Wolfgang Schivelbusch (1941–2023)

Wenn einen der erste Satz nicht schon direkt wegbläst, dann weiß ich auch nicht:

"An der technischen Entwicklung der Dampfmaschine im 18. Jahrhundert läßt sich der Prozess der Emanzipation der modernen Produktionsweise von den Schranken der organischen Natur verfolgen."

Genau das wird auf 220 Seiten ausgeführt und sorgt bei Freunden der Eisenbahn (wie mir) oder auch der Industrialisierung für Begeisterungsstürme.

ps.: Bin über den Querverweis von Rebecca Solnits "Wanderlust" hier gelandet - quasi das Gegenstück zu diesem Buch, wenn wir über Flanieren sprechen.… (mer)

A history of stimulants and intoxicants in Europe and America over the last two thousand years, with especial focus to the impacts of colonialism and the industrial revolution. Full of fascinating details (see my status updates for specifics). There is a great deal of sociological and psychological analysis for such a short book, and some of his conclusions seem more reasonable than others. (For instance, it seems probable that coffee was embraced by the middle class and chocolate by the upper class because each class treasures different values. But that drinking alcohol is considered more spiritual than eating, and this is somehow linked to the soul residing in blood, I just don't get.) My real criticism of this book, however, is that it features a large proportion of grey blobs which are purported to be reproductions of portraits, political cartoons, etc. Either put some money into your picture budget, or leave them out entirely; as it stands, the included reproductions are so smudgy that they were basically useless.… (mer)