...may be an article in the newest issue of The Atlantic, a link to which I have included below:
"Human History Gets A Rewrite"
If it is not one of the most important things you will ever read, it certainly qualifies as one of the most fascinating. It is an excellent review by William Deresiewicz of a new book, The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by the team of anthropologist David Graeber and archaeologist David Wengrow. If it sounds dry as dust, it isn't; at least the review isn't. I can't speak for the book itself.
Kylie Tai in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, calls her blog "eclectica" but I think my blog is a fairly eclectic conglomeration of topics as well.
But even as I say it I recall that my mother often said, "Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back."
Happy reading. I think you'll be pleased that I brought the article to your attention.
At the very least, it provides food for thought.
Well. I'm lost for words. I actually read the article. That is to say I looked at every word one after the other in the order they were written. I have managed to remember a couple of things. Did I actually learn anything? Yes. I'm either too old to learn anything or just not as intelligent as perhaps I thought I might be. In reality I suspect that whilst I understood the majority of the words written the order in which they were written was beyond my comprehension.
ReplyDeleteGraham, I don’t believe you. I do believe that you read the article. What I don’t believe is that it was beyond your comprehension. Take a few deep breaths and read it again, only slower. I do think it is fascinating.
DeleteI haven't looked at the article yet. I named my blog eclectica because I couldn't thinkof anything else that seemd to encapsulate what I wanted. I used to be more eclectic but these days it's more a journal than anything.
ReplyDeleteYou do write a pretty eclectic blog!
kylie, some days I think I should call my blog “mish-mash” and other days “big pile of nothingness”.
DeleteI read the article but I think I may need to read it again when I have the time. The author is an interesting person by the sound of this book.
ReplyDeleteYou do have an eclectic blog from time to time. That's a good thing.
Bonnie, it’s a lot to take in at one reading. Thank you for the closing compliment. Too bad it’s only from time to time!
DeleteYour blog is excellent all the time! I only meant it is more eclectic at some times than others. ☺
DeleteI will read the book. I also like Jared Diamond. I believe that the Amazon forest was once a city. I am hoping Graeber will help me on this. I am excited by the review you shared. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteRachel, You’re welcome! I hope you will share your opinion of the book after you have finished reading it.
DeleteHmmmmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeletemimmylynn,. what an unusual comment. Do you find Draebel’s ideas intriguing or ridiculous?
ReplyDeleteP.S. - Aren’t you my friend in northwest Iowa? Why did you change your blogging name?
P.P.S. - My bad. His name isn’t Draebel, it’s Graeber.
DeleteIt made me think. I make that sound in my head as I think.
Deletemimmylynn, I want to believe you but I think you are pulling my leg!
ReplyDeleteLove that saying “ don’t break your arm patting yourself on the bank.” It is a new one to me but a keeper! Me thinks.
ReplyDeleteBoris, thank you for commenting and welcome to my blog! I may be wrong, but I don't think I have seen you here before. I am old and increasingly forgetful, so there is that to contend with. But again I say, welcome! I am glad you liked my mother's saying.
DeleteThe only Borises I know about are Boris Karloff (the actor) and Boris Johnson (the prime minister), and now you are added to the list. Oh, I forgot Boris Gudunov (the opera) and also Boris Badenov (from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show