Review: Mein Kampf

Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hooter: The recipe that created a diabolical movement when marinated in power

Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau was a stark reminder of how inhumane humanity can be and got me curious of how does one justify that insanity. Time machines don't exist in 2024 yet so the next best option was to read Mein Kampf - and get a glimpse into his mind.

Should I be glad it didn't resonate with me? His oratory skills, clarity of thought and ability to crisply communicate are probably reasons why he got a sizeable audience and related power to do what he did and that comes across in his writing - the seeds in his childhood that sow into the grim reaper he becomes. It is weirdly similar to some of the situations in current day and makes me wonder - are we creating fertile grounds for another repeat or will humankind be smarter this time?

Obviously I have hindsight color each step he takes but for a second if I do take that away, you realise the slippery slope is very difficult to discern until its too late and that is where civilisation failed itself. Being aware will hopefully help us identify such signs in the future and stop future instances.

The author seems to be able to justify to themselves through information / propaganda, instilling discipline to untethered youth and focusing on economy and then going off on a tangent towards his unjustifiable hatered against Jews who he saw as the power centres that were preventing the glory of German fatherland from regaining its true place.

The book is not an easy read neither is it meant to be. If there is one message you do take away - power corrupts all.

View all my reviews

Review: The Dark Forest

The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hooter: A sci fi where humanity needs to plan long term for survival against an imminent extraterrestrial threat

Building up on the 3 body problem, Liu continues to explore a complex web of aspects - human nature, science, economy. psychology, humanity, philosophy and a myriad range of topics under the covers of this science fiction. Honestly gets complex at time where you need to recap to get back to the groove on what all is happening across the various threads and how the story darts around each sub story. A group of wall facers - 4 selected humans whose job is protect humanity by secretly working on a project individually against a superior enemy that cannot enter the recesses of the human brain.

Without putting out the spoilers, Liu tackles a lot of subjects through this second book of the trilogy and makes for focused reading but rewarding at the end of it as he explores a lot of areas in this vast expanse of space at all planes though you need to trudge through parts as it gets chaotic at times.

Overall a good solid science fiction, builds on part 1 and keeps you going on figuring out the next book in the series.

View all my reviews