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joost

joost@reading.joostagterhoek.nl

Joined 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 (Paperback, 1988, Del Rey / Ballantine Books) No rating

Guy Montag was a fireman whose job it was to start fires...

The system …

Great book! A classic of course. Montag is a recognisable character, Beatty a wonderful bad guy and Mildred a sad and distant love interest. The ending is too preachy in my eyes, and becomes a bit too far fetched (remember books, walk the earth, eat a little bacon, you’re fine? Yeah right). But the parts about the wall screens displaying ‘the family’ constantly talking but saying nothing, is really prescient of current media. And the afterword also is: you don’t have to burn books, you just have to make people not care about them anymore. Recommended! A better read than other similar classics (Brave New World easily, 1984 almost).

finished reading Autocracy Inc.

Autocracy Inc. (Paperback, 2024, 23 juli 2024)

We think we know what an autocratic state looks like: There is an all-powerful leader …

Absolutely great read (I lent the audiobook). Details political, commercial and propagandistic ties between autocracies worldwide and shows their intricacy and effective propaganda, especially lately (war in Ukraine, Syria, misinformation, xenophobia). And scarily predicts Trumps abuse of the American justice system and other state powers for his own gains. Recommended!