Israel, A Simple Guide…At First Glance

Always important to understand the background of what is going on in the world

On Letters to Milena

I’ve been lackadaisically moving through this book, reading and re-reading sections. It’s about Kafka’s correspondence with his Czech translator, Milena, who he grew to love but never quite hooked up with.

The book is interesting because it only includes his side of the correspondence, so you have to imagine her responses. It’s a little tragic but also romantic the way he describes his feelings, and he gets bolder with each letter (even if we know it’s never meant to be). And some of his turns of phrase are good too.

Sometimes he’s openly vulnerable with his feelings about her…

In other passages, he is coy and playful…

In others he waxes philosophical…

I found this passage to be one of the more entertaining, if absurd ones…

In other sections, he mentions mundane things about his daily life, the places he visits in Austria, taking trains, telegrams, what his apartment looks like, what his daily strolls are, etc. He also mentions the struggles of his writing process. But it’s the *way* he so richly describes his experience to Milena that makes it a worthwhile read.

Plus, there’s just something about unrequited love, and you kinda root for guy…

P.S. I will probably post more passages later, and a review but for now, random reflections will do.

On Infinite Jest

“The Origins of Totalitarianism,” A Brief Review

“The Origins of Totalitarianism”, H Arendt, 1951. A challenging but enlightening read about the origins and nature of totalitarianism. Arendt, in her longest book, gives us a set of genealogical tools while reminding us of our uniquely human capacity for action and creation.

On Grimm’s

Grimm’s fairytales are so gloriously well grim, but also, they’re about consequences, learning lessons and anticipating and preparing oneself to deal with the dangers of the world

Origins of Totalitarianism Read, Continued

Eichmann in Jerusalem, A Review

Man’s Search For Meaning: A Review

Mission Economy, A Review

The Trial, A Review

Really enjoyed the Trial by Franz Kafka, which follows Josef K as he is accused by the courts of an unknown crime, and which portrays his many futile attempts to understand his situation, find agency, and escape the inevitable punishment that follows. Quick but great.