The results of the French elections force the H progressive,, forces to confront certain key questions. It will not suffice to say that the rise of populism and victory of the conservatives are the effects of the ravages of globalisation and the incapacity of the traditional left to face there. We must ask ourselves what the current historical period shares with, and what distinguishes it from earlier periods; we must ask questions about the evolution of founts of oppression, and equally (...) about the struggle for liberation, and the modes of organisation and political expression of the social rnovements. This questioning eau only take place in the light of the current experiences of the new popular movement developing across the globe. (shrink)

Patrick O'Brian, the Aubrey-Maturin Series of twenty novels (Norton, 1970-1999). My appreciation written for WIRED magazine: "I re-read this extraordinary series of novels because of the depth of portrayal of the major and minor characters, but also because they teach me so much about what science and technology were like two centuries ago. O'Brian shows you the world-that-was through the eyes of a Tory naval captain (Jack Aubrey), at sea since the age of 12, working his way up to (...) admiral, dealing with the height of 18th-century technology (sailing ships and celestial navigation). I identify more strongly with his liberally-educated, physician-scientist friend (Stephen Maturin), who went to medical school in Paris during the French Revolution. You see natural history turning into a biological science, bleeding-and-purging medicine starting to learn some physiology -- and, because Maturin is also an intelligence agent for the Admiralty, you see statecraft at work during the Napoleonic Wars. These books strongly remind you about what scientific ignorance and social conventions can do to your mindset, and how the future will likely judge us as well." -- William H. Calvin You can get them all at once, so you can: The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Series (20 volumes). Depending on amazon.com's current discount, this works out to US$15-20 each (and in hardcover). (shrink)