Christmas Miscellany 2021
Seven chapters involving Christmas from different books. Plus part 8 which is twelve verses about Christmas and part 9 which is four Christmas carols by Christina Rossetti. – Summary by David Wales [chương_files]
Seven chapters involving Christmas from different books. Plus part 8 which is twelve verses about Christmas and part 9 which is four Christmas carols by Christina Rossetti. – Summary by David Wales [chương_files]
Following his Psychology of the Unconscious Processes, this book is a series of papers compiled under the direction of Dr. Carl Jung, also known as the founder of psychoanalysis. It records research related to the association method conducted on persons with and without psychological conditions. Jung’s work on association among “normal” individuals formed the basis of psychological types. – Summary by Cao Yuqing [chương_files]
“From vocalists you may learn much, but do not believe all that they say.” Robert Schumann’s Advice to Young Musicians is replete with good counsel. How, what, and from whom we learn is thematic to many of these 20 nonfiction selections, chosen by their readers. We learn from the lives of valorous persons (Simón Bolívar; José de San Martín; Booker T. Washington; Ishi, the last Yana Indian); from literature (Political Naturalism in England; Editorial Prejudice Against the Occult; Barbara Frietchie); from journalists, activists, and the opinionated (America and the English Tradition; Interned by the Bolshevists; The Cholera; Chimney Sweeping; Diet & Hygiene; Progress in Dairy Farming; Concerning Tobacco; Beer & Cider), and from nature (Duck Hawks of Taughannock; Sponges & Sponge Fisheries; The Grand Canyon; and Social Wasps Polistes). Summary by Sue Anderson [chương_files]
Read in English, this is a pivotal document in the history of Zionism and the State of Israel. Herzl designed this work to elevate the discussion of “the Jewish Question” so it would “no longer take the form of violent abuse or sentimental vindication but of a debate, practical, large, earnest, and political.” While few of Herzl’s proposals were actually carried out, the importance of A JEWISH STATE was in the groundswell of support for a Jewish homeland engendered by its solutions to the practical problems of establishing a new state. In the words of a contemporary, “[Herzl] made it seem possible.” Benjamin Ze’ev Herzl (1860-1904) was a Hungarian writer, political economist, and Jewish activist. (Summary by Adrian Praetzellis) [chương_files]
Dans cet essai publié en 1917, Henri Roorda (1870-1925) fait une critique de la pédagogie scolaire, tout à la fois joyeusement grinçante, mélancolique, lyrique, constructive… libertaire. Son propos reste d’une grande actualité, à plus de cent ans de distance. (summary by PetitPoiSon) [chương_files]
The Easter Rising was a rebellion staged in Ireland in Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was an attempt by militant Irish republicans to win independence from Britain by force of arms. This account was written by Irish novelist James Stephens, who lived and worked in Dublin at the time. (Summary from Wikipedia and iremonger) [chương_files]
“No man who has not endured solitude in long doses knows how vivid, real, and necessary people and things of the imagination may become.” (from the book). The touching story of a wrongly convicted youth with a creative imagination. – Summary by Rapunzelina [chương_files]
This book is a five hundred year old manual for how to run a kingdom or principality. Written in 1513 but not published until 1532, “The Prince” generated controversy even before it got into print. Unlike the many previous “how-to” manuals for new rulers, “The Prince” only judged actions by their effectiveness and did not consider morals or ethics at all. Some of the suggestions were so brutal and amoral that many critics in the 18th century considered “The Prince” to be a satire, as they could not believe that any philosopher would seriously promote such actions. But perhaps the real reason for the discomfort of Machiavelli’s critics is that he accurately observes and reports the actions of the most effective rulers of Renaissance Italy. Despite questions about Machiavelli’s intention, there was no question about the effectiveness of his methods. Copies of “The Prince” were owned and studied by Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII of England, the founding fathers of the American revolution, the leaders of the Parliamentarians who destroyed the Monarchy in the English Civil War, the leaders of the Glorious Revolution who restored the Monarchy twenty years later, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Stalin and Benito Mussolini and many others. In the late 20th Century it was even considered the “Mafia Bible” by mobsters John Gotti and Ray DeMeo. So if you have recently acquired a kingdom or suddenly become the head of an organised crime family, this is the book for you. It’s interesting for the rest of us too. […]
This was originally titled “The Wild” and is a lecture given by Thoreau in 1851 at the Concord lyceum. “Walking” is an essay that explores the relationship between man and nature, trying to find a balance between society and our raw animal nature. [chương_files]
Excerpt: “Saltash was thoroughly cosmopolitan in his tastes; he liked amusement but he abhorred boredom. He was never really wicked unless he was bored. And then- que voulez vous? He did not guide the star of destiny.” On his last night in Valrosa, Saltash (Charles Rex) returns to his luxurious yacht to find a stowaway, a young woman disguised as a boy. She pleads to be kept by him in order to escape from her abuser. Although ill used by life she is still very pure and Saltash falls head over heels in love with her. She in turn adores him but he feels unworthy of her. Torn by a sense of duty and fairness he tries to marry her off to someone he believes would be a more suitable match. Romance and mystery, a delightful sprinkle of humour and wit, and wonderful characters make this an emotional read that you will not soon forget. – Summary by Celine Major [chương_files]
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