Writings of the Great!
The last thing I want to be is a Scholar! So why then do I read? To gain knowledge, to know how to act and get the wisdom that I deeply desire to have and ooh... how I enjoy and love reading. I have been spending time reading so many biographies, studying the life of great men who've lived in the past and this is where I draw my write up today.
As I have read about the history of great men existing between 14th century, the earlier being Peter The Great of Russia to 21 century, I've found out that these men made thoughtful writing a duty. Subsequently, I've come along very interesting essays written by men who were not scholars, but doers. The question is often ask myself is how these essays can stand the test of relevancy of many years and the conclusion I made is that they fascinating enough to be shared.
Below is a list that I'll continuously update whenever I come along any other essays that I'll find captivating. Note that the essays being more than 100 years can be downloaded for free.
1. The Gospel of Wealth - Andrew Carnige. This was the richest man in his time and write how to manage your wealth, giving to charity and why character is very important to your children as you them your inheritance.
2. Essays to do good - Cotton Matther. This gentleman was a preacher and a great influence to one of the men I consider to be my role model, Benjamin Franklin. It's from here that Benjamin Franklin drew the conclusion that, "The highest form of worship to God, is doing good to men". He also quoted to have said "“A capacity to do good, not only gives a right to do the do it, but also makes the doing of it an obligation".
3. Report to Manufactures - Alexander Hamilton. This is another gentleman is greatly admire. He single handedly built the American government financial institutions. While he wrote so many letters and reports, this one stood out because it is an advisory to the government on how manufacturers in a country are import and can be a great addition on how to improve a countries export.
4. Joseph Stalin. Marxism and the National Question. Even though I don't fully agree with socialism, this is a well written document on how Stalin thought what constituted a nation. He was a Russian revolutionist who did so much and had a very interesting life.5.
5. Letter to Ted Tuner from his father. The very first biography I ever read was from the founder and owner of CNN, Ted Turner. At a very young age of 18 years, he received a letter, which can be read here from his father when he decided to major with Greek in his senior years at the University. The letter, which was put up on the notice board was a very genuine concern of a father to his son. Even though hilarious, it has a very deep connection between the father and the son. May I also recommend the biography called Call Me Ted, by Ted Turner, deeply moving and there is a lot to learn on business.
6. Letter from Zukifar Bhutto to his daughter Benazir Bhutto. I have always admired Benazir Bhutto since I was young, she's one of the main reason I couldn't wait to read the newspaper, the world news, and I met her again in 2017, when I read how the women in power have been mentored by their male family members into leadership. When in prison, Benazir Bhutto received a letter from his father on how to go about politics, how to move the crowd and so on. You can read the letter here.
May I also recommend "Hirohito and the making of modern Japan by Herbert Bix", a fantastic biography of the Japanese prime minister, who in the dynasty that has ruled Japan since 600 B.C. to date, strengthened Japan and lead them to WWII. Also, staggering facts like how Japanese lost 54000 planes and great description of the war that claimed 75M people and more so how it came to start i.e. the infamous Manchuria incidence, Japanese conquest of the pacific ocean, Indochina invasion, bombing of pearl Harbor and the vigor and commitment of the Japanese to die for their country. Please read more on Kamikaze pilots who happen to be pilots who flew planes into the sea with only enough fuel to get where the enemy ships were and crash into them and subsequently sink them, willing-fully dying in the process. The trips were one way, to add salt to the injury, these planes were developed to drop or retract their landing gear upon takeoff, therefore, the pilot would only land by crashing into the enemy's ship. The Japanese are known to be very patriotic people who consider it an honor to die for their country.
Hirohito is the emperor who've ruled the longest in Japan. Found it fascinating that the same family has been ruling the country even before Christ, till today.
I still have not bought a book this year and this makes me feel good that I have continuously found interesting books in the University of Nairobi Library and I highly encourage anyone registered there to make use of it. My biggest downside is that I have always wished to pass my book collection to my sons. I can only hope they'll appreciate the one I have and the additional that I will get before they grow up,