A timely read, as fascism threatens a sequel across the globe. The book provides a fantastic view of Germany between 1930 and 1945 as it follows Hitler’s dream of establishing a Reich that would last a thousand years. It lasted only twelve, but his iron will, determination and political astuteness that helped him outplay all manners of man, is a masterclass in strategy and self deception!
Punkah House, with its elegant colonial style ambiance, manages to transport you away from the bustle of 12th Main, Indiranagar. Not an easy task! That, coupled with the unique food, and curated cocktails you’re unlikely to find anywhere else, makes it a place that’s absolutely worth visiting.
This book links a couple of my favourite subjects – Darwin’s theory of evolution, and determinism. But that’s not the only reason it’s a favourite. In sixteen different domains, the author uses the lens of evolution to show how progress has happened (or not), and the momentum of incremental and emergent change. Read it for perspective, and lesser known facts.
Not an easy read, but persist and you will be rewarded with a fascinating answer to the question that the book’s blurb asks – “why has human history unfolded so differently across the globe?”. While the more famous “Sapiens” tackles how humanity reached its apex position in evolution, it doesn’t try to answer why, say the Spanish conquered South American empires, and not the other way? By looking beyond the proximate answers to that question, the book is able to reveal important insights on evolutionary determinism even within the species.
Martin Ford’s excellent take on the seemingly inevitable robocracy future that humanity is racing towards. He lays a lot of emphasis on explaining this inevitability and in the process, not only debunks popular schools of thought on how we can overcome it, but also calls out areas he is unsure of. It is definitely a bearer of bad news, but makes for an insightful read.