Stumbled Upon...

[Farnan]

When looking for books, have you ever stumbled upon another that really grabbed your attention?

I was looking for Ahmend Rashid's "Taliban" (didn't find it, but picked up "Descent into Chaos" instead) I found the Soviet General Staff's analysis of the Soviet-Afghan War. Interested in that time period I picked it up. Already know I'll probably disagree with the conclusion but it will still be interesting to learn about the war.

[Stalins Ghost]

I'm normally pretty directed with my book buying - I use Amazon. But one I suppose that counts is "Empire and Super-Empire" by Bernard Porter. I was searching for books pertaining to my uni module on "Classics and Empire" and came across this. A highly interesting comparison of the British Empire and the American "Superempire" as Porter puts it. I slightly disagree with his conclusion (I see the American order of things as more of a bi-cameral hegemony arrangement) but he brings up a lot of interesting points.

Also, "The British Constitution" by Anthony King. I was looking for a basic introduction to the British Constitution. But I got a highly well developed introduction to it, and a damning attack on the constitutional mess created by both the Conservatives and Labour over the past 30 years or so. Very interesting - especially since I already held prior views that the constitution is failing the country and its citizens.

[justicar5]

Colleen McCulloghs Masters of Rome series, not entirely historically accurate, but has a brilliant story telling style, and is well researched wiht an extensive apendix and list of sources for further scholarly reading

[Farnan]

The book is very interesting.

One early mistake they mention is a failure to remove mines when they left an encampment and mark they left the mines. This led to times when Soviet soldiers would be killed by those mines trying to reoccupy the spot.

And its amazing how rigid the Soviets were doctrinally. Even the general staff agree on that, also its amazing it seems they looked at battalion size operations as very small and always thought in regimental terms. Same as us in 'Nam though and the British in the first phase of Malaysia.

[pannonian]

It's a pity I can't remember the title, but I was doing research for an essay on Tiberius Gracchus' land Bill when I found this book on Roman foreign policy in the 2nd century BC. With a slightly different view of Roman objectives than the norm, I found it a refreshingly different take on things. One bit I recall is a view that the Romans were motivated not so much by malice and greed in Iberia as irritation with how the Iberians would never keep any agreements beyond the Roman commander they made the agreement with. A slight departure from the Lex Sempronia Agraria I was supposed to be writing on, but I found it interesting.

[Odovacar]

In the good old times I reguraily browsed through 3-4 second hand bookshop one week. Every week. But then my room became loaded, my money gone, books became more expensive.
Still I look into new and old books to see something I would like, and occasionally buy a good book, mainly books of classic philosophical authors, and history books written by experts.

So did stumble into the Golden age of The Netherlands.
Some of the books I officially require for my research I am able to get throug the departement of philosophy here, but those books will not be mine, I will just use them, then later they will be put into the library.
Still it's a big hit that I could lay my hands on L. Dickey's new Hegel book that way, because that's about 40 euro.

I photocopy everything what I need, and download good books if I can. Yes, I break copyright laws frequently... That's only natural when you do scientific work, and you work most of the time free.

But enough of tongue-in cheek...
My most lucky day was in London, on a labour-free day, when I bought books for a few pounds...I was lucky to find an open store!
Also near the Big Eye, I saw such a good book about Cromwell..and I did not buy it! Argh..