Gonna get a physical copy of this one. The pdf I have appears to be missing some pages, plus I feel certain I'll reread it several times so should be worth it.
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silly little guy he/it
My languages in order of proficiency: German French English Chinese. The reason I read so much in English is only because most pirated epubs are in English. I have no consistent grading system, the stars are based on vibes, don't read into it. I am not a critic; my "reviews" simply document what it was like for me to read the book in question.
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possm's books
2024 Reading Goal
90% complete! possm has read 27 of 30 books.
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possm commented on Minima Moralia by Theodor W. Adorno
possm reviewed Adorno by Stefan Muller-Doohm
Extremely thorough biography
4 stars
This is a long and thorough biography of Adorno that works well as an introduction to his philosophy. I feel like I learned a lot. The more theoretical passages went over my head, but I think the mind still retains something even of texts that are several levels too difficult. It's not a waste of time to read them, more or less attentively. I'm side-eyeing the biographer for conservative intuitions and misogyny. I'm especially surprised at his seeming lack of curiosity towards Gretel Adorno, who by his own account played a major part in TWA's writing process. Why does the biographer feel the need to tell us all about TWA's grandfather, several of his intellectual friends, etc, but next to nothing about who his wife was? Before reading this biography I felt unequipped to read any work of Adorno on my own - now I feel equipped for a few …
This is a long and thorough biography of Adorno that works well as an introduction to his philosophy. I feel like I learned a lot. The more theoretical passages went over my head, but I think the mind still retains something even of texts that are several levels too difficult. It's not a waste of time to read them, more or less attentively. I'm side-eyeing the biographer for conservative intuitions and misogyny. I'm especially surprised at his seeming lack of curiosity towards Gretel Adorno, who by his own account played a major part in TWA's writing process. Why does the biographer feel the need to tell us all about TWA's grandfather, several of his intellectual friends, etc, but next to nothing about who his wife was? Before reading this biography I felt unequipped to read any work of Adorno on my own - now I feel equipped for a few of them. Besides that, I also learned some German history, especially the post-war period. That's an excellent outcome, so I am glad I read this book. One issue I had is with the translation. I would have much rather read this in German. The translation is subpar - just a head's up for people who have the choice I didn't get.
possm finished reading Adorno by Stefan Muller-Doohm
possm set a goal to read 30 books in 2024
possm started reading Minima Moralia by Theodor W. Adorno
possm started reading Adorno by Stefan Muller-Doohm
possm reviewed Wiesel, Wiesenthal, Klarsfeld by Tabatha Yeatts (Remembering the Holocaust)
The aftermath of the Shoah explained to children
2 stars
I had this idea that a history book written for schoolchildren might make for a lighter and easier read. It turns out I didn't like this, but I'm not sure whether my idea was mistaken or whether this is simply a bad book. Honestly, I remember as a child how much I hated feeling like an author was talking down to me. I think this book would have given me this kind of feeling had I read it as a child. In the end it's like I read a couple wikipedia articles in Simple English. I did learn a few things but I also wasted a lot of time.
possm finished reading Wiesel, Wiesenthal, Klarsfeld by Tabatha Yeatts (Remembering the Holocaust)
Wiesel, Wiesenthal, Klarsfeld by Tabatha Yeatts (Remembering the Holocaust)
"Discusses the experiences of people who survived the Holocaust, the trials of Nazi leaders at Nuremberg, the establishment of the …
possm started reading Wiesel, Wiesenthal, Klarsfeld by Tabatha Yeatts (Remembering the Holocaust)
Wiesel, Wiesenthal, Klarsfeld by Tabatha Yeatts (Remembering the Holocaust)
"Discusses the experiences of people who survived the Holocaust, the trials of Nazi leaders at Nuremberg, the establishment of the …
possm reviewed Exil unter Palmen by Magali Nieradka-Steiner
Chronicles of exiled German intellectuals in one French village
2 stars
The book contains a couple of fun anecdotes, I especially enjoyed reading about Marta Feuchtwanger, she sounds amazing. But for the most part, it's not making the most of the material. Bad structure, bad transitions between parts, sentences that should have been broken up. Often the writing devolves into just listing names of notable people, sometimes over half a page. The author is clearly passionate about her research and very knowledgeable, which is great. But this book is not well written.
possm finished reading Exil unter Palmen by Magali Nieradka-Steiner
possm started reading Exil unter Palmen by Magali Nieradka-Steiner
possm reviewed Fritz Bauer by Ronen Steinke
This is how you write a biography.
5 stars
Extremely solid biography. Just the right amount of detail, just the right amount of historical context, just the right amount of philosophical context, very little psychological speculation with a good amount of solid evidence-based argumentation. Very little sentimentality, deployed appropriately. Good, matter-of-fact prose. Absolute Goldilocks type biography. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the subject matter.
possm finished reading Fritz Bauer by Ronen Steinke
Fritz Bauer by Ronen Steinke
Fritz Bauer zwang die Deutschen zum Hinsehen: Inmitten einer Justiz, die in der jungen Bundesrepublik noch immer von braunen Seilschaften …