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Chasing Che : A Motorcycle Journey in Search of the Guevara Legend, by Patrick Symmes |
| This book was my first Che book, and in fact first book on anything South American full stop. I hold great shame to this fact because of several reasons: a) growing up around South and Central Americans in Southern California, b) two of my greatest friends are from the region (Dave is from Ecuador and Franco is from Argentina), and c) my sister’s husband’s family is from Ecuador and Nicaragua. Boring fact is, I didn’t know if Chile was north or south of Peru, if Che was from Argentina or Bolivia, or exactly how or why Pinochet terrorized his own countrymen.
Chiang Mai has excellent used book stores all around Tai Pae Gate Road. That’s where I picked up this excellent travel book and learned much about Latin American history, BMW motorcycle maintenance, and the life and times of Enesto Guevera. The mix of factual history, quotes from Che and Gerado’s dairies, personal growth thoughts and observations on how things are now put Che’s trip, revolutionary efforts and the following mass media
I’ve not scene Motorcycle Diaries yet but expect to be somewhat informed when I do so.
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Urban Tribes : Are Friends the New Family?, by Ethan Watters |
| Part of the reason for taking this trip was to “figure thing out�. I’ve pursued life, travel and my career to variable degrees of success. I like my life, my friends, and generally how thing have turned out…except that I know believe my career goals were pointless, my achievements pointless and I’ve missed out on some serious fun elsewhere in life.
Funny enough, I decided to take this big trip (Stu in Asia 2005) to think about things. Here I started interesting and educational debates on the meaning of life with Pamela, bought a few books (specifically Urban Tribes) and really began to think about life and how I was working into it. It was crazy—every time I thought Watters was describing another community other than my own, he’d nail mine on the nose. The second half of the book really hit home with chapters dedicated to singledom, male singledom and female singledom. I can’t wait to discuss this more with Pamela…there is hope!
My generation, ‘Generation X’ as we now fortunately forget to recall, is different. We don’t get married and pop out kids at 24 like our parents. My particular little group likes to travel. The women of our generation are more empowered to do what they damn well please…including not getting married to the first bachelor that meets some parentally defined minimum requirements. The clock starts ticking at 30 but doesn’t stop for another ten years or so. We all have got options.
And is scares people. It scares me, it scares the hard right (because of our loose morals and non-compliant women), and anyone who dislikes change all for different reasons. Personally, it is because I don’t know where we are going and I’m searching for the finish line.
Watters says this is all OK. He even goes as far as saying that our exploration of life will lead us to choose more perfect life mates (spouses) than the generations before. He also says that we have been giving back to our communities, despite what Pat Roberson and the Lions Club membership drive panel says. Only time will tell on that issue, but I’m an advocate of the idea.
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Sex Slaves : The Trafficking of Women in Asia, by Louise Brown |
| If I had not read about some of the facts in this book previously from reputable sources (The Economist, International Herald Tribute, etc.) it would have all seemed like hysteria, propaganda to me. I’m still digesting some of the uglier details. The reality is that there is mass prostitution in Asia, to include forced slavery, debt slavery, child prostitution and extreme social banishment for women in the trade. The ‘answer’ is elusive and clearly is not as simple as new laws, enforcement of existing laws, or any other traditional responses. The final answer lies with removing the demand, and that requires a wholesale change in the Asian male’s perspective on women, motherhood and sex in general.
I’m not placing any bets. |
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Fences and Windows : Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Globalization Debate, by Naomi Klein |
| More of a collection of thoughts than a book. Specifically, Naomi’s life seems to revolve around her earlier and more famous work No Logo. In W&F she merely recounts the revolutionary spirit her book cooinsided with during the anti-WTO, etc protests of Seattle, Davos and thereabouts.
The book went missing before I finished it, to my relief. |
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The Tombstone Imperative: The Truth About Air Safety, by Andrew Weir |
I’ve always had a morbid curiosity about aircraft, disasters and everything related. This book coldly documents the history, faults and potential of aircraft safety in our transportation addicted world. The general conclusions can be drawn quickly here:
- African airlines are the most dangerous in the world. Surprised?
- Aircraft and flight could easily be made safer at minimal cost per seat/mile. The airline industries excuses are as relevant as the automotive’s for not introducing seatbelts way back when decades ago.
- While the American, Canadian and British regulatory bodies can be faulted in many ways, they are the most functional in the world. Specifically they organizationally abstract investigation from enforcement.
- Big aircraft are safer than smaller aircraft.
- The industry is more concerned with profit than safety. Wow, what a shocking conclusion.
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Fear and Loathing: The Strange and Terrible Saga of Hunter S. Thompson, by Paul Perry |
| I never actually finished the book—it was left a third complete in the front seat pocket of a Emirates Air 777 flying between Hong Kong and Bangkok. I’m sure some devote Muslim on his way back to Dubai read it and embarked on a life of debauchery and filth. Good for him.
The description of Hunter’s childhood, demeanor and temperament were interesting. The biographer’s attempt at a Hunter-like story line was very trying. The reality is that I’m glad I never finished the book despite my general respect for Dr. Gonzo.
To my surprise, I do not think I would have like to have known Hunter. Books are great, but he as a person was probably a bit too much for my self. |
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Among Insurgents : Walking Through Burma, by Shelby Tucker |
| Reading now... |
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The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II, by Iris Chang |
| Bought but have not read yet |
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Spy Catcher: The Candid Autobiography of a Senior Intelligence Officer, by Peter Wright |
| Reading now |
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No Logo: No Space, No Choice, No Jobs, by Naomi Klein |
| Have not read yet |
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