JM Book Blog
5/26/2009
Christian: Maps of Time
David Christian: Maps of Time - An Introduction to Big History
Paperback: 642 pages
Publisher: University of California Press (2005)
"On the cosmological scale, changes mostly occur at the stately pace of millions or even billions of years. In the biological realm, where natural selection sets the pace, significant alterations take place on scales ranging from thousands to millions of years. In human history, shaped increasingly by cultural change, the pace is more rapid. ... The extraordinary dynamism of the Modern Revolution has accelerated the pace of global historical change once more. Time itself seems to have been compressed in the twentieth century." page 441
"Colonization of other worlds may begin with the industrial exploitation of the Moon, nearby planets, and asteroids. It will continue with the planting of settlements on planets within our solar system. Both the industrial exploitation of asteroids and the initial colonization of Mars may be feasible within a century." p. 483
David Christian: Maps of Time - An Introduction to Big HistoryPaperback: 642 pages
Publisher: University of California Press (2005)
"On the cosmological scale, changes mostly occur at the stately pace of millions or even billions of years. In the biological realm, where natural selection sets the pace, significant alterations take place on scales ranging from thousands to millions of years. In human history, shaped increasingly by cultural change, the pace is more rapid. ... The extraordinary dynamism of the Modern Revolution has accelerated the pace of global historical change once more. Time itself seems to have been compressed in the twentieth century." page 441
David Christian's Maps of Time is a modern creation myth - a single explanatory narrative that contextualizes individual existence in the modern post-industrialist society to the global cosmological experience. A very entertaining book!
"Colonization of other worlds may begin with the industrial exploitation of the Moon, nearby planets, and asteroids. It will continue with the planting of settlements on planets within our solar system. Both the industrial exploitation of asteroids and the initial colonization of Mars may be feasible within a century." p. 483
Second Opinion: Heikki Patomäki / Helsinki University
¶ 5/26/2009 07:11:00 ap.
5/20/2009
Ferguson: Ascent of Money
Niall Ferguson: The Ascent of Money - A Financial History of the World
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Penguin 2008
Niall Ferguson ends his book by asking whether his book should have been titled The Descent of Money. The financial crisis of 2008- shook the basis of our economic system and has given finance and financiers a bad name and a reason for general pessimism about global economic development. The historical story that Ferguson cleverly explores is however very different. Most importantly, The Ascent of Money tells the story of remarkable development. This is a story of destructive and sometimes anarchic development with repetitive booms and busts. Most grand human endeavors would not have been possible without the invention of more sophisticated forms of financing, investing and insuring.
Niall Ferguson: The Ascent of Money - A Financial History of the WorldHardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Penguin 2008
Niall Ferguson ends his book by asking whether his book should have been titled The Descent of Money. The financial crisis of 2008- shook the basis of our economic system and has given finance and financiers a bad name and a reason for general pessimism about global economic development. The historical story that Ferguson cleverly explores is however very different. Most importantly, The Ascent of Money tells the story of remarkable development. This is a story of destructive and sometimes anarchic development with repetitive booms and busts. Most grand human endeavors would not have been possible without the invention of more sophisticated forms of financing, investing and insuring.
Ferguson's savvy style makes for a good read. His views on the dual country of "Chimerica", the interdependent economic marriage of China and America where the former does the saving and the latter the spending are interesting and of enormous importance to 21st century international politics.
"...financial markets are like the mirror of mankind, revealing every hour of every working day the way we value ourselves and the resources around us. It is not the fauilt of the mirror if it reflects our blemishes as clearly as our beauty. " p. 358
Second Opionion: Michael Hirsch / The New York Times
PBS documentary movie narrated by Ferguson can be found on the PBS website.
5/19/2009
Americana Reader
"Men on small islands would do well to avoid the pursuit of philosophy. The island illusion, that solitude and wisdom invented each other, is a very convincing one. Day by day I seem to grow more profound. Often I feel I am on the verge of some great philosophical discovery. Man. War. Truth. Time. Fortunately I always return to myself. I look beyond the white lace of the surf of my own unassembled past and I decide to let others stitch together the systems." Americana p. 137
Don DeLillo
Americana (1951) / Hardcover 388 pages
Cosmopolis (2003) /Paperback 209 pages
Falling Man (2007) Hardcover 246 pages
¶ 5/19/2009 03:48:00 ap.
"Men on small islands would do well to avoid the pursuit of philosophy. The island illusion, that solitude and wisdom invented each other, is a very convincing one. Day by day I seem to grow more profound. Often I feel I am on the verge of some great philosophical discovery. Man. War. Truth. Time. Fortunately I always return to myself. I look beyond the white lace of the surf of my own unassembled past and I decide to let others stitch together the systems." Americana p. 137
Don DeLillo
Americana (1951) / Hardcover 388 pages
Cosmopolis (2003) /Paperback 209 pages
Falling Man (2007) Hardcover 246 pages
