A forum for discussing matters of moment, from a curmudgeonly perspective. (The ideas posted here do not necessarily represent those of any organization with which I am a part). Rude and insulting remarks will not be published, but civil disagreement is welcome.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Recovering from Historical Amnesia
Cicero: "To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child." Churchill (not Ward): "Study history. Study history."
Sadly, one of his best, The Birth of the Modern, is out of print. Happily, we live in the age of half.com. Maybe not so happily for authors' royalties.
I did, out of affection for the Curmudgeon. The Birth of the Modern is one of those rare books that you can pick up and open to a random page and start reading - and find yourself still reading an hour later.
I read Modern Times about a year ago. Very interesting book, and I learned a plethora of new words! (Plethora was not one of them. My favorite, though, was degringolade.)
Sadly, one of his best, The Birth of the Modern, is out of print. Happily, we live in the age of half.com. Maybe not so happily for authors' royalties.
ReplyDeleteJeff:
ReplyDeleteOuch, that link hurts! Buy the new copy of Truth Decay, of course!
I know a used book store with three copies of "Birth," so I better get one!
I did, out of affection for the Curmudgeon. The Birth of the Modern is one of those rare books that you can pick up and open to a random page and start reading - and find yourself still reading an hour later.
ReplyDeleteI read Modern Times about a year ago. Very interesting book, and I learned a plethora of new words! (Plethora was not one of them. My favorite, though, was degringolade.)
ReplyDelete