Category: 20th century
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Location: Sagamore Hill National Historic Site; Oyster Bay, New York, USA
Author Ben W.Posted on November 27, 2018 December 10, 2018 Categories 2018, 20th century, 26th president, nobel peace prize, oyster bay, perseverance, photography, politics, presidents, rough riders, sagamore hill, service, square deal, theodore roosevelt, united statesTags 1910's, 2018, 20th century, 26th president, american history, explorer, fairness, get action, justice, long island, motivation, oyster bay, presidents, rough riders, sagamore hill, service, spanish-american war, square deal, theodore roosevelt, united statesLeave a comment on Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
'Governing The World: The History of an Idea' – Book Review
Governing the World: The History of an Idea by Mark Mazower is an illuminating and insightful history regarding the shaky yet continuous rise of internationalism that began with the Concert of Vienna in 1815. Mazower's look at the emergence of global governance continues up until the wake of the Eurozone crisis with regards to the present needs of reforming the European Union in the wake of unpopular austerity measures and burdensome bureaucratic regulations from Brussels.
His book addresses 'globalization' different from previous books I've read in the past with regards to focus on 'ideas' themselves and the rise and fall of those ideas throughout the 19th and 20th centuries led by primarily politicians and philosophers such as Kant, Metternich, Mazzini, Marx, Lenin, Bentham, Wilson, the Roosevelts, etc. among many others who were driven in defining what the international system should look, act, and be like.
A consistent theme of this history of ideas and institutions from 1815 to about 2012 was how instrumental the 'Great Powers' in each era were in setting up the foundation of the international system whether it was the 'Concert of Europe', the 'League of Nations', or the 'United Nations.' In the wake of the Napoleonic Wars and World Wars I, II, the leading powers desired to create a 'balance of power' among the great nations yet whose actions could be backed up by a single hegemon such as the U.K., U.S. to set the rules and boost the institutions they founded. Mazower is clear in that the history of global governance evolved originally from the heart of Europe and then spread across the Atlantic as the title of global hegemon shifted from the U.K. to the U.S. with the emergence of Wilsonianism and the 'fourteen points' in the 1910s.
Whereas the origins of internationalism started out with a gentlemen's agreement among the Great Powers of Europe to refrain from conquering each other in unending, bloody wars over territory based on religious and political aims, this shift has now ended up only two hundred years later encompassing the entire world over with 193-member states being represented from the People's Republic of China to Tuvalu.
While the United Nations could be seen by some observers as a success story in terms of its inclusive nature and the ability for nations from around the world to have a voice regarding international issues, there are problems still today that plague the UN and its sister agencies and bodies. Whether it was how the 'Responsibility to Protect' doctrine could be implemented in different conflicts around the world with UN peacekeeping forces or the controversial over-usage of vetoes by the five permanent members of the Security Council to control the debate about their national self-interests, global governance increasingly mirrors national governance in being quite messy and imperfect.
Real questions remained in 2012 when this book was published and more so today regarding the vitality of the United Nations especially given the fact that the United States is responsible for 22 percent of the overall budget of the UN. In the 2nd half of the book, Mazower focuses on the differing approaches of various U.S. administrations towards the UN and how fundamentally the U.S. government, mostly during Republican administrations, were acting out of self-interest and would often go out of the way to create competing international bodies to marginalize the UN such as the IMF, the World Bank, and most recently the WTO. Often times, the U.S. has bypassed, ignored, threatened, and left UN bodies and have held themselves to a standard above those given to other member states which has caused a backlash among not only allies but also developing countries (see: International Court of Justice and U.S. nationals being exempted from its jurisdiction).
Similarly to how the League of Nations through the guise of British and French leadership failed to hold imperial ambitions in check between the World Wars, U.S. disengagement and disenchantment with the U.N. increasingly from the 1970s onwards and the rise of other ambitious states such as China, India, Brazil, etc. signals that there may be a shift towards a multipolar world where there is no true hegemon leading to more of a systemic anarchy within the international system in the near future.
By the end of Governing the World, Mazower sees serious needs for reform in not just the United Nations but also in the European Union, another leading international institution created during this period. Western-led international institutions are in real danger of losing relevancy, argues Mazower, due to a number of overlapping factors including rising political apathy, catering too heavily towards financial elites, and being unable to meet the lofty goals that they set for themselves. I didn't even mention a resurgence in nationalism and populism around the world from Brazil to the Philippines, but you get the picture, right?
Much to the chagrin of internationalists, Mazower argues that the nation-state still remains the primary way for the average citizen around the world to receive or pay into 'public goods' so their attention will largely remain focused on what their President or Prime Minister is doing and not the UN Secretary-General or IMF Director. There are numerous challenges that face the international system currently and it remains to be seen whether the UN and numerous other bodies are ready to be able to tackle income inequality, climate change, financial crises, the threat of global pandemics in the rest of this tumultuous 21st century.
Overall, I thought it was refreshing to see his attention on the 'Concert of Europe' in Vienna and how he started this event as a jumping off point where leading powers would try to use regional and later international cooperation to prevent conflicts from emerging among nation-states. The lack of support given to bodies of 'International Law' remains as a consistent theme throughout this book and while 'arbitration' between nations was popular, it lost relevancy and hasn't gained it back since.
Seeing 'globalization' through the ideas of influential thinkers from Immanuel Kant to Karl Marx to Henry Kissinger really paints a wholistic picture on how nation-states were driven by different belief and value systems. The clash between nations especially in the 20th century can be seen through the ideological lens (ex: Capitalism v. Communism). While I really enjoyed Mazower's conclusion, I thought it could have been expanded upon a bit further especially with regards to the rise of private foundations, i.e. the Clintons, the Gates and other NGOs, and how that has affected larger institutional institutions which are now not as well funded. On that note, the chapters titled, "The Empire of Law" and "Science the Unifier" could have been shortened or condensed into one chapter. It took away from the timeline narrative of the book and didn't relate well to the political history unfolding during the two centuries.
If you are looking for an interesting, comprehensive, yet digestible read regarding the tumultuous development of the international system over the past two centuries, then you will want to take a chance at reading Mr. Mazower's Governing The World: The History of an Idea. The one question that we are left at the end of this over 400-page book is what will the international system look like for the rest of the 21st century? We shall have to wait to find out but there are numerous challenges and obstacles ahead.
Author Ben W.Posted on November 10, 2018 November 26, 2018 Categories 19th century, 2018, 20th century, blogging, books, diplomacy, education, european union, global governance, governing the world: the history of an idea, international institutions, international system, internationalism, league of nations, learning, mark mazower, reviews, Uncategorized, united nations, wilsonianismTags 19th century, 20th century, book reviews, education, european union, governing the world: the history of an idea, international institutions, international relations, internationalism, isolationism, league of nations, learning, mark mazower, united nations, united states
'Munich' – Film Review and Analysis
Can revenge be worth it and what are the consequences involved in carrying out acts of vengeance? 'Munich' (2005), a film directed by Steven Spielberg poses a number of moral quandaries regarding how can there possibly be lasting peace after so much violence and bloodshed has been spilt by both Israelis and Palestinians in a decades-long conflict. In addition to the historical narratives of both groups never seem to align, there is a violent undertone to how both groups see their struggle and what they are willing to do to ensure the success of their cause.
'Munich' is a film that is loosely based on the novel, 'Vengeance' by George Jonas, and takes a number of liberties regarding the historical events of the Black September terrorist attack on the Israeli national team during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. While Spielberg's adaptation may not be the most historically accurate, it brings the events of that tumultuous time of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to life by attaching the names of the deceased to the tragic events that occurred.
While not commercially successful at the box office, 'Munich' was critically acclaimed and was nominated for five Academy Awards including 'Best Picture', 'Best Adapted Screenplay', and 'Best Score.' While it didn't win any of those awards, it was given a lot of praise for its writing, direction, and cast of characters including Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, and Ciaran Hinds. In addition, the film is not just about the 1972 Olympics attack, but it dives into what the Israeli government's response was to this act of terrorism and how the response is similar to the 'eye for an eye' ethos that reflects how governments react to violent acts of terrorism with an approach to seek vengeance primarily.
The main character of the film is not actually based on a specific person, but he is used as an amalgam of the Mossad agents of the Israeli intelligence service who were responsible for getting revenge on the Black September group of Palestinian terrorists. Avner Kaufman, played by Eric Bana, who after witnessing the tragic act of terror take place on national television alongside his wife, is subsequently thrust into service by Mossad, Israel's national intelligence service, to run a counterterrorism operation and to lead a team of operatives whose main objective is to bring those men who plotted and orchestrated the attacks on the Olympians in Munich to justice, dead or alive.
This isn't your average intelligence mission because it involves the probable use of deadly force to achieve the aims of the mission. Avner has to technically 'resign' from Mossad first and to disavow that he has any connection to the Israeli government in order to carry out this secret mission. Avner's handler, Ephraim, also informs him that this team is an eclectic mix of Jewish volunteers from around the world who are not really assassins so much as bomb makers, drivers, and document forgers.
Luckily, this unique team of newly recruited Mossad agents has good chemistry and they work well together in tracking down the plotters of the Munich attack. They are able to carry out the first couple of assassinations against the terrorists with precision and without any 'collateral damage', meaning that no innocent civilians were not caught up in the crossfire. However, there are a few close calls where they almost end up killing the daughter of Mahmoud Hamshari in Paris which are they able to call off the bomb detonation calling off the attack at just the last moment. Also, the men who are being killed, while they are the masterminds of an older age, there's a lingering sense in the film that the young militants who carry out these attacks are ready to take up arms given how righteous they feel the mission is of creating a free Palestine even if it means killing Israelis and Jews around the world.
In one scene, Avner, pretending to be a member of the German Red Army Faction (RAF), has a frank conversation with Ali, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), about how 'home is everything' to the Palestinian peoples and how much they want the land back that they believe was taken from them in the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. Believing that the Arab states would have the back of the Palestinian people, Ali believes that "Israel will cease to exist", which did not change even with the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and the invasion of Egypt and Syria against Israel. In this critical conversation of the film, Ali believes that it will take a few more generations but a free Palestine is inevitable given how poor the conditions are in the refugee camps and how the Palestinians will win due to demographics and the deep belief in their want for a 'home' and a state of their own separate from other Arab identities. "We want to be nations" is a belief that hasn't changed in the past forty years and is an intractable fact behind how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to this day.
With this chance encounter of Mossad agents and PLO, there seems to be a worry among the Israeli team how they are targets as well and there is a team looking to kill them as well in response for their attacks against the Black September group. While the group is successful in tracking down seven of the eleven men who plotted the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, there is growing frustration as to whether meeting their objectives will have any long-term importance since these terrorist group leaders are just replaced by new people, and the cause of Black September and the Palestinian Liberation Organization continues to recruit new and young members to join the fight against the Israeli government. Avner, the main character, also sees most of his team members die in retaliation attacks along with interference from the CIA with regards to protecting their own Palestinian asset, Ali Hassan Salameh. As Avner's team loses members and aren't able to kill Salameh, the violent actions that Avner undertook as well as his inability to protect his men from harm weigh heavily on his conscience.
"Why cut my fingernails? They'll grow back…" Ephraim, Avner's handler, makes clear that terrorists replace one another with ease and they must keep the cycle of violence going as long as it takes until 'peace' is achieved. Avner is disgusted with this argument and by the end of the film, is a morally conflicted Jew and Israeli, who realizes that this is not the way to have peace through an endless cycle of revenge and vengeance. Rather than continuing on as a Mossad agent in a mission that he no longer believes will change anything, Avner decides to quit. As one of his team members tells Avner during the last mission they take on together, "We are supposed to be righteous. That's a beautiful thing. And we're losing that. If I lose that, that's everything. That's my soul." Avner and the other team members understand implicitly that the violent actions they take have consequences and that while their version of history is different from the Palestinians, they are both using violence and bloodshed to further their own people's cause, but to what end?
The main theme of 'Munich' that Spielberg gets across to the audience quite well is that while the historical narratives may never overlap with each other, there has to be a recognition of the other side's existence and to see a way to compromise without continuing the endless cycle of violence and revenge. What it comes down to fundamentally is recognizing the dignity, the hope, and desire for a better future of your fellow man and woman while putting aside the religious, cultural, and political differences to make peace now so that in the future young Israelis and Palestinians will not have to fight and die to preserve their nation's existence.
Author Ben W.Posted on October 15, 2018 October 21, 2018 Categories 1972 olympic attack, 2000's, 2018, 20th century, academy awards, acting, black september, eric bana, israel, movies, munich, steven spielberg, the israeli-palestinian conflict, the palestinians, vengeanceTags 1972 olympic attack, 2000's, academy awards, eric bana, film, israel, mossad, movies, munich, revenge, steven spielberg, terrorism, the israeli-palestinian conflict, the palestinians, vengeanceLeave a comment on 'Munich' – Film Review and Analysis
'Good Will Hunting' – Film Review and Analysis
What happens when you bring together two of the best actors of the modern age who meet at just the right time in their careers? The short answer is that you get some old-fashioned movie making magic. Both men have made their mark on Hollywood and this film that they carry together is one of the reasons for that happening. While a generation sets them apart, their commitment to the craft of acting shines through in this classic film that takes place in the city of Boston where I currently reside titled 'Good Will Hunting.'
'Good Will Hunting', released in 1997, over twenty years ago is a film that I have gone back to again and again throughout the years since I grew up with it in a way. As I have gotten older, the themes of the film stick with me more and more. This film is a timeless piece that a lot of people, especially young men, can relate to. While it's not a blockbuster and isn't a mainstream favorite, it carries deep messages regarding relationships, dealing with the future, and learning to love and trust other people.
The two actors that I was referring to earlier are Robin Williams and Matt Damon. Both men are known for their more popular roles in movies like 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and 'Good Morning, Vietnam for Mr. Williams and 'The Bourne Trilogy' movies and 'The Departed' for Mr. Damon. Unlike those other movies, I believe that this movie really shows off the talent of these two men and how they're able to push each other in emotionally trying roles. On top of those two performances, Gus Van Sant is an excellent director who does a great job of filming this movie set in late 1990s Boston.
As if that weren't enough, you have a great cast of supporting actors including Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver (has she been in any major movies since?), Stellan Skarsgard, and Casey Affleck of Manchester-by-the-Sea fame who really add depth and substance to this movie. These character-driven movies such as 'Good Will Hunting' are usually the hardest to make but if done right, they really stay with the viewer long after the film is over. They really capture different moods, emotions, and feelings and this one in particular captures the struggles inherent in being a brilliant mind in a troubled world.
The title of this film 'Good Will Hunting' is based off the name of its main character, Will Hunting (played by Matt Damon) a 20-year old, born and raised in South Boston. You would think from this description that he's just a regular guy but Mr. Hunting was born with the innate gift of having genius level intellect. He has few possessions except for hundreds of books from Foucault to Shakespeare. He's an avid book reader but has a specialty in solving advanced mathematical equations that few others in the world can figure out. You would think that this college-aged guy would be working on advanced mathematics at MIT or CalTech but he's not an enrolled student there or anywhere for that matter.
Will Hunting has had a rough upbringing in that his parents abandoned him when he was a baby and he grew up in foster homes where his foster father abused him physically multiple times. Abandoned by those people who were supposed to love and cherish him, Will, for good reason has a fear of abandonment and does not trust other people. His social interactions are limited because of the abusive childhood he endured but he is happy with his group of three friends: Billy, Morgan, and his best friend Chuckie. While Will does not have many friends, he would do anything for his three neighborhood buddies who he grew up with and he literally considers them to be his family.
While Will's friends are loyal, they are not the best influence on him and they can be crass, crude, and spend too much time drinking. The group's antics lead Will into a fight against some neighborhood miscreants, which draws the attention of the local police. Will, acting out his aggression violently, ends up assaulting a police officer causing him to do mandatory community service and therapy sessions. Will, a janitor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, works after hours to help clean the bathrooms and empty the waste paper baskets. Unbeknownst to both students and professors alike, Will in his spare time has been going around solving advanced Math equations that the regular MIT graduate students can't even begin to conceive a solution for. One night, Will is caught in the act as he gets caught doing an extremely difficult problem that no one else has solved yet. Professor Lambeau of the Mathematics department discovers Will solving this problem and calls after him to no avail but with a four-letter crude response from Mr. Hunting.
Professor Lambeau does Will a huge favor and gets him out of some serious jail time for assaulting the police officer. In exchange for his favor, Will has to sit and work with Professor Lambeau on advanced mathematics in a mutual exchange. Professor Lambeau is fascinated by Will's brilliance but it appears to the audience that he cares more just about Will's brain than who he is as a person. Professor Lambeau tries to get Will to open up to different psychiatrists but Will messes with all of them and doesn't take his therapy sessions seriously. Lambeau, out of options, goes to an old friend from his college days at MIT, Sean Maguire (played by Robin Williams), who now teaches psychology at Bunker Hill Community College and is also a licensed therapist.
Despite a few sessions where Will is argumentative and closed off, Sean is able to break down Will's defensive mechanisms partly by talking about his own rough upbringing. Sean was beat by his alcoholic father while he was a child. In an effort to protect his mother and little brother, Sean would endure the brunt of his father's anger and vitriol. The two men bond over the fact that they have a high intellect, have both grown up in Boston, share a love of the Red Sox, have had rough upbringings, and can be a bit closed off from their loved ones.
Will is going through a transition period in his young life where he is starting to think about a future beyond just getting drunk with his buddies and hiding his talents from the world. He is also trying his best to form healthy relationships with not only his friends but in his love life too. Instead of endlessly pursuing casual one-night stands, Will finds a girl one night at a Harvard bar whom peaks his interest named Skylar (played by Minnie Driver). Despite them coming from very different family backgrounds as well as her being born into wealth, they share a love for learning and have the same sense of humor. Most important to Will in all of this courting is that she likes his friends and that means a lot to him since they have essentially been his family his whole life.
The problem that Will struggles with in terms of his relationships whether its romantic with Skylar or personal with Sean is that he can't open up to them about his being abused as a child due to a mixture of shame, guilt, and anger. He turns his emotional pain outward and directs that anger at society, the past therapists, Professor Lambeau, and even at Will and Skylar. Will is self-conscious about his genius and is not sure he wants to have a prestigious office job or even to leave his home city of Boston. He says to his best friend, Chuckie, at one point that he doesn't "feel like doing long division in a room for the rest of my life."
However, what Will realizes is that he's not the center of the world. With the help of Sean and Skylar, he learns eventually that while his life has been tragic, that should not prevent him from reaching his true potential and that he is literally "bound by nothing." He's a genius of great intellectual capacity who can change the world in a number of ways. Will has a great gift that a lot of people would kill to have including his best friend, Chuckie. As Chuckie puts to Will bluntly towards the end of the movie, "You're sitting on a winning lottery ticket and you're too chicken to cash in on it." Chuckie tells Will that he'll essentially be working construction until he retires which is fine because he doesn't have Will has and that Will owes it not only to himself but to him and his other buddies to do more with his life.
Sean also is the father figure that Will never had and is able to give him tough life. Sean was also abused as a child and knows where Will is coming from. However, he has to learn how to put the past behind him and to not blame himself for what had happened because it simply wasn't his fault. Will was an innocent child and can't be blamed for such a horrific event. Will has to learn again how to be emotionally open and vulnerable with the people who care about him like Sean and Skylar. Will had lost the inability to love and be loved but it's never too late to get that back.
The mentorship of Sean throughout the film helps to bring Will around and the time they share together in the therapy sessions make them true friends. Sean is able to tell Will that he is not so special in the fact that his life has been extraordinarily difficult. Sean, himself, fought in the Vietnam War as a young man and had his best friend there die in his arms. He also lost his wife, the one true love of his to a long battle with cancer years ago and hasn't been able to become romantically involved with anyone since then. However, he implores Will to also see the beauty in life such as in the form of a woman who can 'level you with her eyes' and be your own angel.
There are also the wonders of the world that Will can experience such as how it smells in the Sistine Chapel in Italy. Will may be an intellectual genius but he still has a lot to learn about the beauty and ugliness of life. Sean's experiences help to enlighten Will about what life is all about and how to persevere through the struggles and setbacks that are inevitable. Both men have their inner demons to battle but they encourage each other to become better, to strive for more, and to live good lives. With Will's urging, Sean is also ready to put his tragic past behind him to begin anew. He sets out to travel the world, meet a special someone like Will has with Skylar, and truly live life again.
The positive mentorship between Will and Sean is a beautiful thing to see develop over the course of the film. To see true friendship between the two and the chemistry that Damon and Williams have in their scenes together makes 'Good Will Hunting' a really special movie. Similar to 'Lost In Translation', it's also nice to see a true romance between Will and Skylar develop as well that starts out very inconspicuously. It's a young, innocent kind of love that is beautiful to watch and it's both real and raw to see with how much they truly care for each other and want to best for one another. One of the best lines in the film that Will and Sean both use for courting the special women in their lives is "Sorry, I had to go see about a girl." Is there anything in modern cinema that can compare to this phrase so simple yet so full of meaning? I don't think so.
Author Ben W.Posted on May 24, 2018 May 30, 2018 Categories 1990's, 20th century, academy awards, acting, adulthood, adversity, challenges, characters, elliott smith, genius, good will hunting, growth, intelligence, matt damon, mentorship, minnie driver, personal development, psychiatry, relationships, robin williamsTags 1990's, academy awards, acting, boston, film, genius, good will hunting, gus van sant, intelligence, matt damon, mentorship, minnie driver, movies, personal growth, robin williamsLeave a comment on 'Good Will Hunting' – Film Review and Analysis
Book Recommendations – Volume V
Similarly to the months to come during the heart of wintertime, the current summer season is a great chance to catch up on reading new books or books you have yet to finish. Whether you're at the beach, hanging out in the backyard, or are going on a long road trip, reading a good book is a good way to pass the time.
My last 'Book Recommendations' post came in February so it's time for another volume of recommendations for you to consider when it comes to your next book purchases. While you may not be interested in the same book genres or same authors as myself, I still encourage you to read a book before the end of the summer. Whether it's through Amazon, your local mom and pop bookstore, or at a book fair, you owe it to yourself to put down the iPhone and pick up a good book instead.
1.) Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw by Mark Bowden (2001) is a non-fiction, and detailed take on the combined efforts by the Colombian and United States governments to bring down the infamous Pablo Escobar, head of the Medellin cartel. Mr. Bowden, known foremost for his take on the Battle of Mogadishu between U.S. special forces and Somali militants in the critically acclaimed novel, Black Hawk Down (1999) is a great journalist with over thirty years of covering recent events involving war, peace, and international affairs.
Mr. Bowden is a reporter and a journalist who does his research when it comes to Killing Pablo, and this book is a real page-turner. The author covers both the early years of Pablo's empire to his international rise as the #1 drug kingpin in the world to his eventual downfall at the home of Search Bloc and Los Pepes. With many interviews from U.S. and Colombian government officials, as well as a lot of research into the terrible events that transpired in the 1980s and 1990s, Mark Bowden gives a comprehensive account of the manhunt for Pablo Escobar, and how his eventual death came to be.
There is often a lot of speculation and rumors surrounding the Medellin cartel that are unfounded which is why reading 'Killing Pablo' is a refreshing take on what really happened and who was involved in the drug kingpin's demise. This is a great book if you're interested in learning the true story behind the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar.
Killing Pablo: The Hunt for The World's Greatest Outlaw by Mark Bowden
2. Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World's Oceans by Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret.) is an excellent and comprehensive look at each of the world's major bodies of water, and how they each affect world geopolitics in different ways.
With over thirty years of experience in the United States Navy having commandeered every kind of amphibious vessel that you can think of, Admiral Stavridis has the life experience and intellectual background necessary to make this book quite a compelling read. As the only admiral in the history of NATO to serve as its' Supreme Allied Commander, Mr. Stavridis is well poised to look at the state of the world through its' largest and most valuable commodity, the oceans and the seas that make up over 70% of this planet.
If you're new to geopolitics or don't know much about the significance of the world's oceans, Admiral Stavridis breaks down the history, the culture, and the geopolitical importance of each body of water throughout the book. From the Arctic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, the author discusses who are the countries involved in the area, what should the role of the United States be, and how can we ensure that this body of water stays conflict free, and friendly to international commerce into the far future.
Since the release of this book in June of 2017, it has risen to the top of many best sellers' lists and for good reason. In a geopolitical area that doesn't get much focus, Admiral Stavridis reminds us of the sheer importance of the world's oceans and seas. In a 21st century world filled with uncertainty and ambiguity, The admiral's book is a clear-cut, well-reasoned take on the geopolitics of the oceans, and how their collective future is tied to each and every one of us.
Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World's Oceans by Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret.)
3. The Quiet American by Graham Greene is an exceptional book that is well written, has deep and complex characters, and involves a time period in world history that is often overlooked. The novel takes place during the early 1950s as the French Army is entangled in skirmishes and indirect conflict with the Vietminh. Meanwhile, the new presence of American aid workers including a young economic attaché, Alden Pyle, whose motives for being in French colonial-era Vietnam are considered to be suspect to the narrator, a British journalist named Thomas Fowler. Not only do the two men come into conflict regarding the future of Western influence in Vietnam but they also are at odds in a romantic triangle with a Vietnamese woman known as Phuong.
The two main characters, Fowler and Pyle, could not be more different in their outlook. Fowler is cynical about the West's involvement in Vietnam, and is jaded by politics and war. Pyle is a young, idealistic, and naïve American who is reserved in his personal manners, but is unafraid to interfere in Vietnamese affairs by acting as a 'third force' to help bring change to the country by economic and military means.
Phuong is the young Vietnamese woman who is caught between Fowler and Pyle, as she is desired by both men but for different reasons. While Fowler regards her simply as his lover, Pyle wants to protect her. It is implied in the book that Pyle's desire for Phuong is reflected in his desire to have a non-communist South Vietnam through any means necessary. Fowler does not go along with Pyle's thinking and regards his belief in 'American exceptionalism' to be shortsighted.
An interesting novel and an engaging read, The Quiet American has become a mainstay in popular fictional literature and has been adapted into two major motion pictures, one in 1958, and more recently in 2002, which starred Michael Caine (Fowler) and Brendan Fraser (Pyle). This fictional novel is based off of real events in the 1950s when French colonial rule in Vietnam was coming to an end.
While reading books during the summer season may seem like a chore to some people, for others, it's a great time to kick back, relax, and dive into different genres, and characters that offer a refreshing reprieve from the humdrum of our busy lives.
Author Ben W.Posted on August 28, 2017 December 5, 2017 Categories 2017, 20th century, 21st century, books, characters, critical thinking, education, entertainment, graham greene, hobbies, interests, james stavridis, mark bowden, personal development, sea powerTags 2017, 21st century, books, education, geopolitics, graham greene, history, james stavridis, learning, mark bowden, pablo escobar, personal development, reading, sea power, the quiet americanLeave a comment on Book Recommendations – Volume V
Hyde Park on the Hudson
Location: Hyde Park, New York – Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, and The Culinary Institute of America
Author Ben W.Posted on August 23, 2017 October 6, 2017 Categories 2017, 20th century, activities, american history, culinary institute of america, culture, eleanor roosevelt, flowers, franklin delano roosevelt, highlights, history, hobbies, hyde park, new york, past, photography, presidential libraries, springwood estate, the roosevelts, united statesTags 2017, 20th century, american history, eleanor roosevelt, franklin delano roosevelt, highlights, hobbies, hyde park, new york, past, photography, presidential libraries, springwood estate, travel, united statesLeave a comment on Hyde Park on the Hudson