Something Bookish

So many things going on in the world today. Things that appear new and at times insurmountable. As I sit contemplating events I am reminded of a book I read a couple years ago. Perhaps you have already read it, or not, but in any case I wanted to bring it to your attention. It encompasses a span of time that, for me, was a bit of a gray area in my education. The book is Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. It is fiction, but is so well written, with so many historical avenues explored, that it not only expands your knowledge of the time period and the events that shaped the world at that time, but makes history come alive in a fascinating way.

The book takes place just prior to World War 1 and the Russian Revolution. Yes, you can probably see where I am going with this. There are events taking place in the world today that seem to echo a time where major shifts occurred in various countries of the world. It isn't always clear at the time that these major shifts are taking place, it is only as we look back that we realize what the sequence of events wrought. This is not to say that I believe Russia will revisit another revolution or that we will slip into a world war, but there do seem to be forces afoot that may affect the major powers of the world in ways we may not at first understand.

Follett does a nice job of dovetailing the stories of multiple characters from different countries, keeping a smooth flow of plot. Their actions are believable and the historical facts appear accurate. Or at least those I am aware of, such as dates, times and places. The descriptions of life style flesh out and provide context for the events that unfold. What I hadn't been aware of was the difficult life of the miners in Wales or the extreme situation of the peasants in Russia. It is easy to see where the rise of socialism came from, for instance. It is also very illustrative of the class divisions in Britain at the time. When you have a large schism between the haves and the have nots you are running a huge risk of violent change, just like we may be seeing today with the mass migration from poorer countries to wealthier ones.

This book is long and is actually part of a trilogy which runs through the 1960's. I have not read the second two books yet so will not get into those, but have heard from those who have read the entire trilogy that the first book is really the best. If you have some, okay a lot, of free time give it a look. It reads very quickly, one of those rare books that you regret ending. and may provide a little background for events taking place today.  

Europe on the brink...

With so much going on I have struggled to find a new topic to compile a post about. As I was cruising through some YouTube footage I ran across a video that seemed to encompass a spectrum of ideas about what is going on in Europe. We here in America have always received immigrants to our shores, welcome or not, and have tried hard to integrate them into our society. It has not always been easy. But what we are seeing happening in Europe today seems to be a mass shift in populations from one area of the world to another. For integration to occur on this scale would be a challenge of historic proportions.

You will note that some of the following video has no sound. I believe they had to do that in order not to violate copyright laws. But the scenes portrayed speak for themselves. I realize that some of the views are extreme, on both sides, but they are real, and they speak to the danger ahead for Europe.

The Limits of the World

Here we are at the start of another year. It seems like only yesterday that I was writing a New Years post highlighting a song by John Lennon. Obviously not too many people listened as very little has changed for the better...yet. I was trying to think of something to write about for the beginning of a new year, but was having some difficulty with the creative process. Lol! Thankfully someone gave me a little help. I have not read much philosophy and so I had to do a little Googling. While we may not always agree with everything a person believes, that doesn't mean there is no wisdom to be found.

“Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.” 

― Arthur Schopenhauer, Studies in Pessimism: The Essays

What I found rather ironic about that quote was the source, Arthur Schopenhauer. He was a man who seemed to have little faith in positive outcomes for various paths in life. To expect to be happy in life would be a fools errand. Yet he didn't seem to realize that perhaps that was his limitation.

 In any case, I understand how hopeless things can look. But within all of the weeds of life there are small wildflowers reminding us that there is beauty in the world. There will always be rough patches, there will always be tough times. The trick is to find those little wildflowers and hang on to their hope for a better place.

While pessimism may shelter us from disappointment it will also shut out hope. And hope is what makes life during difficult times bearable.  And, okay, maybe just a little chutzpah. :)

(What can I say, it's New Years Day, and you all know what's on TV!)

Happy New Year Everyone!

Update:

I have been told that I have maligned Arthur, that he was a man of humor who loved animals, that he was merely trying to make sense of the wretched existence of some.  If so, I make my apology to his memory.  But I still believe that hope is what will make that wretched existence bearable.