In My Hands Today…

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How to Lose a Country: The 7 Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship – Ece Temelkuran

‘It couldn’t happen here’ Ece Temelkuran heard reasonable people in Britain say it the night of the Brexit vote. She heard reasonable people in America say it the night Trump’s election was soundtracked by chants of ‘Build that wall.’ She heard reasonable people in Turkey say it as Erdoğan rigged elections, rebuilt the economy around cronyism, and labelled his opposition as terrorists.

How to Lose a Country is an impassioned plea, a warning to the world that populism and nationalism don’t march fully-formed into government; they creep. Award winning author and journalist Ece Temelkuran identifies the early-warning signs of this phenomenon, sprouting up across the world, in order to define a global pattern, and arm the reader with the tools to root it out. Proposing alternative, global answers to the pressing – and too often paralysing – political questions of our time, Temelkuran explores the insidious idea of ‘real people’, the infantilisation of language and debate, the way laughter can prove a false friend, and the dangers of underestimating one’s opponent.

She weaves memoir, history and clear-sighted argument into an urgent and eloquent defence of democracy. No longer can the reasonable comfort themselves with ‘it couldn’t happen here.’ It is happening. And soon it may be too late.

In My Hands Today…

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The Earth Transformed: An Untold History – Peter Frankopan

Global warming is one of the greatest dangers mankind faces today. Even as temperatures increase, sea levels rise, and natural disasters escalate, our current environmental crisis feels difficult to predict and understand. But climate change and its effects on us are not new.

In a bold narrative that spans centuries and continents, Peter Frankopan argues that nature has always played a fundamental role in the writing of history.

From the fall of the Moche civilization in South America that came about because of the cyclical pressures of El Nino to volcanic eruptions in Iceland that affected Egypt and helped bring the Ottoman empire to its knees, climate change and its influences have always been with us.

Frankopan explains how the Vikings emerged thanks to catastrophic crop failure, why the roots of regime change in Eleventh-Century Baghdad lay in the collapse of cotton prices resulting from unusual climate patterns, and why the western expansion of the frontiers in North America was directly affected by solar flare activity in the eighteenth century. Again and again, Frankopan shows that when past empires have failed to act sustainably, they have been met with catastrophe. Blending brilliant historical writing and cutting-edge scientific research, Climate will radically reframe the way we look at the world and our future.

Poem: Inspiration

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Soure

Some days, I struggle with a serious case of writer’s block and inspiration eludes me however much I search for it. This poem is inspired from that feeling.

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Inspiration

Sometimes when words fail and there’s nothing to say
When my mind goes blank, and I stare at the screen all-day
I search desperately for something, a spark of an idea
Some romance, some poetry and some drama

I then remember inspiration is all around
In nature, in a park and even a fairground
In the stories told over the ages
Or even in the laughter of the babies

Maybe a walk outside will prove to ignite
That inspiration which seems so light and tight
Or maybe a moment of peace will be the key
To find that badly needed perspective and the much-needed beauty

I just need to open my eyes and see
The wonders that surround me every day
I just need to open my ears and listen
The melodies that fill the air with joy

Maybe a book, or a song, or even a work of art
Will be my muse to stir my creative heart
To open up new worlds and sights
And bring about fresh insights

Wherever inspiration comes from
I will embrace it and soothe my mind like a balm
To open my heart and feel the emotion
And imagine the possibilities that beckon

Inspiration is everywhere, I just have to find it
To embrace and share it, to live and enjoy it
It is ingrained in all our psyches
Because inspiration is the key to unlocking creativity

In My Hands Today…

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The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly: Life Wisdom from Someone Who Will (Probably) Die Before You – Margareta Magnusson

In her international bestseller The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning Margareta Magnusson introduced the world to the Swedish tradition of döstädning, or “death cleaning”—clearing out your unnecessary belongings so others don’t have to do it for you. Now, unburdened by (literal and emotional) baggage, Magnusson is able to focus on what makes each day worth living. In her new book she reveals her discoveries about aging—some difficult to accept, many rather wondrous. She reflects on her idyllic childhood on the west coast of Sweden, the fullness of her life with her husband and five children, and learning how to live alone. Throughout, she offers advice on how to age gracefully, such as: wear stripes, don’t resist new technology, let go of what doesn’t matter, and more.

As with death cleaning, it’s never too early to begin. The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly shows all readers how to prepare for and understand the process of growing older and the joys and sorrows it can bring. While Magnusson still recommends decluttering (your loved ones will thank you!), her ultimate message is that we should not live in fear of death but rather focus on appreciating beauty, connecting with our loved ones, and enjoying our time together.

Wise, funny, and eminently practical, The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly is a gentle and welcome reminder that, no matter your age, there are always fresh discoveries ahead, and pleasures both new and familiar to be encountered every day.