Die Heilung der Welt von Ronald Gerste (2021)

Jemand schlug mir vor, „Wie Krankheiten Geschichte machen" zu lesen. Als ich nach diesem Titel suchte, fand ich in der Bibliothek dieses Buch desselben Autors. Es ist interessant und gut geschrieben. Wie Wladimir Lenin zum Thema politische Geschichte sagte: „Es gibt Jahrzehnte, in denen nichts passiert; und es gibt Wochen, in denen Jahrzehnte passieren." Das gilt auch für die Geschichte der Medizin. Es gab Jahrhunderte, in denen keine Welt verändernde Entdeckungen oder Technologien entdeckt oder angewendet wurden, und es gab Jahrzehnte, die die Gesundheit und das Wohlergehen der Menschen mehrfach völlig veränderten. In diesem Buch geht es um die medizinischen Revolutionen, die die moderne Welt von 1840 bis 1870 prägten, es enthält jedoch eine kürzere Berichterstattung über die Ursprünge der medizinischen Wissenschaft in den 1790er Jahren und die Ergebnisse bis in die 1920er Jahre. Das Buch ist manchmal etwas zu explizit und ekelerregend, aber insgesamt lohnt es sich. 4/5 Sterne.

Six Days of War by Michael Oren (2002)

My work space at home is the bedroom of one of our older children who no longer lives here.  This book was on her shelf.  The book is fantastic and highly recommended. The reader is bluntly confronted by the terrible incompetence and tragic miscommunications of international politics & diplomacy.  The story unfolds with vivid clarity from the original records. Anyone curious about this conflict must read this book. 5/5 Stars.

The Blue Age by Gregg Easterbrook (2021)

Tuesday Morning Quarterback (TMQ) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuesday_Morning_Quarterbackwas my favorite weekly column from 2000 until it ended in 2017.  Along with millions of other fans, I was sorely disappointed when Easterbrook stopped writing the column.  Longing for his wit, insights, and aphorisms,  I read two of Easterbrook's books, Sonic Boom and The Here and Now. I disliked both books.  Blue Age is much better!  I recommend this one.  4/5 Stars.

The Pursuit of Power by William H McNeill (1982))

I normally don't enjoy these dense, phonebook-long history textbooks with too many names, dates.  But this book is fantastic; there is never a dull moment.  It is deeply insightful and posits the author's theories of larger, sociological nation-state behaviors not only of the leaders but the populations.  5/5 Stars.  I am grateful someone at work recommended the book.

The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell

Another wonderfully entertaining book by a great story-teller.  I had seen the Fog of War documentary 20 years ago, and I remember Robert McNamara's comments about Curtis LeMay.  But I did not know about the effectiveness of the  Norden bombsight, or details of all the other characters in the story. Readers must remember that Gladwell is highly opinionated and uses loaded language with great story-telling to slant the facts.  So keep wikipedia handy. 4/5 Stars. The book is very entertaining.

Breaking History by Jared Kushner

Tight, well-written political history from an outsider brought into the inner-circle of the whitehouse during the dark times of the "Trump" years.  Fun details of the drama, power struggles, and "leaks" that politicians use to attack each other. The author appears to be a bright person who read a lot of political books to take on his role. This insider's account of the creation of the Abrahamic Accords is worthwhile. 4/5 Stars.

Power, Faith, & Fantasy, America in the Middle East 1776 - 2011 by Michael Oren

"I am not a great man. I am a failure, and you have made me one."  --Jimmy Carter to Yasir Arafat, July, 2000.

This well-researched and insightful history book fills in some important gaps that other historical fiction and history books I have read on this topic leave out. The book is long but still manages to omit an enormous amount of context and concurrent events to those described.  I wish professor Oren had added more references and made the book longer (it is very long, but still fantastic).  The main theme of misset expectations, culture clash, and lack of empathy among the leaders is well-presented.  If you are at all interested in America in the Middle East, I highly recommend the book, 5/5 Stars.

Iran: A Modern History by Abbas Amanat

I frequently lament my choices in books to read, especially history books. This thousand-page detailed account of the last 350 years of Iran's history falls squarely into that category.  Most of the last third of the book (mid 20th century to present) is interesting and valuable to understand the current politics and social dynamics of the region today.  The detailed history of poetry, literature, film, art, and culture surrounding the secular, religious, social, and political dynamics is just too much and I do *not* recommend the book for light reading.  I did learn a lot, though. The political and religious dynamics of the Khomeni reign of terror was particularly interesting and the 21st century (contemporary) details are fantastic background to understand the current revolution and why it will succeed. 2/5 Stars.

Gangsters vs Nazis by Michael Benson

Fun, interesting, well-researched history of a fascinating time in early to mid 20th century USA politics and social dynamics. It is unfortunately not well-written or edited and reads too much like a colorful textbook.  Despite the "Barbara Tuchman Telephone Book" style, I really enjoyed the anecdotes, stories, and commentary. 4/5 Stars.

The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre

The best of Macintyre's books yet.  Extremely interesting, informative, and entertaining. 5/5 Stars.

Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre

Another fun, interesting, true story by Ben Macintyre, recommended by the friend who told me to read Agent Sonya. I loved the hilarious twists and turns in the story and how truth is so much stranger than fiction. 5/5 Stars.

A savage war of peace, Algeria 1954 - 1975 by Alistair Horne

Sometimes I question my masochistic tendency to pick up these thick (625 pages), detailed "phone book" history books. I always chase down the references on wikipedia, pause to review earlier details and spend months of agony assimilating everything that happened in a broader context as I read them.  I shudder when I consider the pain I would have endured if I had chosen a career in history or historiography.

"Savage" is a gross understatement for how terrible this period of history was in Algeria.  The deprivations and inhumanity were extremely painful to get through, especially the shocking, nauseating, and horrific details cited by the author. The Polish/Nazi holocaust, Rawandan genocide, Stalinist purges, and Yugoslav civil war are comparable in their horrors, but this civil war (10% of the population was killed or permanently maimed) is more savage and depraved.

I disagree with about half of the author's analysis and conclusions and I am not enthralled by Charles de Gaulle's cult of personality or his destructive politique de grandeur.  So I did not appreciate Horne's gushing praise (he should have read Barbara Tuchman's take on some of the events).  However, the book is extremely well-researched and the facts are well-presented, so I am giving it 2/5 Stars.  And finally: I did enjoy brushing up my French, as there are numerous, long French citations and all of the original source materials are in French & Arabic.

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

I enjoyed the story, characters, and cultural immersion into a "slice of life" of this interesting time in our history.  Towles experimented with shifting first-person narration among the characters so that we can get into their internal dialog, values, and attitudes. This technique has drawbacks but enhances the reader's immersion into the story.  I think Gentleman in Moscow is better but I really love this one as well. 5/5 Stars.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

After many years of pushing this battered, dog-eared book down on my reading stack, I finally picked it up as a welcome break from space opera and popular science.  The non-stop cajoling of my family finally overwhelmed my hedonistic reading proclivities.   The book and story are as fantastic as my family promised. The deep insights into culture and geopolitics of (what are in 2021) Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola are still extremely valuable.  I am sorry I did not read this book decades ago.  5/5 Stars.

Agent Sonya by Ben Macintyre

Fantastic historically accurate biography of the top Russian spy during the second world war.  Well-crafted, entertaining, and still relevant, 5/5 Stars.

Mythos by Stephen Fry

Despite the detailed depth, breadth, and "phone book" lists of names, I enjoyed this book because of the humor and writing style, 3/5 Stars.

The Rules of Civility by Amore Towles

Having been blown away by his latest book, A Gentleman in Moscow, I had to read his earlier book.  I do not care as much about the history, setting, or characters of this story.  It is extremely well-crafted and immersive, though.  3/5 Stars.

Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener

For my birthday this year, I received a hardback copy of this excellent, well-written memoir. If you live in San Francisco or are otherwise in the SF Bay area and part of the tech industry, this book is a must-read.  5/5 Stars.

the meaning of it all by Richard Feynman

I am a big fan of Richard Feynman.  It's wonderful to read more of his fun essays.  5/5 Stars.  Too short, as always.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Fantastic story, amazing history, gripping, dense with aphorisms and life lessons, rich, colorful characters, 5/5 Stars, one of the 3 best books I have read this year, highly recommended.  Thank you, Senthil.