no go areas by a combination of mass migration and the failure to integrate the migrants. There was a story in the Economist this week on how low the murder conviction rate has fallen in parts of Sweden where the police are either ineffective or refuse to work.

Taming American Power by Stephen Walt. Was recommended Walt's stuff by assfly and it did not disappoint. Some good stuff in there on how countries play the game with the United States and use American power to their own ends and how they extract concessions from the US. It made me wonder (as I often have) whether Britain is too willing an American ally and if British interests would be better served being a reluctant American ally.

Not exactly an impartial observer our Douglas...

Which commentator is?

Partial or not, Murray is a very smart bloke. And moderate.

[Jock42]

An Intimate War: An Oral History of the Helmand Conflict.

Only a couple of chapters in but already struggling with who's who and which tribe/sub-tribe/clan/sub-clan they're from.

[I like neeps]

Got through some decent books of late -

History of Mexico by Henry Bamford Parkes. Decent overview of Mexican history, my biggest takeaway was how the Catholic church was such a big impediment to the development of a modern, liberal state. What was massively encouraging from a human point of view was how (despite all of the problems that emanated from the Catholic church, American interference, European interference and the hangover from the Spanish colonial era) Mexico has produced reform minded patriots that genuinely care about the country and want to make it better for the Mexican people. Despite all the corruption and all the political and social chaos leaders like Benito Juarez and Cardenas strove to make Mexico a better country and even though they only partially succeeded they still laid the groundwork by which further improvements can be made. From the outside looking in it seems that AMLO is trying to reform Mexico in a similar vein.

The Strange Death of Europe by Douglas Murray. Pretty depressing read tbh. The stuff that really hit home for me was how some of the more egregious crimes committed by migrants/asylum seekers have been deliberately downplayed in the media and by govt. officials not just in one place but throughout the continent. Parts of Sweden have been transformed into no go areas by a combination of mass migration and the failure to integrate the migrants. There was a story in the Economist this week on how low the murder conviction rate has fallen in parts of Sweden where the police are either ineffective or refuse to work.

Taming American Power by Stephen Walt. Was recommended Walt's stuff by assfly and it did not disappoint. Some good stuff in there on how countries play the game with the United States and use American power to their own ends and how they extract concessions from the US. It made me wonder (as I often have) whether Britain is too willing an American ally and if British interests would be better served being a reluctant American ally.

Not exactly an impartial observer our Douglas...

Which commentator is?

Partial or not, Murray is a very smart bloke. And moderate.

Moderate

He's just as smart as all the ex Etonian Oxford educated chaps packed into the Spectator to be fair to him.

[Plim]

Not exactly an impartial observer our Douglas...

Which commentator is?

Partial or not, Murray is a very smart bloke. And moderate.

Moderate

He's just as smart as all the ex Etonian Oxford educated chaps packed into the Spectator to be fair to him.

Not a fan then? Is that because he used to write for the Jewish Chronicle? Or maybe it’s because he’s gay? Or both?

[petej]

Which commentator is?

Partial or not, Murray is a very smart bloke. And moderate.

Moderate

He's just as smart as all the ex Etonian Oxford educated chaps packed into the Spectator to be fair to him.

Not a fan then? Is that because he used to write for the Jewish Chronicle? Or maybe it’s because he’s gay? Or both?

I find it interesting how much our political and media class ignore the population and encourage and rely on polarisation for their ends. In Murray's book I can find more/plenty in common with other books whose authors or would be classed as left relating to demographics, population shrinking maybe not being bad and child friendly policies (an area where our current government has been terrible) and other areas.

[robmatic]

Recently read Born in blood and fire, a basic, accessible overview of the history of Latin America.

Some good threads in there that are worthy of further exploration so on that note I just got a copy of Bitter Fruit. Its about the CIA organised coup to overthrow the Guatemalan govt. in 1954.

Last year, I read Cybernetic Revolutionaries: Technology and Politics in Allende's Chile by Eden Medina, which is about the Allende government's attempt to establish a computer-based, technocratic system to manage their country's economy under the guidance of Stafford Beer, a British cybernetician and business consultant. The US really didn't waste much time before sticking their boot in and getting that nice chap Pinochet to sort out those dangerous socialists.

[Hugo]

Recently read Born in blood and fire, a basic, accessible overview of the history of Latin America.

Some good threads in there that are worthy of further exploration so on that note I just got a copy of Bitter Fruit. Its about the CIA organised coup to overthrow the Guatemalan govt. in 1954.

Last year, I read Cybernetic Revolutionaries: Technology and Politics in Allende's Chile by Eden Medina, which is about the Allende government's attempt to establish a computer-based, technocratic system to manage their country's economy under the guidance of Stafford Beer, a British cybernetician and business consultant. The US really didn't waste much time before sticking their boot in and getting that nice chap Pinochet to sort out those dangerous socialists.

Thanks for the recommendation. Yeah, the US has pretty much always been on the wrong side of history in its interventions in the Americas.

It has acted in the interests of capital and against labour, indigenous people and the poor.

[petej]

Really enjoyed "the shortest history of England" by James Hawes. Hadn't realised the north south divide has pretty much always existed even before the Romans arrived here.

[Paddington Bear]

Dan Jackson's The Northumbrians is very good on that as well. Geography and the fertility of the land a huge factor.

Currently reading A People's Tragedy, been meaning to for a while and felt appropriate given current events in Russia/Ukraine. Meaty, will probably need another few weeks on it, but excellent. His explanation on why democracy failed to take root in Russia is particularly good, talking about how the attempts at creating vaguely democratic constitutions created rights, whereas in Britain they'd traditionally enshrined existing rights in law. An interesting point more generally for imposing Western systems.
Strikes me that the Russian Revolution is the greatest epic TV series Netflix haven't made, wouldn't even need to dramatise it.

[Hugo]

Currently reading A People's Tragedy, been meaning to for a while and felt appropriate given current events in Russia/Ukraine. Meaty, will probably need another few weeks on it, but excellent. His explanation on why democracy failed to take root in Russia is particularly good, talking about how the attempts at creating vaguely democratic constitutions created rights, whereas in Britain they'd traditionally enshrined existing rights in law. An interesting point more generally for imposing Western systems.
Strikes me that the Russian Revolution is the greatest epic TV series Netflix haven't made, wouldn't even need to dramatise it.

I read Figes book on the Crimean war last year and it was written before the invasion of 2014 but also felt very topical.

I got a kick out of the fact that Palmerston was accused of being a Russian stooge in much the same way as Trump is.

[mat the expat]

Dan Jackson's The Northumbrians is very good on that as well. Geography and the fertility of the land a huge factor.

Currently reading A People's Tragedy, been meaning to for a while and felt appropriate given current events in Russia/Ukraine. Meaty, will probably need another few weeks on it, but excellent. His explanation on why democracy failed to take root in Russia is particularly good, talking about how the attempts at creating vaguely democratic constitutions created rights, whereas in Britain they'd traditionally enshrined existing rights in law. An interesting point more generally for imposing Western systems.
Strikes me that the Russian Revolution is the greatest epic TV series Netflix haven't made, wouldn't even need to dramatise it.

Good tips -

[Slick]

Just finished the Lincoln highway by amor towles.

Really nicely constructed book, loved it. Not quite at the level of a gentleman in Moscow, but still amongst the best I've read recently

Just bought A Gentleman in Moscow on the basis of this post so hope it’s decent!

One of the best written books in years. Odd premise, but he makes it work

Brilliant recommendation HH, really enjoyed that. The writing is absolutely fantastic and it’s amazing he keeps it up through the whole book - too often books drift after a well crafted start, not here.

Not a bad word to say about it, superb

[C69]

Just been given a copy of Jamie Roberts "Centre Stage: My Life in Rugby" by a friend who now calls him a sneering, self centred privileged arrogant prick.

Made me laugh as he is a Consultant Physician and his parents were both GPs. He was a massive fan before reading the book now not so much.

Will report back

[Happyhooker]

Just bought A Gentleman in Moscow on the basis of this post so hope it’s decent!

One of the best written books in years. Odd premise, but he makes it work

Brilliant recommendation HH, really enjoyed that. The writing is absolutely fantastic and it’s amazing he keeps it up through the whole book - too often books drift after a well crafted start, not here.

Not a bad word to say about it, superb

Glad you enjoyed it. I've just reread it after a couple of years and it still holds up.

[notfatcat]

Question for people who read non-fiction - how long do you reckon you would need to leave it before reading a book for the second time and barely remembering anything from your first reading? In this particular case I'm talking about Jack Reacher. I guess there will be certain types of non-fiction which will linger long in the memory.

I'm trying to work out how bad my book reading memory is. I binge watched Reacher on Amazon Prime on the weekend (based on the first book and apparently accurately so) and there was very little that was familiar. It made me think that I could re-read all the books in the series (up to around 2017), which I read in series order around 5 years ago I guess. So I re-read the second book over the last few days and sure enough I could remember almost nothing of it. I can't help feeling my memory is pretty shite.

[Jock42]

I tend to read fiction on my phone before bed these days. More often than not if I've been on shift that day then I'll end up re-reading the last couple of pages before deciding ots finally time to hit the sack. So based on that it probably won't take me 5 years to forget a book.

[Niegs]

I picked this up because of the cover and was a bit surprised to see that it was written in the 60s. I can't say that I've heard of Garfield, but wiki tells me he was heralded in his day and that Smith won an award (in the 80s) for great books not honoured in its time. Having just finished it, good on ya, Puffin, for yet another re-print! It was excellent!

I guess it was meant for kids, but it's the sort of story that makes for a really good all-ages PG movie these days. Young London pickpocket witnesses a murder after just liberating the man of a packet of documents. He goes on the run but can't read, though, so isn't sure what he has. It becomes a big mystery as to what that was all about, finds himself mixed with the lower and upper classes to solve it and get killed in the process. The story has some nice twists and turns, and very good characters. Well described scenes drop you into the time and place (which I don't think modern YA does well, from my experience).

[Slick]

Question for people who read non-fiction - how long do you reckon you would need to leave it before reading a book for the second time and barely remembering anything from your first reading? In this particular case I'm talking about Jack Reacher. I guess there will be certain types of non-fiction which will linger long in the memory.

I'm trying to work out how bad my book reading memory is. I binge watched Reacher on Amazon Prime on the weekend (based on the first book and apparently accurately so) and there was very little that was familiar. It made me think that I could re-read all the books in the series (up to around 2017), which I read in series order around 5 years ago I guess. So I re-read the second book over the last few days and sure enough I could remember almost nothing of it. I can't help feeling my memory is pretty shite.

I don’t think I’ve ever re-read a book. Rightly or wrongly I just think there are too many I want to read out there to go back

[Hugo]

Just finished this:
https://www.professorcarolanderson.org/the-second

Excellent book, exhaustively researched with over 70 pages of citations.

The authors thesis is that the second amendment had nothing to do with the ability of an armed citizenry to fight against a tyrannous government or foreign invaders. It wasn't about enabling private citizens to be able to defend themselves either.

The 2nd amendment was incorporated into the constitution as a concession to slave owning states (and the anti federal delegation in general) to allow them to raise militias for the purpose of suppressing slave rebellions. The "being necessary to the security of a free State" is basically code for keeping the blacks in a place of subordination.

In practice the militias were the slave patrols, the lynch mobs, the KKK, a group of white laypeople with shotguns deputised to enforce "law and order".

[Uncle fester]

Working my way through The Mandibles: A Family, 2029-2047. It's not light reading, that's for sure. Will report back when I've read more.

[Hugo]

Am currently reading Empires in the Sun by Lawrence James about UK, France and Germany's colonial exploits in Africa I am enjoying it.

It was interesting to read about the opposition to imperialism in Africa from French socialists because they saw it as contrary to republican ideals. I've never heard of Jean Jaures (leader of French Socialist Party) before and now want to read up on him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Jaur%C3%A8s

Also, did not know that Britains naval blockage of Germany's African colonies was very impactful on the Allied war effort.

[FalseBayFC]

Just bought A Gentleman in Moscow on the basis of this post so hope it’s decent!

One of the best written books in years. Odd premise, but he makes it work

Brilliant recommendation HH, really enjoyed that. The writing is absolutely fantastic and it’s amazing he keeps it up through the whole book - too often books drift after a well crafted start, not here.

Not a bad word to say about it, superb

Listening to audiobook version of A Gentleman in Moscow. Its great so far!

[Deepsouth]

Read Singapore Burning by Colin Smith on holiday. Reads like a novel but very well sourced and accurate.

Would be particularly grim reading for an Aussie, he spares no blushes for the behaviour of the Australian forces on Singapore island itself and Bennett gets a bit of the shoeing he deserves.
An interestingly sympathetic account of Percival's war - my impression was always that he was an effete upper class ditherer out of his depth, clearly there was a lot more to him than that. Unlike Bennett he also endured captivity like his men, and spent the rest of his life campaigning for their interests.
I also hadn't realised that the fall of Singapore didn't at all take Churchill and the War Cabinet by surprise and a lot of their communications on the subject have been misinterpreted.

Very interesting account of a severe fuck up, but with everything spelled out as it is the fall of Singapore becomes almost inevitable. Highly recommended.

So basically a reworking of history in which, in fact, it was the Australians who were to blame for the fall of Singapore and not the British and Percival.

Pitiful attempt to whitewash what was another disgraceful defeat of the British Army during WW2.

Shameful really.....

[Hugo]

Can anyone recommend a good book on India, either general overview history or a specific interesting era? Preferably not phone directory sized tome.

Thanks.

[robmatic]

Can anyone recommend a good book on India, either general overview history or a specific interesting era? Preferably not phone directory sized tome.

Thanks.

William Dalrymple's The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company.

[Paddington Bear]

Read Singapore Burning by Colin Smith on holiday. Reads like a novel but very well sourced and accurate.

Would be particularly grim reading for an Aussie, he spares no blushes for the behaviour of the Australian forces on Singapore island itself and Bennett gets a bit of the shoeing he deserves.
An interestingly sympathetic account of Percival's war - my impression was always that he was an effete upper class ditherer out of his depth, clearly there was a lot more to him than that. Unlike Bennett he also endured captivity like his men, and spent the rest of his life campaigning for their interests.
I also hadn't realised that the fall of Singapore didn't at all take Churchill and the War Cabinet by surprise and a lot of their communications on the subject have been misinterpreted.

Very interesting account of a severe fuck up, but with everything spelled out as it is the fall of Singapore becomes almost inevitable. Highly recommended.

So basically a reworking of history in which, in fact, it was the Australians who were to blame for the fall of Singapore and not the British and Percival.

Pitiful attempt to whitewash what was another disgraceful defeat of the British Army during WW2.

Shameful really.....

Would recommend reading it and judging for yourself. Percival is shown as playing an exceptionally poor hand averagely and putting a brave face on it, as the book points out his land force was the third line of defence after the Navy (sunk on day 1 courtesy of poor judgement from Phillips) and the RAF (obsolete compared to the Japanese). As for the Aussies, certainly they don't come out as scapegoats but read the accounts of Bennett and his Division in the final days of the campaign and it becomes hard to maintain the myth that they were let down by arrogant British officers. No one bar Ian Stewart of the Argylls and Charles Anderson of the AIF (both Lt. Colonels) comes out smelling of roses.


Anyway, nearly finished Antony Beevor's new book Russia Revolution and Civil War, 1917-1921 which is excellent if pretty graphic and morbid.

[GogLais]

Having nearly finished my summer jobs list I’ve started Max Hastings’ Vietnam. It’s been on my shelves for a while, I’ve been intimidated by the thickness of it but as usual with Hastings it’s a good read.

[Hugo]

Can anyone recommend a good book on India, either general overview history or a specific interesting era? Preferably not phone directory sized tome.

Thanks.

William Dalrymple's The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company.

Thanks.

[Jock42]

Have just finished "Olive, Mabel and I" by Andrew Cotter. For the 2 people that don't know they're his 2 labs. Some genuine laugh out loud moments in what was a thoroughly heart warming book. My view is probably skewed somewhat by being the "food source" of a near 2 year old lab but I'd highly recommend it.