Sherry Y. Artemenko

No Whiz Kid

Revisado: 09-06-24

Craig McNamara was born into a family, a world, and a set of challenges that were unique. I would need to preface my comments in that while we share the same age, the path he trod and those he traveled with presented a journey that was absolutely unique to him, and was understandably troubling as he dealt with his feelings regarding his dad‘s role in the US government during Vietnam, as a very capable operator and achiever of his generation. A man himself who had his own challenges, his own traumas as far as the family, growing up in with his own fears and frustration which shaped his early experiences along with his biology and the people around him.

I empathize with Craigie, and through his description can understand somewhat of his pain, but I have to say as a book, this was very unfulfilling.

1-by enlarge it came off as a lot of whining
2-I was looking for some historical context with which to evaluate that timeframe, it’s events it’s people and it’s atmosphere. In this regard, it was rather thin.
3-as a longtime audible customer, I have enjoyed some books that have been read by the authors. I think Craig should have tried to do this, because as a third-party relayed the story, while certainly not acting it out, I think embellished things in a certain way and increased the whine factor, as he was trying to understand the emotions to reflect.
4-I’d like to be somewhat neutral, in evaluating his socialist, and in some cases, Buddhist, priorities. I would not assert that he is either a Buddhist or a socialist or a communist, but I think he cut socialism a break and especially communism’s attempts at collective farming and other history,that involved the purge of the kulak farmers, the starvation of hundreds of thousands if not, millions of people as socialist and communist administrators tried to reform agriculture– industry – commercial methods.
5-I think it’s helpful to have some context for the fear that was associated with communism coming out of the second world war and dealing with Stalin dealing with the division of Germany, the Korean war, the rise of Mai Za Dong, and the bold, direct aggressive posture of the communist movement. It was a terribly hard problem and challenge to deal with, they probably still were some good people in those institutions, but after what was fought for and defeated in World War II, the prospects of having to deal with larger more powerful, better resourced villains was daunting.
6-while I think Craigs love for his dad was sincere. He was certainly villainized, and it would have helped if he could have somehow or other placed that villainy in the broader understanding of national leadership and military figures. The horror of 60,000 who died and hundreds of thousands or millions that may have died in Southeast Asia, were sins that have to be looked at somehow other in the perspective of the dropping of atomic bombs, Nazi genocide, Okinawa, Guadalcanal,, Iwo Jima, and would be villains of conflicts gone by with names like Abraham Lincoln, Robert Lee, Jefferson Davis, Napoleon and many others who found themselves in the situation where they would like to have been able to eject themselves, but carried on as best they could.
7-generally I was disappointed … I stuck it out but barely

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Vital and irreplaceable Middle East perspective

Revisado: 02-03-24

Getting to the root of an issue or problem always challenges the pitch to be chosen with the shovel blade engaging the material. Shallow shaving or scooping, gets you to interesting observations, often correct but not that helpful. A more upright angle into the deep requires skillful, patient, more skilled, adequate philosophic, detail oriented, category insight rich analysis.

Can’t imagine a better handling of this topic, an issue set that is the tail wagging the rest of the world these days, … maybe to the end of time.

You will not be disappointed, might be herniating to some, but I think an historic masterpiece … Gibbon come to the Ottoman Empire, or just to “ Empire” as a story that captures many would-be Caesars, Czars, Kaisers or Chieftains and how they ply their craft and slake their ambition.

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Chaos demands more from us

Revisado: 12-07-22

Hard learned lessons brilliantly related. Excellent thinker and writer, a free and adventurous spirit that worked to contain wildness with knowledge while not compromising passion.

Critical Messages within for any mission, public or private, military or management …

We all need to own what we know, or pay the consequences of uninformed plans or execution.

Practical and important wisdom.

Highly recommend.

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Magnificent

Revisado: 05-10-22

This set of lectures is the on-ramp to living the examined life. I have now listen to this at least two times carefully all the way through and pieces of it at other times. I cannot say enough about Daniel Robinson and his ability to communicate. Though it is 30 hours in length it’s probably 120 hours of learning given the concentrated thought and language that Dr. Robinson is able to put into it. I can’t say enough positive things about this. You owe it to yourself if you are a student and seeker to drag yourself through this amazing survey. Thank you Daniel Robinson.

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Exceptional

Revisado: 09-05-20

I’m on my third read of this, it is so complete, dense and yet well structured and flowing that it continues to fortify the “what, whys and wherefores” of these often under examined opening scenes of the war. This first volume of the Trilogy is also read by a masterful story teller reader, who does the best job of the three volumes in the series. Keegan, Shirer, Pogue, Prange, John Toland have no leg up on Atkinson ... all excellent, but this and he, are exceptional... and a must read for those determined to better understand the meaning and importance of this continuation of the Great War.

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Not a Novel, but a play!

Revisado: 10-16-15

This amazing book was more fabulously acted out, than just excellently read. Why I am a fan of AUDIBLE!

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