Book Review: Identity-Based Mass Violence

 'Identity-Based Mass Violence in Urban Contexts' by Rachel Locke et al., is a part of Palgrave Studies in Victims and Victimology that showcases the work of

contemporary scholars of victimological research.

The book addresses challenges, like missed opportunities that could have led to valuable insights, insufficient investment in preventing large-scale harm, or systemic use of identity-based violence as a tool of power, while analyzing the propensity to resort to violence along identity lines. After a good look at its composition, the book exposes the nuts and bolts of its destructive elements and a wide canvas of vandalism that accompany. Next chapter is about identifying and quantifying all these, which is followed by a peep into the dynamics of violence from the most trivial to the most terrible, with Casa de Luz (House of Light), a collective house in Mexico, in focus. Study of violence in other parts of the world features next, like Jerusalem, London, or Phoenix, to be followed by a narrative about urban mechanisms of armed violence and its peculiarities. The book now tries to show, how art can be used as a tool for transforming all this, and also as a result, regulate the social and political environment. How we can re-purpose urban growth, and how education needs to be fine-tuned to stop gender-based violence.

This is a thorough study, dissecting the many sides of violence and locating its prime suspect in the severe empathy gap, the world faces today. As the book concludes, rather than manipulating unruly public behavior to each one's chosen end, we need to appreciate each such instance as a specific act of resistance.

Book Review: Radical Doubt

 Radical Doubt by Dr Bidhan L Parmar is a book that prepares one for tackling hard choices and to get equipped to handle the issues that arise. How to train one's perception, thinking, feeling, and free will.
In Parts I and II, the book analyses the challenges, and the defense one can build by thoughtful application of the skills, one already has. Making good use of analogies like mental maps and brain GPS, it tells us how to tackle situations and make decisions, where, rules and outcomes, conflict. Part III is about overcoming obstacles, something essential for maintaining a steady path of success. How one can shape cooperation to desired end, and also the associated things like reputation, advantage, or dispute.
Finally, in Part IV, the book goes on to examine the pitfalls waiting, if the analysis or the actions are to falter. How it can end up self-sabotaging both learning and preparation, taking one to “analysis paralysis.” 
Who will not be bowled over by a book which tells "the next time you experience doubt, turn it into your rocket fuel, not your roadblock". Many tools are provided for applying the principles or methods suggested in the book, and the good collection of notes can come handy in its actual use.

Book Review: Hatred of Democracy

 Hatred of Democracy by JACQUES RANCIERE 

Where things like reality TV, homosexual marriage and artificial insemination increase in popularity. and social security is running a deficit; unconcerned, people generally behave the way it pleases them.

What causes this is called democracy, that is, the reign of the limitless desire of individuals in modern mass society. 

The book begins by a real description of the success of democracy, how it brought the beneficial effects like  a constitutional State, and also the disorderly ones like a limitless desire. After a short discussion about Greek classics, the next chapter traces the source of such evils, finding all those lying further in the past. The third chapter is about marrying the ideas of democracy and the republic. Here, the book talks of the need to separate the exercise of governance from the representation of the society. Next chapter looks at the issue of the 'reign of the limitless desire'. How, 'democracy' turns into something like an 'oligarchy' that leaves enough room for democracy to become such a reign. Next and the last chapter effectively summarizes things brought out by all chapters. How, we now blame all of humanity's misfortunes on a single evil called democracy, and how we can avoid it.

Book Review: Overdoing Democracy

 Overdoing Democracy by ROBERT B TALISSE asks and answers a question that attracted me a lot - Why We Must Put Politics in its Place. It begins with an overview of the ills, politics lives with, while proclaiming, better politics cannot be the solution because politics is the problem. And it goes on to examine a lot of issues in this regard.

Like, can democracy be overdone? Is there a desirable degree of democracy? How, because of the ever-increasing reach of democracy, overdoing it becomes an internal, significant issue. On further diagnosis, political saturation and polarization are found to be critical issues, and the book goes on to prescribe remedies also. Not attending to these shall end up undermining democracy by overdoing it.

I find this an eye-opening study. How, a good ideal like the popularization of diversity in areas like race, or religion, has been accompanied by a not-so-good one like increased homogeneity of the same dimension, among the very same people. So, there is a need to put politics in its place, without derogating or reprimanding of democracy. As the book makes it clear, if we disregard these signs, an overdone democracy’s place shall lie with the privileged few. 

Book Review: Bring One Home

 Bring One Home, by Thomas I Pelissero, is about boyhoods buoyant with basketball. It begins with a sketch of the Bessemer Speed Boys, narrating the wins and struggles that keep waking up the complete town.

Few initial chapters chronicle, the hard days of miners, logging camps, and rail roads, and many other activities that support the small city of Bessemer. The book then goes on to acquaint us with the city board of education and the laurels it brought. Followed by chapters dealing with big topics of the times, like the assassination of Kennedy, President Johnson and the Vietnam conflict, and the toll, all these had on the Speedboys.

All the sixty four chapters of this book beats with youth, fun, and games, and tells how the Speedboys rose to hold their flag high by winning district tournaments, regional titles, and state championship. I found it an engaging work with a fast pace. A good collection of old photographs are also there to bring a few forgotten days, back to life. 

Book Review: ROLE MODELSHIP

 ROLE MODELSHIP by ELI POTTER is about the impact of role models and roles, in the age of AI. Part 1 begins by listing ten habits, one can practice to positively influence AI. Here, charting our future requires defining new human products and roles that can add greater value, it says. And a role modelship that can demonstrate things like unification and harmony between various disciplines, or educating AI on decision frameworks. Also, a close look at different role models like detractors, multipliers, or stabilizers. A crucial element for success is covered next, which involves regular assessments of human, organizational, and product health. Part 2 discuss multidisciplinary role models, the organizations, techniques, and the need to adapt, evolve, and integrate new paradigms into their lives. Part 3 discuss the importance of change, and how to choose the kind of role model that fits best. Come to part 4, and the talk is about inspiring future generations by building on past lessons. How, role modelship can be the antidote to AI’s limitations, while offering the human, guardrails and grounding that AI lacks today. 

This is a very interesting book. It lays the foundation for wiring humans and AI to perform together as a role model. When every one is looking out for fresh principles and techniques to address effectively and keep in step with the fast changing world, this book proposes 'Role Modelship in the age of AI' that can ensure complete, compassionate leadership.