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I am about 2/3 of the way through George Packer's Our Man. It's just spectacular. You may wonder: do I need to read 600 pp about Richard Holbrooke? But the book's not about him, not fundamentally. It's about human self-sabotage, personal and national

penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215731/o…
The slow sunsetting of American purpose and power - the successes and failures of one of the last people to believe both fully *and* intelligently in that purpose and power: this is Packer's theme, and so superbly executed. penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215731/o…
So here's the deal to people who care about America in the world, but doubt they need quite so much Holbrooke as Packer offers ... Read the first 4 or 5 pp in Amazon's "look inside" feature. If you're not hooked, then it's not for you. My guess though is you wont be able to stop.
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David Frum
@davidfrum
"Nothing can stop what's coming" fiddles the president Image
"Nothing can stop what's coming," fiddles the president Image
"Nothing can stop what's coming," fiddles the president Image
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David Frum
@davidfrum
Something I've begun to worry about ... what happens when/if/as coronavirus hits Africa? ewn.co.za/2020/03/08/sa-… 1/x Image
In one way, Africa is shielded by a buffer against coronavirus. The virus seems to prey most fiercely upon the old - and Africa is continent of the young. brookings.edu/blog/africa-in… 2/x Image
But Africa is also a continent rapidly urbanizing into huge cities, tightly crowded and poorly serviced. Almost 500 million Africans now live in giant metropolises, ill served by water and electricity. 3/x csis.org/analysis/urban…
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David Frum
@davidfrum
I join the Ted Cruz club.
(And yes my late father-in-law, a legendary foreign correspondent, was indeed present when Ruby shot Oswald - as he was present in the most dangerous streets of Algiers in 1962, in Vietnam in 1965, Biafra 1970 ... he was that kind of a reporter.)
His memoirs are still available in digital format, thanks to a new edition enabled by @dcrittenden1 kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lo…
Pete traveled into Biafra aboard an ancient two-engine prop plane carrying humanitarian aid. He was playing chess with an aid worker when .... sputter cough ... one of the engines failed mid-ocean. He famously hesitated, thought, and said: "This seems a good time to castle."
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Jason Helmes
@anymanfitness
Story Time...

A crazy thing happened at the gym today.

It really reminded me that men need support and help from other men.

It might be uncomfortable for us to be vulnerable, display emotion, and help other men, but it's an extremely worthy cause.

And this is why...
Back around Halloween of '19, one of the semi-regular dudes at the gym was walking in as I was walking out.

I had seen him and said "sup" before, but we had never talked at length.

He was in his mid-20's, tall, with short hair - his name was Mario.

"Sup, Mario?" I said to him.
I assumed he'd just say, "Sup" back...

I was very, very wrong.

He started mumbling, his eyes went to the floor, and he said, "Not good, man" as he was fighting back tears.

At this point, I will be honest.

I was very uncomfortable.

I did not know this man well.
Read 17 tweets
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Shadi Hamid
@shadihamid
From George Packer's 'Our Man'

"The more important people become, the less they learn—they don't read as much, they have no time to waste productively, they talk to fewer locals on the receiving end of history"

amzn.to/2pmLOYn
The more I get through George Packer's 'Our Man,' the more I'm reminded of just how bad Democratic administrations have been on foreign policy. Of course, Republican administrations have often been as bad or worse. (Which makes for a rather depressing recored overall)
This is perhaps not what others will get from the book, but it's striking to me just how damaging the 8 years of Bill Clinton's foreign policy were: Tragedy mixed with missed opportunities and a unique misreading of the moment and what it required
Read 6 tweets
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Anand Giridharadas
@AnandWrites
I just finished George Packer’s OUR MAN.

Masterpiece.

You may say, I’m not interested in Richard Holbrooke. Don’t think it’s a book about some man. It’s a tale of America in the world and out of it.

And a cathedral of research and nonfiction artistry. penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215731/o…
There’s scant nonfiction that gets close to knowing what the inner experience of people is. This is the rare biography that, through miraculous reporting and total access, shows us what one (highly influential) life looks like from within.
Packer interviewed everyone in America to write this book. The least you can do is read it. The book, and the life it chronicles, is a ferocious rebuttal to the inwardness and cynicism of Trump’s idea of America.

Get it here. I won’t let you down.

penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215731/o…
Read 3 tweets
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Jenks
@TheLostBride
This is why we can't be trusted with referendums.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…
This reminds me of when I was trapped halfway up a cliff by the incoming tide. There were some tourists watching me, so I naturally acted like I meant to be up there, stopping to admire the view, every time they looked at me, then, when they looked away, I willed them to fuck off
I'm a naturally shy person and cannot stand being watched or looked at. Dying is one thing, but I don't want people watching while it happens. I don't care if they're concerned, apathetic, screaming or laughing. I just don't like being watched. Anyway, I inched along the cliff...
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🍍 why are humans?? 🙀
@sharanvkaur
#book

The Gift of Fear, by Gavin de Becker
"Predatory animals devour prey in order to convert flesh into fuel. Most human predators, however, seek power, not food. To destroy or damage something is to take its power. To push a pie into the face of the world's richest man is to take his power, if only for a moment."
Chapter 1 opens with a play-by-play of Kelly's interaction with a stranger. She's heading home with her hands full, when a bag gives way, and a young man appears, offering his help. He talks too much, insists on following her up, and into her home. He rapes and almost kills her.
Read 22 tweets
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#PoorPeoplesCampaign
@billyjoecain
At dinner, I learned more about corruption + racism built into society by our masters. A book we discussed (Zinn) was used as part of this "Left" resource's bibliography. I had to share. [A thread]

@BlackSocialists - thoughts on this resource?

historyisaweapon.com/indextrue.html
It very simply lays out the case that we are all being controlled. It covers hidden history of the United States including their (and, due to the systems created by our masters, our) racism. 

#racism #systemicracism #history
If you haven't been in school for a while (or are in a terrible school), some of the words might trip you up. Dictionary.com and Wikipedia.org are two good resources to help you.
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Trending hashtags

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