tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post1147722711492887378..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Empire by Niall FergusonBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-22124607219002486702019-09-24T07:04:32.538-04:002019-09-24T07:04:32.538-04:00Hi Carol - This book is one of the more popular on...Hi Carol - This book is one of the more popular ones that I have read and I think that it very popular in the UK. <br /><br />Blog readers can be very temperamental. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-84177921339807443962019-09-24T05:51:02.999-04:002019-09-24T05:51:02.999-04:00I saw this book a number of times when I was in th...I saw this book a number of times when I was in the UK and wondered what he was like. I'm having trouble commenting on blogspot.com. Hopefully this gets through.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-84012712641387583012019-09-16T14:19:37.778-04:002019-09-16T14:19:37.778-04:00Hi Rachel - How Colonialism shaped the world is in...Hi Rachel - How Colonialism shaped the world is indeed a talked about topic. A version of Postcolonialism tries to tie it to virtually everything in the world. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-48969187149906244652019-09-16T11:40:40.109-04:002019-09-16T11:40:40.109-04:00Too bad it wasn't as comprehensive as you hope...Too bad it wasn't as comprehensive as you hoped. I would have hoped for the same thing. And how colonialism shaped the modern world is worth looking into. Rachelhttp://hibernatorslibrary.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-54064267214905954342019-09-15T19:27:35.255-04:002019-09-15T19:27:35.255-04:00Thanks Suko - This was indeed an international bes...Thanks Suko - This was indeed an international bestseller.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-19878331381819286752019-09-15T19:12:54.201-04:002019-09-15T19:12:54.201-04:00Brian Joseph, I'm glad that you found this int...Brian Joseph, I'm glad that you found this international bestseller interesting, informative and worthwhile overall. Terrific review as usual! I will keep Ferguson's work in mind. Sukohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11893742747135555499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-16350255646650874902019-09-15T16:55:03.727-04:002019-09-15T16:55:03.727-04:00Hi Sandi - Ferguson is not afraid to go all over t...Hi Sandi - Ferguson is not afraid to go all over the place with ideas. Though I do not think what the United State has done in the world is Empire Building, Ferguson more or less does. He touches upon his the thoughts in this a little bit in this book. I think that he has gone further in opinion pieces. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-27128719402327612712019-09-15T09:58:27.761-04:002019-09-15T09:58:27.761-04:00"...both Evangelical Christian and Liberal mo..."...both Evangelical Christian and Liberal movements, engaged in a mostly successful campaign to eradicate slavery throughout the world. <br /><br />The author goes on to detail how the Empire spread free trade, communications networks, competent civil service, legal systems and parliamentary democracy throughout the world. He engages in economic and political analysis that I admittedly cannot really evaluate. However, he concludes, that despite problems, on average former British colonies are more democratic, and more prosperous, then the rest of the developing world."<br /><br /><br />Very eye-opening!<br /><br />It is interesting that though the US opposed the British Empire, we now seem to be building one ourselves.<br />Sandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08702620069148109246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-24620988376147145682019-09-14T07:10:15.402-04:002019-09-14T07:10:15.402-04:00Hi Paula - I think that at the very least Great Br...Hi Paula - I think that at the very least Great Britain gets credit for helping to defeat the Axis. The resources of the Empire clearly helped in that cause. <br /><br />I think that it is important to read authors witch different views.<br /><br />That is a great cover. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-35643778860028676262019-09-14T07:04:24.691-04:002019-09-14T07:04:24.691-04:00Thanks Marion. Ferguson is multidimensional. Indee...Thanks Marion. Ferguson is multidimensional. Indeed. Both this view and the postcolonial view are not perfect, but the postcolonial view is based upon a rejection of the basic values that are the building blocks of human civilization and well being. Ferguson at least argues from a more conventional, and I would say rational angle. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-83428596490945194502019-09-14T06:53:30.845-04:002019-09-14T06:53:30.845-04:00The cover is very compelling to start with. Fergus...The cover is very compelling to start with. Ferguson's take on the bloodthirsty colonisation of America and Australia is intriguing. If not the British, there's probably enough history in both cases to suggest it would have been the Europeans, sadly. Whether or not Ferguson's claim that the British Empire was beneficial is a good debate point. I like the theory that it actually helped disperse worse Empires. Thanks for another interesting wrap-up of a contentious book. Interesting how some of the authors you've read contradict each other. Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-45598625901966452252019-09-14T00:36:07.788-04:002019-09-14T00:36:07.788-04:00Wow...now I think I'd better read this! It sou...Wow...now I think I'd better read this! It sounds more dimensional than I'd have given it credit for on the surface. I agree with you, it seems like a stretch to say that Britain sacrificed her Empire for WW2 (though it makes for a pretty spectacular thesis statement).<br /><br />I have so enjoyed your series on this topic and that you are reading about it from different angles. I tend to take a pretty cynical view of both perspectives, and find both sides err when they put too much of a moral emphasis on what are largely economic issues. Anyways...more dialogue is always good, and hopefully the truth will get sifted out from hyperbole.Marian Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14115916138435761469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-7231647509274367782019-09-12T17:57:18.216-04:002019-09-12T17:57:18.216-04:00Thanks Susan. Like many things on the Empire proba...Thanks Susan. Like many things on the Empire probably reaped both good and bad. Ferguson actually compares Gandhi’s movement and thought that it was equivalent to earlier movements. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-69794829030808643532019-09-12T17:19:15.715-04:002019-09-12T17:19:15.715-04:00Nice post Brian. I have not read Ferguson yet but...Nice post Brian. I have not read Ferguson yet but you sum up this book nicely. I can not say I disagree with the contentions that the Empire was terrible as well as beneficial to humanity or that a weakened Empire allowed for stronger liberation movements that ended its rule. Though I'm sure other forces were involved as well, like the drive toward self-determination by leaders like Gandhi etc. thecuecardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870323589682197091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-29385589170419979572019-09-09T20:07:18.901-04:002019-09-09T20:07:18.901-04:00Thanks Naida - An author of shares opposing views ...Thanks Naida - An author of shares opposing views and who makes good faith arguments really earns a lot of credibility. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-82553920683103619132019-09-09T18:40:38.665-04:002019-09-09T18:40:38.665-04:00Hi Brian, I am glad you ended up enjoying this one...Hi Brian, I am glad you ended up enjoying this one and learning about the British Empire. It's good when an author shares both sides of an argument and as you mention it's important to look at things from different views even when we don't agree with them. Fantastic post as usual.The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-46398008599655481032019-09-09T17:17:47.540-04:002019-09-09T17:17:47.540-04:00Hi Felicity- It sounds as if Mr. T is like me. Whe...Hi Felicity- It sounds as if Mr. T is like me. When I read a traditional book I tend to use a lot of stickies for notes. <br /><br />I would love to know what you thought if you read this. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-53976029052376600122019-09-09T11:26:32.445-04:002019-09-09T11:26:32.445-04:00I thought I recognised this book as one we had on ...I thought I recognised this book as one we had on our shelves. Not one I have read (maybe some day) but I know Mr T has read it. In fact with some post-it notes still in place I might have a quick look to see which pages/paragraphs he has marked.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-72333962963349291192019-09-09T11:01:30.049-04:002019-09-09T11:01:30.049-04:00Thanks so much Baili. I was curious as to what you...Thanks so much Baili. I was curious as to what you thought about this book. The world has been changing so quickly over the last century or so. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-20172671659765815792019-09-09T10:57:15.261-04:002019-09-09T10:57:15.261-04:00Hi Caroline - Though Ferguson has some views that ...Hi Caroline - Though Ferguson has some views that I disagree with, I think his highlighting of the evils committed by the Empire indicates that not everyone was better of as the result of the Empire. Instead he argues that the Empire helped bring about modernity or liberal democratic values and society. I think that liberal, democratic values benefits almost all humans in the world today, regardless of ethnicity or geographic location.<br /><br />As for Ferguson’s nostalgia for Empire, I grant that he does give that impression. <br /><br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-15637845957107084812019-09-09T02:39:48.844-04:002019-09-09T02:39:48.844-04:00Dear Brain
how can i thank you enough for such r...Dear Brain <br />how can i thank you enough for such rich and dense post <br /><br />this is one of the best commentary i have ever read ,your strikingly great review loose no corner hidden<br />this book is definitely powerful and quite authentic <br /><br />will you believe that the very basic points writer raised here are same we (me and hubby) talk about of ,not with such accuracy or authenticity of course but struggle of powerful nations to overcome and weaker to resist and main events that changed the scenario after world wars <br /><br />i think i certainly will read this work <br />thank you so much for incredible review <br />blessings!bailihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06498012175058870980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-52612079277066005542019-09-09T02:31:13.273-04:002019-09-09T02:31:13.273-04:00This sounds very interesting but I have a feeling ...This sounds very interesting but I have a feeling it would infuriate me nonetheless. Assuming people and places were better off through colonization is, in my opinion, based on the idea that there is only one valuable way for a society is condescending. I very much doubt that the American Indians, many African people . . . See it that way. It almost sounds as if he’s mourning the end of the Empire.Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-44647787167153959482019-09-08T00:58:13.678-04:002019-09-08T00:58:13.678-04:00Thanks Judy. History is so important to delve into...Thanks Judy. History is so important to delve into. I agree that it would benefit everyone to know more of it. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-54254319466274585382019-09-08T00:56:19.314-04:002019-09-08T00:56:19.314-04:00Thanks Lainy. I think that this is s good book to ...Thanks Lainy. I think that this is s good book to start with when it comes to history. If you gave it a try I would love to know what you thought. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-34463790648364368502019-09-08T00:53:31.865-04:002019-09-08T00:53:31.865-04:00Thanks Sharon. A lot of people dislike Ferguson’s ...Thanks Sharon. A lot of people dislike Ferguson’s views . But he really makes argument in good faith. It is so nice that we have access to so many books that we can pursue these interests. <br /><br />Though we differ on some issues, I think that we have a lot in common! Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com