What I’ve been reading

Torsten Rudenschöld - social critic and educational reformer of the school

A short book (in Swedish) about an important figure in the history education in Sweden. Rudenschöld (1798-1859) was a Count with famous ancestors and excellent connections in Swedish 19th century high society. In the first half of his life he was however rather unsuccessful and lived, like many peers, more lavishly than he could afford. He tried and fail both a military, agricultural and industrial career. This culminated in a midlife crisis in which he wrote an important political pamphlet: Tankar om ståndscirkulation (1845). I’ve came across references to this text before and it is often cited as an example of a surge in liberal ideology in the mid 19th century. I was thus exited to learn more about this supposedly radical pamphlet.

It turns out the the content is not at all leftist in a more modern sense. The fact that it is published three years before for instance the Communist Manifesto is of no relevance. Rudenschöld’s radical idea was that the lowly born classes should rise in rank - no it is more of a utopistic vision, where the extravaganca of the gentry should be changed to a more naturalistic way of life, close to the earth and engaged in physical labor.

Anyhow, I wanted to read the book more for Rudenschöld’s work as a pedagogical reformer of the early public school system. This was however where this particular book had the least of offer. But I learned a lot about what daily life of a Count in early 19th century Sweden could look like (it involved a lot of dinner parties). I was also very intrigued to learn more about the Swedish author Carl Jonas Love Almqvist, which I always get whenever I learn something new about him - so perhaps that is next read.

Mere Christianity

I have also taken to read some book about Christianity, or not really about Christianity but about being a Christian. Of all books on this topic this by CS Lewis seemed like a good place to start - also because I was also interested in Lewis. I loved the Narnia chronicles as a child and whenever Lewis pops up in a discussion I am intrigued.

So what did I take away? First what I always take away from good theology - there are good reasons to believe in a God. After that I am not sure. The book was full of great rhetorical points so I understand the apeal of the book for a Christian audience.

Being Christian - Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer

I wanted to read this in preparation for the baptism of my son Francis. I got the recommendation from the podcast Läsarpodden. The books is written by Rowan Williams - the former Archbishop of Canterbury - so he knows what he is talking about.

The book was short and to the point. A good read for anyone who wants to know about Christianity in a nutshell. In terms of the role and theology of the baptism - I was hoping for something else. But instead I learned a lot about how a modern Christian thinker reasons about these questions. The theologians in the podcast that recommended the book claim that Williams masterfully writes about things that almost all Christians agree with - without being bland and shallow.

The Death and Life of Great American Cities

I also started, but did not finish this classic on urban planing. I really liked the first quarter of the book - but then I somehow lost interest. Perhaps I felt like I so much agree with the premise of the book that is became a bit preaching for the choir.

A Culture of Growth

Another failed attempt is this book that I know is important in Economic History - and I hear references to the work of Mokyr a lot. But the book starts slow and I became unsure i reading the book would be the best way to ingest his work.