Posted by: AHF ®
01/08/2002, 14:39:34
Author Profile Mail author
|
Dear Ollie: No offense intended, but it tickles me when you (and others I might add) perform critiques of notable and respected authors. Do you consider yourself a peer of Shirer? Just curious. It might have been better to say that you disagreed with portions of the book rather than say it has obvious flaws. Respectfully, AHF
|
Posted by: Ollie ®
01/08/2002, 16:01:43
Author Profile Mail author
|
First of all, I didn't know I was guilty of regularly performing critiques of notable and respected authors! You should be kinder to first time offenders! Secondly, with regard to Shirer specifically, I have no qualms about critiquing the prose in his book, which has nothing to do with his diligent and noteworthy attempt to lay out the general history of the Third Reich. Frankly, his storytelling inevitably takes a comical and unprofessional tone when he regularly returns to the topic of homosexuality. I literally laughed outloud when I read his account that the Nazi SA suffered organizationally in the mid to late 1920s because its homosexual leaders "quarreled and feuded as only men of unnatural sexual inclinations, with their peculiar jealousies, can" (Shirer, 120). I'm laughing now! I also find it a bit backwards and highly uninformed (not to mention offensive) that Shirer considers these personal opinions appropriate for an historical work. Nor do I feel any hesitation in pointing out that he is an awful student of philosophy if his terrible (mis)readings of Nietzche and Hegel are any indication of his philosophical training. Anyway, no offense taken -- but I really don't feel like my comments are out of hand. And frankly, I suppose I do consider myself a peer of Shirer in many respects. Ollie NA
|
Posted by: AHF ®
01/08/2002, 20:35:30
Author Profile Mail author
|
Since you seem to be in to light reading, I suggest "The History of the English Speaking Peoples" by Winston Churchill(all volumes). I would be interested in your critique of that one. ;) AHF
|
Posted by: rpcman ®
01/08/2002, 16:08:41
Author Profile Mail author
|
Anyone and everyone should have the right to critique anyone and everyone. Just because someone is notable or respected doesn't mean they are past critique or commentary. If my 5 year old wants to critique Dr. Suess or the pope he should be allowed to. His arguments, on the other hand, should be accepted or rejected on their own merit--not on who he is or who he is critiquing.
|
Posted by: Aaron V. ®
01/08/2002, 17:22:12
Author Profile Mail author
|
Although I can not discuss much in the way of the history of the Third Reich specifically, as long as we're analyzing the psycho-sexual aspects of Nazism, I thought I'd mention this article.
Related link: Hitler, One Testicle Only
|
Posted by: hk112358 ®
01/09/2002, 11:08:12
Author Profile Mail author
|
I read "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" some time ago. Although I recall reading some repetitive phrase, something like, "the former Austrian Corporal" and thinking it was quaint 50's language, I found the book to be excellent. The constant referencing homosexuality will soon stop if you read on, since Hitler destroyed the Brownshirts as soon as he no longer needed them, about 1933. Next, I read "The Last Lion, Alone" volume two of a two-volume history of Winston Churchill, by William Manchester. "Alone" substantianted almost everything I read about Hitler. Since Hitler and Churchill were contemporaries, and Churchill was Hitler's first enemy in the British Empire, you might want to read "Alone" next.
|
Posted by: Ollie ®
01/09/2002, 11:16:22
Author Profile Mail author
|
Thanks very much for the heads up (that homosexual references will soon, mercifully end) and the "Alone" recommendation. I've had the WWII history monkey on my back for quite a while. I've managed to pick up important bits and pieces on U.S. involvement
over the years, but my personal reading marathon has been long overdue. Ollie NA
|
Posted by: hk112358 ®
01/09/2002, 11:33:00
Author Profile Mail author
|
Churchill's nine years while he was in the "Policital Wilderness" in the House of Commons. That means he did not belong to any party (disagreement over the India-as-a-sovereign-state issue). "Alone" ends its narrative on the day Churchill takes office as Prime Minister; just after the mass evacuation at Dunquirque (which Churchill oversaw as Lord of the Admiralty). After reading "Alone" (by the way, it is much shorter than "Third Reich"), I recommend you read "A Man Called Intrepid" by William Stevenson. It is about the spy efforts (the Underground, the Enigma coding machines, a WWII Mata Hari, there actually was a spy named James Bond, etc.) in the WWII European theater. This book could only be written after a significant passage of time, to allow documents to be declassified, etc. I think the book overemphasises its role in getting to VE day, but it is still an excellent history.
|
|
