July 2023 - The Hidden History of Burma: Race, Capitalism, and the Crisis of Democracy in the 21st C

[orchid aurora]

It was a close run race this month but the winner of the monthly poll for the July Book of the Month is -
The Hidden History of Burma: Race, Capitalism, and the Crisis of Democracy in the 21st Century - Thant Myint-U (304 Pages)

[vivid iron]

I love everything about this!

[vivid iron]

I couldn’t agree more! I love being drawn to places I know far too little about. The role of social media is really interesting: “Since 2012, social media has further polarised sectarian divisions and stoked more violence. Being online, for the majority of Burmese, is synonymous with being on Facebook, where incendiary anti-Muslim rumours and images are shared as news.”

https://amp.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/15/hidden-history-of-burma-thant-myint-u-review

[thorn iron]

If you start now it's less than eight pages per day!

[loud orbit]

I've been slogging through Reaganland (not that it's bad, it's really good but it's looooooong) -- may have to take a hiatus and start on the Burma book!

[vivid iron]

Good idea!

[fresh grail]

Hello friends, just want to pin @orchid aurora's post about our reading schedule #server-discussion message

[fresh grail]

Book club live chat dates are July 16 and 30th! I'll get those events added to Discord as well 🙂

[vivid iron]

So far so good. The first chapter opened the door and let in all the curiosities to freely wander about. Again, for whoever chose this book for this month's read, you are a gem! Happy reading, peeps!

[loud orbit]

I had a hard time ending my lunch break today. Well, that's always true, but it was harder than usual because I was so engrossed in the early chapters, a summary of Burma's history before turning to the book's main focus on the last 15 years. Note to other readers like me who sometimes skip prefatory materials: "A Note on Burmese Names" is an important section to read.

[vivid iron]

🤣

[orchid aurora]

I don’t know if I can be classified as a gem but I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I really got a lot out of reading it first time around…. Second time just as good.

[vivid iron]

"If some belonged, that meant others didn't." (p.35)

[ornate apex]

My book should arrive today. 🤞🏽

[static seal]

Mine sadly will take quite a bit as I ordered in English 😦

[vivid iron]

(p. 78) ...and this continues to this day. What a strange position to take having never known a stable, secure, and peaceful society.

[vivid iron]

Human history in a nutshell 😂

[vivid iron]

Excellent quote. Thank for sharing.

[static seal]

Copy finally arrived with a bonus read

[vivid iron]

Maria Popova’s excellent note taking system. Quite useful to get the gist of the book with no real effort involved:

https://blog.noisli.com/maria-popovas-note-taking-system/

[vivid iron]

Unfortunately, I lack the self-discipline to limit myself to eight pages a day. This book is highly addictive.

[thorn iron]

Haha, it was more to encourage those who might think it was a lot, or had trouble starting.

[vivid iron]

It seems the entire junta is one big criminal syndicate with an army, territory, and cheap labor. The more I read, the more I realize how integral Myanmar is to regional stability, and the more I understand why the borderland Ethnic Armed Organizations have been largely left alone. If all the war lords are making out, getting rich, then all other issues pertaining to Myanmar and the people are meaningless asides. The staus quo is making money.

[vivid iron]

"Governments that shun evolutionary reforms now will eventually face revolutionary change later. This choice may be deferred. It may be delayed. But it cannot be denied." (p.137)

[fresh grail]

Don't forget, we meet Sunday!

Here's the event https://discord.gg/E6fFRMcTAw?event=1123782578483232818

[vivid iron]

HECK NO forget! This is awesome!

[fresh grail]

book club starting now!

[static seal]

So something I forgot to mention yesterday and I wanted to share, but for any gamers there who also want to look a bit deeper into the history of Burma, Age of Empires II (the more modern editions) have a campaign on the rise of the First Taungoo Empire which is narrated from the perspective of Bayinnaung himself, the Burmese king under who most of the expansion of what would become the largest empire in SEA would happen.

Of course, don't expect the most faithful and verifiable information there as this is gaming so gameplay and storytelling prime over accuracy but it is still works well to introduce people to the history and geography of the country. It did to me many years ago (:

[fresh grail]

https://twitter.com/Jake_Hanrahan/status/1684389191331844098?t=4-Q_0OO8ISjo4GNpVHfRtg&s=19

Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan)

Listen in full: https://t.co/WojvFBAo2W

▶ Play video

Twitter · Jul 27, 2023, 2:24 AM

Jake spoke with a Myanmar freedom fighter, as he put it. Book clubbers might find it interesting

[fresh grail]

Book club tomorrow! If you have something you absolutely must talk about, remember to add it to the Google doc!

[static seal]

That was a "today" technically for anyone in CEST or further East :p

[thorn iron]

Half the timezones.

[fresh grail]

There's always a critic

[static seal]

A constructive critic ❤️

[static seal]

Same doc as always or a different one? The one I'm checking out has no questions from last month, only until May. Don't think that's correct 🤔

[fresh grail]

Same doc! I think there were no questions last month

I'm out on errands until book club time, so if there's a problem, just keep them handy and I'll ask for everyone's questions when we start 🙂