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I'm never going to be mad about a history book written by pasty authors who call out white supremacy, islamophobia, antisemitism, etc. Plus the authors went out of their way to talk about women from the time period. All of these things are wins in my books.

The overall structure of the book is more or less chronological, but when the authors zoom in two specific moments during the Middle Ages, there still aren't a lot of details. It was enough for me in audiobook form, but I can see it being disappointing for somebody who wants to really do a deep dive into the time period. I personally liked it a lot though and had a few good chuckles while reading.

It does look like the two authors got together again for another book that talks about a specific event during the Middle Ages that I definitely want to get my hands on though.

( em português, com trecho traduzido → sol2070.in/2025/05/livro-disaster-naionalism-teorias-conspiracao/ )

The term “disaster nationalism” refers to one of the faces of the current global rise of the far right, in which Brazil stands out — along with India, Hungary, the Philippines, and, of course, the US, Brazil and Bolsonarism are regular features in the book.

I came across the book through recommendations from people like Cory Doctorow, China Miéville, and Naomi Klein — the latter, in turn, has a very similar concept for the new far right, which she has dubbed “end-of-times fascism.”

What is striking about Seymour's analysis is its fluid, engaging, and eloquent quality — it is not an academic book — while at the same time overflowing with references and quotations. But that does not make it easy to read. Vivid descriptions of the violence of this extremism around the world often made me stop reading.

Among the topics are class conflict, disinformation, conspiracy theories, pornopolitics, the role of the internet, mass shooters, pogroms, and genocide. All in all, it is the terrain of the “downfall of liberal civilization,” as in the book's subtitle.

The author prefers to use the common denominator of the fanatical “nationalism” of these movements as a stage that precedes fascism itself. The “disasters,” on the other hand, refer to the fabrication of demons and enemies, based on very real crises and catastrophes, such as the climate emergency and multiple economic and social crises.

It is common for this fabrication of narratives not to be centrally orchestrated, but rather something more socially and psychologically organic, as the following excerpt explores.

I wanted to like this book more. A brash young woman challenging racism and sexism while trying to simultaneously conceal and learn to use secret goddess-given powers? Advanced technology along with gods and goddesses answering prayers or creating monsters? Sounds great in theory. The problems arise with the execution.

First, the protagonist, Ikenna, is exceptionally dense. OK, she's grieving the unexpected death of her grandfather, but that's no excuse to simply take the word of the very first person who suggests that his death wasn't accidental as to who the responsible parties might be and fixate on murdering those people for the first 2/3 of the book. She repeatedly misses obvious clues that she's being played. I am not one of those people who solves mysteries ahead of the conclusion of a mystery book, but even I could see it coming. She trusts and distrusts completely and suddenly, based on little to no evidence, and with predictably bad results. It was frustrating.

Second, there's a jarring contrast between the book's YA tone and its horribly brutal events - Mareen, the republic that Ikenna reveres even though she wants to reform it--wantonly slaughters its would-be soldiers in training in the name of making those left at the end more fit to fight.

Third, the heavy-handed nature of the social critique of racism and sexism. An odd choice was the author's seemingly deliberate avoidance of the words "race" and "racism" to describe how the light-skinned Mareenians view the dark-skinned Khanaians with contempt and hatred--only to throw the word "racism" right in there close to the end.

With all that said, the inventive setting and the fast-paced action are lots of fun. And when the plot stops dragging and we finally get the big twists at the end, Ikenna did manage to surprise me with her avoidance of the traps laid out by her many enemies. Read it, but keep your expectations low and you'll have a good time.

Somewhat drily written, not to the extent of an academic paper but long sentences and some with semicolons, so this was a long bit by bit read for me. The authors are anti-indoor cat (which I gather is the general sentiment in England, but maybe living by an LA freeway will change your mind) and, somewhat interestingly but kind of bothers me, propose more selective breeding for cats to tone done their hunting instincts. Admittedly, they are experts who cite a lot of research (and point out the lack of some, e.g. with the accusations that cats are decimating endangered species), have actually trained their cats in a non-forceful manner that respects their independent and paranoid natures (the elaborate training prescriptions may have you thinking might as well get a dog instead), and obviously love their cats. I could have used this book two cats ago, and if I break down and get another one I'll give this a refresher read.