That is an awesome list. I am especially intrigued by the Erich Fromm book. It addresses a question I have had on my mind. It is something that makes me very sad - what is going on in Hungary. How is it, that after 50 years of oppression by foreign and domestic powers, Hungarians have willingly elected, and those who didn't vote for him tolerated, an autocrat. There was so much joy and anticipation in 1989, and now we are worse off than before as a country, and as a nation, in all the domains (economy, standard of living, morals, etc). Other East European countries didn't fall into this trap. There's something about Hungarians. Maybe it is the anxiety / depression that is genetically built into us, unfortunately (as I often say, Procaz should be baked into the bread in Hungary). Yes, as a side note, one of the triggers of anxiety for people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder is unstructured time (a.k.a. freedom). When they have "nothing to do," on weekends and school breaks for kids, the anxiety peaks.
That is a fascinating observation. Right now, I am reading Susan Faludi's memoir In the Darkroom, and much to my surprise, it's turning into a massive meditation on Hungary, by way of her reflections on her father, who grew up Jewish in Budapest during the rise of Hitler, managed to get to America, changed his name from Friedman to Faludi because he felt Faludi was more Hungarian, lived as a secular family man who celebrated Christmas and Easter, and then divorced his wife, moved back to Hungary, transitioned into a woman, and became obsessed with living according to a Hungarian authenticity that, when examined by Faludi, proves to be mostly neo-nationalist myth. That's obviously highly idiosyncratic and particular -- and yet it reverberates with the issues you mention above. I find myself hoping you'll write about Hungary.
For some reason, I only saw this comment now that I was actually on Substack… I didn’t get notified about it! Thank you for mentioning this. A lot of people who were born in Hungary, but then emigrated, move back to Hungary later in life. Honestly, Hungary is like that asshole boyfriend that you can’t stop thinking about even when you're happily married. I did write something about it, and you can read it here: https://medium.com/age-of-empathy/when-in-budapest-just-say-no-to-croissants-4a4a41ed8f2c?sk=bea57df130c7280d1fd4c03cc89b499a. But yes, the supposed “boom” in Hungarian birth rate is not true. Orbán tried a bunch of things, such as waiving income tax (for life!) for women who bear more than 3 children, home loans and etc, but women generally don’t want to have kids when they live in an authoritarian regime. Not even if they are paid! P.S. If you have any other thoughts on what you would like to hear about Hungary, i.e. what topics, please let me know. I would like to write more about Hungary but I don’t even know where to begin.
I'm looking forward to reading a very short list of books that are carryovers from last year. Like you, I don't make reading lists. But once I add a book to my queue, it's just a matter of time.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Going in blind on this one, don't even know what it's about. Haven't read the jacket or anything.
A Fire on the Deep by Vernor Vinge. Sci-fi, that's all I know about it.
A Perfect Spy by John le Carré.
None of these are "research" for anything else. They're just for reading and enjoying.
I may try to attack the 4th Churchill WW2 Ring book again after giving up on it halfway in 2020. Any other books I do end up reading will be fortuitous, unexpected encounters.
Wonderful! I used to teach The Poisonwood Bible alongside Conrad's Heart of Darkness. I will say no more than that! I loved The Spy Who Came in From the Cold -- let me know how you find The Perfect Spy. Enjoy!!
I have long wanted to read Sinclair Lewis’s It Can’t Happen Here, which has been called an “alarming, eerily timeless look at how fascism could take hold in America.” I have just started reading it. Another book I am eager to read this year is Shattered by Hanif Quereshi.
Wow -- the timing definitely looks right for the Lewis. I have not read that but now I want to. I've also been thinking of going back to "Babbitt," for various reasons. I think the two are connected. And for some reason, your mention of Sinclair Lewis makes me think I have long meant to read Joseph Heller's "Something Happened." Both "Babbitt" and "Something Happened" are, among other things. early-ish recognitions of how the workplace requires people to flatten themselves out in the service of an agenda beyond them. You could say that it's practice for surrendering autonomy and liberty at a wider level. Much to think about!!
It’s hard to believe that Lewis wrote the book during the Great Depression nearly a century ago! Thanks for the reminder about Heller. I haven’t read that and will check it out. Thanks so much, Erin.
Reading for pleasure is dessert for me. It is my reward for getting the chores done. There is a wave of relaxation and joy that sweeps over me as I stretch out and open a book. Best part of my day.
That is an awesome list. I am especially intrigued by the Erich Fromm book. It addresses a question I have had on my mind. It is something that makes me very sad - what is going on in Hungary. How is it, that after 50 years of oppression by foreign and domestic powers, Hungarians have willingly elected, and those who didn't vote for him tolerated, an autocrat. There was so much joy and anticipation in 1989, and now we are worse off than before as a country, and as a nation, in all the domains (economy, standard of living, morals, etc). Other East European countries didn't fall into this trap. There's something about Hungarians. Maybe it is the anxiety / depression that is genetically built into us, unfortunately (as I often say, Procaz should be baked into the bread in Hungary). Yes, as a side note, one of the triggers of anxiety for people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder is unstructured time (a.k.a. freedom). When they have "nothing to do," on weekends and school breaks for kids, the anxiety peaks.
That is a fascinating observation. Right now, I am reading Susan Faludi's memoir In the Darkroom, and much to my surprise, it's turning into a massive meditation on Hungary, by way of her reflections on her father, who grew up Jewish in Budapest during the rise of Hitler, managed to get to America, changed his name from Friedman to Faludi because he felt Faludi was more Hungarian, lived as a secular family man who celebrated Christmas and Easter, and then divorced his wife, moved back to Hungary, transitioned into a woman, and became obsessed with living according to a Hungarian authenticity that, when examined by Faludi, proves to be mostly neo-nationalist myth. That's obviously highly idiosyncratic and particular -- and yet it reverberates with the issues you mention above. I find myself hoping you'll write about Hungary.
For some reason, I only saw this comment now that I was actually on Substack… I didn’t get notified about it! Thank you for mentioning this. A lot of people who were born in Hungary, but then emigrated, move back to Hungary later in life. Honestly, Hungary is like that asshole boyfriend that you can’t stop thinking about even when you're happily married. I did write something about it, and you can read it here: https://medium.com/age-of-empathy/when-in-budapest-just-say-no-to-croissants-4a4a41ed8f2c?sk=bea57df130c7280d1fd4c03cc89b499a. But yes, the supposed “boom” in Hungarian birth rate is not true. Orbán tried a bunch of things, such as waiving income tax (for life!) for women who bear more than 3 children, home loans and etc, but women generally don’t want to have kids when they live in an authoritarian regime. Not even if they are paid! P.S. If you have any other thoughts on what you would like to hear about Hungary, i.e. what topics, please let me know. I would like to write more about Hungary but I don’t even know where to begin.
I'm looking forward to reading a very short list of books that are carryovers from last year. Like you, I don't make reading lists. But once I add a book to my queue, it's just a matter of time.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Going in blind on this one, don't even know what it's about. Haven't read the jacket or anything.
A Fire on the Deep by Vernor Vinge. Sci-fi, that's all I know about it.
A Perfect Spy by John le Carré.
None of these are "research" for anything else. They're just for reading and enjoying.
I may try to attack the 4th Churchill WW2 Ring book again after giving up on it halfway in 2020. Any other books I do end up reading will be fortuitous, unexpected encounters.
Wonderful! I used to teach The Poisonwood Bible alongside Conrad's Heart of Darkness. I will say no more than that! I loved The Spy Who Came in From the Cold -- let me know how you find The Perfect Spy. Enjoy!!
I have long wanted to read Sinclair Lewis’s It Can’t Happen Here, which has been called an “alarming, eerily timeless look at how fascism could take hold in America.” I have just started reading it. Another book I am eager to read this year is Shattered by Hanif Quereshi.
Wow -- the timing definitely looks right for the Lewis. I have not read that but now I want to. I've also been thinking of going back to "Babbitt," for various reasons. I think the two are connected. And for some reason, your mention of Sinclair Lewis makes me think I have long meant to read Joseph Heller's "Something Happened." Both "Babbitt" and "Something Happened" are, among other things. early-ish recognitions of how the workplace requires people to flatten themselves out in the service of an agenda beyond them. You could say that it's practice for surrendering autonomy and liberty at a wider level. Much to think about!!
It’s hard to believe that Lewis wrote the book during the Great Depression nearly a century ago! Thanks for the reminder about Heller. I haven’t read that and will check it out. Thanks so much, Erin.
Reading for pleasure is dessert for me. It is my reward for getting the chores done. There is a wave of relaxation and joy that sweeps over me as I stretch out and open a book. Best part of my day.
Like mother, like daughter!
My zoom-based book group is now starting Walter Miller's 'A Canticle for Leibowitz'...re-reading for most of us, but new for one or two.
It's awesome. Would love to know what else you have in the pipeline.