Book Review: The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism

 The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism by Daniel Bell

The beginning of the book echoed some of my thoughts about the inadequacy of economics. The founders of economics, like Adam Smith, held the production of wealth to be an end in itself, rather than a means to lead a civilized life.

The book begins by noting that the three realms of a society, namely, the economy, the polity, and the culture, are ruled by principles that may not be acting in unison. For the economy, efficiency; for the polity, equality; and

for the culture, self-realization (or self-gratification) could be the primary driving force. There always can be a mismatch, making social conflicts, a permanent feature of our society. 

Accordingly, as the book puts it, shifts in economic and political power happen, more due to changes in the power of national states, than due to variation in social systems like communism or capitalism. After such an introduction, part 1 of the book starts examining the cultural contradictions of capitalism. How, culture, for a society, a group, or a person, is a continual process of sustaining an identity, and happens to be the primary player of concern, anywhere. How it's sway into the modern times leads to a dichotomy. 'Modernism must always struggle but never quite triumph, and then, after a time, must struggle in order not to triumph'. (No wonder, there is always an urge to belittle the new, while extolling the virtues of everything old, and the huge power, culture wields, should be seen in this light)

Just as in the economy, where growth changes discretionary income, in the cultural arena,  expansion of knowledge widens the permissive nature of social atmosphere, popularizing discretionary elements in behavior. 

In Part II, Dilemma of Polity, the book goes on to examine the political contradictions derive from the fact that the original liberal society has now become an interdependent economy that must stipulate collective goals. Where, each new generation need to start afresh, discard the past, and redesign institutions anew. And there will be success, the book concludes, if the power of knowledge coexist with the knowledge of its limits. 

I liked this interesting take on the flow of changes that continue to change the flow of our imagination.

Book Review: The Emotional Side of Money

 The Emotional Side of Money by Tari K Vickery is a book about financial wellness, and it is in four parts. Focus of Part I is on a friendly relationship with money that controls it too. How to overcome the fear around money, and discover one's power over it. Part II looks at specific issues, and the influence those have over the identities and emotions that effectively make us at any time. Like financial stress, the need to steer an optimum path, or financial equality in a relationship. Part III is all about our families, and all that can happen to wealth. How ideas in this regard, like a sense of value, gets carried forward silently to subsequent generations, grossly affecting the flow of wealth, status, and lifestyle. And Part IV is a summary and a revision of the considerations and commitments, the book would have sparked so far.
This interesting work presents a dynamic approach to the whole gamut of wealth, financial peace, and well-being. Suggesting new ways, it proposes clear steps for nurturing a healthier, more constructive relationship with your money. Bulleted lists of salient elements make it easy to retain or follow its approach.

Book Review: The End Of History and The Last Man

The End Of History and The Last Man by Francis Fukuyama. This book begins with questions. Is there a direction to the history of mankind? And if there is, to what end is it moving? And where are we now, in relation to that "end of history"?

The book proposes that while all forms of government showed grave defects that led to their eventual collapse that brought another style of governance, liberal democracy, free from such fundamental internal contradictions shall continue, and be the last form of government. This will have an effect on our history too, where, by not having a big movement that give rise to great events, it will only be random occurrences that stand to get recorded as history.

The book is in five parts, Part I traces human journey from a brute to the civilized one who chose to go to the moon, noting that every step can also be associated with a significant change in the condition of the world. Like, the pessimism prevalent among the thinkers of the eighteenth century gave way to the optimism of the nineteenth. Or, all the strong states of the early times were taken over by liberal arrangements. Part II discusses human nature, telling how, human effort can triumph over the constraints, and with real-life examples, describes the shape it continued to acquire while meeting the external and internal challenges of the past. Come to part III, and the discussion turns abstract. How, in a liberal democracy, the desire for recognition can take other forms, such as religion and nationalism, potent ones of these days. Taking examples from empires of the past, describes the shapes it continued to acquire while meeting external or internal challenges. Part IV is a critical examination of liberal democracy's claims to be the most rational, and thus the longest lasting. How social edifices like apartheid arose, and how it progressed, and how, economic forces can lead to an integrated world market and obliterate national boundaries. Part V, the last part, is about the last man, one who need not work, and need not fight. Who, nurtured by liberal democracy, stands to have an entirely different path to take. A path that is under the sway of inequalities of political and economical spheres.

This book mentions about two powerful forces at work to shape human history, "the logic of modern science" and "the struggle for recognition'. The first one drives men to fulfill an ever-expanding horizon of desires through a rational economic process; and the second drives him to write its history. Human condition becoming better, struggle for recognition is on the wane, and soon, there will be nothing left of that drive. What else is left to happen but the end of history, unless modern science does something to stop it?

Book Review: IDEOLOGY AND CIVILITY:

IDEOLOGY AND CIVILITY: By EDWARD SHILS 
This book is trying to show, how ideology invaded public life, paralyzed the free dialectic of intellectual life, and in politics, constricted or broke the flexible consensus necessary for an orderly state. Movements like Italian Fascism, German National Socialism, and Russian Bolshevism, begins its journey from such cicumstances, the book says.
Ideology attracts people in their childhood, but to which adults are practically immune, who constantly is on the lookout for something new. There seems to be no fresh alternative to ideology, both to absorb all their devotion, and inflame their capacity for faith and their aspirations toward perfection. A conservative revival is on, though moderate. The crucial element that propels all this, as the book says, is the creation of a class of intellectuals no longer dependent exclusively on patronage or inheritance. People with sensibility, intelligence, and imagination much beyond the standards and requirements of everyday life. Such people found solace in ideology, and fresh thoughts constantly occur.
New ideas, and the clash of those, kept coming, leading to the birth of civil societies that kept enriching itself. Much of the earlier ideals seem slowly to be yielding to the rising tide of civility, an essential need of a healthy society of these days. And the book concludes by asking this question - won't the preponderance of civility bring the age of ideology to an end? 
I liked the book a lot. It narrates the role played by differing ideologies, while pointing out the part played by the killer of ideologies - civility. Ideology propels growth, growth brings civility, and civility puts and end to ideology by accommodating all of it - Lenz's law of ideology? 
As I mentioned in my books, ideology originated from our need to fill 'gaps' that existed in social transactions of the early times. (An Idea is an aggregate of the bits and pieces of thoughts we use for filling voids!) As time go by, much of the 'gaps' are being filled by the inventions, discoveries, or the accompanying social changes, we constantly witness. Ideology will have no role to play, if civility triumphs. And it can very well be so, if the the fruits of modern science reaches all corners of the world.

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.

Book Review: Make Now Matter

 Make Now Matter by Julie Williamson PhD
Why, how we lead together matters much, especially for businesses today that are highly interconnected and with massive dependencies? This book tries to answer this, noting - when the world moves too fast, a business cannot be slow to transform.
Part 1 of the book begins by elaborating techniques to identify and eliminate such elements, and enable a business to meet its most ambitious goals. Followed by a deep analysis of the transformation that happens as a result, and gaps, the failures will cause. How and why, in business, its leadership is the one that needs to transform first. Part 2 is about putting all this into practice. Mentioning the importance of habits, it introduces certain formal behavior model that can be an effective way to move through the Failure Gap. Also, new ways of working and fresh techniques for leadership, followed by practical tips about the actual implementation, and a review of the all that is covered in the book.
I found this book a good collection of new ideas, techniques and studies. Those are elaborated well, supported by notes, tables, and worksheets that can simplify its adoption. Case studies help in appreciating the effectiveness and versatility of the ideas presented.

Book Review: Democracy-The God that Failed

 Democracy-The God that Failed, by Hans-Hermann Hoppe examines the economics and politics of monarchy, democracy, and natural order. It begins with a discussion about universal idea of preference - earlier over later goods, more over less durable, etc. It then traces the transition of monarchy to democracy - a process from early eighteenth to early twentieth century. Public opinion and distribution of social needs is then analyzed, effects of transition of power taking a prime spot. Then comes a thought experiment - if the world decides to go democratic, China, or India, or both, shall be the ruler. How monopoly of jurisdiction for the redistribution of income and wealth, as well as uncontrolled migration, gives democracy, monarchic powers, without undermining one's own position, as it is in the case of a king. Thus the book goes on to list the pitfalls of both monarchy and democracy, explaining how, a system based on private wealth stands to fare better, while interpreting fitting historical events that are of significance.

Book Review: SURVIVING LIFE

 SURVIVING LIFE-The Art of Resilience, by TOM SCHNEIDER, MD, is a memoir written with the hope that relating to 'the potholes of mine will be like a teaching for you'. It starts with the memories of a regular sweltering day during the height of the Vietnam War in 1969, when he gets shot down. There he recollects the times of his childhood, like that of the oasis of grammar school. Also, how his plans of becoming a Jesuit priest went, his affairs with someone who happened to be related to the local mafia head, and how, his escapades with “spirits” and learning, kept progressing.
Come graduation, wedding, Pensacola, Florida, and the navy flight training with all its adventures. Off to school of medicine as a naval officer in the medical corps. Spends time in Vietnam and also an appointment with malaria, and back to NewYork and fun. Goes to school of medicine while in navy. Goes on to command a naval hospital. Retires from navy and opts for a private practice in Milton, Florida, outside Pensacola. And the memoir ends with a quote from Dalai Lama, "..our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”
This memoir reeks of adventure in each page. Every character standing to amass sympathy and every event to arrest the attention of all the readers, no wonder, this book is a page-turner.

Impact of AI

    

I understand, coding is an area where workforce is heading for something new, given the rapid advances in software, computation, and technology. For those who follow this profession, there will be a lack of opportunities for much of the pastimes, exchanges, and recreations, AI programmers and helpers keeping them perpetually busy. An ‘artificial intelligence economy’ is going to happen soon, says one editorial.

What was happening all this while? Each one of us have been toiling for hours (one;s calling), while enjoying whatever hours one could manage for progressing one’s interests and affairs, collectively called living. Interests or activity that could take any form, like reading, writing, music, fine arts, or social transactions of whatever genre. Or, the time and space we devote to progress and celebrate things other than one's  calling, is what constitutes one's life. Now that AI is poised to eat away the toiling hours, each of us is going to be left with very many hours to follow or progress those matters. And it is going to be the same for everyone, however much the calling may differ. Time available for one’s calling will shoot up, occupying the lion’s share of each day.

Remember, one’s calling could only stem out of the same for another one. For example, if reading is my passion, it can happen only when the one whose passion is writing keeps oneself busy in it. And so is it, far all of us. So, when each of us engage with our own calling more an more, every other one also need to do so. As a result, for all, involvement with one’s interests and affairs stand to go down.

Since, AI, more than stealing our jobs, is going to take away the life from each one of us, we need to quickly come up with another one that can take its place.

Book Review: Breaking Democracy's Chains

 Breaking Democracy's Chains by Metin Pekin is a critical look at the practice of democracy; and is quite in line with the ideas I personally hold.

It introduces freedom, something we cherish a lot, as an invisible cage, and democracy, our expression of freedom, a polished illusion of the same. In the first of 14 chapters, the book narrates the initial days of USA and the duel between the federalists, who wanted central control, and the Jeffersonians, who stood for the states. This is the origin of the party system that continue to defeat the ideals of democracy, it adds. The book then goes on to elaborate, how, every evil that happens in a democracy will be having a party behind it, and what, a no-party system can do here. It then shows the nuts and bolts of the next democratic evolution, and suggests a path, specifically for a no-party model. How, responsibility can replace illusion, and let us all out of a cage.

This is a remarkable work with compelling arguments and examples. I agree with the author. Party system, rather than uniting, is turning us into each other. And, we now need to unite, for bringing in a no-party system to replace it.

Book Review: Conspicuous

Conspicuous by Karina Vunnam

This book covers a lot of topics, like culture, consumer psychology, and business analysis to present a dual approach of immersive story-telling and pointed research. The whole discussion is presented as three Acts.

The first one of 8 chapters narrate the emergence of an emotional connection to business, and how it lead to heritage as a value in itself. The next eight chapters form Act II, which dwells into the journey we constantly make through the resulting path, and how the juxtaposing of novelty and our desire at  every step is giving birth to a constant stream of new ideas. Last eight chapters make Act III, which traces how, brands and consumers evolved from all this, like the inter-mingling of exclusivity, craft, and meaning.

I found it a vivid discussion and a page-turner. How our desires are made to associate with certain objects to create images and ideas of luxury that can install heritage as an end. How, elements of modern communication like instagram opened a new avenue for luxury marketing. And how, the meteoric rise in prices driven by inflation, artificial scarcity, and associated fluctuations stand to shape it all. The book also covers more recent developments like localization of luxury and its access, and re-validation and democratization of luxury, while highlighting certain contradictions that go along.

Book Review: Camouflage

 Camouflage by Heather Sweeney is an autobiography of one who wanted to be the heroine of her life, not a victim.
The book is in three parts. In the first part, there is dating, proposal, excitement of becoming a navy wife, getting lost and feeling deserted, and the struggles of getting accustomed to it all, not to speak about amazing weekends and getaways. But, as with all things that go with the military life, nothing stayed the same for long. Her life continued to crumble, and she was frequently getting messages of an impending divorce. Part II begins with a demand from her husband for divorce, and tells how, her life continued with a longing for anything other than the loneliness she often felt. Also, counseling sessions, visits for therapy, the realization that she is with a man she no longer wanted to be married to, and the preparation for legal separation. Part III chronicles the divorce, the travails of adjusting to a new life, and the joy of reclaiming her maiden self to become a heroine.
This book, a page-turner, speaks of it all. A military wife losing her identity while adjusting to a new lifestyle that demanded immense resilience. How she never compromised on what she thought she deserved, and how determined is her efforts to build her own space back from nowhere. Tastefully narrated scenes and events depict the emotional vortex, love can lead one to, and the courage it takes to chart one's own path.