Alan Eyre
@alaneyre.bsky.social
Former US foreign policy senior official (Iran/MENA /energy); now focused on foreign policy in the Anthropocene.
Passionate, detailed account of how America has slid into an oligarchy dominated by networks of economic elites using corrupt practices to advance (only) their own interests. To quote Howard Beale in 'Network': "First, you've got to get mad."
December 7, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Passionate, detailed account of how America has slid into an oligarchy dominated by networks of economic elites using corrupt practices to advance (only) their own interests. To quote Howard Beale in 'Network': "First, you've got to get mad."
An absorbing, detailed examination of how Congress bgot broken and how to fix it. It also gives a detailed account of the rise of political violence and its destructive effects on our polity. An essential read for those who are looking to fix our legislature.
November 29, 2025 at 7:23 PM
An absorbing, detailed examination of how Congress bgot broken and how to fix it. It also gives a detailed account of the rise of political violence and its destructive effects on our polity. An essential read for those who are looking to fix our legislature.
Finished - great book! Sweeping history of societal collapse from the start of Homo Sapiens to the present. I wasn't thrilled with his 'Goliath-based idiosyncratic nomenclature ('Goliath curse,' (Goliath fuel'...) but the author has a complex, nuanced theory of history that invites reflection.
November 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Finished - great book! Sweeping history of societal collapse from the start of Homo Sapiens to the present. I wasn't thrilled with his 'Goliath-based idiosyncratic nomenclature ('Goliath curse,' (Goliath fuel'...) but the author has a complex, nuanced theory of history that invites reflection.
An introduction to our runaway military spending and its adverse consequences, with a focus on the institutions that perpetuate this decidedly suboptimal status quo (like Eisenhower's 'Military-Industrial Complex,' but much more pervasive.). Lots of good bits, some areas overlooked.
November 17, 2025 at 9:14 PM
An introduction to our runaway military spending and its adverse consequences, with a focus on the institutions that perpetuate this decidedly suboptimal status quo (like Eisenhower's 'Military-Industrial Complex,' but much more pervasive.). Lots of good bits, some areas overlooked.
Good portrait of SCOTUS personalities and dynamics during the Rehnquist & early Roberts eras. Confirms that like the Executive and Legislative branches, this institution is also intrinsically political, and deeply dependent on the collective virtues and flaws of the nine justices serving.
November 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Good portrait of SCOTUS personalities and dynamics during the Rehnquist & early Roberts eras. Confirms that like the Executive and Legislative branches, this institution is also intrinsically political, and deeply dependent on the collective virtues and flaws of the nine justices serving.
Scholarly yet engrossing look at comparativism in U.S. foreign policy, using Turkiye and Iran. Eminently readable, this book heightened my awareness of the subjective, political nature of comparison in foreign affairs.
November 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Scholarly yet engrossing look at comparativism in U.S. foreign policy, using Turkiye and Iran. Eminently readable, this book heightened my awareness of the subjective, political nature of comparison in foreign affairs.
Finished. A hard but rewarding book, one I'd been putting off for a while. Loaded with good historical insights about the inevitable social effects of free-market capitalism. Much of the book refers to British history, so it makes me want to learn more about British history from about 1700-1900.
November 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Finished. A hard but rewarding book, one I'd been putting off for a while. Loaded with good historical insights about the inevitable social effects of free-market capitalism. Much of the book refers to British history, so it makes me want to learn more about British history from about 1700-1900.
Finished- a GREAT BOOK! Authoritative, engaging expose by @christinewebb.bsky.social of the fallacy of human exceptionalism. The book argues (inter alia) that the 'Great Chain of Being' puts homo sapiens on the highest rung has been a persistent historical mistake w/catastrophic consequences.
October 30, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Finished- a GREAT BOOK! Authoritative, engaging expose by @christinewebb.bsky.social of the fallacy of human exceptionalism. The book argues (inter alia) that the 'Great Chain of Being' puts homo sapiens on the highest rung has been a persistent historical mistake w/catastrophic consequences.
Fascinating, depressing historical examination of how corruption went from being a major concern of the Founding Fathers to something essentially defined out of existence by the current Supreme Court.
October 27, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Fascinating, depressing historical examination of how corruption went from being a major concern of the Founding Fathers to something essentially defined out of existence by the current Supreme Court.
Finished = Great Book! by @susanzieger.bsky.social Authoritative yet playful look at logistics as a feature of capitalism. The author's ability to posit surprising & profound connections is rare & delightful, and the bibliography is like looking through the window of a candy store.
October 23, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Finished = Great Book! by @susanzieger.bsky.social Authoritative yet playful look at logistics as a feature of capitalism. The author's ability to posit surprising & profound connections is rare & delightful, and the bibliography is like looking through the window of a candy store.
Inspiring, motivating argument for activism and against despair, arguing the latter presumes an unalterable future whereas the former finds strength in the possibilities inherent in the unknowable tomorrow. Filled with many beautifully crafted sentences.
@rebeccasolnit.bsky.social
@rebeccasolnit.bsky.social
June 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Inspiring, motivating argument for activism and against despair, arguing the latter presumes an unalterable future whereas the former finds strength in the possibilities inherent in the unknowable tomorrow. Filled with many beautifully crafted sentences.
@rebeccasolnit.bsky.social
@rebeccasolnit.bsky.social
A good examination of the consequences of stinting unmediated raw experience in favor of mediated, engineered and algorithm-selected 'virtual' experiences. She makes many good points & gives many good examples of the dangers of living online.
May 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM
A good examination of the consequences of stinting unmediated raw experience in favor of mediated, engineered and algorithm-selected 'virtual' experiences. She makes many good points & gives many good examples of the dangers of living online.
A time & a world filled with people and ways of thinking quite strange to us now. Fierce debates & condemnations about issues that now seem trivial, but at the time were doubtless vital... it makes me wonder how strange our worldviews might seem in the future.
@histphilosophy.bsky.social
@histphilosophy.bsky.social
May 8, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A time & a world filled with people and ways of thinking quite strange to us now. Fierce debates & condemnations about issues that now seem trivial, but at the time were doubtless vital... it makes me wonder how strange our worldviews might seem in the future.
@histphilosophy.bsky.social
@histphilosophy.bsky.social
What are you waiting for? (PLEASE) support your indie bookstores!
April 26, 2025 at 3:06 PM
What are you waiting for? (PLEASE) support your indie bookstores!
Lovely, evocative look at the predominant forms of thought in 14th century France and Netherlands. So different than our own, it made me realize the truth of the saying that a new mind is indeed a new world.
April 14, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Lovely, evocative look at the predominant forms of thought in 14th century France and Netherlands. So different than our own, it made me realize the truth of the saying that a new mind is indeed a new world.
Engaging recounting of birth of quantum physics & the revolution in our understanding of the world, focusing on the first 30 years of the 20th century & the key people involved (Einstein, Bohr, Planck, Schrodinger, Heisenberg, Dirac and others). Classical physics was never the same.
April 8, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Engaging recounting of birth of quantum physics & the revolution in our understanding of the world, focusing on the first 30 years of the 20th century & the key people involved (Einstein, Bohr, Planck, Schrodinger, Heisenberg, Dirac and others). Classical physics was never the same.
Epic exploration of the individual/social implications of Freudian theory. The author has the courage to both follow Freudian theory to its bracing conclusions and also tto extend Freudian theory beyond what Freud imagined. A hard read, but inspiring to see an author take ideas seriously.
April 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Epic exploration of the individual/social implications of Freudian theory. The author has the courage to both follow Freudian theory to its bracing conclusions and also tto extend Freudian theory beyond what Freud imagined. A hard read, but inspiring to see an author take ideas seriously.
Good laydown of the main scientific principles in different fields. What struck me is how recent our scientific outlook is & how recently we've discovered basic facts ( 1913: Hubble theorized universe was larger than our galaxy; 1957: Watson/Crick discovered DNA).
March 30, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Good laydown of the main scientific principles in different fields. What struck me is how recent our scientific outlook is & how recently we've discovered basic facts ( 1913: Hubble theorized universe was larger than our galaxy; 1957: Watson/Crick discovered DNA).
This book is a achingly beautifull written testimonial/call to arms.
March 26, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This book is a achingly beautifull written testimonial/call to arms.
Excellent examination of the changing perceived role of intellect in American politcal, social and cultural life. Hofsteadter has amazing breadth &depth of perception & expression. Although written inresponse to McCarthyism in the 1950s, much of what he says applies to today.
March 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Excellent examination of the changing perceived role of intellect in American politcal, social and cultural life. Hofsteadter has amazing breadth &depth of perception & expression. Although written inresponse to McCarthyism in the 1950s, much of what he says applies to today.
This looks great, I can't wait to read it! From from my former colleague @stephanietwilliams.bsky.social
March 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
This looks great, I can't wait to read it! From from my former colleague @stephanietwilliams.bsky.social
Me, I busted out, don’t even ask me how…’
- ‘ Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream’
- ‘ Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream’
March 18, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Me, I busted out, don’t even ask me how…’
- ‘ Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream’
- ‘ Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream’
Solid quantitative historical analysis of global food production and capacity to expand it within ecological constraints to account for future population increases. Smil thinks we can do it w/out radical change, by lessening food waste and decreasing red meat consumption.
March 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Solid quantitative historical analysis of global food production and capacity to expand it within ecological constraints to account for future population increases. Smil thinks we can do it w/out radical change, by lessening food waste and decreasing red meat consumption.
Majestic, authoritative account of the Constitution's birth, and how it became a more nationalist/anti-democratic than the popular mood. It details various factions supporting/opposing it, and how it was a political reaction to transient political issues in the 1780s. Revelatory.
March 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Majestic, authoritative account of the Constitution's birth, and how it became a more nationalist/anti-democratic than the popular mood. It details various factions supporting/opposing it, and how it was a political reaction to transient political issues in the 1780s. Revelatory.
