With a new Introduction by the author; this “erudite and brilliantly readable book†(The Observer; London) expertly dissects the political; economic; and social origins of Western civilization to reveal a culture cripplingly enslaved to crude notions of rationality and expertise.With a new introduction by the author; this “erudite and brilliantly readable book†(The Observer; London) astutely dissects the political; economic and social origins of Western civilization to reveal a culture cripplingly enslaved to crude notions of rationality and expertise. The Western world is full of paradoxes. We talk endlessly of individual freedom; yet we’ve never been under more pressure to conform. Our business leaders describe themselves as capitalists; yet most are corporate employees and financial speculators. We call our governments democracies; yet few of us participate in politics. We complain about invasive government; yet our legal; educational; financial; social; cultural and legislative systems are deteriorating. All these problems; John Ralston Saul argues; are largely the result of our blind faith in the value of reason. Over the past 400 years; our “rational elites†have turned the modern West into a vast; incomprehensible; directionless machine; run by process-minded experts—“Voltaire’s bastardsâ€â€”whose cult of scientific management is empty of both sense and morality. Whether in politics; art; business; the military; entertainÂment; science; finance; academia or journalism; these experts share the same outlook and methods. The result; Saul maintains; is a civilization of immense technological power whose ordinary citizens are increasingly excluded from the decision-making process. In this wide-ranging anatomy of modern society and its origins—whose “pages explode with insight; style and intellectual rigor†(Camille Paglia; The Washington Post)—Saul presents a shattering critique of the political; economic and cultural estabÂlishments of the West.
#985285 in Books 2015-09Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.30 x 1.20 x 6.20l; 1.40 #File Name: 1473833868240 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Priceless book giving new knowledge about the battle.By Thomas M. MageeThis book is spell bounding. It will capture your attention at the turn of the first page. This is a rare find; new information. However it isn't a analytical academic look that presents both sides. It is the view from someone on the inside. Now this is a very rare event. There was the book "Enemy at the Gates" that compiled different stories. It later became a movie. This is a book from someone in the inside at a very high level. LTC Adam was the G1 for personnel for the Army. He saw things at the macro level and at the individual or tactical level. This is a rare thing for this battle since so many died in it. He says 330;000 went into the city. I know 190;000 marched into captivity and only 5;000 came home in 1955.This book is a mix between a must read history book and something from tales of the dark side. You will hear stories about the day to day grind of a war. You will see new knowledge here. LTC Adam talks about number problems before they even get into the city. He also talks about very hard resistance they came across. His personal insight to the character of Paulus explains a great deal about the battle and how things went. His descriptions in the book about conditions in the later half of the battle is something right out of the German movie which came out years about about the battle. He makes the horror of the battle leap off the pages. You will feel the shells; the hunger; cold; and fatigue with each page.The two things that stand out to me in this is about Paulus and the importance of hope. His description of General Paulus made him out to be a strict rules man. A person who didn't take much initiative or imagination. He executed the orders from above. The other thing that struck me is how when the reality of the situation struck them things started to fall apart. Suicides increased drastically. Soldiers would go over to the Russians. Whole units would surrender. It shows to the reader what the role of hope does to a man's fighting spirit. He does go a little into the moral aspect of their situation. He comes across that in Soviet prison camp. He of all people would have known the body count. He ignores the numbers in the book. However there are frequent references to the "high casualties".This book obviously is a must for the soldier or historian. However I do think it has something for everyone. You will see the dangers of believing your own hype to much. How bureaucracies can strangle things as effectively as any army. The author talks in the book about how they would try to explain things and people back in Germany did not believe it. They believed the hype from Hitler. High Command would even send in observers and still not give a break out order. I think their analyzing and analyzing looking for the best options ate up reaction time. That I think is a problem even today for both Armies and any other large organization.8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Essential ReadingBy Der MenschThis is an essential book for anyone interested in WW2 and especially about the battle for Stalingrad. Adam provides unique insight about the situation from the 6th Army's Sr. staff - I don't think you can find a better resource in English. Because of this; Adam dispels some of the popular myths about Paulus and Stalingrad. For example; the Sr. Officers of the 6th Army had serious doubts about the attack on Stalingrad before it started; the 6th Army and the Nazi leadership were well aware of the Soviet build-up and pending attack - yet did nothing; and Paulus never drank a toast to the Red Army after being captured.The 6th Army was given an impossible mission and was abandoned by Hitler and the high command. You can perfectly understand why Adam and others would act to oppose Hitler. They realized first-hand that Hitler would destroy Germany; and it was the correct thing to do. However; I don't understand or agree with Adam converting to communist. He exchanged loyalty from one socialist dictator to another. He had to have realized that Stalin's intention with Germany and the eastern countries wasn't going to be any better than Hitler's. I see Adam as a pragmatist and chose his loyalties based on what would get him ahead.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Great book for the library - A KeeperBy Big HHHGeneral Adam gives a good description of the inner beliefs and opinion of how the officers behave in the cauldron. He praises Seydlitz as a man of action. Very interesting in his belief and second thoughts about the entire war. I have about 50 pages left and this is probably my 15-20 th book on Stalingrad. I am also reading Death of the Leaping Horseman and All of Glantz's books.Again; a good book from someone on the inside and it's his opinion but good to read about this battle from another viewpoint. He also criticizes the entire high command; especially Hitler. Plus; also speaks negatively of Manstein and one of his fellow generals Schmidt.I liked the book and will probably read again.
