What are you reading in 2025?

[Autumnal]

Okay, that’s on my list.

 

[Mannahnin]

Last weekend I finished Gandhi's Satyagraha in South Africa, for my book club.

I found it very readable, though he omits some details I'd like to have seen.

I appreciate the generosity of Gandhi's approach; constantly giving people the benefit of the doubt, at least externally. Giving enemies and rivals "outs" to stop being enemies if and when their consciences or self-interest finally put them in a position to want to. He is generous in describing people's motives and virtues, and often a bit dry or understated when saying anything negative. One of the "harshest" comes from the beginning of the book, where he's describing the people and places of South Africa for context, and really struck me and reminded me of some modern phenomena. He's talking about the Boers, and tangentially about other Europeans. (This comes after talking for a couple of pages about how brave, fierce, heroic, strong, and disciplined the Boers are as a people).

"I have said above that the Boers are religiously-minded Christians. But it cannot be said that they believe in the New Testament. As a matter of fact Europe does not believe in it; in Europe, however, they do claim to respect it, although only a few know and observe Christ's religion of peace. But as to the Boers it may be said that they know the New Testament only by name. They read the Old Testament with devotion and know by heart the descriptions of battles it contains. They fully accept Moses' doctrine of an 'eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' And they act accordingly."

While the civil rights struggle in South Africa had some tangible successes, it was also clearly limited in how it improved the lives and welfare of Indians living there. It made me want to read more about and contrast how things went in India, throwing off British rule. Was the difference mostly one of sheer numbers (in SA the Indians were very much a minority, whereas of course the reverse in India), or did the tactics evolve significantly?

I finished re-reading Williams' Voice of the Whirlwind. Ten years ago, I think I was disappointed that it wasn't more like Hardwired. On re-read, I enjoyed the introspective narration, all the little details of the worldbuilding that shine through with a slower pace. I'm still not sold on aliens in cyberpunk, but I'm not as opposed to it as I used to be.

Same. Really dig this book. I read it first as a teenager and have revisited it repeatedly.