The World of Yesterday (Stefan Zweig, early 1940s)

(389 pages) (passed along by Paul Jr)

Finish wasn't expected. Ended his days in South America in February 1942 (with his wife) - difficult to find a landing spot (as so many Jews experienced), cumulative burden of many difficult years and experiences during the world wars and interwar period, more factors than I can grasp.

The loss of his passport in the 1930s hit Zweig hard - like the Wandering Jews - a deep (and correct) feeling of no place to call home. Hard to imagine.

I didn't know much about him, just had very much enjoyed his novel Beware of Pity. He authored all sorts of interesting things - plays, articles - not so many novels (which I'm normally on the hunt for). Collaborated with big names for his plays. 

In the large group of Jews fully assimilated into Viennese society in early 20th century. Successes early as a writer got his name out there and he met an incredible number of famous names.  There was a lot going on in Vienna prior to World War I! He spent a lot of time abroad and particularly loved hanging out in Paris.

His works were completely banned in Germany by the Nazis. Including a libretto written for erstwhile Nazi favorite Richard Strauss.

His discussion echoed other books I've read about the momentous eras he lived through, just on a more personal level.  The golden years leading up to WWI (and disbelief that it happened). The WWI years.  The interwar years; the rise of Hitler; the seeming inevitability of WWII; incredible and increasing difficulties for Jews. That's a lot to live through. 

He was exposed to, and hung out with, an incredible concentration of high-end talent across many disciplines. Fascinating.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Parts I-II)

Another famous book included in the "Harvard Classics" so I gave it a try.

Franklin's early years - a unique look at life in the colonies in the decades prior to the Revolutionary War.

All of this was fascinating but for whatever reason I just didn't get into the writing. I don't plan to finish this.

Early days.  Franklin learns the printing business and makes a success of it.  Poor Richard's Almanac. The Franklin stove.  Lending libraries.  He was an effective businessman and entrepreneur even in the early portions that I was reading.  Perhaps I would have enjoyed the Revolutionary War days and his time as an ambassador in Paris more?

Goodbye to All That (Robert Graves, 1929 (using 1957 text))

(360 pages)

Essentially an autobiography of early part of author's life, though includes elements not originally written to be used as such.  I don't know much about Graves, he was a very well-known poet and author.

By far the best part is the WWI discussion (also longest - book is much worthwhile just for this).

Starts with early family life; then author experiences English schoolboy life as someone who didn't fit in well.  Rules/traditions in those days - stifling.  Then gets into military and finds a lot of the same.  (Not wired for military, but WWI breaks out just as graduating.)

Endless connections via family, school, military.  The incredibly small world of Brit upper class.  I keep thinking that this connectedness was a big factor in sustaining Brit ascendancy - idea-sharing, common values - small island with outsized influence for a very long time.

Develops close relationship with George Mallory, they go climbing; he is best man at author's wedding.

German relatives - visits in prewar, later they are fighting on the opposite side; this connection leads to some suspicions during the war.

Front line/trench discussions really good.  I've also read a lot about this where it's part of a larger narrative in a novel (Parade's End, for example) or an overall history of the war (for example, this one by John Keegan); Graves's approach is different, effective - diary-style, where no compulsion to sacrifice details to a larger story arc.  Reminds of the wonderful Isaac Babel military diary-sketches (also in that the writer isn't a military-type, at all).

Exciting times in front lines but he also has quite a few other roles in the military - training, supply stuff - some in England, some back of the front lines - assigned there because of wounds, and also because of what they then called neurasthenia - his nerves were shot.  These discussions also interesting, in part because I've seen less of them.

As war winds down, Spanish flu kills mother-in-law; he travels on train with it.  That discussion is interesting in these COVID-19 days.

Socialism seems attractive after the war, which made some sense at the time.

Recounts interactions with Wilfred Owen and a lot of poets I don't know, Thomas Hardy, T.E. Lawrence - I found myself not so interested in his reminiscences of meet-ups with famous folk.

Other postwar stuff - married, four kids, Oxford degree, takes a teaching position in Egypt.

Ends at age 33; epilogue reports that he lived in Majorca quite a bit; remarried and had four more children.

Memoirs (Ulysses S. Grant, published 1885)

(780 pages)

Another book that I had never quite gotten to, despite repeatedly seeing recommendations.  Well worth reading.  Interesting that he came to write this in times of financial trouble (and eventually poor health) well after serving as president.  Of course not a professional writer - but much enjoyed his straightforward style.

Early portion regarding his selection to West Point and his challenges there.  Serves in Mexican War (and is bluntly critical of it); here he is exposed to many folks who he'll serve with or against in the Civil War.  Also doing quartermaster stuff which I suspect was very helpful down the line.  Transferred to the west coast in 1850s and the discussions of San Francisco (financial challenges sound familiar - boom-town cooks getting paid more than high ranking officers) and Oregon were interesting.

He was truly a nobody in military terms - basically out of the army when Civil War breaks out - took on some minor tasks for the army coming out of Illinois and had some value because of education and Mexican experience.

Consistent success leads to a larger role in the West.  Most of my Civil War reading has been weighted toward the war in the east - so it was interesting to read more about the west.  His discussion of the Vicksburg campaign was interesting - gives a sense of the challenges and risks of attacking an entrenched enemy while dealing with rivers, tributaries, flooding.  Great accomplishment that easily could have turned out badly.

As successes continue he takes over Army of the Potomac; the difficulties finishing off the Army of Northern Virginia take the war into 1865.  Grant as the relentless pursuer - Lincoln liked this after a string of too-cautious leaders - constantly calling for immediate pursuit if the enemy line is broken (this part sounded like Napoleon).  Appomattox and Lee's surrender. 

Discussions of interactions with Lincoln.  Candid assessments of many of the generals - Sherman and Sheridan his favorites, he also much liked David Porter (admiral key to Vicksburg and some subsequent campaigns).

He often quotes from orders issued during campaigns - the brevity and clarity is striking - these were handwritten often at night, often when the situation wasn't clear.  Impressive.

Yes it's autobiographical and sometimes you can sense when he's providing details intended to respond to criticism that had surfaced along the way.  But that's OK.

Recommended.

An Autobiography - or - The Story of my Experiments with Truth (M.K. Gandhi; written 1925-1929)

An interesting and useful look at Gandhi in his earlier years, by Gandhi.

I'm always suspicious of autobiographies - by definition the author cannot be unbiased - but there is so much going on in this one - glimpses into both the author and late 19th/early 20th century India.

I think he is pretty honest in using the term "experiments" (if that's an accurate translation) - clearly inquisitive, innovative, more than willing to try atypical approaches.

Some threads:

1.  Marriage - at a very young age.  Wife pretty much uneducated.  He spends quite a bit of time away (England, South Africa, etc.).  Later decides to abstain from knowing his wife (Brahmacharya).

2.  Diet - avoiding meat, milk.  Lots of fruits and nuts. Experimenting to the point of putting his health at risk.

3.  Medicine - again, accepting or not accepting medical advice - taking risks - to the point of jeopardizing his health.

4.  Child-rearing experiments; often separate from his own.

5.  Education - clearly a bright student; progresses through India, then onto England.  Educational experiments in Ashrams.

6.  Important years in England - I had forgotten about this if I ever knew it.

7.  Difficulties in establishing a law practice in India; accepts an opportunity in South Africa.  Builds relationships there; gains experience in dealing with mistreatment of Indian population (starting with getting thrown off a train).

8.  Religion, and more religion - gaining some familiarity with Christianity (starting in England); deeper understanding Hindu principles.

9.  Devoted to living simply; third-class train travel; sanitation; encouraging folks to clean up!

10.  Boer War - organizes ambulance corps - believed in working within the system and respecting the government (at least up to a point).

11.  Development of Satyagraha principle, starting in South Africa.

12.  Getting involved in Congress party.

13.  Very interesting issues in connecting with Muslim (Musselman) leadership; made me think of how poorly all this worked out, per discussion in this book.

14.  Early confrontations, let's call them, with British authorities in India.

15.  More experiments - in self-sufficiency - spinning wheels.

Not saying all these ideas played out well - but the guy clearly had immense leadership and imaginative capabilities.

Gift from Dharma, much enjoyed, lots to think about.