The Romans: A 2,000-Year History

The Romans: A 2,000-Year History by Edward J. Watts

The author Roman empire had a start date around 800 BC to the fourth crusade in the 1200s AD. He argues that Rome had a continues political system for the 2000 years, even as it moved the base from Rome to Constantinople. The "Byzantines" considered themselves to be Romans, with only us in the future retroactively adding different names. However, he sacking of Constantinople put an end to this continuous government. Despite going through many different rulers and types of government, a common history could be traced. The changes were incremental rather than revolutionary. 

The book is not poorly written, but it is too long. The coverage is focussed on the times that we have the most data. It rockets through the early history, then slows down as it goes through more popular events. IT would be better served by shortening the narrative to have a large scale overview.

Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies

Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies by Jared Diamond

I had read this back when it came out. There have been many that contradicted the argument since then. However, the general research and arguments are still quite convincing. He argues that factors in the natural environment play a big role in the development of cultures. When there is a large connected region across similar climates, the agricultural knowledge can easily be shared. When there are barriers in between, sharing is a much slower process. Some areas had many plants and animals that were ready for domestication, while other places did not. There was one example from polynesia where one culture advanced significantly beyond another after a period of separation. Through history cultures that were more advanced were able to dominate those that were not.

The Forger’s Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century

The Forger’s Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century by Edward Dolnick

Towards the end of World War II, Holland was in ruins. One of the few ways to make money was to sell artwork to the fleeing Nazis. Han van Meegeren was a talented artist whose paintings did not gain much respect. He was willing to experiment and concoct ways for his paintings to past the tests to identify them as centuries old. He then created some "new" Vermeer paintings. The experts believed him and he was able to make a fortune selling these paintings to the Nazis. Alas, he was eventually caught - not for creating forgeries, but for collaborating with the enemy. He admitted to forging and ended up with a lighter sentence, but died before he served it. It is interesting that the "art" in artwork is not very important as compared to the provenance.

Land Between the Rivers: A 5,000-Year History of Iraq

Land Between the Rivers: A 5,000-Year History of Iraq by Bartle Bull

This long history of Iraq spent too much time drifting off to wider events in the area. There is a huge description of major religious movements, such as Islam. While that may be nice for context, Iraq was not really involved until it was conquered by Islamic groups. I would have rather read a more concise book of history as it impacted Iraq. 

Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature

Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature by Emily Wilson

I have heard that in Japan, translators are well known and respected almost as much as authors. In the English speaking world, they are almost treated as an afterthought. However, translators play a huge role in how we experience works of literature. This can be especially important with ancient works. Most of the popular Greek works of today were experienced as popular culture. They were in the vernacular of the day and would be more akin to a superhero movie than work of literature. Alas, we often experience them in archaic translations. This causes a barrier to their understanding. Translators also struggle with the feel of the work. One word may be translated exactly with a 30 word phrase, but then you've lost the flow. A single word may be better even if it is not exact. How do you get the rhythm and meter in different languages? What about slang and scatalogical language? And what about different dialects present in the original?

In this book, the author explores her experience with different ancient works and the art of translation. It is filled with interesting examples of trade offs made in translation and how she feels about it. I would love to see more translated works accompanied by a discussion from the translator.

The Florentines: From Dante to Galileo: The Transformation of Western Civilization

The Florentines: From Dante to Galileo: The Transformation of Western Civilization by Paul Strathern

Florence played a key role in the Renaissance. It was democratic. The Medici's were able to find religious loopholes to lead a banking empire. Artists, scientists and inventors were present. The book catalogs all in a time series, but is little too long and rambly.

The Domestic Revolution: How the Introduction of Coal into Victorian Homes Changed Everything

The Domestic Revolution: How the Introduction of Coal into Victorian Homes Changed Everything by Ruth Goodman

Coal changed the life of the British population. The takeover of coal followed a meandering path. It was seen as something to help the "lower classes", but gradually spread to upper classes. It changed the way of cooking and brought about the overcooked British food. Chineys also came about at a similar time. They did keep some away, but they also let much of the heat escape. At first they were only for the rich, but they gradually spread. Heating changed the way we live and sleep. Coal fire led to more furniture elevated above the ground. A central fire encouraged everyone to socialize together in a small house. Not until central heating did people spread apart into big houses. The method of home heating is an important part of daily life, yet is not well documented. Much of the history of coal adoption had to be pieced together from fragmentary sources.

A Spirited History of Milwaukee Brews and Booze

A Spirited History of Milwaukee Brews and Booze by Martin Hintz

Milwaukee's history is tied with Beer. Miller still stands as a big beer brand. Schlitz was once a dominate brand that ranked number one or two nationally. Then they tried to cut costs to disastrous consequences. Pabst is another big one that declined in part due to limitations of the charitable ownership. All have been acquired by other companies. Miller is the only one that maintains a large brewery presence in Milwaukee.

The book touches the surface and feels like a series of college essays rather than one coherent work. Chapters typically focus on a single company from their origin to modern times. The chapters on the big brewers are interesting including covering ones that have lost significance (like Gettelman). Then things dive off. Modern craft brewers and distillers don't have nearly as much historical panache. The book also suffers from lack of maps to understand where things were happening geographically.

New Deal Law and Order: How the War on Crime Built the Modern Liberal State

New Deal Law and Order: How the War on Crime Built the Modern Liberal State by Anthony Gregory

Crime was really bad in the United States before World War II. Kidnappings, shoot outs and other incidents were common. Part of the New Deal helped encourage law and order. Policies could be somewhat contradictory and reflected the interests of those in charge. Alcohol was legalized to reduce crime. Marijuana was criminalized to reduce crime. Kidnapping penalties were increased. White collar crime was also attacked. Crime fighting also had to deal with political coalitions. Blacks wanted lynching to stop, while white southerners wanted to continue to lynch. The FBI and national crime fighting grew in importance, while states still maintained their jurisdictions. The book covered a lot of crime fighting, but struggled to have a common thesis.

The Money Illusion: Market Monetarism, the Great Recession, and the Future of Monetary Policy

The Money Illusion: Market Monetarism, the Great Recession, and the Future of Monetary Policy by Scott Sumner

This book had interesting somewhat counter-intuitive views of the impacts of monetary policy. I didn't fully grasp all the details, but felt it could be a good way to look at things. "Easy" money is a key way that the government can help the economy. However, interest rates are often only a part of this. Often the anticipation of rates can be more critical than the actual rates set themselves. Common explanations we hear of for economic crashes are often side correlations. For instance, housing production had already stalled before the great recession. Some "fixes" may also make matters worse. (Encouraging unions and high wages at the start of the Great Depression likely stalled employment gains and production.) Macroeconomics uses the same terminology as microeconomics to describe something very different. Getting the right policies in place can help keep things humming along well, while the wrong policies can make things worse.

The author is very cautious about his beliefs. While he holds them strongly, he also feels that common culture is not likely to take them up until ready. He also notes that "liberal economics" will almost always "win", though the definition of "liberal economics" is always changing. Could we really keep the economy moving around nicely for a long term? Or would the thought of bubbles and crashes mean they must occur?

How Finland Survived Stalin: From Winter War to Cold War, 1939-1950

How Finland Survived Stalin: From Winter War to Cold War, 1939-1950 by Kimmo Rentola translated by Richard Robinson

Finland had an odd position during World War II. They were aligned with Germany, but never part of the Axis powers. They fought the Winter War against Russia. German alignment was seen as a necessary defensive measure. Stalin had underestimated the ability of Finnish army and suffered significantly during the hostilities. The Finns paid were willing to pay reparations and cede territory. However, they were not pushovers. They refused to become a Soviet satellite. They maintained their culture and political system. They were one of the few European capitals that was never occupied during the war. Stalin seems to have some respect for the Finns and was willing to let them be. The book was original written in Finnish and relied on many Russian sources that are now locked away again due to the Ukraine war.

Shock Values: Prices and Inflation in American Democracy

Shock Values: Prices and Inflation in American Democracy by Carola Binder

The history of inflation and deflation is riddled with attempts at price controls. From the time of the revolutionary war, price controls were debated and sometimes put into place. Price controls had some impact on stabilization, but also created distortions in the market as well as made winners and losers. A national bank and monetary policy helps provide stability but exchange rates also caused distortions. (especially when values of silver and gold differed.) A strong, independent central bank can provide stability. However, it is difficult for politicians to resist tampering. FDR went to great extents to preserve his price controls. Policies to strengthen unions while controlling prices probably hurt the economy and employment (while benefiting those that kept jobs) Price controls stopped after the end of the war, but were tried again later without much success. People don't like it when things look more expensive and they always try to blame profit taking. Companies will look for an excuse to raise prices. They might be accused of short term high profits even if they don't make up for previous loses. Keeping inflation under control takes work, but does make people happy.

To Explain the World: The Discovery of Modern Science

To Explain the World: The Discovery of Modern Science by Steven Weinberg

The author attempted to write something innovative describing how the ability to do science came about, but ended up with a typical history of science. The Arabs were holding the torch of science, but they didn't make the final push of the scientific revolution. People needed to learn to ask the right questions to get the right answers. They broke down things in controlled areas to get things that were explainable in the way we know. These things had to be shared. That is how we got to what we know as science today. It seems the best we can do. However, will people in the future treat it as we treat Astrology and Alchemy? Both of those were given scientific credence before they were treated as pseudo-science. The book concludes with Copernicus, Galileo and Newton. They were treated as the originators of modern science, yet they still had some traditional beliefs.

Carthage: A New History

Carthage: A New History by Eve MacDonald

Carthage was one of the leaders of the ancient world. Then it lost a war to Rome and was destroyed. It's history is often told through the lense of it's vanquisher. That makes it somewhat difficult to piece together a history. This book explores some of the history including significant figures that were not named Hannibal. It straddles the line between academic and narrative history, in part because detailed sources for a narrative are lacking. It mentions the apparent child sacrifice remains, but does not see them as bad as others. Things end with Rome defeating them and saving only a science book.

Rain of Ruin: Tokyo, Hiroshima, and the Surrender of Japan

Rain of Ruin: Tokyo, Hiroshima, and the Surrender of Japan by Richard Overy

The United States is unapologetic in the use of the atomic bomb at the end of World War II. It is believed that the bomb saved half a million American lives - more than the Japanese lives lost in the explosions. We often second guess the use today. However, the important question to ask is why did America of the time choose to drop the bomb? Americans were tired of the war. Germany had surrendered and Americans wanted to go home. However, Japanese kept fighting what seemed to be a losing cause. The American public now saw Japanese as less than human and wanted to do whatever it took to end the war as soon as possible. The atomic bomb seemed like a great solution. 

The firebombing of Tokyo was the most destructive conventional bombing in history. More people were immediately killed in this bombing than immediately by either of the atomic bombs. The Japanese initially dismissed the atomic bombs as just another big bomb. It is uncertain whether this bombing changed the timeline of the Japanese surrender. However, they did finally surrender not long after the bombing, leading to a cause and effect alignment in the minds of Americans.

This book is an interesting exploration of the bombing that looks at it from the lens of 1945 America while tying in modern knowledge of the Japanese mentality. It does a good job of exploring how people felt and why things were done as they were.

A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck

A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst

A couple went boating and got "lost at sea", needing to spend a long period of time on a raft. This was a stressful experience that ultimately made their relationship stronger. They had a few "false hope" near-rescues before they were finally saved. They received a lot of publicity afterwards. The experience proved transformative, and they kept a strong relationship through life.

This book is based on the account of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey. The "lost at sea" experience was only part of the story as the book focuses on the later impact of their life. (At first it felt odd to have it discuss the "post-shipwreck" experiences with so much remaining in the book, but it does make sense in the end.)

The Idea Machine: How Books Built Our World and Shape Our Future

The Idea Machine: How Books Built Our World and Shape Our Future by Joel J. Miller

Books have played an important role in the development of humanity. Knowledge has been able to be passed down down and accessed by greater numbers of people. There were challenges. Books were initially hand-copied. This required skill and limited the number of copies. It was also seen as a negatively impacting memory. Printing opened up more wide-spread reproduction of books. However, this also opened up significant cultural and religious conflicts. Printing rose in concert with the reformation and counter-refomration in the Christian world. Each side was keen to destroy books that they did not like, leading to the loss of many ancient texts. The Islamic world simply opposed printing, leading to a stagnation in intellectual capacity. (During the earlier era, the Islamic world had been the primary source of intellectual advancement.)

New forms of books later evolved. Don Quixote has been acknowledged as the first novel. Soon fiction branched to cover people from many diverse backgrounds. Today books have proliferated in paper and electronic formats. They are easy to produce and cover variety of different specialized topics.

This book seemed extremely appealing and interesting. I enjoyed the discussion, yet very little of it stuck out as memorable.

The Wrong Stuff: How the Soviet Space Program Crashed and Burned

The Wrong Stuff: How the Soviet Space Program Crashed and Burned by John Strausbaugh

The Soviet Union built up its space program primarily by making crude copies of western technology. There focus was more on embarrassing the west than on technological innovation. They hid their failures while exaggerating their successes. They lacked some of the advanced technology, so they would over-engineer heavy machines. The program did send people to space and made celebrities out of initial cosmonauts. However, they never did get a man to the moon. After Khrushchev lost power, the USSR shifted resources away from the space race. This book is a very snarky take on the Soviet program, with an emphasis on the structural problems and ineptitude of the space program.

Family of Spies

Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor by Christine Kuehn

Grandpa was Nazi spy with interesting history in Hawaii. There were rumors of "baby spy" in the family that would go try to get intel. This book is part memoir and part family history. The author explores the skeletons in his family's closet. They were raised as an all American family. However, Grandpa was executed as a spy. (Though the family gives other reasons for what happened.) The book is an interesting exploration of interrelated bits of World War II history.

Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump

Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump by Molly Worthen

People with charisma have been able to influence people. The term was originally used theologically and much of the book explores the charismatics from a religious perspective. In modern times, it has come to spread beyond religion to other people like Donald Trump. Charismatic people can influence others in various ways and have lead various large-scale religious movements. The Puritans and other early religious movements had many charismatic leaders. The second great awakenings were similar. (Though Joseph Smith was charismatic, many people were drawn in after reading the Book of Mormon before seeing him.) Political leaders also had their appeal based on their public oratory. Later television would play a role in changing how we viewed leaders (with Nixon/JFK being an early example.) The history of charisma is interesting, but almost too broad to be well covered.