Today is UNESCO’s World Book and Copyright Day! A day dedicated to joys of reading, the importance of copyright for the protection of intellectual property, and the promotion of literacy.
I therefore thought I would get into the spirit of #WorldBookDay by looking back at some of the books I have read in the past year, thinking about why I liked them and giving them a star rating.
My list comprises books mainly in the areas of politics and history. Some of the books are not recent publications either.
Comments and recommendations for future reads are welcomed!
Happy #WorldBookandCopyrightDay !
My list — in no particular order.?
- ‘The Story of Russia’ by Orlando Figes — This is an outstanding book that presents a broad-sweep view of Russian history from the 800s to 2022 (year of publication). All countries have mythologies about their past; here, Figes gives a sense of how different interpretations of Russian history have evolved over time, and how these have informed the thinking and actions of the country’s leadership, through the Soviet years up until the modern day. I thoroughly recommend this book — it has a fast pace and is accessible without dumbing down. ??????????
- ‘This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race’ by Nicole Perlroth — This book lays bare the extent to which cybercrime is now so ubiquitous and how those who engage in it (whether it be states, rogue actors, individuals) are increasingly adept at exploiting the vulnerabilities of our digital world. This book is a real eye-opener and one that leaves the reader feeling a touch uneasy. My only gripe is that it is very long – and some chapters felt like they could have been boiled down a touch. This hindered the pace and rhythm. ????????
- ‘A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them’ by Timothy Egan — This is an outstanding, fast-paced read that highlights the reach, power and influence of the Klan at its height, and the horror it inflicted on many. Working from court notes, the author weaves together a fascinating account of Madge Oberholtzer’s pivotal role in bringing down D.C. Stephenson, the former Klan Grand Dragon. ??????????
- ‘Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Reshaped the World’ by Will Sommer — Dangerous and outlandish conspiracy theories are nothing new but social media has accelerated and widened their dissemination. Much of this book looks at the way QAnon ideas have proliferated, been legitimised and entered the mainstream. Particularly striking are the accounts of those whose family members have been sucked into conspiracy theory rabbit holes and the resulting repercussions on relationships. The reckless manner in which people in positions of influence, notably in the US, have amplified the profile of certain conspiracies is explored. ??????
- ‘Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers’ by Andy Greenberg — This is another book that takes the reader into the murky and complex world of cybersecurity. It focuses on the 2017 Russian hack, known as NotPetya, that broke into a piece of Ukrainian tax software. Within hours the attack shut down the global operations of commercial shipping firm Maersk and destroyed critical software used in some US hospitals - among other side effects. ??????
- ‘This Much is True’ by Miriam Margolyes — This autobiography is very much an outlier in this list. I opted to give it a go as I heard it was a fun read. It is witty, gossipy, often (very, very) risqué but also poignant — essential ingredients you could say for an autobiography. Margolyes’ larger-than-life character shines through in the text. A diverting read. ????????
- ‘The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness’ by Sy Montgomery — Octopuses* seem to have become a popular topic in recent years. Parts of this book are very interesting — I feel I came away knowing a lot more about the biology and idiosyncratic personalities of octopuses. But the book is also very autobiographical, which at times felt excessive and tedious. Some may like this style and detail, but for me it detracted. In any case, I no longer look at an octopus in the same way. (*Oh and apparently octopi is not a correct plural, since the word is a Latinized form of the Greek word októpus…). ????
- ‘Unholy: How White Christian Nationalists Powered the Trump Presidency, and the Devastating Legacy They Left Behind’ by Sarah Posner — The book does a great job of telling the story of how some sections of the evangelical community, in particular, has become increasingly politically active in Republican politics in recent decades, and how this has influenced the party’s tone and positioning on various issues, and contributed to the rise of Trump and Trumpism. ??????
- ‘Peril’ by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa — This book was previewed so much in the media ahead of its publication that by the time I read it I learnt little new. It offers a page-turning glimpse into the inner workings of the Trump presidency, and the dynamics at play. It ends by suggesting a sequel may have to be written. We will know come November. ??????
- ‘Men Who Hate Women: From incels to pickup artists, the truth about extreme misogyny and how it affects us all’ by Laura Bates — This is a hugely important but equally disturbing and unsettling read. The concerning rise of incel-inspired extremist violence is well documented. ????????
- ‘MBS: The Rise to Power of Mohammed Bin Salman’ by Ben Hubbard — This book offers a compelling account of the rise of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious crown prince and the way he has accumulated power and influence in the kingdom and beyond. The book also examines the events around the murder of the regime critic, Jamal Khashoggi. A helpful primer in understanding the motives and objectives of this increasingly pivotal figure. ????????
- ‘The Great Successor’ by Anna Fifield — In a similar vein to the last book, this one offers a portrait of another relatively young leader, Kim Jong Un. Fifield manages to piece together a fascinating picture, based on the scant information available, of the life and thinking of North Korea's secretive dictator, and his strategy for survival. The book unpicks the regime’s connections to organised crime and its establishment of an unofficial parallel economy. ????????
- ‘Paolo: L'uomo Che Inventò il Cristianesimo’ by Corrado Augias (Paul: The Man Who Invented Christianity) — As far as I am aware this book is not (yet) available in English. Augias is an engaging author who has written extensively on history, religion and culture. In this book he explores the life of St Paul — one of Christianity’s most influential early figures — from his early days through to his arrest and execution. The book is interlaced with fascinating tangents about the world Paul inhabited. ????????
- ‘I nipoti di Mussolini: Il Fascismo nell'Italia Contemporanea’ by David Broder (Italian translation of ‘Mussolini's Grandchildren: Fascism in Contemporary Italy) — This is a fascinating exploration of the origins of the contemporary Italian right, and its present relationship(s) with the country’s history (particularly that of the Mussolini regime) and sense of national identity. ????????
- ‘Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind’ by Tom Holland — This book is a tour de force that takes some time to fully absorb. Holland is an award-winning historian who has written extensively on the ancient world. All of his books are worth reading. In this work, he gives an objective picture of the development of Christian thinking and its influence on the Western world. ??????????
- ‘A People’s Tragedy: Studies in Reformation’ by Professor Eamon Duffy — Duffy is my go-to author for anything reformation-related. He has a gift for bringing the period and people’s everyday existences vividly to life. This volume comprises a collection of essays on various themes, including the rise and fall of pilgrimage to the cathedral shrines of England,? reflections on the King James’ bible and other translations, and the ways the reformation has been depicted in fiction (including an pointed critique of Hillary Mantel's Wolf Hall). ????????
