 "How the World Works" presents a collection of interviews and speeches of Noam Chomsky. Chomsky is an internationally acclaimed social critic. An MIT Professor, he is considered to be among the most cited authors in recent times. The book is one of a kind. Notwithstanding the title credits, Chomsky actually wrote very little of the book. He spoke the contents instead. Arthur Naiman realized the accessibility of Chomsky’s vocal arguments. Therefore, he brought together the rich collection of Chomsky’s media appearances. Edited by Naiman, Chomsky's interviews were conducted by David Barsamian. "How the World Works" is a must-read summary of Chomsky's radical ideas. Given his outspoken nature, his thoughts on the domestic politics of the US as well as his outlook on international relations is often sidelined by the local media. Chomsky holds that the world works in the favour of a small group of rich elites. These people tend to garner benefit irrespective of the cost to others. A noticeable flaw in the narrative of the book seems to be the lack of references. Since the statements of Chomsky span a long timespan, the actual political premise around which particular observations are made remain evasive in the absence of proper references. Despite the apparent flaws, the book is a compelling introduction to Chomsky's political philosophy. The contents of the book were earlier published as four seperate short volumes under the famous "Real Story" series. The titles include, "What Uncle Sam Really Wants"; "The Prosperous Few and the Restless Many"; "Secrets , Lies and Democracy"; and "The Common Good". Regardless of the passage of time, Chomsky's ideas continue to stay relevant. Noam Chomsky exposes the realities of the current geopolitics with an unmatched clarity and dauntless arguments. The book is a must read for students of world politics and anyone who has in interest in understanding the international relations.
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 "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury is a science fiction story. It was originally written in 1950. The protagonist of the story is an automated house that has survived a recent nuclear blast. The narrative revolves around the notion that though technology is considered to ease the day to day life of humans, it has culminated in the destruction of mankind.
The story is set in California in the year 2026 where the human population has been destroyed by a nuclear blast. The automated house in the story is quite similar to modern day smart houses. The extent of automation in the building reflects how the West had attained refined and sophisticated technology before eventually being destructed by a nuclear blast. Although the inhabitants of the automated house seem to have been killed by the nuclear blast, the house keeps on with its daily exhaustive set of automatic chores and self-cleaning. Meanwhile, the family dog returns to the house. The dog, injured by the blast, is recognized by the security system and allowed into the house. As the house catches fire by the end of the story, the anti-fire mechanics of the house are activated while the other automated chores continue. Eventually, the system gives in leading to total annihilation of the structure. The author highlights that modern technology may survive the death of its maker however the power of nature has the capacity to eventually take over everything. |
AuthorA lecturer and lifestyle consultant by the day; an avid reader and writer by the night, I am a student of life. Archives
September 2021
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