Sorin's Updates en-US Thu, 01 May 2025 05:54:19 -0700 60 Sorin's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Rating853017150 Thu, 01 May 2025 05:54:19 -0700 <![CDATA[Sorin Hadârcă liked a review]]> /
Sorin Hadârcă liked Onorica's review of Autocracy, Inc.:
Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum
]]> Rating852783418 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:04:35 -0700 <![CDATA[Sorin Hadârcă liked a review]]> /
Sorin Hadârcă liked Eugenia Hadârcâ's review of Fortăreața albă:
Fortăreața albă by Orhan Pamuk
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Sorin Hadârcă liked Eugenia Hadârcâ's review of Tristețea îngerilor:
Tristețea îngerilor by Jón Kalman Stefánsson
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Sorin Hadârcă liked Eugenia Hadârcâ's review of Între cer şi pământ:
Între cer şi pământ by Jón Kalman Stefánsson
]]> ReadStatus9354046272 Sat, 26 Apr 2025 05:58:48 -0700 <![CDATA[Sorin started reading 'Forma ruinelor']]> /review/show/7229643692 Forma ruinelor by Juan Gabriel Vásquez Sorin started reading Forma ruinelor by Juan Gabriel Vásquez
]]> Review7312068302 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 18:23:33 -0700 <![CDATA[Sorin added 'Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World']]> /review/show/7312068302 Autocracy, Inc by Anne Applebaum Sorin gave 5 stars to Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World (Kindle Edition) by Anne Applebaum
bookshelves: essays, non-fiction
Timely book for crazy times. I realized that up until now we only had access to a part of the story. The way the autocracies interact and support each other (with no regard for whatever ideology they pretend to embrace for the domestic market) is mind-blowing.

Fortunately the book comes with a set of solutions. The problem is the West, democratic or otherwise, often enables the very autocracies it is bound to fight. Offshores, shady real estate regulations, unchecked social media create a framework which makes autocrats feel very much at home.

The question is whether there is enough political will to adopt and enforce such regulations, with so much vested interest and at times when America is lost. Hopefully, some sort of alliance of the willing will emerge soon. Otherwise, the future looks rather bleak. ]]> Review7312068302 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:21:39 -0700 <![CDATA[Sorin added 'Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World']]> /review/show/7312068302 Autocracy, Inc by Anne Applebaum Sorin gave 5 stars to Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World (Kindle Edition) by Anne Applebaum
bookshelves: essays, non-fiction
Timely book for crazy times. I realized that up until now we only had access to a part of the story. The way the autocracies interact and support each other (with no regard for whatever ideology they pretend to embrace for the domestic market) is mind-blowing.

Fortunately the book comes with a set of solutions. The problem is the West, democratic or otherwise, often enables the very autocracies it is bound to fight. Offshores, shady real estate regulations, unchecked social media create a framework which makes autocrats feel very much at home.

The question is whether there is enough political will to adopt and enforce such regulations, with so much vested interest and at times when America is lost. Hopefully, some sort of alliance of the willing will emerge soon. Otherwise, the future looks rather bleak. ]]> ReadingNotesCollectionPlaceholder4314570 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:58:19 -0700 <![CDATA[#<ReadingNotesCollectionPlaceholder:0x0000555565a88760>]]> Review7312068302 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:45:20 -0700 <![CDATA[Sorin added 'Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World']]> /review/show/7312068302 Autocracy, Inc by Anne Applebaum Sorin gave 5 stars to Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World (Kindle Edition) by Anne Applebaum
bookshelves: essays, non-fiction
Timely book for crazy times. I realized that up until now we only had access to a part of the story. The way the autocracies interact and support each other (with no regard for whatever ideology they pretend to embrace for the domestic market) is mind-blowing.

Fortunately the book comes with a set of solutions. The problem is the West, democratic or otherwise, often enables the very autocracies it is bound to fight. Offshores, shady real estate regulations, unchecked social media create a framework which makes autocrats feel very much at home.

The question is whether there is enough political will to adopt and enforce such regulations, with so much vested interest and at times when America is lost. Hopefully, some sort of alliance of the willing will emerge soon. Otherwise, the future looks rather bleak. ]]> Review7458697953 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 01:25:01 -0700 <![CDATA[Sorin added 'Leadership : Six Studies in World Strategy']]> /review/show/7458697953 Leadership by Henry Kissinger Sorin gave 4 stars to Leadership : Six Studies in World Strategy (Hardcover) by Henry Kissinger
bookshelves: biography, non-fiction
I was immediately attracted to a book that covers Adenauer, de Gaulle, Nixon, Sadat, Lee Kuan Yew and Thatcher in one seating. Yet the title was misleading � is this the ultimate set? Was it really strategy? I would have scratched some, added some others. But I understand that being personally acquainted with the six, Henry Kissinger did a good job in focusing on whom he knows in person.

None of the six (except Adenauer, perhaps) were flawless, some would even contest their greatness. However, this is where the volume disappoints: no critique, only good words. Kissinger is very forgiving, especially with Nixon under whom he served.

What saves the book is that it establishes a timeline for the twentieth century history and derives well-thought conclusions for the current times. In the Internet era leadership is no longer what it used to be. Demand for immediacy, intensity, polarity and conformity, says Kissinger, is what prevents good leaders taking the central stage today. I wonder what's in store for us next. ]]>