Month: June 2021

Book: Boris Akunin “The History of the Russian State. A Cure for the Empire”

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The previous volume of The History of the Russian State deeply disappointed me with its superficiality and inconsistency in presenting the material. I even ended my review with the words, “Interest and trust in the series are rapidly declining.” However, I had no intention of stopping my reading of the series. And now, a new volume has been released, focusing on the last rulers of the Russian Empire in the 19th century—Alexander II and Alexander III.

Let me say right away: the narrative has become more coherent. There is no longer any jumping back and forth across the years of their reigns. In fact, the entire volume is presented as one continuous story. It feels almost like a computer game: you have a mission, which starts under specific initial conditions (the end of Nicholas I’s reign), and the story unfolds as two “players” take their turns, with the second stepping in after the first.

Indeed, Boris Akunin illustrates what Alexander II inherited from the exceedingly strict Nicholas I, the conqueror of the Decembrists and any form of free-thinking. And how, despite this, his successor managed to implement a significant number of progressive reforms, many of which had been envisioned by his grandfather, Alexander I.

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Song: Dropkick Murphys “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”

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In November, I already wrote about the band Dropkick Murphys when I talked about the song “The Lonesome Boatman“, and at that time, I promised to share the story of the song that marked my introduction to this band. Well, the time has come.

The band was formed in 1996 in Boston and belongs to the Celtic Punk genre.

The band’s name is a tribute to wrestler John Murphy, nicknamed “Dropkick” (a term for a jumping kick), who helped rehabilitate down-and-out boxers and became something of a legend in Boston.

Although the band was formed in 1996, real fame came to them in 2005. It was in this year that they recorded the song “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”, which became the main theme of Martin Scorsese’s film The Departed, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. This song also made it into their new, fifth album of the same year, The Warrior’s Code.

And from there, their career skyrocketed.

It was precisely with the song “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” that I became acquainted with the band. I have a deep love for Celtic folk motifs (Irish and Scottish melodies), and when combined with a bold modern arrangement—it was a perfect hit for me.

Apart from The Departed, this song has been used in many shows, series, and films, and was even featured in the soundtrack of the NHL 11 game.

Although the lyrics are simple (the entire text is conveyed in one phrase: “I’m a sailor peg, and I’ve lost my leg climbing up the top sail, and now I’m shipping up to Boston to find my wooden leg”), this particular song made me a fan of the band. Moreover, for many years, it became my primary ringtone on my phone. Now, every time I suddenly hear it, my first instinct is to reach for my phone. 🙂

In short, I absolutely adore this song:

Book: Alexey Markov, Alexey Antonov “Crypt-Your-Mathics 3.0”

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Bitcoin, blockchain… Over the past couple of years, everyone has heard these words, along with the phrase “should have invested in bitcoin in time.” However, very few people truly understand what this technology is and the principles behind these new digital currencies. I’ll admit, for a while, I also had only a vague idea of the details. But there are people out there who are willing to explain everything in plain language.

I first learned about Alexey Markov by chance when I stumbled upon a link to his book with the rather politically incorrect title “Hulinomics”. In this book, he explained economics in simple terms, peppered with some profanity, and why understanding its principles is essential for everyone. I rather liked the book (4 out of 5), as I mentioned in my review at the time.

Since then, I’ve kept an eye on what else Markov has published, though I wasn’t in a rush to read more. He wrote a book about “why some people have it all, while others have nothing,” essentially exploring why not everyone earns a lot of money (“Zhlobology”). He also authored a collection of clever advice on various topics (“Hoolifacts”) and, together with Alexey Antonov, a book about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology titled Crypt-Your-Mathics. It was the latter that I decided to read.

I’ve already written about Markov in my previous review, so let me briefly introduce the second author of the book—Alexey Antonov. Since 2016, he has been interested in blockchain technology, actively involved in business in this field, and engaged in educational activities, giving lectures. In short, he jumped on the train early, so he knows both its advantages and drawbacks.

Together, Markov and Antonov wrote a book that, in style, closely resembles Markov’s eccentric manner, seen in his articles and his famous “Hoolinomics”. The authors set out to explain not only clearly but also as openly as possible about this new market, which is full of pitfalls. At least, that’s what they promise, albeit in their own distinctive manner:

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Book: Darrell Huff “How to Lie with Statistics”

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Darrell Huff spent most of his life as a journalist and writer, yet he gained worldwide fame as an expert in statistics. This recognition came thanks to his most successful book, How to Lie with Statistics, written back in 1954 but still relevant to this day. At least, publishers continue to successfully reprint it time and again.

The entire tone of the book can be summarized with its very first epigraph, which quotes Benjamin Disraeli: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

No, the author does not try to portray statistics as a terrible or useless science. Instead, in a light and ironic manner, he explains what many people perceive as infernal mathematical gibberish. He also demonstrates how numbers can be used to manipulate opinions and the perception of information.

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