What book are you reading right now?

[luberconn]

Audiobooks count. It sounds like your parents were wise people. More parents should adopt such a plan!

totally agree. when i was a kid, i thought it was a pain, even though i enjoyed the books. but looking back, it really was a good thing. reading is one of the great escapes!

 

[Whazzzup]

Get ready Jan 21 2025, that and Liz Chaney

 

[Philimon]

Get ready Jan 21 2025, that and Liz Chaney

Are you actually reading this?
Also, “put her (Cheney) in front of a firing squad!” link

 

[Whazzzup]

Are you actually reading this?
Also, “put her (Cheney) in front of a firing squad!” link

Yes, and symbolic of 2016 and 2024, first country to get punished. Albeit the book is funny as heck. Concerning the rest I’m out. Hate and violence repulses me.

 

[Philimon]

Yes, and symbolic of 2016 and 2024, first country to get punished. Albeit the book is funny as heck. Concerning the rest I’m out. Hate and violence repulses me.

Ill add it my que then, thanks. Its best to keep an open mind.

 

[PoSR77]

^ Figured I should purchase this while it is still legal for it to be shipped within the US. I bought it over this book by the same author, since it was more up to date and more of a direct "what to know" guide. I first became aware of the author via this essay, and I've learned a lot from them, including practical tips for how to deal with the upcoming years (decades?) and reasons for optimism (I'm an incurable "realistic optimist").

^ First read this classic around age 11, then again in my late 20's while taking a "Fantasy, Horror, and Sci-Fi in Literature" course at my local community college just for fun. But I've never read the first edition 1818 text which is supposed to be (if memory from that course serves) more "politically charged" by, for one thing, focusing more on female agency. Though I have not researched the differences between the editions in much depth (I want some surprises while reading the original text!), this seems to be a good summation: Frankenstein project editions


The Authoritarian Regime Survival Guide

^ Found this handy, short (8 pages in pdf form), "what to do" guide via social media. It's a bit disjointed, but it has some indispensable information all citizens of free, semi-free, and illiberal societies alike should know.


As always, I will not discuss politics/social matters with others in public, since I feel this is not the proper thread or site for such disputation.

 

[finbad]

Katherine Stewart, a journalist who specializes in the religious right, spent years researching the money and influence that has aided and encouraged tens of millions of Americans in their worship at the throne of Trump.


The result is Money, Lies and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy, which sees Stewart explore the “antidemocratic movement” – an unholy mix of Christian nationalists, billionaire oligarchs and conservative ideologues who have seized control of the Republican party, and aim to fundamentally change the US.


“Money is a huge part of the story, meaning that huge concentrations of wealth have destabilized the political system. Second, lies, or conscious disinformation, is a huge feature of this movement. And third God, because the most important ideological framework for the largest part of this movement is Christian nationalism,” says Stewart.

 

[Philimon]

I read ~4-5 Chomsky books in 2024 and this is where I started though its not where I recommend you start as there are many easier to read introductory books.:

wiki

An introductory book: Understanding Power. From what I remember this begins with the start of the American empire and national security state post WW2.

Only a few events such as Vietnam still weigh on the collective American consciousness regarding the trustworthiness of government and media. Maddening to read but nobody is more detailed on the subject of the dubious “War on Terror” in a single book afaik. Highly recommended.:

 

[Sonic Defender]

Surprised to see those titles. Especially from an American.

 

[Philimon]

Surprised to see those titles. Especially from an American.

Americans are the most propagandized people in the world that dont know they are propagandized. That includes china, and speaking of which.

btw, if reading is not your thing then the authors i mentioned have done tons of live presentations, interviews, and debates which can be found on youtube.

 

[Sonic Defender]

I'm well versed in much of that work. I returned to University late in life during the pinnacle of the struggle against coercive control where I took several excellent human rights classes.

I was a teaching assistant in that department (although I was not in the human rights program) and my professor knew Mr. Chomsky. I actually sat in a chair in the professor's office and he commented that only a few years before Mr. Chomsky had sat in the chair I was sitting in.

 

[Philimon]

That’s awesome. Chomksy is still alive and Ive seen him do online interviews as recently as 2023 with X@Glenn_Diesen (link to profile)(link).

Still my favorite Chomsky clip:


Any book recommendations?

 

[Sonic Defender]

Although it is an older title, somewhat, I think you may enjoy Weapons of Mass Instruction.

I'll not be surprised if you have already read it.

 

[Sonic Defender]

However, if I'm to be transparent, I haven't been reading much for the last five years. I went further in university and subsequently totally changed my profession and while rewarding, the transition for various reasons has been rather draining.

 

[Sonic Defender]

That’s awesome. Chomksy is still alive and Ive seen him do online interviews as recently as 2023 with X@Glenn_Diesen (link to profile)(link).

Still my favorite Chomsky clip:


Any book recommendations?

Thanks for the clip. Appreciated.