Saturday, October 5, 2024

Review of Charlemagne by Johannes Fried

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 
Book Club Event = Book List (03/08/2025)
Intriguing Connections = 1) Biographies: Auto, Memoir, and Other Types


Watch Short Review

Excerpts

“A number of different tactics were employed in this conflict.  Particularly, the Saxon nobility were more amenable than the common people to being annexed to the Franks.  After all, they stood only to gain from being locked into Mediterranean culture and the Frankish system of rule.  In addition, the king appointed loyal Saxons as counts, a powerful stimulus to joining the Franks.  Indeed, the resistance was led first and foremost by the free men and the serfs; they rose up on two further occasions, in 841 and 843, during the Stellinga Rebellion.  A program of annual campaigns, castle building, and repeated overwintering by the king and his army on Saxon territory took a heavy toll on the populace and the land.  Hostages were required to be handed over on a regular basis, and deportations and mass executions were also the order of the day.” – Johannes Fried, Chapter 3: The Warrior King, Page 158

 

“Robbery – whether out of desperation or on other grounds – was widespread in the Frankish Empire.  And it was the same poor people who were its victims – a cycle that the poor in general were forced to pay for through increasing dependence on regional rulers.  Charlemagne sought in vain to find a lasting solution to this problem.  He was just as unsuccessful in this endeavor as any of his successors.  Mindful of the physical distance that separated them from the center of power, strongmen obeyed the king only when there was something in it for them in return – in the form of gifts, grace and favor, greater prestige, honor, or advancement in rank.” – Johannes Fried, Chapter 4: Power Structures, Page 231

 

“Charlemagne, though, was very fond of the foreigners in his kingdom.  He eagerly adopted the suggestions even of those who had come from far afield.  The king supported episcopal churches, monasteries, and religious houses, be they long-established foundations or recently created ones, and he put several foreigners in charge of such institutions.  An abundance of centers of culture and learning came into being as a result.  New schools, whose importance soon transcended their local region, began to flourish, and the first episcopal schools were founded at this time.  In the ensuing decades, the length and breadth of the Frankish Empire, from north to south and west to east, was covered with a network of educational institutions.” – Johannes Fried, Chapter 5: The Ruler, Page 284


Review

Is This An Overview?

Charlemagne was a warrior king, who became a medieval emperor.  The Franks were in a constant state of conflict to finance itself and organize the social classes.  As king, Charlemagne needed to expand territory to prove oneself worthy of leadership, and to provide the retinue with rewards.  Efforts were made towards integration of the conquered lands and people, but local laws and customs tended to be accepted and retained.   

 

During the era, there was no separation between Church and state.  Charlemagne was a defender of Christendom.  Needed to protect churches and the faithful.  Even Rome needed the Franks for defense of their independence.  Various conquests were justified for providing religious services.  Charlemagne gave the clergy wealth and power, and in return, the clergy were to bring salvation to the people.

 

Charlemagne initiated the development of an educational infrastructure.  Wanted to educated oneself and the empire.  Educational efforts which enabled literacy, that was used to improve the efficiency of Frankish bureaucracy and to understand religious matters.  Churches established schools which enabled a literate administration of power.  Knowledge was sought after no matter the source, as foreign ideas were welcomed and schools established which supported their culture and learning.

 

Caveats?

This book is difficult to read, mainly caused by the data gaps.  The author often repeats how much is not known about Charlemagne, the Franks, and the era.   Data gaps that contribute to a lack of details on many events, and reasons for the events.  


Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?
•What are some limitations of the book?
•To whom would you suggest this book?
•How much is known about Charlemagne?
•How has Charlemagne been used posthumously? 
•How was Charlemagne as a boy?
•What did Charlemagne learn on how to be a good king when Charlemagne was a boy? 
•What was the Franks class structure?
•What did the queen do?
•Who did were Charlemagne’s wives?
•What defined justice?
•What were Charlemagne’s social policies? 
•How did Frankish office holders behave? 
•What was the Franks relation with religion? 
•Did Charlemagne live in accordance with ecclesial law? 
•Who benefited from a tithe? 
•What was the conflict with images in religion?
•How did the Franks effect Rome?
•Why were the Franks in a constant state of conflict?
•How much did the Frank know of foreigners? 
•How were foreigners treated? 
•What was the purpose of hunting expeditions? 
•What were the Franks weapons of war?
•How did the Franks organize for war?
•What happened with the Lombards?
•What happened with the Saxons?
•How did Vikings effect the Franks?
•How did the decline of the classical civilizations, such as the Roman Empire, effect Europe?
•What was the state of Frankish road infrastructure? 
•What were Charlemagne’s policy towards forests and farmland?
•How did Charlemagne effect the literacy of the Franks?
•What were Charlemagne’s educational reforms?
•How was distance measured?
•How had Charlemagne become an emperor?


Book Details
Translator:              Peter Lewis
Original Language: German
Translated Into:       English
Publisher:               Harvard University Press
Edition ISBN:         9780674973411
Pages to read:          621
Publication:             2016
1st Edition:              2013
Format:                    eBook 

Ratings out of 5:
Readability    3
Content          3
Overall          3






Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Review of The Entrepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs. Private Sector Myths by Mariana Mazzucato

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 
Genre = Economics
Book Club Event = Book List (12/21/2024)



Watch Short Review

Excerpts

“These companies are of course helping to push the innovation frontier by further developing State-funded technologies, and, crucially, contributing to a transition to a more environmentally sustainable economy.  But all we hear in the media is the one-sided myth of the lone entrepreneur.” – Mariana Mazzucato, Introduction: Thinking Big Again, Page 43

 

“Public venture capital, for example, is very different from private venture capital.  It is willing to invest in areas with much higher risk, while providing greater patience and lower expectations of future returns.  By definition this is a more difficult situation.  Yet the returns to public versus private venture capital are compared without taking this difference into account.” – Mariana Mazzucato, Chapter 1: From Crisis Ideology to the Division of Innovative Labour, Page 61

 

“The State’s role is not just to create knowledge through national labs and universities, but also to mobilize resources that allow knowledge and innovations to diffuse broadly across sectors of the economy.  It does this by rallying existing innovation networks or by facilitating the development of new ones that bring together a diverse group of stakeholders.  Rather than fixing ‘market failures’, evolutionary economists and innovation scholars have therefore put emphasis on the State’s role in fixing ‘system failures’.” – Mariana Mazzucato, Chapter 2: Technology, Innovation and Growth, Page 83


Review

Is This An Overview?

There is a myth that governments cannot make appropriate investments, and intervention in the market would create problems.  The myth implies that the main role of the government is to fix the private sector, to fix market failures, and to provide equitable laws.  This myth enabled the dismantling of public organizations and outsourcing responsibilities.  Leading to governments lacking tacit knowledge, and preventing long term agendas.   The myth of government’s ability, is associated with the myth of the lone entrepreneur who knows how to invent and invest in the future.

 

In practice, many entrepreneurs innovated state-funded technologies and used public funding sources.  Private sector investments tend to occur when an idea is ready for commercialization, after various failed ideas have been filtered out.  Governments tend to invest in earlier stages of an idea before commercialization.  Governments invest in the seed stage of an idea, which carries more uncertainty and higher risk than the later commercialization stage.  The private sector invests in ideas after government has transformed the uncertainty of an idea into much lower risk. 

 

Government has more patience with lower expectations of returns to ideas.  A strategy that has been effective, given that while government is spending more on Research and Development, the private sector is spending more on boosting share prices.  Government investments enabled forthcoming innovations, thereby stimulating private investments rather than crowding out investments.

.

Caveats?

In trying overcome one myth, another myth was written.  Although the author references that effective innovation is a collaboration between public and private sectors, the book prioritizes state activities.  A myth that the private sector is secondary to the state, being not as effective with financing and social functions.  Sharing only little reference to the consequences of state activities.  The bias in favor of state action, reduces the value of collaboration.



Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?
•What are some limitations of the book?
•To whom would you suggest this book?
•What are the consequences of dismantling organizations?
•What is the effect of outsourcing functions?
•What is the myth of government?
•What is the myth of the private sector?
•What is the role of the government?
•What should the government be fixing?
•What are market failures?
•What are government failures?
•Does government crowed out or crowed in investments?
•What kind of debt caused the 2008 financial crisis?
•What is the state’s self-fulfilling prophecy of being ill-equipped?
•What are the problems of regulatory capture? 
•Why do government not profit from innovation as private companies do?
•Should a government own a stake in companies that used government investments? 
•What is the difference between government and private investment strategies? 
•What happened to private sector R&D?
•How is the private sector free-riding on government investments? 
•What are the effects of inequality of growth?
•How does government mobilize resources within the sectors of the economy?
•How do companies use patents? 
•What drugs do private companies produce? 
•What makes R&D spending effective? 
•What enabled the Apple’s technology?
•What enabled the Green Industrial Revolution?  

Book Details
             
Publisher:               Penguin Books [Penguin Random House]
Edition ISBN:         9780593656945
Pages to read:          221
Publication:             2024
1st Edition:              2013
Format:                    eBook 

Ratings out of 5:
Readability    4
Content          5
Overall          4






Monday, September 30, 2024

Review of The Volunteer by Adam Haslett

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 
Genre = Novel
Collection = You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett


Watch Short Review

Review

Is This An Overview?

Elizabeth has been hospitalized for a long time, due to a history of seeing the dead.  Having a visceral experience with the dead.  The dead guide Elizabeth’s behaviors.  While institutionalized, Elizabeth is being visited by Ted.  Ted is volunteering to visit Elizabeth.  Ted is in school, on the verge of adulthood.  Elizabeth feels better when Ted visits, while Ted is able to talk to Elizabeth about relationship advice.  Elizabeth and Ted bond, but Elizabeth’s past intertwines with their present.  How does Elizabeth’s past effect Ted? 


Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?
•What are some limitations of the book?
•To whom would you suggest this book?
•Who is Elizabeth?
•Who is Ted?
•What is Elizabeth’s mental status?
•Why does Ted volunteer to visit Elizabeth?
•What does Elizabeth gain from the visits?
•Who is Hester?
•What happened when Elizabeth was not allowed visitors anymore? 
•Who is Lauren? 


Book Details
Edition:                   First Anchor Books Edition
Publisher:               Anchor Books [Random House]
Edition ISBN:         0385509529
Pages to read:          237
Publication:             2003
1st Edition:              2002
Format:                    Paperback 

Ratings out of 5:
Readability    3
Content          1
Overall          1






 

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Review of My Father's Business by Adam Haslett

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 
Genre = Novel
Collection = You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett


Watch Short Review

Review

Is This An Overview?

Daniel has many mental health problems, some of which have been inherited from Daniel’s father.  Daniel is bipolar, alternating between mania and depression.  Therapists had tried to give Daniel various medications, which did not work.  To get to know oneself, Daniel makes various tapes which are left with the therapist. 

 

Before taking a trip to visit a friend, Daniel obtains the interview tapes, and some therapists notes.  Daniel is a bit afraid to look over the content, while does not want to be afraid of the information.  Then begins to get to know oneself, with the therapists’ notes providing a grim conclusion to Daniel’s health.  The taped interviews are of Daniel’s various friends and family members.  Who is Daniel interviewing?


Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?
•What are some limitations of the book?
•To whom would you suggest this book?
•Who is Daniel?
•Why does Daniel obtain Daniel’s therapy records?
•What is Daniel’s mental state?
•Who does Daniel have interviews with?
•What was the purpose of the interviews?


Book Details
Edition:                   First Anchor Books Edition
Publisher:               Anchor Books [Random House]
Edition ISBN:         0385509529
Pages to read:          237
Publication:             2003
1st Edition:              2002
Format:                    Paperback 

Ratings out of 5:
Readability    4
Content          2
Overall          2






 

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Review of Divination by Adam Haslett

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 
Genre = Novel
Collection = You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett


Watch Short Review

Review

Is This An Overview?

Samuel is a 12-year-old boy, who believes that Samuel can foresee someone’s death.  The observation started with Samuel’s teacher, Jevins.  Samuel had a bad feeling about Jevins, who was an elderly fellow.  Samuel was imagining the death of Jevins, and felt uncomfortable with those thoughts.  Shortly after, Jevins passed away.  Samuel becomes emotional about Jevins death, having foreseen it coming. 

 

Samuel’s mother referenced that Samuel was overcome with emotions when a grandparent passed.  Samuel’s older brother Trevor references something similar with their father.  Their father had a dream of a cousin’s death, and the cousin died shortly after.  Then Samuel has a dream, of Trevor dying during a forthcoming trip.  The parents use various methods to tell Samuel that Samuel cannot predict when people die, to not confuse what is real and what is not real.  But Samuel cannot let go of the feeling that something bad is going to happen to Trevor.  What happens to Trevor?


Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?
•What are some limitations of the book?
•To whom would you suggest this book?
•Who is Samuel?
•Who is Mr. Jevins?
•Who is Trevor? 
•What happened to William?
•How do Samuel’s parents explain Samuel’s emotions?
•What happens to Trevor?


Book Details
Edition:                   First Anchor Books Edition
Publisher:               Anchor Books [Random House]
Edition ISBN:         0385509529
Pages to read:          237
Publication:             2003
1st Edition:              2002
Format:                    Paperback 

Ratings out of 5:
Readability    5
Content          2
Overall          2