What is America? A Short History of the New World Order – Ronald Wright

Like his last book, A Short History of Progress, author Ronald Wright has crafted an eminently readable and concise work that deserves to be read both widely and deeply. In his latest analysis, Wright looks at the history of America, from its earliest days as the domain of the aboriginal, to its current position as probably the most reviled country in the world.

Beginning with a short history of the Spanish subjugation of Mesoamerica (Mexico and the adjoining Maya region of Central America) and Greater Peru which powerfully sets the theme of conquest, the author quickly moves to the time of the English settling of what ultimately became the United States. Much of the history of the genocide and betrayal of the aboriginals living in what, for many, will seem a surprising amount of structure, government and civilization, is well-known to students of that period, but the information serves to provide the context for defining the American character as it has revealed itself over the past two hundred years.

Once the frontiers of America were closed, the U.S government looked abroad to expand its influence and will until we have the situation the world confronts today – a country that subscribes to the notions of exceptionalism and manifest destiny, beliefs that have made it guilty of a hubris worthy of Greek tragedy. Perhaps the best way to view the book is as an examination of a pattern of behaviour that, while hardly unique to the United States, has resulted in a sorry tale of lost potential.

While those who subscribe to the American mythology of benevolence betrayed will be deeply offended by this work, those who are able to rise above blind patriotic fervour will see the truth and validity of Wright’s observation which, as always, are backed by solid research and historical data. He ends the book by looking at one model of co-operation that suggests human beings can rise above their selfish and violent history to work together toward common goals. That model is the European Union which, as the author readily admits, is far from perfect but seems to be succeeding where past structures have failed. One needs only consider their progressive legislation on climate control or medical care for its citizenry to appreciate the accuracy of his observations.

In closing, it seems that all of the goodwill and excitement generated worldwide over the election of Barack Obama suggests that there is still a tremendous hunger in countless countries for the United States to succeed as a nation among nations; without question it still has much to contribute, and its tremendous power to influence the direction of world affairs, for both good and evil, is undeniable. But some important questions remain to be answered: Can the United States rise above the national character it has forged in history, and begin to realize its true potential? Will its citizens, even under inspirational political leadership, be willing to do the hard work and make the necessary sacrifices to achieve that potential?

Only time will answer those questions. I wish them well.

A Short History of Progress – Ronald Wright

Every so often I read a book that not only makes me think deeply but also causes me to feel a measure of despair about the human condition. Ronald Wright’s A Short History of Progress is such a book.

Exploring our short 10,000-year-old human civilization, Wright develops a portrait that can hardly be considered flattering. Examining four previous societies, Sumer, Easter Island, the Maya and Rome, the author shows the shortsightedness of each that ultimately led to their downfall. In spending all of their ‘natural capital’ (the natural resources available to them), with little thought to the future, each was ultimately felled by what Wright calls ‘progress traps’ that resulted in environmental degradation, starvation, and collapse. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of their collective demise is the fact that each of them became aware, long before conditions became irreversible, of where they were headed and yet persisted in their respective behaviours! Might this sound at least remotely familiar to the modern reader?

The power of this very accessible book lies in its demonstrated historical correspondence to contemporary life, and the message is clear: if we continue in the pattern so regularly repeated throughout our human history, we will soon be at a point where not just one or two societies collapse, but rather our entire way of life on earth. A few years ago it would have been easy to dismiss such a thesis as alarmist and overblown, but given what we now know about greenhouse gases, pollution and climate change, we would be as foolish as our ancestors were to adopt such an attitude. But of course, isn’t that precisely what so many of us and our leaders continue to do?

I suspect that one of our fundamental flaws as human beings is to confuse our technological achievements with wisdom, leading us to the belief that we are highly evolved beings when, in fact as Wright so amply demonstrates, our short history of progress shows us to be a shortsighted species, having thus far left an almost unbroken record of environmental exploitation and degradation.

The question that remains to be answered is, “Are we capable of truly learning anything from our sordid past?” Stay tuned to find out the answer.

Before I Wake – Robert J. Wiersema

In many ways I am a conservative reader, tending to stay with authors I know will provide me with a satisfying story. Lately, however, I have been branching out with unfamiliar writers, mainly because there is little new with my favorite ones. The experience is proving to be worthwhile.

The latest book I read, Before I Wake, by Robert Wiersma, reminds me in some ways of the very first book I read many years ago by the late Brian Moore, called Cold Heaven, in that both deal with themes of family relationships, miracles, and the challenges inherent in accepting personal responsibility. Before I Wake begins with one of the worst things a parent can imagine, the prospect of losing one’s child. In this case, Sherry Barrett, the three year old daughter of Karen and Simon, is struck down by a truck as she is crossing the street with her mother. In a coma and with no hope of recovery, her parents make the incredibly hard decision to take her off life support. However, the unexpected begins when she is disconnected from the respirator – she continues to breathe.

Wiersma then takes us to the Barrett home several months later, where Sherry, still comatose, is being taken care of by her mother Karen and a nurse, Ruth. By this time, Simon is no longer in the home, having moved out to be with a fellow lawyer, the much younger Mary. The plot then takes an unusual turn as Ruth reveals to her sister, dying of cancer, that she is no longer afflicted with her crippling arthritis. She attributes her cure to Sherry, and invites her sister to meet her. As a result of this meeting, a cascade of events develops, ultimately threatening the safety, and even the lives, of the Barrett family.

All of the events described take place very early in the novel, after which we are introduced to a fascinating array of characters: the rather sinister Father Peter, his acolyte Leo, the enigmatic Tim, and the contrite hit and run driver Henry. Each has an important role to play in the drama that unfolds.

As far as I know, this is the first novel by Robert Wiersema; his facility with plot, character and narrative structure all bode very well for building a loyal readership in the years to come. He certainly has me convinced of his talent.

Restless – William Boyd

Although never a fan of the espionage genre, with the exception of the Ian Fleming Bond stories when I was a boy, I made a recent exception upon the enthusiastic recommendation of a friend and fellow avid reader. I’m glad I did.

The book, entitled Restless, by William Boyd, is an engrossing tale that takes place in two times, 1976 and the Second World War, and has two strong female protagonists, Sally Gilmartin, originally Eva Delectskaya, and her daughter Ruth. Eva’s story begins in Paris in 1939, not long after the murder of her brother Kolia. She is approached by a man named Luca Romer, for whom Kolia had worked, and is quickly recruited into the British Secret Service. Thus begins her life as a spy.

Meanwhile, in 1976, Eva’s daughter Ruth is a single mother of a five year old when she notices her mother acting strangely, insisting that she is being watched. Over a period of time she hands over the autobiography of her life in espionage, for reasons that become completely apparently only very late in the novel. It is a fascinating story that she gives to Ruth, a life of danger, betrayal, and renewal.

Eva’s activities ostensibly revolve around the British efforts to draw the United States into the Second World War. Through the front of a news agency, Eva and her colleagues specialize in writing and planting spurious stories designed to exaggerate the threat of Nazi penetration into the continental U.S., the goal being to produce a sense of danger sufficient to make the Americans believe that entering the war is in their best self-interests. However, as seems inevitable in the world of espionage, all is not always as it seems, and the reader can look forward to some intriguing twists.

Readers will find themselves drawn into the lives of both mother and daughter, both independent, strong-willed women, and fans of the spy genre will experience sufficient plot surprises to appeal to their sense of historical adventure as well.

All in all, a very compelling novel!

Some Quick Picks

While some time has passed since I last wrote on this blog, my reading has been as active and varied as ever; while some of the books have had some interesting elements, but not sufficiently compelling to warrant recommendation, other authors have proven to be reliable purveyors of their particular genre. Following are some ‘quick picks’, accompanied by some very brief comments for each:

Saving Fish From Drowning – by Amy Tan

Using the persona of a ghost as her narrator, Amy Tan does her usual magnificent job in offering acute observations of the clash of cultures, this time by having a group of Americans of various backgrounds taking a tour of Myamar, formerly Burma. Amidst much wry humor, Tan is also able to explore some very serious themes, not the least of which is the frequently misguided notion of Westerners that they can solve the problems of people about whom they know nothing. Unsparing in her examination of the brutal oppression of the military regime currently running the country, the author achieves a remarkable result in this novel: entertainment and edification.

The Accidental Time Machine – by Joe Haldeman

This quirky novel can perhaps best be described as science fiction for those who don’t normally read the genre. As the title suggests, the plot revolves around an accidental invention of a time machine in the form of a calibrator; this machine transports itself and anything/one connected to it into the future in exponential jumps in both time and place, affording the author the opportunity, in the vein of H.G. Wells’ classic, to offer social commentary on a myriad of human foibles. Well worth the read!

Obsession – by Jonathan Kellerman

Every novel written by this psychologist over the years has proven to be satisfying. Part detective, part mystery, part psychological thriller, Kellerman’s latest revolves around the provocative deathbed statement of the mother of one of his former patients, in which she seems to confess a murder to her daughter. While no one who knew the competent, highly regarded and compassionate mother and nurse believes there is any credibility to this, her enigmatic statement sets of a series of events and twists that provide the kind of challenges the author’s readers have come to expect over the years.

Born Standing Up – Steve Martin

Anyone of a certain age who, over the years, has enjoyed the somewhat skewed humour of Steve Martin, comedian, writer, actor and filmmaker, will find real pleasure in reading this gentle and gracious memoir of his development as a stand-up comic. From his early days performing at the Bird Cage Theatre housed at Knott’s Berry Farm, to his writing for the Smothers Brothers, to his appearances on the Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live, through to the end of his stand-up performances in front of tens of thousands of people, Martin provides both wit and insight as he explains what it means to be a comedian. Anyone looking for lurid details of his personal life will be disappointed. An intensely private man, Martin provides only the personal information necessary to understand the factors that contributed to the development of his career. All in all, a classy memoir.