Origins of Totalitarianism

The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt, 510 pages

In this classic work of political philosophy, Arendt traces the roots of the totalitarian regimes of the early twentieth century (the book was originally published in 1951, I read an expanded edition published in 1962), primarily Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.   The use of the plural is significant - the author does not oversimplify, but relates the evolution of totalitarian tendencies through bureaucratization, imperialism, pan-racial movements, anti-semitism, and other factors.  This is not an analysis of the development of Marxist or fascist ideologies, but rather the trends that made those ideologies acceptable and even attractive to twentieth century Europeans.  The specifics of ideology, in Arendt's estimation, are merely cover for individualistic alienation and the nihilistic will to power of the masses.

 

The scope and variety of the ideas Arendt is dealing with command admiration.  This is a subtle social analysis which demands close reading and rewards rereading. 

Marriage and Civilization

Marriage and Civilization: How Monogamy Made Us Human by William Tucker, 238 pages

 

The central argument of this book is simple: monogamy evolved in humans because it is necessary for equitable, peaceful societies.  Polygamous cultures tend to be more internally unstable and externally aggressive, due to the large surplus male population and the corresponding need to acquire females.  Innate human viciousness, however, and specifically the desire of high-status men to have multiple mates, tends to erode monogamy unless it is protected by strong cultural prohibitions, especially by the refusal of women to enter into such relationships.

 

Tucker makes a few clumsy mistakes - confusion between the Restoration and the Glorious Revolution, a claim that Genghis Khan converted to Islam - which highlight the shallowness of his analysis.  More troubling, he draws a narrative line between early Mormon polygamy and the Mountain Meadows Massacre, which glosses over the complete lack of a causal link.  On the other hand, his conversational style makes the book a pleasure to read. 

 

Well-written and thought-provoking but not entirely convincing in its argument.

The Bees

The Bees by Laline Paull
340 Pages


 Flora 717 is a bee born at the lowest level of the hive.  Since she has some small difference from her brethren, Flora finds herself moving among all the castes, from the nursery to the gatherers. But it is proving to be a hard winter and the survival of the hive is in question.


At first I was a little dubious about a book about a bee, would it be some sort of insectile Watership Downs?  It is actually pretty good, and even though the bees are anthropomorphized there is enough of a scientific framework  that you can believe how the hive operates.