Dave Smith had a Part of the Problem podcast on him awhile ago, eviscerating him.
MacKay is fantastic. One of the few the cliche "it should be required reading" is actually apropos.
Have not read Le Bon yet, but it is in the pile.
I recently managed to finally secure, at some expense, a copy of Walter B. Pitkin's *A short Introduction to the History of Human Stupidity". Simon and Schuster 1932. Rather gratifying that it was stolen from Michigan State University, which used stolen money to publish it.
A quick killer read is Etienne de La Boétie's, Discourse on Voluntary Servitude, 1548
A money shot:
Plays, farces, spectacles, gladiators, strange beasts, medals, pictures, and other such opiates, these were for ancient peoples the bait toward slavery, the price of their liberty, the instruments of tyranny. By these practices and enticements the ancient dictators so successfully lulled their subjects under the yoke, that the stupefied peoples, fascinated by the pastimes and vain pleasures flashed before their eyes, learned subservience as naively, but not so creditably, as little children learn to read by looking at bright picture books. Roman tyrants invented a further refinement. They often provided the city wards with feasts to cajole the rabble, always more readily tempted by the pleasure of eating than by anything else.
The most intelligent and understanding amongst them would not have quit his soup bowl to recover the liberty of the Republic of Plato. Tyrants would distribute largess, a bushel of wheat, a gallon of wine, and a sesterce: and then everybody would shamelessly cry, ‘Long live the King!’ The fools did not realize that they were merely recovering a portion of their own property, and that their ruler could not have given them what they were receiving without having first taken it from them.”
Right. I could write a proper comment system for them - I wrote one of the first web editors way back in 1999, when it was a different world - so it is inexcusable, really.
But sadly, they would likely not want to pay what I would ask, so instead I think perhaps I will go halibut fishing.
Dave Smith had a Part of the Problem podcast on him awhile ago, eviscerating him.
MacKay is fantastic. One of the few the cliche "it should be required reading" is actually apropos.
Have not read Le Bon yet, but it is in the pile.
I recently managed to finally secure, at some expense, a copy of Walter B. Pitkin's *A short Introduction to the History of Human Stupidity". Simon and Schuster 1932. Rather gratifying that it was stolen from Michigan State University, which used stolen money to publish it.
It is over 500 pages and was printed in 1932.
The second edition would probably be 5000 pages.
Move Le Bon to the top of the pile pronto! “The Crowd” is a quick read, and every sentence is chillingly relevant.
“A Short History” looks like quite a find—especially considering how much it’s going for at Amazon! You’re right about the 2nd ed. 😆
Will do.
A quick killer read is Etienne de La Boétie's, Discourse on Voluntary Servitude, 1548
A money shot:
Plays, farces, spectacles, gladiators, strange beasts, medals, pictures, and other such opiates, these were for ancient peoples the bait toward slavery, the price of their liberty, the instruments of tyranny. By these practices and enticements the ancient dictators so successfully lulled their subjects under the yoke, that the stupefied peoples, fascinated by the pastimes and vain pleasures flashed before their eyes, learned subservience as naively, but not so creditably, as little children learn to read by looking at bright picture books. Roman tyrants invented a further refinement. They often provided the city wards with feasts to cajole the rabble, always more readily tempted by the pleasure of eating than by anything else.
The most intelligent and understanding amongst them would not have quit his soup bowl to recover the liberty of the Republic of Plato. Tyrants would distribute largess, a bushel of wheat, a gallon of wine, and a sesterce: and then everybody would shamelessly cry, ‘Long live the King!’ The fools did not realize that they were merely recovering a portion of their own property, and that their ruler could not have given them what they were receiving without having first taken it from them.”
100% agreed re: “The Politics of Obedience”—which is why I featured it prominently in “COVID IS OVER! … If You Want It” (https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/covid-is-over-if-you-want-it) 😁
Remind me again why I read you?
Had not yet gone that far back...
;-)
😆
Wow, now I know what happens when you reach the end of a thread!
We have our own page!
I feel honored! 😂
Right. I could write a proper comment system for them - I wrote one of the first web editors way back in 1999, when it was a different world - so it is inexcusable, really.
But sadly, they would likely not want to pay what I would ask, so instead I think perhaps I will go halibut fishing.
*lol* Fascinating background! But I agree, halibut fishing sounds more enjoyable ;-)