Antony Beevor – The Battle For Spain
– The first part of my Easter holiday reading, this is an epic and complex book; it’s scope befits the nuances of the subject. I have about 60 or so pages left to go and would recomend this book highly if, like me, you have an abiding but fragmented understanding of the history of this conflict.
Slavoj Zizek – The Parallax View – The second half of my holiday reading. Every so often I find myself bogged down in a book because it becomes so evocative and thought-provoking; I have to shut it down just to catch up with the ideas and streams of thought it generates. Zizek’s interlude on Henry James, perhaps one of the best passages he has ever written, was such a moment for me. I’m now at a point where I can pick the book up again without my mind feeling caffinated and dizzy.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb – The Black Swan – Taleb is writing at the intersection sof mathematics, philosophy, economics and financial markets in a dry, witty and world-weary tone. After the brilliance of Fooled By Randomness I’m looking forward to this new book.
Clive James – Cultural Amnesia – It wasn’t till I moved to London and started reflecting upon the ex-pat experience that I really appreciated the impact James’ writing had on me in my formative years as I tried to understand Australia and develop a critical appreciation of the country. Although the views of Robert Hughes and to a lesser extent Germaine Greer (both from the same generation of the Australian Diaspora as James), I still appreciate the tone and intellectual playfulness of James’ work. This new book looks it will either be a magnum opus or a tour-de force.
Edward De Bono – How To Have Creative Ideas – I’ve written a bit about De Bono recently and this is his latest work. For followers of his ideas, it’s nothing new, but the exercises are quite stimulating nonetheless. I’m working through them and hope to be finished by the end of the month.
Thomas Pangle – Leo Strauss: An Introduction to His Thought and Intellectual Legacy – It’s simple really – I don’t know as much as I should about Strauss and this looks like a good place to start.
[tags] Zizek, Clive James, Leo Strauss, Edward De Bono [/tags]
