Veronica Zerrer

A shield Against the Islamization of Europe

Revisado: 12-15-23

There’s a fitting symmetry in the fact that Rome died as it began; a City-State. The Byzantines never called themselves that. They were Romans up to the last day in 1453. The last Emperor, Constantine XI died, presumably, like a common Roman soldier at the wall breached by the Turks.

Some have criticized this book as being an apology of sorts at the minimum and as western propaganda at worst. The author comes from a place of admiration for the Empire that is evident. Yet that does not take away from his criticism that it was the internal machinations of the Byzantine Court and aristocracy that weakened the empire from within.

The other big take away is the role Byzantium played in insulating the west from Islamic conquest. As hard as it may be to hear, Islam was at times spread by the sword. The Ottomans abducted Christian boys raising them as Janissaries to do the Sultan’s fighting. Countless thousands were sold into slavery. Conversion was often preceded by threats from the sword and if not threatened the jizya tax was placed on Christians, Jews and followers of other religions as an incentive to convert.

Nor does Brownsworth ignore Christian evil. He writes of the bloody massacre following the taking of Jerusalem by the First Crusade, the depredations victimizing both Eastern Christian’s and Moslems.

Overall this is a good beginning to a serious study of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

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Problems and solutions

Revisado: 07-09-22

I recommend listening to the intro and last chapter first. It’s the last one that summarizes Bremmer’s astute conclusions in each of the crisis he explores: the Red-Blue American divide; how to compete and contend with a testy and tetchy China; and climate change.

Bremmer’s explanations of issues cuts through erudite prose, presenting the issues in a manner that make sense to steel workers and scholars alike. A good listen for commuters, road trips, long flights, housework, farmers, long haul truckers, and more. Bremmer is an “every man’s scholar.”

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Is there more of me?

Revisado: 02-22-22

I love how Dr. Kaku can take complex theories, ideas, and science and distill each into understandable ways most of us can follow.

There is hard science within this book but laid out in such a manner that the reader can return often to parts or passages that require closer reading.

A wonderful book for a student to read but more importantly to keep and refer to often.

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Five stars

Revisado: 01-21-22

Great stories for long road trips, camping excursions, long haul truckers, daily commutes.

Chandler’s work gives crime, graft, jealously and murder back to the nastiest people in society. These are not cozy murders where the murderers are highly cultured, offing people in the gazebo or a hidden garden. No these are drug addicts, grifting relatives, and gang hit men.

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Excellent survey course

Revisado: 08-30-21

Excellent survey course for the interested.

Fine primer for English literature students as well as historians in training. Delivery drivers will find this interesting. Families on long road trips, RVrs, long haul drivers will find this course fun as there are many chapters broken into short times.

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A waste of time

Revisado: 06-10-21

Yet another Jeremiad railing against technology, modern finance and current culture. His assertion that the system is in the throes of collapse is not backed up with quantifiable evidence only anecdotes.

A sustainable living dude that seems to argue that the only way to save the earth is to revert to the Stone Age?

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History that rhymes

Revisado: 06-10-21

Packed with evidence from archeological digs, and citing works of others in the field Cline makes an excellent case for what caused the collapse of the ancient Bronze Age.

Anyone can find this work illuminating. I listened while folding laundry, commuting, and working out. Preppers, Environmental activists, farmers, students, long haul drivers will find something both educational and illuminating about this work.

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Excellent Analysis of Cyberwar

Revisado: 06-06-21

Detailed and well researched Sanger makes the complex hall of mirrors that is cyber war and by extension infowar sensible.

Author cites need for cyber defenses to be built and in a not overt way argues that cyber defense should include all of us as partners to the Fed government, and businesses.

A good book to listen to if you’re traveling, working out, or doing some housework.

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Pushes Resiliency

Revisado: 04-13-21

Key takeaways for me are:
Our country needs to be nimble and our people resilient. Cites great research into how westerners and Asians perceive the world and events. Seems too enamored of China and the force they play in adding to world instability.

An older book to be reading for current events but research citations and learning how to fail are useful lessons to take away.

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The internet as a weapon of mass destruction

Revisado: 04-08-21

Reporter Ted Koppel details how unready the people of the US are to survive an attack on the national electric grid. For references see what Texas experienced in early 2021.

Develop a plan for family survival. Refer to Mormons for how to provision a larder.

Good book for long travel, walkers, workouts, long haul truckers.

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