General

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Aristophanes — Tue, 07 May 2013 23:04:32 GMT

I'd say this was epic fail

Explain yourself? or are you just trolling?

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

ToxicAssets — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:30:51 GMT

Student:

Does anyone have any opinions about Niall Ferguson?

I've always liked the guy. I find his popular writings very accessible and ussually informative.

But I think his feelings on empire may not sit well with a libertarian crowd. What do you lot think?

I only know his BBC show on the history of money and finance, which was really cool.

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Marko — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:56:52 GMT

you know academic's books are good when they are published by Penguin. you'd think a professor at harvard would at least attempt a University press or a private sector academic publisher (Sage or routledge).

I'd say this was epic fail, but coming from you I'm afraid it's just another day in the week.

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Marko — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:55:21 GMT

He's an asshole and a tool.

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Jon Irenicus — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:47:17 GMT

All of these people need some catchy phrase with which to distinguish themselves. Whether it's "ideas having sex" or the "selfish gene", or indeed, "killer apps". Grows a bit thin after a while.

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Student — Tue, 07 May 2013 05:49:48 GMT

I watched a video (about an hour) where he kept referrring to ideas as "apps" and said that China was "downloading apps like liberal capitalism."

Yah, the "killer apps" metaphor gets really old, really fast for anyone under the age of 40. But I can see why he did it that way. As I recall, the book "Civilization" basically came out of a history course he taught to undergrads at Harvard. I think he has described it as his attempt to make an accessible entry to the world history everyone should know. So he is clearly aiming for a wide audience. And I am guessing he thought this would help him reach at least some group of people.

But even though the "apps" methophor sucks, Civilization is still on my reading list. But he actually just came out with a Kindle Single on Maggie Thatcher I will read first.

One thing everyone might find interesting is his special "Empire" (related to his book of the same name), which you can find on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSbMBh0YC1c

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Aristophanes — Tue, 07 May 2013 05:11:10 GMT

isnt it true that you have written a few penguin classics yourself?

I am not an academic. My works are so old that they are in the commons and any asshole can "publish them."

So, no. i wrote on clay tablets (i think - it's been so long I can't remember exactly). I didn't have these new fangled "papyrus binds" that everyone else seems to have.

If I had a choice I'd publish with Cambridge University Press that way college kids won't make fun of where I publish at. pfft, "penguin..."

I just wished that he would write even more controversial books

What is more controversial than the killer app of liberal democracy? Or saying that Kenyes was gay and that's why his economics sucked (pun intended - that's right I'm a comedian).

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

fakename — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:56:44 GMT

Does anyone have any opinions about Niall Ferguson?

I've always liked the guy. I find his popular writings very accessible and ussually informative.

But I think his feelings on empire may not sit well with a libertarian crowd. What do you lot think?

I like him, but I just wished that he would write even more controversial books, though I understand that there are limits to what one can write.

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

John James — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:58:14 GMT

Consumariat:
It's literally a metaphor his uses on a regular basis?

He even has a book with it in the title.

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Malachi — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:49:39 GMT

I cant seem to get the image to work, but isnt it true that you have written a few penguin classics yourself?

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Aristophanes — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:28:41 GMT

you know academic's books are good when they are published by Penguin. you'd think a professor at harvard would at least attempt a University press or a private sector academic publisher (Sage or routledge).

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Malachi — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:14:05 GMT

does the book come as an app?

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Consumariat — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:11:09 GMT

It's literally a metaphor his uses on a regular basis?

He even has a book with it in the title.

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

John James — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:16:11 GMT

You mean that wasn't just a gimmick for a TED talk? It's literally a metaphor his uses on a regular basis? What a douchebag.

What really bothered me most about that whole talk was how a lot of it was actually accurate, and not stuff you typically hear admitted by the TED sort. I was happy that such an audience was getting exposed to some reality...but then he just kept on going, and of course inevitably ventured back into typical nonsense. It reminded me a lot of Jared Diamond actually. So close, yet so far away.

Re: Historian Niall Ferguson

Aristophanes — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:03:40 GMT

hahaah, that's not the video I watched (it was a speech at the Chatham house). "killer apps." What a tool. I hat e it when old people try to be 'fresh and young'. I'd rather listen to jargon than have old people try to relate to me.

here is the one I watched...watch Mearsheimer, Walt, nye, Brezinski, Waltz, etc. before this dumbass.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

However, this is something that is hilarious:

Keynes was GAY, that is why we are dead in the long run!