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chadkoh

chadkoh@bookwyrm.social

Joined 2 years, 6 months ago

Typically I read two books simultaneously: one fiction, one non fiction. I love audiobooks, and usually follow the same pattern. So two books in text, two books in audio simultaneously. Sometimes, when I want to get through a book quick, I'll do both audio and text.

If you are interested in what movies I watch, check me out on Letterboxd (letterboxd.com/chadkoh/)

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finished reading Crack-Up Capitalism by Quinn Slobodian

Quinn Slobodian: Crack-Up Capitalism (2023, Penguin Books, Limited)

A tour of how countries subdivide themselves to attract investors and libertarians trying to "exit" or find a new frontier to exploit. Slobodian does not give us any solutions, but really breaks down the processes and ideology leading to the proliferation of free trade zones, special economic zones, tax havens, etc etc. He really shows why we need to break the mental relation we have that capitalism and democracy goes hand-in-hand. It does not, and the book goes through example after example to demonstrate. One thing I really appreciated was how well he ties together the intellectual history of all the characters involved. It would also be nice to get a version of this book that explores similar intellectual connections in non-English-speaking communities.

finished reading Pirate Enlightenment, or the Real Libertalia by David Graeber

David Graeber: Pirate Enlightenment, or the Real Libertalia (Hardcover, 2023, Farrar, Straus & Giroux)

Everyone hates a long essay, but everyone loves a quick book. This essay-as-book dates from 2013 and is an early exploration into some recognizable Graeber themes: how Enlightenment values such as freedom and equality we not necessarily borne of Western Europe. This book feels like an experimental prequel to the much much longer, and ultimately much more convincing "The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity."

finished reading Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Naomi Novik: Uprooted (Hardcover, 2015, Del Rey)

"Our Dragon doesn't eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside …

There is a lot to like about this book, but the narrated version kinda drags you out of it. When the narrator “drones” in a book that has so much action it is easy to get lost. I had to rewind so many times. I think I will get the next one in text.