#2183 - Norman Ohler

This book surveys the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century, focusing on Homo sapiens. It divides human history into four major parts: the Cognitive Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the Unification of Humankind, and the Scientific Revolution. Harari argues that Homo sapiens dominate the world due to their unique ability to cooperate in large numbers through beliefs in imagined realities such as gods, nations, money, and human rights. The book also examines the impact of human activities on the global ecosystem and speculates on the future of humanity, including the potential for genetic engineering and non-organic life.

Published in 1962, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' is a seminal novel by Ken Kesey that delves into the dehumanizing effects of institutionalization and the struggle for individuality. The story, narrated by Chief Bromden, a half-Indian patient, takes place in an Oregon psychiatric hospital where the strict and oppressive regime of Nurse Mildred Ratched is challenged by the arrival of Randle P. McMurphy, a charismatic and rebellious patient. The novel explores the boundaries between sanity and madness, conformity and rebellion, and questions the power dynamics within institutions. It became a symbol of countercultural resistance and has had a significant impact on discussions surrounding mental health and societal treatment of the mentally ill.

In 'Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich', Norman Ohler delves into the unregulated and pervasive use of drugs in Nazi Germany. Despite the Nazis' public stance against drugs, the regime heavily relied on pharmaceuticals to sustain its military and leadership. The book details how methamphetamines, under the brand name Pervitin, were used to keep soldiers awake during long campaigns, and how Adolf Hitler became increasingly dependent on a cocktail of drugs administered by his personal physician, Dr. Theodor Morell. Ohler's research, drawing from archival sources and primary documents, provides a new perspective on the Third Reich and the role of drugs in its military and political operations[2][4][6].