re: What are you reading?

I like Serhii Plokhy. After he was on Lex Fridman's Podcast (and Lex had recommended him before that) - I picked up his "The Russo-Ukrainian War". It's good but now somewhat outdated by events. Recently I read Plokhy's "The Last Empire" which I thought was outstanding. It's about the dissolution of the USSR and is extremely well researched. It's largely about Gorbachev and Yeltsin and their struggle; and their relationship with Bush who did not want to see the Soviet Union unravel. The relationship between Russia and the other republics (especially Ukraine and Kazakhstan) is covered as well. The forward is very good for the big picture, and there is a new afterward that covers the Ukraine war. This is one I highly recommend. Years ago I'd read "A Failed Empire" by Vladislav Zubok which I thought was very good but Plokhy's book covers it much better (though Zubok has much more detail pre-Gorbachev).

A couple of weeks ago I finished Anne Applebaum's "Red Famine". It's another one Lex Fridman recommended on his Podcast. It's researched as well as it can be but that's tricky since Stalin ordered all relevant records be destroyed. It's another one that I recommend if you want to know how mass starvation can occur in a grain growing area but it's not a fun read.

Just on order from Audible - Stephen Kotkin's biography of Stalin which is supposed to be definitive. There are two books but a third will be out reasonably soon. But I'm going to read for fun for a while before tackling that one.

quote:

---

Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will by Robert M. Sapolsky and East of Eden by John Steinbeck

---

Both novels grapple with the concept of free will, but from vastly different angles. 'East of Eden' emphasizes the human capacity for moral agency and the power to make conscious choices, encapsulated in the concept of 'timshel,' which suggests that individuals can overcome their inherent nature. 'Determined' presents a scientific perspective that challenges the traditional notion of free will, arguing that human behavior is predominantly influenced by biological and environmental factors, thus questioning the extent of voluntary decision-making. Both provoke reflection on the extent to which individuals control their destinies amidst internal conflicts and external pressures.

Up next:

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Very good book

quote:

---

Everyone posting in this thread about what they're reading should go back, quote their old post, and post a review when finished with their book.

---

On March 3, 2024 I posted in this thread that I was reading:



Here is the review of this book I posted in Goodreads:

Saturnalia is the 18th book by Lindsey Davis in the Marcus Didius Falco series featuring a private investigator during the Vespasian reign of the Roman Empire. In Saturnalia, we again meet the Germanic princess, Veleda (whose name, incidentally, is an anagram for my wife’s name), first encountered in the Iron Hand of Mars, in which Falco negotiated peace with Veleda.

In Saturnalia, an ambitious Roman general imprisoned Veleda and brought her to Rome for execution. Veleda manages to escape her captivity as the Roman holiday of Saturnalia begins. The emperor promises Falco a generous reward to find her before the end of the week-long celebration. Falco must deal with many impediments to his search, including his nemesis, Anacrites, Chief Spy of Rome, who wants for himself the reward and glory for finding Veleda.

As with all of the books in the series, it is a page-turner. I started reading this series about 20 years ago, and I am very sad as I am near the end of the adventures of Falco, his intelligent wife, their dog Nux, and his good friend, Petro, a Roman vigil.

Wow, reading it again was the right decision. I'd miss a few things before. Love this book so much!!!

Just finished Demon of Unrest, on to another Larson history lesson.

I’ve seen the movie multiple times but has never read the book. Beautifully written about the Asian-American experience.

City of Light

It's about how modern Paris was built

Red Sky Mourning - Jack Carr