What China's Military Parade and Newest Jets Tell Us About the Battle For Air Supremacy

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic history of Nazi Germany, highlighting how economic constraints and strategies influenced Hitler's decisions and the outcome of World War II. Tooze argues that Hitler's aggression was a response to the rise of the United States as a global hegemon and Germany's relative economic poverty. The book details the rapid mobilization of Germany's economy for war, the use of slave labor, and the impact of strategic bombing campaigns. It challenges several myths about the Nazi economy, including the idea of an armaments miracle under Albert Speer and the potential for greater mobilization of women in the war economy.

Walter Ong's "Orality and Literacy" explores the profound influence of oral and written communication on thought and culture. Ong argues that the shift from oral to literate cultures fundamentally reshaped human consciousness, impacting memory, perception, and the very structure of thought. He contrasts the characteristics of oral cultures, emphasizing their communal nature and reliance on memory, with the individualistic and analytical tendencies fostered by literacy. The book examines how different modes of communication shape our understanding of the world and ourselves. Ong's work has had a lasting impact on fields such as rhetoric, anthropology, and media studies, influencing scholars like Marshall McLuhan. His insights continue to be relevant in understanding the impact of new technologies on human cognition and social interaction.