Thanks to some long flights with uninterrupted time, I was able to read 2 more books to close off the year. These were 2 completely different genres from all the other books I read this year.
Review: Peace Through Power by Lukas Haynes
I recently had the pleasure of reading the latest work by my good friend and fellow Sepsis Alliance Board member, Lukas Haynes. A distinguished scholar and expert in U.S. foreign policy, Haynes has produced a remarkable treatise titled "Peace Through Power," published by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA).
The book offers an insightful look into the formation of the United Nations following the failure of the League of Nations. Haynes reveals that the seeds of the UN were sown as early as 1940, while World War II was still in its infancy. He provides a "ring-side seat" to the high-level diplomacy and intricate machinations involving FDR’s United States, Churchill’s United Kingdom, and Stalin’s Russia. Each leader recognized that the menace of global conflict between superpowers could only be prevented through a unified, collective will.
Much like the Federalist Papers or the framing of the U.S. Constitution, the conception of the UN is presented here as a masterclass in foresight. As the title suggests, the organization was designed to strengthen the United States through a broad global strategy rather than a parochial, "country-first" approach. This globalism was a calculated defense against the post-war isolationism that might have otherwise invited another world war.
Indeed, it is more accurate to say that the UN was built with American national defense at its core. While today’s isolationist rhetoric is not new—and may make the UN seem counterintuitive to self-defense—Haynes illustrates the organization’s true strategic value. The narrative explores not only international trade-offs but also the monumental internal effort required to align the State Department, the military, wiith the heads of the Army and Navy (the Air Force being a fledgling organization at the time), and the Office of the President.
I highly recommend Peace Through Power to any student of history or anyone genuinely concerned with the long-term safety and stability of our great nation.
Review: Azhwargalai Aradhippom by Indra Soundarrajan
In stark contrast to the historical diplomacy of my first read, the second book I finished is a journey of Bhakti—devotion and total surrender to the Supreme Being. Titled "Azhwargalai Aradhippom" by the late Indra Soundarrajan, it is a beautiful compilation in Tamil detailing the lives of the Vaishnava Acharyas and Saints.
Their collective devotion forms the foundation of the worship of Lord Sriman Narayana, immortalized in the "Naalayira Divyaprabandham." This "Book of 4,000 Divine Hymns" consists of verses that poured from the hearts of the twelve Azhwars (Saints). Written in Tamil, these hymns are considered equal in spiritual weight to the four Sanskrit Vedas and are often described as being composed at the divine desire of the Lord Himself.
Though their lives spanned several centuries and they came from vastly different backgrounds, the author highlights remarkable similarities in their spiritual journeys. Each saint experienced a transformational moment where they recognized the profound strength found in absolute surrender.
While this book may have a specific appeal to the Vaishnavite community and Tamil readers, its message is universal. If you have any interest in the power of Bhakti as a path to Moksha (liberation), these stories are essential reading. For me, it was a deeply moving experience, and I am grateful to my parents for recommending it.
The author, who recently passed away, left behind a significant legacy of Tamil literature that I look forward to exploring further. On a personal note, this particular copy has become a prized possession—it now carries the autograph of the legendary Krish Srikkanth! 😜
No comments:
Post a Comment