Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Would a book have changed Hitler?
Hi all,
I haven´t been around much for the writing month, though children´s book I´m writing with a couple friends is coming along well and tomorrow we check out a gallery to hold a presentation party for it. It´s being released in volumes Larry Sterne-style over the summer, and I´ll translate it to English in autumn. The book was initially a children´s guide to identifying tyrants but the more time I spent talking to kids I realised how arrogant it was to presume we can teach them anything, actually we should be listening to them a bit more.As to whether my books could change people, I don´t really care what anyone thinks of what I write. If somebody else enjoys it, that´s fine with me, same for if they don´t. I don´t really know much more than I like to write.
Posted by owen on from barcelona 06/14 at 06:38 AMGood morning, Owen. Congratulations on your book.
Mickey, I like your question. Maybe sometimes the only kind of a book that can change the mind of a tyrant is a check book. Sorry to say that, but it is true all too often. This war would end today if ALL funding for the military was cut immediately.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 06/14 at 07:50 AM>>I don´t really know much more than I like to write.<<
It’s what’s required. Audiences find writers. Often the best choice is just to let the writing speak for itself, as long as you don’t mind the long wait to be discovered....
Can books change people? Yes, I believe they can, and the right book in the right hands at the right moment could logically change the course of history.
Doesn’t happen much that we know of, since the evidence would be absence of something we wouldn’t know didn’t happen.
Would a book have stopped Hitler? Once started down the road to insanity, I can’t conjure up a book that would’ve stopped him. Prevented the descent, maybe...if he’d read some books by Freud he might’ve found himself and gone for analysis instead of world domination.
Would a book have stopped Bush? Of course! Pile books up in front of the White House and he’d still be too scared to walk past ‘em and get inside for fear they’d open up an’ all ‘em funny black squiggles’d give ‘im a headache.
Posted by Mudge on from Austin, Texas 06/14 at 07:58 AM“One of the most time-consuming things is to have an enemy.”
--E.B. White, writer (1899-1985)How else they gonna keep us busy?
Posted by Mudge on from Austin, Texas 06/14 at 08:22 AMThe book I would recommend:
The Productive Narcissist: The Promise and Peril of Visionary Leadership by Michael Maccoby.
http://tinyurl.com/hfjzsI liked your 7 Habits, Mickey. http://tinyurl.com/lgg66
Do you think Laura Bush might fly in to your presentation party with less than 5 minutes notice, Owen? Have fun!
And have a good day everyone!
http://tinyurl.com/m43y3Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco 06/14 at 08:28 AMA Correction:
Dear Mickey and All--
I was not thinking of Hitler, but of politicians today. I hope my comment does not mislead people.
Wish I had wrote:
The book I would recommend to politicians today: etc.
thank you.
Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco 06/14 at 08:53 AMI think that by the time most politicians achieve power they have compromised any socially positive “Values” or leanings toward basic human decency in order to appease the real controllers of this reality and garner the funds and influence required for their rise to power.
I think RMJ nailed it with the “chequebook” statement.
I believe that even the most enlightening tomes would have a politician’s inner voice replying, “If you only knew who really controls the government…naive suckers”By the by, I am just into “Saving Private Power” by one of my favourite “rogue” authors.
The parallels between the mythology of “the Great War” and the “War on Terror” are made clear in book, (although it pre-dates (2000) the “war on a noun”).
S.P.P. is a stark reminder that no matter how much society changes on the surface the underpinnings, machinations and chosen few who control them with ‘pathocratic’ remorselessness remain forever unchanged.captcha word: “Why”
Posted by Youngfox on from Canaduh 06/14 at 09:23 AMHello Expendables...and welcome back, Owen and Youngfox. I’ve no doubt that books can change people. I’ve experienced such a change many times and hope to continue enjoying such epiphianies. I’ve also had the privilege of being told one or more of my books changed some outlooks, perspectives, etc. Nice.
However, today’s question was more centered on whether leaders (sic) can still be reached by words. Will the U.S. stop invading and bombing countries if elected officials just read different books? Will those officials start respecting the planet if we ask politely or cleverly? Hmm...I think Youngfox answered those questions.
Robert: Thanks for the book suggestion. I’d never heard of it.
Mudge: Love the White quote. One of the most time-consuming things is to have an enemy.” Damn, we have enough real enemies...why bother seeking more out? I definitely know some folks who could use this advice.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 06/14 at 09:31 AMMudge, also this:
“Hate traps us by binding us too close to our enemies.”
--Milan Kundera, also a writer (1929-)I love Derrick Jensen’s unwillingness to compromise with what he correctly identifies as insanity. As it happens, if I had to say that one book truly changed me, it was Jensen’s A Language Older Than Words. I s’pose this is the book I would give to politicians, as long as they’re sent---have I mentioned this before?---naked to the moon in order to read it.
Posted by Keir on from The Hague 06/14 at 09:34 AMHey Keir...we were simultyping. I’m currently reading Jensen’s latest, the two volume Endgame. It’s got that same eye-opening quality.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 06/14 at 09:37 AMNew from Joe Bagaent:
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/June06/Bageant14.htmPosted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 06/14 at 10:07 AMI couldn’t finish reading the Bageant article, I didn’t really know what he was talking about and it was kinda too depressing for this early in the morning… but y’know what’s as much depressing? There’s a 7/11 just a block from Times Square, the center of the world, on 42nd off of 9th Avenue. It’s just wrong.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 06/14 at 10:24 AMhello again everyone. been out of it for a while.
maybe because i haven’t been hanging round here for a while but i am feeling way outside the conversation at the moment, particularly as yo uare all being so reasonable.
have been trying to do some stuff for expendable writing month but have been in a splenetic mood and the only thing i have finsihed is a 20 second short movie…
Posted by michael on from exile 06/14 at 01:09 PMoh and i liked this little story i was recently sent…
This took place on a British Airways flight between Johannesburg and London.
A White woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a black man.
Obviously disturbed by this, she called the air Hostess. “Madam, what is the matter,” the hostess asked.
“You obviously do not see it then?” she responded. “You placed me next to a black man. I do not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant
group. Give me an alternative seat.”“Be calm please,” the hostess replied. “Almost all the places on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another place is available.” The Hostess went away and then came back a few minutes later.
“Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in the economy class. I spoke to the captain and he informed me that there is a seat in the business class.
All the same, we still have one place in the first class.” Before the woman could say anything, the hostess continued: “It is not usual for our company to permit someone from the economy class to sit in the first class. However, given the circumstances, the captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting.”
She turned to the black guy, and said, “Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please collect your hand luggage, a seat awaits you in first class.”
At that moment, the other passengers who were shocked by what they had heard burst into applause.
Posted by michael on from exile 06/14 at 01:12 PMHi michael, James, Keir, Mr. Livingston, Mudge, Owen…
Youngfox, where have you been? We’ve been missing you.
Mickey, thanks for the Bagaent link. I almost always agree with what he says and I love his witty writing style. The mental images that he creates are so very authentic. Reminds of when I lived down south.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 06/14 at 01:52 PMRe no 7 - I was discussing that same book today with a guy at work, who was talking about all the crap spouted about WWII during his lifetime (he’s 50). He also repeated some of his fave advice, given to him by his grandfather, a WWI veteran:
1. Always buy your round at the bar
2. Keep your bowels regular (I guess item no. 1 helps there)
3. Never, ever volunteer for anythingRe 13 Michael I love that story!
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, odd wet lovely Manchester 06/14 at 02:18 PMCan books change people? I think so, certainly. I do think, however, that when people are as pathological as Hitler, Bush etc that one book is unlikely to have a big effect at the later stages in their lives.
Personally, I think PG Wodehouse and George Orwell changed my life, in the way I look at the world. Wodehouse’s generous and gentle humour is marvellous cushion to sink into, and Orwell made me think more than anybody else I’ve ever read.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, odd wet lovely Manchester 06/14 at 02:23 PMWelcome back, Michael. Good to hear from you and I enjoyed the story.
I think we are all on our own paths in life and that some books at certain times are the right ones...they accelerate our thinking, improve our ideas and correct or change certain aspects of our overall view of the world and our place in it.
The only 180 degree turn arounds I have ever heard of did not occur as the result of reading a book...they were more spiritual in nature. Probably not a popular topic here…
Posted by JOS on from Downtown Chicago 06/14 at 04:24 PMThanks for another great post, Mickey! I’m with Mr Jensen: I don’t think any book would have changed Hitler either (or could change someone like George W. Bush for that matter). Certain books have changed my life, however: I hugely enjoyed Richard Ford’s short stories published as ‘Rock Springs’ and his ‘Independence Day’- and at this moment in time Edmund White helps me to become more balanced and improve my outlook on life in general.
Hi, Owen in Barcelona, Rosemarie, Mudge (#3 today), Robert B. Livingston (ah San Francisco ..), Youngfox, Keir, James, Michael, JOS and Chris Wood. An almost full house today.
I hope all you expendables and you, Mickey, have a great afternoon/night/late night.
Ciao amici ..
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 06/14 at 04:44 PMAnd Rosemarie in #2:
‘Maybe sometimes the only kind of a book that can change the mind of a tyrant is a check book. Sorry to say that, but it is true all too often. This war would end today if ALL funding for the military was cut immediately.’ You have hit the proverbial nail on the head - again!Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 06/14 at 04:46 PMOh, and I enjoyed that story as well, Michael!
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 06/14 at 04:53 PMThanks, Helga.
JOS, I too have thoughts about spirituality. You are not alone.
I have been thinking about books all day (Mickey’s influence) and just happened to come up with these recommendations from Derrick Jensen. I will be sending the blurb about the Churchill book to a few people. The discussion about violence vs anti-violence is an important one and a constant debate topic here.
http://www.derrickjensen.org/comm.htmlPosted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 06/14 at 05:20 PMSorry for the redundancy. I NOW see that Mick has the link on the main post. I missed that and happened to get there from my e-mail in which I had the WC posting from a few days ago....never mind its too complicated and I’m sure that I am not making sense.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 06/14 at 05:34 PMHello ladies, gentlemen, and CatLady:
Been a busy day trying to convince my friend to move in with me here in this big, cheap, nasty apartment so les puppies and I don’t have to move out.
Keir, that Kundera quote is wonderful! Describes why marriage between the genders is a bad idea, too.
>wink<
see y’all tomorrow!
Posted by Mudge on from Austin, Texas 06/14 at 08:27 PM
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