This was actually read for my university course. We were tasked to read a book (or watch a movie but...) and write a paper about how a journalist is pThis was actually read for my university course. We were tasked to read a book (or watch a movie but...) and write a paper about how a journalist is presented in the.
Unfortunately, there was a blacklist as well and all the books I had in my mind were on it. So I had to look for a new one. And I am a bit angry that I did not know this book before! Graham Greene has a unique way how to tell a story and I really liked it.
“Death was far more certain than God.”
The most interesting was the difference between Fowler and Pyle. Fowler is cynical, he saw all of it, he has no illusions. Pyle is new, full of hopes, believing in pretty theories he read about. Pyle is naive to a point where he is delusional.
“Sooner or later...one has to take sides. If one is to remain human.” ...more
The national government was like the brain of a dinosaur: an insignificant mass of neurons inside a gigantic body.
It was pretty great. I was almost suThe national government was like the brain of a dinosaur: an insignificant mass of neurons inside a gigantic body.
It was pretty great. I was almost surprised how much information can be stuffed in such a short book. I'll definitely read more from Lawrence Friedman in the future. And if you are looking for a book that gives you an overview of the evolution of the American Law, definitely pick up this one!
The most memorable information from this book? That you can import an ostrich under 36 inches in height or/and 30 pounds in weight without having it inspected by a veterinarian.
Though, I have to take one star down because I fell asleep while reading the part about marriage....more
Well, this is going to be rather hard. The first thing I have to say that with all respect for General Sir Richard Shirreff, he is not a novelist and Well, this is going to be rather hard. The first thing I have to say that with all respect for General Sir Richard Shirreff, he is not a novelist and it is something that is putting this book down. From unbelievable dialogues to dialogues which are so strangely put together you are wondering who is actually talking. The author likes to put at least a page-long summary of a person character and their history when they enter the picture which is as you may imagine very distracting and feels very forced. The author said that he wrote this because he believes that this way he will be able to approach more people who usually do not read policy papers for think-tanks. But he immediately fails since he has no idea how to write a novel. If he found a ghost-writer who would use what he had prepared as a storyline and made it more readable, it would be way better.
The book is filled with abbreviations, weapons, how NATO works etc. If you have no idea, it will be exhausting for you. If you do, you will be soon tired by the repetitions.
Where to start? President, how they always call the Russian president is very clearly Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. The President is by the Russians called Vladimir Vladimirovich very often. Never Putin. But it could not be any more clear that it is actually him. I do not understand why the author tried to pretend it is actually not Putin when it is obvious it is actually him and on the other hand why he made it so clear it is actually Putin, but any of the other persons featured in the book are not also a portrait of a real politician. At first, I thought that the American President Dillon, since it is a woman and just won the elections is actually Hillary Clinton. But Dillon comes from a business sphere which is something that links her more to Donald Trump than Hillary Clinton. Also, Hillary Clinton as a former Secretary of State would not need a detailed briefing on how military works and what the generals just told her. So, I believe that the American President is actually a combination of both. Dillon has Trump's inexperience in the military, but I believe her decisions are more like Clinton's. As for the British, I do not know the British political scene well enough to try to find some similarities.
I'm not going to go into the whole would Russia attack the Baltics, a NATO member state, because that is a complex issue and one that had a lot of attention since it is well known that Russia does not appreciate NATO at its borders.
What I did not appreciate about the novel is that it is very pro-Western and clearly anti-Russian. Putin is shown as a Bond movie villain or a villain in a Superhero movie. Those villains always have a great plan that clearly works until the point where the hero starts to fight against them when suddenly everything crumbles. Said villain is often ridiculed and humiliated.
The main thing Shirreff wanted to push through is how cutting the military budget is a bad thing! (Not going to go into if I agree or disagree.) But, he repeats it over and over again. Russians use it as one of the reasons why attack now, everyone uses it as an explanation for why the Russians attacked, why they cannot attack back, why their plan did not work etc. In the end, one of the "heroes" of the novel talks about the future, and he has a long monologue where he is angry about how they cut the budget which caused everything. The monologue was absolutely cheezy but clearly something the author wanted to say himself, but he did not realise he already pushed that through somewhere around page 50.
What I found the most important and interesting is the NATO problem. Russia is not the problem. NATO which is not united and cannot come to a consensus is the real problem. And that was brilliantly shown. It takes very much for the 28 states to come to an agreement. It is even harder than to force them to really fulfil their promises. I say that as a citizen of a state that still did not fulfil of its promise to pay up the 2% GDP. And, it also showed how some states are becoming more and more depended on Russia. Russia is right now heavily investing in the Balkans. A couple of years ago I visited Montenegro, and I was surprised how much Russians invest there and that it was easier to speak Russian than English. And Montenegro is one of the possible nex members for NATO! Is that going to make the consensus any easier? NATO is shooting itself in the foot; they do not need Russia to do it.
I was probably never so inclined to write into a book as I was at this time but I've managed. But still, there are a couple of things I would like to address.
"...I'll have another chat to the Americans. Ask what they have done to stop the Russians lately." -This shows my main problem with the British leaders in this book. I do not believe that the PM was supposed to be Theresa May, but I cannot say. Still, it seemed like the British were portrait especially dumb. Not thinking anything through and not expecting any revenge.
Which continues:
Walker had never heard of the place, so was glad when the CDS elaborated. The place? Kaliningrad! You are British, did you never see a map of Europe? Okay, I would have no problem with a random British person not knowing what Kaliningrad was but some sort of adviser for the British PM. During basically war! That is dumb! I'm not even going to apologise for that.
Any more and the "dubs" - dumb Ukrainian bastards - This is how you are going to show that the Russians are the bad guys? That they are going to call Ukrainians fighting against them "dubs"? Not buying.
It is a sad thing that I have to say that the best-written character is Major Vronsky from Spetsnaz. Technically a bad guy but still there is no one else that could be considered a good written. The Presidents or the British PM are not really characters you could consider. Morland is a bit too bland. And where Krauja could shine she was hidden behind Morland.
If you are interested in a war-game that shows Russia attacking the Baltics, I would suggest you watch the BBC's This World 2016 World War Three Inside the War Room. I believe it shows the decision making way better.
Also, the book basicaly ends with (view spoiler)[Putin dying when his hilecopter crashes. It is implied that he was in reallity killed since he lost all power after the attack on the Baltics. Plus that the new President is even bigger danger and more nationalist and most likely will seek revenge for the lost. (hide spoiler)] I always said that we should not fear Putin's Russia but we should definitely fear Russia without Putin.
I'm still glad I read this but as I show there are many shortcomings on the authors part that pull this novel down. If there was the possibility to give half stars, this would be 2,5* but I'm going to round it up....more
Wikipedie v "kapesním" vydání. Záchrana když člověk potřebuje: přehledně a jednoduše něco pochopit. Velice dobré odkazování v textu na jiná hesla. Wikipedie v "kapesním" vydání. Záchrana když člověk potřebuje: přehledně a jednoduše něco pochopit. Velice dobré odkazování v textu na jiná hesla. ...more
Co uděláte, když máte do zkoušky 8 hodin, nic nevíte a učit z poznámek se vám už nechce. Ano, začnete číst něco od těch lidiček, co to tam vypráví. A Co uděláte, když máte do zkoušky 8 hodin, nic nevíte a učit z poznámek se vám už nechce. Ano, začnete číst něco od těch lidiček, co to tam vypráví. A musím říct, že je to rozhodně zajímavější, než každou přednášku se absolutně od všeho dostávat k indiánům a pohlavním nemocem.
EDIT (1/6/2017) Ano, přečetla jsem si to opětovně a to jenom z toho důvodu, že mám maglajz v v tom v jakým pořadí vznikly státy/kolonie v USA. Nechápu, že jsem si raději nepřečetla Wikipedii. ...more
Začala jsem to číst, protože jsem k autorce chodila na seminář "Dějiny Kanady" a takhle knížka silně pomohla u zkoušky. (Za jedna ^_^) Ale doporučuji pZačala jsem to číst, protože jsem k autorce chodila na seminář "Dějiny Kanady" a takhle knížka silně pomohla u zkoušky. (Za jedna ^_^) Ale doporučuji přečíst, člověk se bude divit, co všechno o Kanadě neví....more
Don't know how to rate this book. It was pretty boring and a lot confusing. But on the other hand, it was sort of amazing. I guess I'm going to wait fDon't know how to rate this book. It was pretty boring and a lot confusing. But on the other hand, it was sort of amazing. I guess I'm going to wait for the results of my exam. And based on the mark I'm going to rate this book. - Seems fair to me - :)
If there has to be revolution, we would rather make it than suffer it" - Words of wisdom and also Bismarck.
Peace is more artificial and demands more explanation. (than war)"...more
Pokus jak něco z historie podat zajímavě. Bohužel tam bylo až moc časových skoků, takže to bylo dost nesouvislé. Prve mě to odradilo od dalších knih oPokus jak něco z historie podat zajímavě. Bohužel tam bylo až moc časových skoků, takže to bylo dost nesouvislé. Prve mě to odradilo od dalších knih od Englunda, ale nakoukla jsem do knihy o 30.leté válce a ta vypadá mnohem zajímavěji. ...more
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