Sunday, August 11, 2019

A History Of Bombing – Sven Lindqvist



Another amazing Lindqvist book that tells the tale of aerial bombing and its moral effect on civilization. The structure is wild and experimental, kind of like a nonfiction choose your own adventure, with the author's usual melange of memories, dreams, history and literary criticism. 

Lindqvist does a great job of demonstrating how the greater technology of modern warfare has actually increased our collective barbarism. This is cultural history with a passionate moral compass.

A work of true genius: it's unique labyrinthine structure is gimmicky but fun, while the mix of memoir, literature review and history is fascinating, ironic, furious and infuriating -- providing a balanced but terrifying overview of the horror inflicted by man, while tearing apart the moral self-righteousness in which the West has always basked.


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