In Which We talk of Books and the rush to the grocery market

Hello, my good friend, and reader of this present post!! Happy Thursday! How are you today? How have you been? As for me, I am okay, though also feeling odd. Finished for the second time the audiobook of Human Action, the economic treatise by Ludwig von Mises. I feel accomplished and even if it was quite a big work by Mises, having 60 something hours, and around 1000 pages, as I once again listened at my own pace, and as I am very fond of his prose and am taken entirely by most of his ideas, only not quite subscribing to some fringe details here and there, it was nothing but a pleasure! A great and pleasant intellectual milestone on the journey of intellect. One that I went through before, but gladly doing it again. I only wish more people could take time to get themselves acquainted to this giant economist, the greatest knight of classical liberalism and common sense. If this is not the truth in its entirety, it is definitely close to it, or rather pointing towards it. Of course, one is never to desire to monopolize any set of ideas, neither to say that anything is settled, that is not how inquiry works, but I can only speak to myself, that Mises's writings and teachings were fundamental in my life! Nothing but glee from this personal accomplishment. A bit of sadness too, given the quiet but important stroll I've ended. Now, I shall perhaps return to my audiobook on another journey: the history of Emperor Meiji and his dance to bring Japan to modernity, alongside the nations of the west, and unlike the great Qing. That book is almost as long as Human Action, and I must say,  though the history it portrays is an epic journey, the writing in Human Action is far more stimulating. 

Concerning books as in reading, not this time on listening, I have not been idle on that front either. In fact, I could use a pause to pick one definitive book for now, given I have been loosely looking into four or five. I trust I mentioned those before on this journal blog, even. Ah, that without mentioning the physical book I am loosely reading as well, hard to pick a lane when the options are either good or important reads. It makes me think of my own loose book project, that may take a while to gain ground. What stimulates me is the debate on the new classical, new traditional movement on architecture and urban planning, and where I stand with it, specially my radical position for free market capitalism under all circumstances at all times, and in distaste of bureocracy and government intervention or overreach. I have been debating, for instance, on listening to a podcast episode with monsieur Diamant, a pen pal of mine, and the man fundamental on the architecture uprising movements across Europe in special, but the environmental framing and concerns of the host, and the compromises the movement gives to the left, positively drove me away from what otherwise could have been a productive listen, or at least for now. I am not the most tough nut most times, and I get annoyed by the leftist talking points and how the debate is hijacked, even when we try to flip the tables on them, our intellectual rivals. Exhausting, it suits me at times to withdraw and do something else.

But on that something else, I admit I don't really feel that stimulated right now, in fact when I went to use the computer, I thought more on the fatigue of choice than the joy of any path I may take, or productive road to go through. I am not sure, maybe I did have too much coffee at the same time, which causes mental fatigue and melancholia as result. Which is another important reason on cutting further on caffeine. I wish I could find a way to go through today, one day I will likely have a lot of free time, in an enjoyable form. Which Caffeine may not help always. At least I finished the audiobook of Human Action one more time, so that is promising. Other promising side is to write on this publication. Not everything is lost yet. Even if I am tired. We are also running out of milk, which means will soon be the end of October, and as such, time for another big visit to the grocery market. Hopefully before that, there will be one, but anyway.

I trust this is a good positive post, and I should move to wrap it up, even if I would likely have more to talk about. The line of thinking was a bit broken because I felt tired and worn out for some hours, and had to rest and take some outside air. Must have been the grocery shortage for now. Fun fact: this habit of many brazilians to get most of their main stuff at the beginning of every month, and I am sure other people have it too, but I am talking of my surroundings for now, is because of the chaotic economic situation Brazil faced in the 1980's, when hyperinflation was a matter of fact, and many would just live through one interventionist nigutmare after the other like if was just a Tuesday afternoon. A nation should never flirt with economic socialism, no matter if their government says it is anti-communist, what is the point if the policies will be the same as the soviets? In any case, people would get their paychecks and run to the supermarket first thing after, because it could be a different price by next day. Now, today Brazil still is a socialist nightmare, but believe it or not, it used ro be worse. And trust me, the past governments, and in special this present one, that God willing won't last much longer, have been trying so hard to bring the bad times back, but well, to the credit of Fernando Henrique and some other important economists in the government just after the chaotic Collor Administration, the build of a new more solid currency, and strong financial reforms and some restraint in the 90's, brought a strong foundation for at least some resilience in Brazil's economy, something absent in the 80's and beforehand... Fernando was quite a socialist, but he could still be reasonable when he had to. Just a tiny grain of common sense and freedom is much more valuable than a thousand tons of interventionism.

Okay, I am overstaying my welcome, maybe I will tell more about history on the next entry, for now, I leave you with this anecdote. Happy weekend! Hopefully I may return even durinf it, though I am not aiming at that for now. Wish you the best! See you agaim real real soon...