Aleksander

4.5

I've been long interested in the figure of Rosa Luxemburg or Róża Luksemburg. I've known her as a prominent Polish-born communist, but thats about it. Red Rosa was a good introduction to her life starting with a childhood in a Jewish family in Poland via studies in Switzerland and her later active life in Germany. Provided the basic facts and ideas and I've read it quickly, but never managed to properly engage me.

Bought at the London Radical Bookfair.

A story how independent Poland didn't meet dreams and expectations of many people fighting for it. Hits you hard and repeatedly. The multitude of facts overwhelmed me quickly and soon after starting reading I couldn't tell which Ewa is which, nor connect the dots in some of the stories. This is not the point though. The point is that with very few exceptions all the stories sound the same. Anger, pain and resentment are layered on top of each other; all often sprinkled with alcohol and spiced with hatred.

One star less because of the dog shit chapter - why, oh why??

Quick and enjoyable read. Touches on the themes that affect me deeply: moving to another country, melding your past and current identities, relations with parents that remained within country/culture of birth.

My favourite moment was Gogols and his fathers trip to the tip of the beach - a fleeting moment that you keep remembering long after everyone else forgotten it. I've also liked the moments of nostalgia and how major life changes happen on days no different to all the others. Too real.

Otherwise the book was a bit monotonous, with characters a bit too flat, serving more to present an idea or feeling rather then being people of flesh and bone. Possibly unavoidable while covering so much time in such a short book.

I don't regret reading it, I wouldn't full-heartedly recommend it to anyone.

My first book review posted here. I've meant to start posting them for a long time and always postponed due to the task being “too big”. So I'm starting modestly.

Too large degree I didn't enjoy reading the first half part of the book. The story presented was way over dramatic to my taste. The philosophical considerations - while being very clear and enjoyable - didn't make it up. I particularly enjoyed the summary of Humme's and Kants thought, otherwise going through the pages was a bit of a drag.

My opinion changed completely when reading the second part though. A consistent and original Pirsig thought emerges making me realise why the book has a cult following among the geeks. I've liked his philosophy and think that it's changed my way of thinking and looking at the world from one side and from the other connected multiple dots and loose ideas from the other. And in the end this is why I think this book definitely deserves a read.

Great content, uneven form. Some of the chapters are very dense and take significant time to understand, others take you along step by step. Also some important terms are introduced causally making you backtrack looking for a place when the term was first defined.

Still, if you're interested in the topic very much recommended!

Just too much pain ... After reaching 50% of the book I couldn't make myself to read it anymore...

At the same I've found large parts of it unrealistic. People that hurt are better at pushing away others and don't simply find group of friends for life

The most boring book about effective communication that I've read. The author has little to say and struggels to fill those 220.

Provides plenty details of Malcolms life, but not so much details about his thought, interaction of other Black leaders at the time, or impact during his life. It's great if you already know lots about Malcolm and want to uncover some previously unknown details about his biography, but not as only book you'll read on the topic, especially for non-Americans