[Xmca-l] Re: Hitler's World by T. Snyder

[Huw Lloyd]

The titles don't communicate "essential reading".  Perhaps one should
consider the argument fluently expressed by Tolstoy first?  The extract
below is from the second epilogue to Tolstoy's War and Peace (
http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/pdfs/free_ebooks/War_and_Peace_NT.pdf)

"If the purpose of history be to give a description of the movement of
humanity and of the peoples, the first question- in the absence of a reply
to which all the rest will be incomprehensible- is: what is the power that
moves peoples? To this, modern history laboriously replies either that
Napoleon was a great genius, or that Louis XIV was very proud, or that
certain writers wrote certain books.

All that may be so and mankind is ready to agree with it, but it is not
what was asked. All that would be interesting if we recognized a divine
power based on itself and always consistently directing its nations through
Napoleons, Louis-es, and writers; but we do not acknowledge such a power,
and therefore before speaking about Napoleons, Louis-es, and authors, we
ought to be shown the connection existing between these men and the
movement of the nations."

Best,
Huw

On 16 September 2015 at 11:14, Peter Smagorinsky <smago@uga.edu> wrote:

> I've read two of Snyder's books and think he's one sharp guy. Bloodlands:
> Europe between Hitler and Stalin is essential reading.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xmca-l-bounces+smago=uga.edu@mailman.ucsd.edu [mailto:
> xmca-l-bounces+smago=uga.edu@mailman.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of David Preiss
> Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 11:00 PM
> To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
> Subject: [Xmca-l] Hitler's World by T. Snyder
>
> Colleagues,
> This brilliant essay will interest many of you, David
>
> http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2015/sep/24/hitlers-world/
>
>