[quote=Russell][quote=Allan from Fallbrook][quote=Russell]Rus: Read “The Great Game” by Peter Hopkirk. It’s a very enlightening book and it shows how little has changed over the last 150+ years.

Thanks Allan, I have been reading the reviews on Amazon. It looks good. Made me wonder, Have you written any book reviews for that site? [/quote]

Rus: Nah, I’m too busy here, trying to fend off crazy leftists! =).

If you read and enjoy “The Great Game”, I’d recommend following it with Hopkirk’s “Setting the East Ablaze: Lenin’s Plan for Central Asia”. It details Soviet ambitions in Central Asia and explains how the Russians wound up in Afghanistan. It also explains Putin’s actions in Central Asia as of late.

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What leftists?

I’ll ask the little fellas to get me “The Great Game” for my birthday. At least they will think I read 560 page books. Actually, cliff note versions are required at this juncture in my life. I saw the Spanish translation of the Howard Zinn book that you had mentioned. That looks interesting too… with a dual benefit due to the language practice.

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Rus: Did I say leftists? Sorry, I must be channeling William Buckley again.

If you enjoy books in the original Spanish, try Che Guevara’s “Motorcycle Diaries”. It’s a very interesting read. I’ve read it in the Spanish and the English. The Spanish is better.