Former British diplomat, Alistair Crooke, has put together an article—followed by an interview with Andrew Napolitano—that help to place Neocon thinking within a context that fits into American culture. I think most of us are dimly aware that Russophobia in Europe has more to do with nationalism and historical grievances and ambitions than with ideology. For Americans of that inclination, ideological thinking looms larger.
I've been listening to Chesterton's The Everlasting Man. It's very good, but I have to buy the book. That kind of work I can follow much better when I read it, plus I can quickly jump back to review a topic he returns to. That's just about impossible to do with audio, unless you know it was in the last ten minutes or so. If I had read it already and was reviewing the material by listening to it, that would work better. But there's a good chance I would still keep the book handy at the same time for reference.
Sorry for the very late response - I had started one on my phone, the battery went dead, and it was gone. Bad timing.
But it really does depend on the book. Some are great to listen to, others are tougher because of the writer's style or because they keep referring back to earlier text, like "The Everlasting Man" does.
The Bible is great to listen to as well as to sit and read it. I can listen to A.W. Tozer all day, but when I tried Dostoyevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov" a year ago, I had to give up. The names are so strange I was losing track of who some of the characters were. And since I primarily listen when I'm driving, I couldn't make notes for reference, or read them even if I could, LOL. John Bunyan's "Holy War" was good to listen to, but I would occasionally have to replay the prior ten minutes or so if there were a few days between listens. Andrew Murray books are well worth listening to. I have Chesterton's "Orthodoxy," but haven't tried listening to that yet, and I also want to listen to "The Man Who Was Thursday," but I suspect that one might prove better as a book as well (so I haven't bought that one yet). After I listen to "Orthodoxy" I'll have a better idea on which way to go. And maybe Chesterton will prove easier to follow after listening to more than one of his.
Anyway, it really comes down to the books you choose to listen to. Plenty are worth listening to, plenty are better read, and a lot are good both ways. Plus it may also depend on the person. I would suggest trying a few and then deciding for yourself. But I love listening while I drive, and I love sitting in a chair reading, so I get the best of both worlds that way.
P.S. I have been sharing your messages with carefully selected family members. I just heard that our cousin, who now follows you daily, shared it with his son-in-law's father, who is sharing it with everyone he knows. The word is spreading! Thank you for your faithfulness! God bless you and your wife, Mark!
Nothing like waking up to a mini seminar on myth vs idelogy! Tx for bestirring the embers of long-lost learning ( Eleade - gee ! ). But what pops into mind is when the Neos confuse the two and see themselves as our great rulers sent to restore freedom/democracy, imposing sanctions on evil and weak Russia whose boomerang effect we know. The result? Sovereignty, that word again! Our hubristic and stupid policies (zero diplomacy) have resulted in the world turning away from the Dollar itself, an act to retain and secure sovereignty. Maybe Victoria and Janet should get together and reread the myth of Icarus?
My own wishful thinking is that the collectively delusional neocons were themselves mythical creatures! America IF she minded her own business, would be left alone and much more secure.
BTW, Mark. Several years ago I stumbled upon your original Meaning In History blog. I was so gratified to read your posts, that I went back and read everything from your first post. Thank you for today's post which, in some part, brings us full circle to your beginning posts and the significance of your title "Meaning In History." Your work helps me to find some equivalence between reason and faith in a search for understanding.
Sounds pretty much like my history with this blog. I usually save them for an after dinner read or morning coffee. I believe I have a so much better grasp of what’s going on because of it. It certainly has improved my “word power”. Fortunately I was reading this on my tablet so I could toggle back and forth between it and my dictionary. Somebody certainly had their thesaurus out, autarky! fissiparous!
Well said. That quote of Chesterton about those who don’t believe in God falling prey to believing in anything also brings to mind the verse in II Timothy 1:7 that the spirit of God gives a sound mind.
I've been listening to Chesterton's The Everlasting Man. It's very good, but I have to buy the book. That kind of work I can follow much better when I read it, plus I can quickly jump back to review a topic he returns to. That's just about impossible to do with audio, unless you know it was in the last ten minutes or so. If I had read it already and was reviewing the material by listening to it, that would work better. But there's a good chance I would still keep the book handy at the same time for reference.
My wife and I were just talking about reading v. listening to a book. Obviously it depends, but the ease of going back is a big plus. I like paper.
Sorry for the very late response - I had started one on my phone, the battery went dead, and it was gone. Bad timing.
But it really does depend on the book. Some are great to listen to, others are tougher because of the writer's style or because they keep referring back to earlier text, like "The Everlasting Man" does.
The Bible is great to listen to as well as to sit and read it. I can listen to A.W. Tozer all day, but when I tried Dostoyevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov" a year ago, I had to give up. The names are so strange I was losing track of who some of the characters were. And since I primarily listen when I'm driving, I couldn't make notes for reference, or read them even if I could, LOL. John Bunyan's "Holy War" was good to listen to, but I would occasionally have to replay the prior ten minutes or so if there were a few days between listens. Andrew Murray books are well worth listening to. I have Chesterton's "Orthodoxy," but haven't tried listening to that yet, and I also want to listen to "The Man Who Was Thursday," but I suspect that one might prove better as a book as well (so I haven't bought that one yet). After I listen to "Orthodoxy" I'll have a better idea on which way to go. And maybe Chesterton will prove easier to follow after listening to more than one of his.
Anyway, it really comes down to the books you choose to listen to. Plenty are worth listening to, plenty are better read, and a lot are good both ways. Plus it may also depend on the person. I would suggest trying a few and then deciding for yourself. But I love listening while I drive, and I love sitting in a chair reading, so I get the best of both worlds that way.
P.S. I have been sharing your messages with carefully selected family members. I just heard that our cousin, who now follows you daily, shared it with his son-in-law's father, who is sharing it with everyone he knows. The word is spreading! Thank you for your faithfulness! God bless you and your wife, Mark!
Nothing like waking up to a mini seminar on myth vs idelogy! Tx for bestirring the embers of long-lost learning ( Eleade - gee ! ). But what pops into mind is when the Neos confuse the two and see themselves as our great rulers sent to restore freedom/democracy, imposing sanctions on evil and weak Russia whose boomerang effect we know. The result? Sovereignty, that word again! Our hubristic and stupid policies (zero diplomacy) have resulted in the world turning away from the Dollar itself, an act to retain and secure sovereignty. Maybe Victoria and Janet should get together and reread the myth of Icarus?
My own wishful thinking is that the collectively delusional neocons were themselves mythical creatures! America IF she minded her own business, would be left alone and much more secure.
BTW, Mark. Several years ago I stumbled upon your original Meaning In History blog. I was so gratified to read your posts, that I went back and read everything from your first post. Thank you for today's post which, in some part, brings us full circle to your beginning posts and the significance of your title "Meaning In History." Your work helps me to find some equivalence between reason and faith in a search for understanding.
Sounds pretty much like my history with this blog. I usually save them for an after dinner read or morning coffee. I believe I have a so much better grasp of what’s going on because of it. It certainly has improved my “word power”. Fortunately I was reading this on my tablet so I could toggle back and forth between it and my dictionary. Somebody certainly had their thesaurus out, autarky! fissiparous!
Wow! Thanks very much.
OMG! My brain hurts. Ultimately, I think Hegel's idealism led, two generations later, to Heidegger-the ultimate Nazi.
Well said. That quote of Chesterton about those who don’t believe in God falling prey to believing in anything also brings to mind the verse in II Timothy 1:7 that the spirit of God gives a sound mind.
Sounds reasonable.