Stephen Kotkin, historian, is at the very very top of the list of people I disagree with on many fundamental political prejudices, but utterly totally respect and study and revere. His first two books of a planned three on the life and times of Stalin I treasure not only as historical biography, but also as amongst my favorite examples of clear brilliant writing.
This video is of his most recent public appearance:
He looks back over the past 50 years as a means to gain at least some perspective as to what sorts of changes could be coming in the next 50. He also clearly puts some of his famous Then he engages is a brilliant conversation with an interlocutor.
Listen, puzzle, enjoy, and reflect.
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