Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
Profile of Srdja Popovic, Serbian peaceful revolutionary. Helped to overthrow Milosevic in 2000. Started NGO that has trained pro-democracy activists in 40 countries. Source of instruction and inspiration for Arab Spring
Was Hitler a pagan? Was his ideology a political religion? Or was he unorthodox Christian? "What historians continually confirm is that Hitler developed an absolute faith in two things: An extreme form of nationalism, and himself"
New biography of Caligula presents more nuanced view. Yes, he was extravagant and cruel. But his reign started relatively well. Shades of King Canute: He did extreme things—ennoble his horse—to test the limits of his power
Silly headline over a long and serious piece about Manning Marable's new biography of Malcolm X, dismissed as a rabble-rouser after his assassination in 1965, but arguably one of America's most underestimated political figures
"Few of us could imagine being asked to choose our country over our family, as she has effectively had to do. Fewer still could imagine living so stoically with the ongoing consequences of that choice"
Fine essay reviewing Robert Massie book on Catherine the Great. "Her unremitting sexual appetites became a way to acquire intelligent and energetic devotees upon whom she could rely in the snake pit of the Russian court"
German film-maker wins Vladimir Putin's confidence, shoots intimate profile. Behind the tough-guy facade he claims to discover a "joyless, exhausted" loner, soon to turn 60 and "stubbornly fending off physical decline"
Not exactly a rehabilitation, but let's call it a reconsideration. Unimpressed by luxury; drank from a wooden cup. A man of his word, on the whole; respected loyalty; and a cool political head capable of mercy when it suited him
Profile of Valentine Strasser, made president of Sierra Leone at 25 by military coup in 1992; forced out after four years; tried to study in Britain; returned, lives with his mother, drinks gin by the roadside, reminisces
"An object of parody in American culture. He wore elevator shoes, oversize sunglasses and a bouffant hairdo—a Hollywood stereotype of the wacky post-cold war dictator." But he out-bluffed two US presidents at nuclear poker
Seized throne in 9 AD, probably by murdering infant ruler. Sole emperor of Xin dynasty. Invented form of social security, redistributed land equally, started income tax. Provoked devastating civil war. Died horrible death
Bongthing (hereditary chief priest) of the Lepcha people of Sikkim. Led them in worshipping mountain of Kanchenjunga. Ritual used to include yak sacrifice, until king of Sikkim banned this in 1973. King overthrown soon after
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