What We Are Reading Today: The Real North Korea

What We Are Reading Today: The Real North Korea
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Updated 05 August 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: The Real North Korea

What We Are Reading Today: The Real North Korea

Author: Andrei Lankov

In this book, Andrei Lankov argues that North Korea is not irrational, and nothing shows this better than its continuing survival against all odds. 

A living political fossil, it clings to existence in the face of limited resources and a “zombie economy,” manipulating great powers despite its weakness. 

The writers says the old system is slowly falling apart. In the long run, with or without reform, the regime is unsustainable, according to a review on goodreads.com. 

Based on vast expertise, this book reveals how average North Koreans live, how their leaders rule, and how both survive.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Literary Journeys’

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Literary Journeys’
Updated 05 September 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Literary Journeys’

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Literary Journeys’

Edited by John McMurtrie

Extending to the ends of the earth and spanning from ancient Greece to today, “Literary Journeys” is an enthralling book that takes you on a voyage of discovery through some of the most important journeys in literature. In original essays, an international team of literary critics, scholars, and other writers explore exciting, dangerous, tragic, and uplifting journeys in more than 75 classic and popular works of fiction from around the world.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Deep Life’ by Tullis C. Onstott

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Deep Life’ by Tullis C. Onstott
Updated 03 September 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Deep Life’ by Tullis C. Onstott

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Deep Life’ by Tullis C. Onstott

“Deep Life” takes readers to uncharted regions deep beneath Earth’s crust in search of life in extreme environments, and reveals how astonishing new discoveries by geomicrobiologists are aiding the quest to find life in the solar system.

Tullis Onstott provides an insider’s look at the pioneering fieldwork that is shining new light on Earth’s hidden biology, a subterranean biosphere thriving with rare and exotic life forms.


What We Are Reading Today: Comparing the Literatures

What We Are Reading Today: Comparing the Literatures
Updated 02 September 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: Comparing the Literatures

What We Are Reading Today: Comparing the Literatures

Author: David Damrosch

Literary studies are being transformed today by the expansive and disruptive forces of globalization. More works than ever circulate worldwide in English and in translation, and even national traditions are increasingly seen in transnational terms.

In “Comparing the Literatures,” David Damrosch integrates comparative, postcolonial, and world-literary perspectives to offer a comprehensive overview of comparative studies and its prospects in a time of great upheaval and great opportunity.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Negotiation’ by Max H. Bazerman

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Negotiation’ by Max H. Bazerman
Updated 01 September 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Negotiation’ by Max H. Bazerman

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Negotiation’ by Max H. Bazerman

In “Negotiation: The Game Has Changed,” legendary Harvard Business School professor Max Bazerman, a pioneer in the field of negotiation, shows you how to negotiate successfully today by adapting proven negotiation principles and strategies to the challenging new contexts you face—from negotiating across cultural and political differences to trying to reach
an agreement over Zoom or during a supply chain crisis.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’

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Updated 01 September 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’

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  • Towles keeps the story centered on Rostov’s journey, highlighting the challenges of life under house arrest

Author: Amor Towles

“A Gentleman in Moscow” is a work of historical fiction by American author Amor Towles and set in Russia in the 1920s.

The story follows Count Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat placed under house arrest in Moscow’s Hotel Metropol after the Bolshevik Revolution.

Despite his confinement, Rostov adapts to his surroundings with dignity and determination.

Towles, known for his bestselling novels “Rules of Civility” and “The Lincoln Highway,” published “A Gentleman in Moscow” in 2016. He drew inspiration from his experiences in luxury hotels, particularly one in Geneva in which some guests were permanent residents.

One of the book’s strengths is Towles’ exploration of the human experience. Through Rostov’s eyes, readers witness the changes in Russia that shaped social life.

Towles keeps the story centered on Rostov’s journey, highlighting the challenges of life under house arrest.

The author’s vivid descriptions bring the Hotel Metropol to life, with its ornate interiors and hidden corners serving as the backdrop for Rostov’s daily adventures. He maintains his aristocratic lifestyle while engaging with the world beyond his confinement.

While many have rated the novel as worthy of four stars, some critics have found it slow-paced. Reviewer Rohan Singh Jora said: “This book is eloquently written with the author’s sophisticated knowledge of a true gentleman. Although well-written, some chapters are monotonous and slow-paced.”

However, the book offers a profound look into human psychology, resilience, and hope. Towles’ writing makes the story captivating and leaves a lasting impression on readers.