A review of summer reading recommendations - from analyzing social radicalisms and classic spy literature to reports on climate change. Book recommendations that will help understand the contemporary world.
Table of Contents
I hope that, like me, you’re in full summer mode. You’re taking advantage of the pleasant temperatures, emerging from your basement and reading books in nature. Today I’d like to recommend several readings that will be divided into several genres. Except for Severski, I’ve read everything. That’s why I recommend something I already know.
Vivisection of Social Radicalisms
Julia Boyd - Travelers in the Third Reich
I’ve already written about Julia Boyd’s book in the context of radicalisms in the USA and the rise to power of MAGA. I’d like to recommend this position to you once again because it’s truly current. From the analyzed historical traces, memoirs, and letters, we can trace how radicalism emerged and how extreme thinking became mainstream.
Mike Rothschild - The Conspiracy Theory That Changed the World
I recommend this position to everyone because it’s an incredible picture of how radicalism went from the total niche of conspiracy theories and rabbit holes to becoming mainstream in the USA. From the Pizza Gate affair, through the influence of social media on spreading conspiracy theories, to the final seizure of power by the MAGA movement and its impact on Republican politics.
The author analyzes very interesting cases that weren’t widely covered in Poland, and which are blood-chilling. A very enjoyable read for people who like non-fiction combined with political thriller.
Old School Espionage
John le Carré - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
This is such a beloved book of mine that I personally visited some locations in Hungary when they were being renovated and closed to tourists… I recommend the series, the feature film, which is an excellent old-style spy film, but of course the book is what’s at the source of this excellent story of a mole in the Circus, which I recommend you delve into. I think it’s a very current topic…
Vincent V. Severski - The Tailor
For me, Severski is an excellent writer with very multi-layered stories. I understand critics who accuse him of smuggling political judgments into these layers, but I have a relaxed approach to literature and appreciate that someone can create such an interesting masterpiece of spy literature.
I think that at the most elementary level, where the spy craft is shown, these stories are very universal and beautiful. The new book, which I’m already consuming, I sincerely recommend. It’s well written and will satisfy not only seasoned connoisseurs of the genre, but also lost souls for whom this is their first contact with Severski.
Classic World Literature and Reportage
Joseph Conrad - Heart of Darkness
A booklet with a small number of pages, but in my opinion one of the masterpieces of literature. Why do I recommend diving into this dark world? Because the heart of darkness is what we’re heading toward.
Katarzyna Molęda - Swedes. Warmth in the North
I recommend this position by a Scandinavianist, journalist, and consul of the Republic of Poland. A person who lives in Sweden and is able to present us with very interesting facts about the life of the alleged representatives of Europe’s happiest society in a reportage style.
In the era of disinformation and fake news, it’s worth reading about this direction (travel destination) so that we can enjoy the beauty and warmth of the cold north.
Shalom Fordow - A Pinch of Mossad
I have entire shelves of spy literature, but two hefty volumes stand out among them. Yes, these are books building the myth of this service, but isn’t much of these covert operations based on fear and reputation?
Shabtai Shavit - I Was Chief of the Mossad. The Game for a Secure Israel
From the book by the now-deceased former chief of Mossad, we’ll learn about many spectacular operations that were preceded by thorough analysis. Therefore, Shavit presents the position of intelligence in the context of several thematic segments: technicalities and intelligence work, the role of intelligence on the international arena, doctrine in the context of long-term goals and strategy, diplomatic and military perspective.
It reads very well, especially in the context of Israel’s attack on Iran. If you want to expand your knowledge about contexts concerning the Strait of Hormuz, political and historical nuances, I definitely recommend it.
Ronen Bergman - Rise and Kill First. The History of Assassination Operations by Israeli Intelligence Services
The author is a well-known Israeli journalist specializing in intelligence services. The book expands the above context with hundreds of conversations conducted with Israeli politicians. A hefty book (700 pages with footnotes) contains a complete catalog of missions along with their political backstage discussion.
Climate Change and Ecology
Finally, I recommend two positions by the same author, who is a well-known journalist specializing in climate change topics.
Elizabeth Kolbert - The Sixth Extinction. An Unnatural History
Some won’t like this reading on hot, sweltering days, or on the Croatian coast with burning slopes… The author shows scientific evidence for climate change of anthropogenic character. For me, it’s valuable reading - everyone should read this and draw conclusions.
Elizabeth Kolbert - Under a White Sky. The Nature of the Future
Written several years later after “The Sixth Extinction,” the author, seeing the inertia of politicians on ecological issues and greenwashing and the progression of increasingly radical changes relative to predictions, conducts dozens of conversations with interesting scientists trying - here’s the key word - to save the world and nature by adapting organisms to ongoing climate changes.
For example, you’ll be able to learn how modern genetic techniques are being used for genome sequencing, genome modification so as to, for example, save coral reefs by trying to increase the acceptable ocean temperature at which they don’t die.
A very interesting position for me, because contrary to pseudo-ecologists, it shows that part of the community has moved to changing attitudes from pushing unrealistic postulates like “limiting,” “removing,” which is locally limited and dependent on particular political needs… The switch has gone to adaptation.