For me, when analyzing history, why rely on one mode of interpretation or analysis when you can carefully use multiple. All good, hope you had a good time.
Hi Evan, I do enjoy your short reviews, so thanks. I've been rereading "The Sharing Knife" series by Bujold* and I had the following thought. (This is in no way original or earth shattering.) Part of the reason I like the book(s) is that for the people in it their life has some purpose that's bigger than they are. In the "Sharing Knife" it's fighting with Malices some evil things left over from their past. In space operas by E.E. Smith it's good fighting against some evil. The Foundation series it's saving the empire of man, The Hero's Journey ala Joseph Campbell... And here I am in my life and my purposes are the size of me. To do good, help friends and family, be a good neighbor. And so I find my desire for a larger purpose, vicariously by reading it in books. Like I said nothing original, but I wanted to share it with someone, and I thought of you.
Cheers,
George
*Probably my least favorite books by her, so not recommended.
Yes, books can show us a lot about larger purposes. I hope to play some small role in a larger cause in my life, God willing, but like you it's often hard to see. But then I look back at history, and I'm sure it was hard to see for a lot of people who did end up playing large roles too...
What's your opinion on social-trends history more broadly for understanding history?
That's a big question! I talked about it several months ago in https://papyrusrampant.substack.com/p/historical-perspective-and-scale - in short, it's really valuable, but it can't stand on its own to fully understand a period.
(Sorry for the delayed response; I was on vacation and then at Worldcon!)
For me, when analyzing history, why rely on one mode of interpretation or analysis when you can carefully use multiple. All good, hope you had a good time.
I totally agree; multiple means of analysis are best.
And yes I did have a good time! I expect I'll have a post about it up this Saturday.
Hi Evan, I do enjoy your short reviews, so thanks. I've been rereading "The Sharing Knife" series by Bujold* and I had the following thought. (This is in no way original or earth shattering.) Part of the reason I like the book(s) is that for the people in it their life has some purpose that's bigger than they are. In the "Sharing Knife" it's fighting with Malices some evil things left over from their past. In space operas by E.E. Smith it's good fighting against some evil. The Foundation series it's saving the empire of man, The Hero's Journey ala Joseph Campbell... And here I am in my life and my purposes are the size of me. To do good, help friends and family, be a good neighbor. And so I find my desire for a larger purpose, vicariously by reading it in books. Like I said nothing original, but I wanted to share it with someone, and I thought of you.
Cheers,
George
*Probably my least favorite books by her, so not recommended.
Thanks for sharing!
Yes, books can show us a lot about larger purposes. I hope to play some small role in a larger cause in my life, God willing, but like you it's often hard to see. But then I look back at history, and I'm sure it was hard to see for a lot of people who did end up playing large roles too...