Three categories of explosives

I've had a fairly productive week.  Perhaps too productive.  How can one be too productive you might ask.  Well, allow me to illuminate...

I finished reading "Scipio Africanus: Greater than Napolean" by B.H. Liddell Hart on Wednesday last.  280 pages in all of about 48 hours.  Thursday I began reading "Inside the Kingdom" by Robert Lacey.  Now, although I was, admittedly, excited at the speed with which I had ripped through the first book and moved on to the next, thus making my prospects of actually completing the Herculean task of reading a book a week for a year somewhere within the realm of possibility, I found that the further I got away from Scipio the less effect it had on me.  Books, by and large, effect me rather deeply.  I am usually changed in some small measure by each book that I read.  And although I truly enjoyed Scipio and felt a good deal of reflection coming on through the reading I find that by moving on to the next book so quickly that I have not been effected as deeply as I could have been with a bit more time to reflect on the deeper messages within.  That said, I will take the opportunity to reflect here.

I am a student of History.  Which is not to say, by any means, that I am a History student.  In other words, I try to "remember my history" but I am not devoted to history at the exclusion of other disciplines.  Liddell Hart at one point makes the argument that to be a true student of history one must, in fact, be a student of military history.  It is a point I would wholly agree with for it is in the conquests and squabbles of states that problems are worked out among nations.  And what is history if not human history?
Scipio led Rome's war against Carthage and, as such, against the quite famous Carthaginian general, Hannibal.  (Side note: Hannibal is a conjoining of two words "hanni" meaning "favored" and "Baal", the god.  Thus "favored of Baal."  Now most people remember Hannibal, or more literally, have heard of Hannibal as it is doubtful anyone is old enough to remember him.  But Scipio?  An obscure and unknown Roman general, of him few have heard.  As Liddell Hart points out in this book that is an historical wrong.  To quote"

"In assessing the world's great figures, other than the definitely religious, we have tended to base our estimate mainly on concrete achievement and mental calibre, overlooking the moral values - the same lack of balance between the three spheres which has been remarked in the conduct of policy in peace and war.  Even this test of achievement has been based on quantity rather than quality.  That Caesar's (speaking of Gaius Jullius Caesar - first emperor of Rome) work is known universally, and Scipio little more than a name to the ordinary educated man, is a curious reflection on our historical standards, for the one inaugurated the world dominion of civilization, the other paved the way for its decay."

Liddell Hart's book not only gives blow by blow of each battle (as any good book analyzing military tactics and strategy would) he also delves deeper into the man himself and his uncanny ability to understand human nature and, through this, the true nature of war.  War as a means to a more perfect peace.  Upon conquering Carthage he left the Carthaginians with self respect - something the West failed to do with German at the Versailles treaty at the end of World War I.  And something we are again failing to do in the current war in the Middle East.  But I digress.

This week has been productive in other areas as well.  I have eaten much good food, discovering three new restaurants.  Well, two new restaurants and a tea room.  I also had the privilege of seeing a production of "Dead Man's Cell Phone" by Sarah Ruhl at Theatre Vertigo.  I had thought to review the play here (as the reviewer obviously has little experience of theatre or the art of reviewing) but I will refrain and say only that on the whole I enjoyed the production and would recommend that people see the show and support local theatre.  I had my personal issues with the show but the crowd, in general, seemed not to notice and, ultimately, that is what theatre is about.  I, however, reserve the option to review the show in the future should the mood strike me.

And that, for me, is all for this week - books, food and theatre.  What more does one need for a little explosion in the soul?  Perhaps someone to share those experiences with - and for that I have you.