After my little tantrum yesterday (I know you’ll say: “You think?”), normal service resumed. This is a sane survey of your early career years, and it shows some character that you persevered. The only obvious obs to make is that it is drearily depressing at how little control one really has over career direction when you are employed by others. It requires patience and a certain kind of temperament to stick at it and await that one chunk of light which might be a golden opportunity. Or just decide to set up shop alone and get on with it. The most basic (and sometimes heartless) advice (ie get on with it) is often the wisest…..well, in my exp.
(Perhaps even in-house journalism is far more mobile than you expected?)
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been handed the opportunity in the first place. Hopefully, the piece came across less as a grumble (there is a bit of grumbling) and more an insight into how it felt and how I’ve tried to use that experience going forward.
BTW Just to say, I think the Wellerstein book you recommended on Truman and the Bomb deserves a stellar review. Have certainly adjusted my view on Truman. Some people seem to regard him as a “tail ender” after FDR, but he actually served all but the maximum constitutionally prescribed limit. (FDR died only three months into his 4th term.) He certainly had to deal with the full force of the consequences of the war, and the framework of peace which he played a large part in creating. (“The Hard and Bitter Peace.”)
His statements at the end of his second term on the bomb seem the ones of a pragmatic politician fringed with a moral hue.
Eisenhower was a v different kettle of fish. But then he was a military man, used to mass destructive weaponry. Some of Truman’s diffidence reminds me of what I’ve understood to be LBJ’s character.
PS Totally unconnected: might you one day do a newsletter on FIFA and national footie associations and who controls whom? I’m not getting the impression that “the Infant” is particularly accountable…..
The water industry also deserves your scrutiny at some stage - whenever. This is not to prejudge your findings. Just that as an island entity as a whole, the British Isles is well enough watered. Yet after a v wet winter and a bit of heat and little rain, the water companies have started flexing their muscles and wailing away……
After my little tantrum yesterday (I know you’ll say: “You think?”), normal service resumed. This is a sane survey of your early career years, and it shows some character that you persevered. The only obvious obs to make is that it is drearily depressing at how little control one really has over career direction when you are employed by others. It requires patience and a certain kind of temperament to stick at it and await that one chunk of light which might be a golden opportunity. Or just decide to set up shop alone and get on with it. The most basic (and sometimes heartless) advice (ie get on with it) is often the wisest…..well, in my exp.
(Perhaps even in-house journalism is far more mobile than you expected?)
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been handed the opportunity in the first place. Hopefully, the piece came across less as a grumble (there is a bit of grumbling) and more an insight into how it felt and how I’ve tried to use that experience going forward.
BTW Just to say, I think the Wellerstein book you recommended on Truman and the Bomb deserves a stellar review. Have certainly adjusted my view on Truman. Some people seem to regard him as a “tail ender” after FDR, but he actually served all but the maximum constitutionally prescribed limit. (FDR died only three months into his 4th term.) He certainly had to deal with the full force of the consequences of the war, and the framework of peace which he played a large part in creating. (“The Hard and Bitter Peace.”)
His statements at the end of his second term on the bomb seem the ones of a pragmatic politician fringed with a moral hue.
Eisenhower was a v different kettle of fish. But then he was a military man, used to mass destructive weaponry. Some of Truman’s diffidence reminds me of what I’ve understood to be LBJ’s character.
PS Totally unconnected: might you one day do a newsletter on FIFA and national footie associations and who controls whom? I’m not getting the impression that “the Infant” is particularly accountable…..
So pleased you enjoyed the book. Re Fifa, funnily enough I recommend a great podcast on it in today’s newsletter.
The water industry also deserves your scrutiny at some stage - whenever. This is not to prejudge your findings. Just that as an island entity as a whole, the British Isles is well enough watered. Yet after a v wet winter and a bit of heat and little rain, the water companies have started flexing their muscles and wailing away……
Electricity & gas grids - quite normal. Water?