Author Archives: Pepijn

Putinism, Russia and it’s Future with the West – Walter Laqueur (2015)

As one of the most important actors on the geopolitical chess board I’m dying to better understand Putin and his Russia: Should he be feared and contained or, as some pundits argue, is he in fact our natural ally? The ‘preeminent’ historian Laqueur has a deep understanding of Russian history and its complexity as heContinueContinue reading “Putinism, Russia and it’s Future with the West – Walter Laqueur (2015)”

Slow West – John McLean (2015) ***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC0Bn-SksYY Since I saw him excel in Steve McQueen’s “Hunger”, I go to see every new Michael Fassbender movie. Slow West is certainly not his best, but it’s good entertainment: a combination of a ferry tale, a classic western and some Tarantinoesque shooting scenes. The story line is pretty straightforward: a Scottish boy looking forContinueContinue reading “Slow West – John McLean (2015) ***”

The Imitation Game – Morten Tyldum (2014) ***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5CjKEFb-sM Being familiar with his story, Alan Turing’s achievement didn’t come as a surprise to me. One of the film’s merits is that it succeeds in getting across the enormity of the sacrifices needed to win a war – including keeping secret that Turing breaking the Enigma code hastened the allied victory. And one thatContinueContinue reading “The Imitation Game – Morten Tyldum (2014) ***”

Whiplash – Damien Chazelle (2014) ****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d_jQycdQGo Cruel and beautiful, Whiplash stands for the search for excellence, the extreme way – pushing people into the abyss hoping they will emerge from it as a once in a lifetime genius. Because real (musical) talents, those who aspire to be one of the greatest, will never be discouraged.  By nothing. Not even TerrenceContinueContinue reading “Whiplash – Damien Chazelle (2014) ****”

The Utopia of Rules – David Graeber (2015)

The premise of this book is that we live a deeply bureaucratic society – if we do not notice it, it is largely because bureaucratic practices and requirements have become so all-pervasive that we can barely see them, or worse, cannot imagine doing things any other way. Although this might seem a little exaggerated, IContinueContinue reading “The Utopia of Rules – David Graeber (2015)”

The migration dilemma

In times of great emotion taking some distance can generate new perspectives. For sure, in dealing with the huge immigration crisis in Europe rational analysis is of great help in finding workable answers. This is an interesting, factual look at arguably the biggest challenge we’ve been facing for a while on the Old Continent. TheContinueContinue reading “The migration dilemma”

Liberalism, The Life of an Idea – Edmund Fawcett (2014)

This is what one could call a tour de force: a biography of liberalism from 1830 until now. As far as I know, the first of its kind. And its a great joy to read – at least for those interested in the history of ideas. Fawcett (a former journalist) is clearly knowledgeable, has doneContinueContinue reading “Liberalism, The Life of an Idea – Edmund Fawcett (2014)”

The Magic Mountain – Thomas Mann (1924)

The all-time classic that most people advise me to read, when advising an all-time classic. I like the style, the characters and the beautiful sentences, but it is a slow-read. Would I after all be a victim of the modern age, with its emphasis on snippets of information and short attention span? Am only halfContinueContinue reading “The Magic Mountain – Thomas Mann (1924)”

Simple Rules – D. Sull and K. Eisenhardt (2015)

Simplification is not necessarily a form of stupidity – it can be a form of intelligence. Even of brilliance. Simple rules are, simply put, rules of thumb. And simple rules are applicable to almost every area. They do three things very well: Confer flexibility to pursue new opportunities while maintaining some consistency Can produce betterContinueContinue reading “Simple Rules – D. Sull and K. Eisenhardt (2015)”

Messy Iraq will remain an issue in American elections

As this New Yorker article by Dexter Filkins (author of the great book The Forever War) argues, it should’t surprise anyone that no politician in charge in the last 10 years, Republican or Democrat, isn’t compromised by the chaotic American involvement in Iraq. Claiming that State Secretary Hillary Clinton stood by while events unravelled is as un-factualContinueContinue reading “Messy Iraq will remain an issue in American elections”

Reis naar het continent – Mathieu Segers (2013)

This is a very well researched account of the creation of Europe, from World War II to the present day, with quite some technical details. Nevertheless, Segers never loses his general thread. He starts with stressing that the unification of Europe was a strongly held wish from the United States (“building Europe”) and that thereContinueContinue reading “Reis naar het continent – Mathieu Segers (2013)”