Devon Whittle » Books

Quote from Small is Beautiful – E.F. Schumacher

devonwhittle — Mon, 25 May 2009 07:17:12 +0000

From Chapter 6 of Small is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher:

Lord Snow tells us that when educated people deplore the ‘illiteracy of scientists’ he sometimes ask, ‘How many of them could describe the Second Law of Thermodynamics?’ The response, he reports, is usually cold and negative. ‘Yet,’ he says, ‘I was asking something which is about the scientific equivalent of: have you read a work of Shakespeare’s?’ Such a statement challenges the entire basis of our civilisation. What matters is the tool-box of ideas with which, by which, through which, we experience and interpret the world. The Second Law of Thermodynamics is nothing more than a working hypothesis suitable for various types of scientific research. On the other hand – a work by Shakespeare: teeming with the most vital ideas about the inner development of man, showing the whole grandeur and misery of a human existence. How could these two things be equivalent? What do I miss, as a human being, if I have never heard of the Second Law of Thermodynamics? The answer is: nothing. And what do I miss by not knowing Shakespeare? Unless I get my understanding from another source, I simply miss my life. Shall we tell our children that one thing is as good as another – here a bit of knowledge of physics, and there a bit of knowledge of literature?

Makes me think I need to start reading more fiction…

Quote from Small is Beautiful – E.F. Schumacher is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com.

In the thick of the battle

devonwhittle — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:22:46 +0000

…and it might well happen to most of us dainty people that we were in the thick of the battle of Armageddon without being aware of anything more than the annoyance of little explosive smoke and struggle on the ground immediately abous us.

- George Eliot, Daniel Deronda

(quoted in Philip Gourevitch’s We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Out Families)

In the thick of the battle is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com.

Now tweeting live from Arusha, Tanzania

Three books on transitional justice

devonwhittle — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:44:06 +0000

Posting is slowing down as exams and assignment dates approach, however I am in the middle of researching a ‘research proposal’ assignment for Quantitative Social Research and have come across a few interesting books that look to be interesting and worthwhile reads – from my meagre keyword-directed reading.

Atrocity, Punishment, and International Law by Mark A. Drumbl (2007)

This book looks at punishment regimes in international criminal tribunals. Reviewing current sentencing practices and comparing that to goals of international tribunals. He argues for a new way of thinking about sentencing at the international level, that these crimes aren’t the result of individual deviancy, necessarily, but rather conformist behaviour.

I’ve only flipped through, but his discussion about the purpose of punishment on an international and local level was quite interesting, as was his evaluation of current practice.

Transitional Justice in the Twenty-First Century Edited by Naomi Roht-Arriaza and Javier Mariezcurrena (2006)

This is a collection of edited chapters in two parts. The first part is titled “Truth, justice and multiple institutions” and each article looks at a separate institutional response to conflict – covering Sierra Leone, Pru, Colombia and Timor Leste. Contributions come from people who actually worked in the field at institutions such as the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and academics working in the field. Part two is titled “Levels of justice: Local, national and international” and compares the more local to the international responses. For example, gacaca in Rwanda versus the ICTR, the work done in Argentina and an examination of Iraq.

I had a look at the discussion of Timor Leste and the outreach work done by the Court in Sierra Leone, and both chapters were very informative and easy to read.

Closing the Books: Transitional Justice in Historical Perspective by Jon Elster (2004)

Here’s a good theoretical look at transitional justice. The book is in two parts, first a history lesson from 5th century BC Athens to the present. Briefly going over some historical experiences of transition. The second part analyses transition, purporting to explain why certain situations give rise to certain institutional responses.

An interesting look at explaining what shapes the responses countries adopt following conflict – why South Africa picked a TRC, while Rwanda asked for an international tribunal. Why some conflicts give rise to amnesties while others result in hundreds of thousands in jail.

Three books on transitional justice is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com.

Writing a book about 'Africa'

devonwhittle — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:35:04 +0000

Here’s a great article by Michela Wrong on the wrong way to write a book about (set in) Africa. I’m not sure about her gender stereotypes at the end, but there’s some words of wisdom for anyone who is thinking about turning their next African holiday into a book. (Via Uganda Scarlett Lion)

In the wake of Congo’s first democratic elections, he said, he was planning to travel across the country and thought it would make a good book. Any advice? Did he have much journalistic experience, I asked? Not really: a couple of years wandering East Africa, the odd bit of freelance. Had he spent much time in Congo? Nope. Had he thought of learning the trade as a journalist first? He waved the idea away: too banal. When I put the phone down, I was seething. Since then, I’ve been trying to identify the source of my fury.
…
No, it was the sheer bumptiousness that did it. A book must be the biggest act of presumption it is possible to commit. If you’re a white westerner writing about Africa, that arrogance reaches dizzying levels. What gives a spoilt bourgeois, who didn’t even grow up there, the right to interpret the continent for the world?

The only answer can be: I have devoted years on the continent to listening and learning; I have done my homework as conscientiously as I know how; and it’s just possible, because I have spent so much time learning to write accessibly about foreign cultures, that I may be able to serve as a bridge between two cultural viewpoints.

My caller saw no need for any of this. With the chutzpah of the privileged young male, he believed he could bypass it all and still produce something for which the public would be duly grateful. In fact, there’s only one way of writing a book in these circumstances: you deliver a manuscript that is all about you, with Africa as a picturesque backdrop to your macho derring-do.

Writing a book about 'Africa' is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com.

New book on Africa and International Law

devonwhittle — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 06:36:34 +0000

I would love to get this new book edited by Jeremy Levitt. It’s called Africa: Mapping New Boundaries in International Law and tackles issues of international law from an African perspective. I liked this quotes from reviews: “The book signals a major shift from the study of Africa as a basket case to a normative market place.” – Akua Kuenyehia, Vice President, International Criminal Court.

New book on Africa and International Law is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com.

Reading for armchair development economists

devonwhittle — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:46:32 +0000

More reading for my ‘when I’m not insanely busy’ pile, this time Development Economics. It’s a whole list of resources, online and dead tree, for people interested in development and economics. I’ve said to before, and I’ll say it again, Melbourne University you irk me with your rigid subject requirements.

Reading for armchair development economists is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com.

Free economics textbooks online

devonwhittle — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:51:34 +0000

Melbourne University wouldn’t let me do macroeconomics (unbelievable), but Blattman’s got some good pointers to online textbooks that are free. Free economics textbooks online is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com. Related posts:Reading for armchair development economists Free CFL lightbulbs and lo-flow shower heads Economics 101: Moral Hazard Defined

Free economics textbooks online is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com.

Marglin Book on the Dismal Science

devonwhittle — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:13:21 +0000

A new book by Stephen A. Marglin looks interesting. It’s called The Dismal Science: How Thinking Like an Economist Undermines Community. I look forward to giving it a read, especially as economists are rapidly taking over many different domains.

Marglin Book on the Dismal Science is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com.

The Future of Reputation – released online

devonwhittle — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:00:21 +0000

Daniel Solove has just released the full text of his book The Future of Reputation for free online. It’s meant to be a great read, I can’t wait to find some time to read it.

The Future of Reputation – released online is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com.

Javatrekker – dispatches from the world of fair trade

devonwhittle — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:01:51 +0000

GreenLAGirl has reviewed Javatrekker a book chronicling Dean Cycon’s journey through a variety of coffee farms. Looks good. Javatrekker – dispatches from the world of fair trade is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com. Related posts:October be Fair Trade month in USA Good News for Fair Trade at Safeway Is Bloomsberry fair?

Javatrekker – dispatches from the world of fair trade is a post from: Devon Whittle. You can contact the author at devonwhittle@gmail.com.