Reading Books this month
This month I have decided that my neglect of this blog needs to end. Facebook took over most of my attention online, with blog-like postings and some notes written there. But though I truly enjoy and appreciate FB as a social networking site, I realize that it does not replace the simplicity and purpose of a blog.
As I begin writing here more regularly once again, I thought a post could overview some of what I'm reading these days. This is a selection of the books on my reading shelf and does not include any of the Journals, Magazines or other periodicals which I receive.
Science:
Chaos, by James Gleick,
This is considered a modern classic and I've just begun reading it. One point from it that caught my attention is expressed in this quote: "It turns out that an eerie type of chaos can lurk just behind a facade of order [that's obvious human experience] - and yet, deep inside the chaos lurks an even eerier type of order." My first thought reading that is "Exactly".
International Relations/Law:
The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace, and the Course of History, Philip Bobbitt
This 900 page work (and to be honest, I'm not sure I will read all of those 900 pages) is an interesting look at the history of the State and the society of states as they've developed and changed over the past few hundred years, as well as an examination of the 20th century and possible current developments. It is interesting to consider that the 2oth century was really dominated by one "Long War" from 1914 to 1990. And I appreciate the sense of how important history is to understanding our present reality as well as where we may be headed.
Politics:
Brian Mulroney Memoirs
In addition to reading or glancing through other works related to politics and civics, right now I'm skimming through these Memoirs trying to better understand our Canada of recent decades and better appreciate this leader, who I think has been unfairly tarnished by some Canadians. One thing that struck me already was to be reminded how connected our recent Prime Ministers have been. And truly, when I consider Mulroney's legacy, I think there is much for which he will be remembered as a great PM.
History:
The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In, by Hugh Kennedy
I happened to notice this book at the bookstore awhile ago and decided almost on the spot that it would be a good addition to my early medieval history shelf. I love history overall, but one of my particular interests is early medieval. I have read much related to the Byzantine Empire as well as other parts of Europe during this time. But this book is giving me a slightly different perspective of the Mediterranean region, though it is confirming my overall sense of the time period. It is important to be reminded of the dynamic of civilization and that the mostly nomadic Arabs of the 600s conquered mostly Christian lands, at first allowing the native populations to continue the work of State and the tasks of civilization in their own languages. Only later did they start insisting on Arabic and began assimilating the Greco-Roman/Christian civilization and people into their own culture and into their own new Community.
How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization, by Thomas E. Woods, Jr., Ph.D.
This book is a great overview of both the history of Western Civilization, from the decline of the classical Roman Empire up to today, as well as some of the many facets of our civilization, including basic literacy and education, the University, science, art, architecture, International Law, economics, Western law and human rights, social service and more. In all these it highlights the forgotten and important role which the Church and its members fulfilled. This book brings together some of the best and newer historical research. It is easy to read but also covers much good information as well as providing food for thought and questions to ponder.
Literature:
In Flanders Fields and Other Poems of the First World War, edited by Brian Busby
I thought it would be an appropriate read, considering we have just commemorated the 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War. This book collects not only the poems that soldiers and others wrote during the war but also paintings made of various scenes and themes. It is a beautiful book. Looking through this book somehow reminded me of how much our society has changed in these 90 years.
The Children of Hurin, by J.R.R. Tolkien
In beginning this book, I'm reminded of my admiration for Tolkien as one of the truly creative giants of our civilization and one of the great literary masters of the 20th century. Few writers can claim to have started a whole new genre of writing. Few people can understand how one man created in his mind not just a complex story but a whole world, with thousands of years of history, interwoven tales, various distinct peoples with complete languages and alphabets, systems of belief and much more.
Theology/Religion:
Jesus, the Apostles and the Early Church, by Pope Benedict XVI
I'm coming back to this book and want to finish reading it. It is a collection of the Pope's Wednesday talks in which His Holiness examines the nature of the Church as Jesus established it in the Gospels, what the Apostles and their witness tell us about it, and what we can gather about the earliest experience of Church. It is simple but profound. Provides food for spiritual reflection.
As I begin writing here more regularly once again, I thought a post could overview some of what I'm reading these days. This is a selection of the books on my reading shelf and does not include any of the Journals, Magazines or other periodicals which I receive.
Science:
Chaos, by James Gleick,
This is considered a modern classic and I've just begun reading it. One point from it that caught my attention is expressed in this quote: "It turns out that an eerie type of chaos can lurk just behind a facade of order [that's obvious human experience] - and yet, deep inside the chaos lurks an even eerier type of order." My first thought reading that is "Exactly".
International Relations/Law:
The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace, and the Course of History, Philip Bobbitt
This 900 page work (and to be honest, I'm not sure I will read all of those 900 pages) is an interesting look at the history of the State and the society of states as they've developed and changed over the past few hundred years, as well as an examination of the 20th century and possible current developments. It is interesting to consider that the 2oth century was really dominated by one "Long War" from 1914 to 1990. And I appreciate the sense of how important history is to understanding our present reality as well as where we may be headed.
Politics:
Brian Mulroney Memoirs
In addition to reading or glancing through other works related to politics and civics, right now I'm skimming through these Memoirs trying to better understand our Canada of recent decades and better appreciate this leader, who I think has been unfairly tarnished by some Canadians. One thing that struck me already was to be reminded how connected our recent Prime Ministers have been. And truly, when I consider Mulroney's legacy, I think there is much for which he will be remembered as a great PM.
History:
The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In, by Hugh Kennedy
I happened to notice this book at the bookstore awhile ago and decided almost on the spot that it would be a good addition to my early medieval history shelf. I love history overall, but one of my particular interests is early medieval. I have read much related to the Byzantine Empire as well as other parts of Europe during this time. But this book is giving me a slightly different perspective of the Mediterranean region, though it is confirming my overall sense of the time period. It is important to be reminded of the dynamic of civilization and that the mostly nomadic Arabs of the 600s conquered mostly Christian lands, at first allowing the native populations to continue the work of State and the tasks of civilization in their own languages. Only later did they start insisting on Arabic and began assimilating the Greco-Roman/Christian civilization and people into their own culture and into their own new Community.
How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization, by Thomas E. Woods, Jr., Ph.D.
This book is a great overview of both the history of Western Civilization, from the decline of the classical Roman Empire up to today, as well as some of the many facets of our civilization, including basic literacy and education, the University, science, art, architecture, International Law, economics, Western law and human rights, social service and more. In all these it highlights the forgotten and important role which the Church and its members fulfilled. This book brings together some of the best and newer historical research. It is easy to read but also covers much good information as well as providing food for thought and questions to ponder.
Literature:
In Flanders Fields and Other Poems of the First World War, edited by Brian Busby
I thought it would be an appropriate read, considering we have just commemorated the 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War. This book collects not only the poems that soldiers and others wrote during the war but also paintings made of various scenes and themes. It is a beautiful book. Looking through this book somehow reminded me of how much our society has changed in these 90 years.
The Children of Hurin, by J.R.R. Tolkien
In beginning this book, I'm reminded of my admiration for Tolkien as one of the truly creative giants of our civilization and one of the great literary masters of the 20th century. Few writers can claim to have started a whole new genre of writing. Few people can understand how one man created in his mind not just a complex story but a whole world, with thousands of years of history, interwoven tales, various distinct peoples with complete languages and alphabets, systems of belief and much more.
Theology/Religion:
Jesus, the Apostles and the Early Church, by Pope Benedict XVI
I'm coming back to this book and want to finish reading it. It is a collection of the Pope's Wednesday talks in which His Holiness examines the nature of the Church as Jesus established it in the Gospels, what the Apostles and their witness tell us about it, and what we can gather about the earliest experience of Church. It is simple but profound. Provides food for spiritual reflection.
posted by Cyril P. Bagin | 12:43 AM
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