46th Book of 2019
I will summarize this book with a parable: ‘Yanis negotiates with a brick wall’
Yanis - “Brick wall, you look reasonable I think we can make a deal for the good of the neediest, that can deliver Greece from debt bondage.”
Brick wall - “…”
Yanis - “As a gesture of good faith, I will give you a new coat of paint. In return, you will let me through the brick wall. This is in both of our interests, and can deliver the birthplace of democracy from eternal debt bondage.”
Brick wall - “…”
Yanis applies paint
Yanis - “Now brick wall, if you don’t let me through, I will have no choice but to treat it as an act of betrayal, and will walk away from this negotiation even though that hurts us both.”
Brick wall - “…”
Yanis runs at brick wall, does not break through.
Yanis, now bloodied - “How could you betray me like this? You must be one of the global elite, either too cowardly or too sinister to break free of the system and walls you’ve built for yourself! You are the sort of people I protest and detest, and in the interests of poor greek widows, I will stand up to this tyranny!”
Brick wall - “…”
…Years later, after failing to to break through the brick wall
Yanis - “I’m going to write a book exposing your lies and petty dealings!”
In sum: This author makes himself into a trope. Outsider tries to take on the system, relying on inexhaustible reserves of righteous indignation and self-confidence. After a short period, this outsider alienates too many people, finds themselves marginalized, then gets fired or rage-quits. Then the outsider writes a book. ‘We Meant Well’ and ‘Chaos Monkeys’ are examples of the rage-quit genre, and both are less insufferable than ‘Adults in the Room’.