In religious studies, few topics are as controversial as the origins of Christianity. One of the most interesting figures in this narrative is the apostle Paul. His influence on the early Christian movement is undeniable. In his book, “The Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity,” Hyam Maccoby delves into the historical context surrounding Paul's life and teachings, offering a critical perspective on his role in shaping the Christian faith.

Recently, I delved into Eric Hobsbawm's “The Age of Extremes,” a historical grand work that left me captivated and contemplative.

Hobsbawm, with his deep insights, takes readers on an intellectual odyssey spanning from the cataclysmic events of 1914 to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. He combines the harsh realities of wars, economic upheavals, and political revolutions with the quieter nuances of societal shifts.

One should keep in mind that Hobsbawm was an avid Marxist, which reflected heavily on his books.

What struck me most was Hobsbawm's ability to weave together the threads of global history, providing a panoramic view of the century's extremes. From the devastation of the World Wars to the ideological battlegrounds of the Cold War, Hobsbawm fearlessly confronts the tumultuous periods that shaped the destiny of nations.

Content

Part I. The Age of Catastrophe
1. The Age of Total War
2. The World Revolution
3. Into the Economic Abyss
4. The Fall of Liberalism
5. Against the Common Enemy
6. The Arts 1914–1945
7. End of Empires

Part II. The Golden Age
8. Cold War
9. The Golden Years
10. The Social Revolution 1945–1990
11. Cultural Revolution
12. The Third World
13. "Real Socialism"

Part III. The Landslide
14. The Crisis Decades
15. Third World and Revolution
16. End of Socialism
17. The Avant-Garde Dies: The Arts After 1950
18. Sorcerers and Apprentices: The Natural Sciences
19. Towards the Millennium

I just finished reading "Surrounded by Idiots" by Thomas Erikson. This captivating book offers an interesting exploration of human behavior and communication styles, leveraging the author's expertise in human behavior. At its core, the book introduces a framework based on the DISC model, which categorizes individuals into four primary personality types: Dominant, Influential, Steady, and Conscientious.

In the human journey through history, we have marveled at the heights of human achievement and progress, from the arts to science, philosophy to technology. Yet, we must also confront the darker aspects of our shared past, acknowledging the tragic reality of the ultimate human brutality—genocide. Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin coined the term that the UN defined in 1948 as acts committed with “the intent to destroy, in whole or in part a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
a. Killing members of the group;
b. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
c. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
d. Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
e. Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.” ¹

When I received the book "The Lessons of History", it didn't look very impressive with its mere hundred pages. But I learned a long time ago that I shouldn't judge a book by its page number.

In the vast scope of human history, only a handful of books shine as guiding lights, illuminating the path through time with wisdom. I am not quite sure "The Lessons of History", written by Will and Ariel Durant, is one such work, but with its 102 pages, it does capture the essence of human civilization. It offers a mosaic of insights into our history, inviting readers to contemplate our journey from the past to the present, and perhaps into the future.