A Grande Transformação, de Karl Polaniy

 

What a wonderful book, as relevant, or possibly even more relevant, now than when it was written. It completely demolishes the neo-liberal dogma of the supposed advantages and “naturalness” of unregulated free markets. It explains intelligently, clearly and common-sensically how economic policy is a choice, a political choice.

And that choice should respect human rights, namely the right to the pursuit of happiness; so economy policy should be directed to serve people’s interests and not the other way around.

This should be a mandatory reading for anyone interested in economics, politics and sociology. It’s always amazing and frustrating how we haven’t learnt anything from History.

Ensaios, de George Orwell

 

I love to read George Orwell's writings. He is the epitome of what a Leftist should be - caring about your fellow humans, and keeping a perfect balance about the individual and the common good. 

Intelligent, accurate, and up to the point, he always keeps his common sense and critical reasoning, as we all should do. 

The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer

 I had this book on my shelf for over 15 years; always put it off reading thinking it might be too difficult. But I was wrong - the translation into modern English is very easily readable, and I expect it reasonably keeps the original tone, at least the rhyming and the spirit. 

It's a wonderful book, witty and entertaining, and extremely informative regarding the life, humour and moeurs of the Middle Ages. It's not as good as the fabulous Decameron, but it's close. 

I'm glad I read the beautifully illustrated book from Folio, the medieval art is just stunning.

Les Années, de Annie Ernaux

 

What a wonderful book, I'm so happy I got to know Annie Ernaux thanks to Saleem Haddad (another great writer, btw). It is a wonderful history of he 20th century, told by a personal memoir by a keen observer. I felt so totally identified with her thoughts and memories from the times I lived through. 

Monter en ville, rêver, se faire jouir et attendre, résumé possible d'une adolescence en province.

Pourtant, ils n'auraient jamais vivre là. [...] Ils désiraient qu'il reste toujours dans le monde des pays sans progrès pour les transporter ainsi en arrière.

Sauver quelque chose du temps où l'on ne sera plus jamais. 

Yes, all our lives' experiences will fade away. But that's exactly why testimonies like this are so important. 

A short note about animals and humans

Recently, reading the book We Are All Completely beside ourselves, by Karen Joy Fowler, I was once more reminded of the question of animal treatment by humans. I always felt somewhat uncomfortable about the notion of animal rights; rights are a human creation and they are applied and thought of in human terms, and I never thought anthropomorphizing other animals is the right way to go. I was never against eating animals; animals do it all the time and we are also animals, even if more successful in the evolutionary scale. 

But I do care about human ethics, which implies I care about cruelty. Inflicting unnecessary suffering is wrong and demeaning to us humans. And we do that far too much. Lots of animal experimentation is utterly unnecessary – like for cosmetics and such. And the food industry is just appalling, it makes the blood boil every time I read about factory farms, slaughterhouses and such, especially because they’re so unneeded – humans could do perfectly with much less meat, and a lot of it just goes to waste. Every time I think about it, I consider the ethical thing to do would be to become vegetarian, but I never did. Partly out of self-indulgence (I like meat), partly because I know my attitude wouldn’t make much of a difference, partly because I don’t think eating animals it’s wrong in itself, it’s the suffering inflicted by the food industry I object. 

I tend nevertheless to eat much less meat than I used to, and to choose whenever possible products I think were more humanely treated. I know that’s probably not too coherent and maybe insufficient. 

And of course I’m opposed to hunting for pleasure, bullfights, cock fights and other such barbarities. Inflicting suffering is wrong, and we know other animals suffer just like us.