Book: 20260617 to 20260713, "Decisive Moments in History" by Stefan Zweig

 20260617 - Foreword 5

20260617 - Flight into Immortality 7

He knows that this 25th of September will be an important day in world history, and with wonderful Spanish pathos this hardened, unscrupulous adventure manifests how fully he grasps the meaning of his timeless mission. p22
But most people have no idea about Vasco Nunez de Balboa, and that date, and his adventure.
I doubt how much importance he really realized, although he was the first European who saw the Pacific Ocean from America continent.

The governor Pedrarias opens the trial for alleged rebellion; the case is conducted quickly and unjustly. p31
What's the real reason that Pedrarias killed Balboa? The only one who can benefit from it is the king of Spain.
All current top leaders believe that they will own whatever they have forever. But no cell can own the whole body, no matter how strong and how smart it is.
How about AI?

20260618 - The Conquest of Byzantium 33

AI: The Fall of Constantinople (1453), as the first domino, over the following 100 years systematically strangled the financial and political foundations of the Italian Renaissance through economic diversion, overwhelming defense pressures, and geopolitical marginalization. History's punishment is never billed in real time — it is a long-cycle systemic reckoning.

A minute chance happening, Kerkoporta, the forgotten door, decided world history. p57
If one side cannot attack back, and no continuous support from outside, then it's not really defensible. This is same to any family if a city lost order.

20260623 - George Frederick Handel's Resurrection 61

Extreme boredom for extended period of time helps to bring up creativity.

20260623 - The Genius of One Night 85

How many people have this kind of life that they only shined for a few days or even hours?
Or is this not exceptional but normal?
We should put it down, no matter how great it is. The past is past.

20260623 - The World Minute of Waterloo 103

Grouchy is a good manager, but not a good CEO or an good Entrepreneur.
He didn't realize what the ultimate goal is, and didn't want to take risk.
Not taking risk caused the disaster.
The key to him should be utilizing the army. Let the army of Grouchy stay idle brought Napoleon the failure.

20260629 - The Marienbad Elegy 119

Even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe could not confront his instinct.

20260629 - The Discovery of El Dorado 131

This is the reason that Elon Musk had to tolerate most of the political corruption, or else he would be murdered.
Only compound effect can go against the whole society.
Justice and Law are just our imagination. Sometimes they don't work.

20260629 - Heroic Moment 143

What does it feel when live in the moment? To give full attention to whatever we are experiencing?
We don't have to wait till the last day of our lives.

20260629 - The First Word to Cross the Ocean 153

This reminds me of the launching of Falcon 1, and the landing of Falcon 9.
Success needs buffer, even it's completely possible and is accompanied with strong will.

20260712 - Escape to God 175

Leo Tolstoy found the peace before death. Why was he in peace?
Because he didn't die as the fate arranged for him?

20260712 - The Battle for the South Pole 215

Did that death worth the gamble?

20260713 - The Sealed Train 235

If anything went wrong, then Lenin could not make it.
But I feel hard to believe that Lenin is so critical to the ten day revolution(October Revolution of 1917).

20260713 - Afterword 249

Actors, dreamers, and players of games.
Sadly I am one of the spectators at the moment.
What if I live in the moment? Am I still a spectator?

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