As usual for July, the NH Seacoast is not overwarm and beastly humid. But we tell ourselves we like it this way, so that the weather will change sooner to something less attractive, like thunderstorms with hail and the occasional funnel cloud. Dropped off H to the theater camp she's attending and decided to treat R to that new "Seventeen" magazine she's been wanting so badly for the past forty minutes or so. I also wanted to check in and see if some of my recent reading signals a trend in the book scene (my wishful thinking.)
I've been reading Francis Fukuyama's book, "The Origins of Political Order." Fukuyama's the guy who wrote "The End of History and The Last Man" in the 1990's which many read as undergrads. This book discusses his idea that some parts of our history make us more or less willing or able to accept the capitalist liberal democracy that has been spreading all over the world (with some notable exceptions). If the theories are correct there is a lot to re-think. Doing so will be hard, requiring scrutiny of within as without. I'm grateful F.F. had the courage to have this published. It's a hell of a book.
Anyway, so I figured it's been a few months since this book came out, what else is happening? Looking at the political reading section I found that little had changed - there were several books warning about how the Liberal movement is a surrogate for Socialism, and will rise up to take over the government. Many books by different people from Fox News, with titles like "I can see Socialism from Here" and "Obama Is A Spy for China" and "If you're not with us, you're Agin' Us" ... in other words, the usual "modern commentary."
There, in the middle of it all, Was F.F.'s new release, seeming completely out of place
There appeared to be
no one thinking about Globalist democracy along the lines of "maybe we should re-think this thing. It's not going so well everywhere, and it's getting tiresome to keep offering the same carrot, and the stick's already been broken twice."
So I slunk along into the Social/Cultural section, disappointed, looking for something to distract and amuse (as we're taught to do, as shoppers) I chanced on a David Brooks book: "Bobos In Paradise" or
The New Upper Class and How They Got There. Perfect! I thought. I can read about these strange beings, whose lives I see illustrated in the New Yorker, and perhaps some of the magic dust will rub off, and either bless me, or kill me. Either way, I figured I would enjoy the time between midterms this season a bit more.
Arriving home, I found R. right where I expected, in front of the telly. She looked up and saw her magazine in my hand. One of those 'oh my goodness he actually got the one I wanted!' looks was issued forth. I had not failed, and because of this my study period (the rest of the day, really) will be a little more peaceful.
