Doom - the politics of catastrophe (Niall Ferguson's book)

Historian Niall Ferguson’s most recent book looks at the history of disasters that have hit the human race, and asks the questions about what can we learn about them that would be useful for the future. Seems like an important and useful thing we should talk about.

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Doom, The politics of catastrophe, Niall Ferguson

[MallenBaker]

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[thtiger]

People come back after a natural disaster for the same reason they were there before. Flood plains and the areas around volcanoes are some of the most fertile places on earth, and often the easiest to farm.

[mal]

"There is no crisis so bad that human stupidity can't find a way to make it even worse."

Mallen Baker 2021

[roncarney]

Brilliant post Mallen! Shame about the CO2 catastrophe and chief flagellant Gore!

[johnbrien]

Kaplan’s specter of globalized humanity scares me worst!

[waynzignordics]

So much good stuff in this video. Thank you, Mallen.

[phwbooth]

Excellent politico-historical excursus, plus a critical assessment of Ferguson's book (that I have only just begun to read).

[jtbrightwolf]

Great content. Thank you for all of your work

[no.]

Very good summary of the current problems from the thinking persons perspective.

[Cotictimmy]

Discussion on BBC News & Current Affairs is very low quality stuff compared with the content on this channel but, despite that, the BBC news has many more viewers. Hey-Ho.

[johnkosi]

In relation to Cassandra's... economists have predicted 12 of the last 3 recessions.

[annatanneberger]

Thanks Mallen. Niall Ferguson is one of my favourites and a particular treat to hear your insights.
I would be interested to hear your views of a 3-part documentary by Adam Curtis for the BBC, called The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear. It was released in 2004, a full 16 years before covid, when mainstream media still tried to appear as if they were presenting fact, not opinion or pushing some agenda. So he could not then have imagined the levels of fear that would be pushed onto society in 2020. I would like to hear your take on that.

[paulmyatt]

I enjoyed the concept of a Cassandra for every problem with only a few turning out to be accurate. China might be a topic for a future video...

[juvenalsdad]

Excellent video as usual, Mr. Baker. I don't always agree with Niall Ferguson, but like the philosopher Peter Boghossian, he does academia with a pugilistic style which I very much like. I have ordered the book, and look forward to reading it.

[smokincrater]

Wow, that Chinese dam looks exactly like the Mohne dam in Germany, after the RAF visited it.

The British Army incurred 19, 240 killed on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme. Total casualties (killed, wounded, missing and POW) was 57, 470. Still a bad day at the office.

[elizabethanderson]

Ridiculous research and solid presentation ... top marks, as per

[obviousmaths]

Defoe's capitalization reminds me of a recent president's. I think Defoe capitalizes all nouns, not just proper ones, so not quite the same. Maybe a grammar person can elucidate.

[chris-mgui]

Its a bit of a disaster to be in a cold war with the country which produces just about everything you need

[obviousmaths]

I guess that if we listened to a Cassandra, they would not be a Cassandra. She was cursed to be correct but not listened to.

[ParcelOfRogue]

Franklin mentioned fog that probably prevented 3 summer ice melts that killed them all in expedition