"Chip War" by Chris Miller (2022)

"After initially accusing Mark Shepherd of being an imperialist, Minister Li quickly changed his tune.  He realized a relationship with Texas Instruments could transform Taiwan's economy, building industry and transferring technological know-how.  Electronics assembly, meanwhile, would catalyze other investments, helping Taiwan produce more higher-value goods.  As Americans grew skeptical of military commitments in Asia, Taiwan desperately needed to diversify its connections with the United States.  Americans who weren't interested in defending Taiwan might be willing to defend Texas Instruments.  The more semiconductor plants on the island, and the more economic ties with the United States, the safer Taiwan would be..."

Chris Miller is an Associate Professor of International History at Tufts University.  Besides Chip War he's written three other books, all of which explore Russian economic policies.

Chip War begins, predictably, with the birth of the semiconductor industry.  From there it moves on to the development of this technology in the United States and the export of semiconductor manufacturing processes into Asia.

But the technology, of course, is only half of the story.  There are also geopolitical factors at play, many of which go back to the Cold War, and some of which extend to increasing tensions between China and the United States.  Caught between the two superpowers is the tiny island nation of Taiwan, where most of the cutting edge semiconductor manufacturing technology happens to be located.

I think Chip War offers a good overview of why the world depends on the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation, and also why Taiwan is of such strategic importance.  It's not just Taiwan's presence along major shipping lanes, and it's not just a Western desire to encircle China.  It's also an industry centered around a very, very important fabrication facility in Taiwan, the existence of which both attracts and repels its much larger, communist neighbor.

If you're interested in the topic I think you'll find Chip War a rewarding read.  It's not as in-depth as it pretends to be, and the geopolitical ramifications of this "chip war" could have been explored in greater detail, but it's a good introduction to the topic, if not the summative work I hoped it would be.

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"American Sniper" by Chris Kyle (2012)

"I realize that a lot of the problem has to do with the screwed-up culture in Iraq.  These people had been under a dictatorship for all their lives.  Iraq as a country meant nothing to them, or at least nothing good.  Most were happy to be rid of Saddam Hussein, very happy to be free people, but they didn't understand what that really meant - the other things that come with being free."

Chris Kyle was a Navy SEAL.  He was originally from Texas, and later served four tours of duty ("deployments") in Iraq during the early 2000s.  His service as a sniper earned him several medals, and the number of his recorded kills earned him the nickname "The Legend."  Clint Eastwood later directed a film adaptation of this book, and this film - starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle - was released in 2014 to both critical acclaim and commercial success.

American Sniper is a straightforward autobiography, with Kyle recounting his early years in Texas, his SEAL training, his years in Iraq, and his eventual return to home and family.  His ethos of "God, country, family" will probably rub many liberal types the wrong way, but I must say I found his honesty refreshing, even if I don't share many of his priorities.  I found much of American Sniper to be a fascinating glimpse into everything from military training to American strategy in Iraq.

If you're looking for moral ambiguity, however, look elsewhere.  Kyle frequently describes the insurgents he fought as "savages," and never questions either his need to kill them or the broader military objectives in Iraq.  This is obvious from the very first chapter, in which he guns down a female insurgent.

If you enjoyed the movie, the book adds a lot of background to that story.  If you didn't enjoy the movie, you probably won't like the book.  For my part I enjoyed Clint Eastwood's take on American Sniper, and I think that those able to suspend judgement on guys like Kyle will find his story very engaging.  In the age of Trump I'm sure a lot of people will read American Sniper and see everything that's wrong with America, but if you can really hear him, and give him the time to explain what he's about, you might learn to like him and understand some of his motivations.  In this time of national division, developing that kind of empathy might be the most important thing you could do.

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The Films of Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan has directed some of the most profitable films (and film trilogies) in film history, and his style of film making has had an undeniable impact on scores of other directors.  His films are often characterized by their dark tone and intellectual themes.

I have been a fan of Nolan's films since Insomnia, in which Robin Williams turned in one of his finest performances.  I later went back and saw Memento, and from that time on I've seen all of Nolan's films in the theater.  While I think that some of his movies have definite flaws, he is definitely one of the most independent and original film makers that Hollywood has seen in some time.

What follows is a list of his films, and my opinions on each.

1. Following (1998)

I have yet to see this movie.  It is more of a student film, and none of the cast members have (so far) gone on to fame and fortune.  A young man follows strangers around London.

2. Memento (2000)

Guy Pearce stars as a man with serious memory lapses.  It's a wonderfully moody film, driven by an excellent script.

3. Insomnia (2002)

Al Pacino travels to Alaska to investigate a murder, and his inability to sleep during the long Alaskan summer forms a key element of the plot.  Robin Williams is terrific in this movie, and it was sadly overlooked at the time.

4. Batman Begins (2005)

This movie, along with Marvel's Iron Man, was what really got the superhero film genre going.  Nolan's more realistic take on Batman was a welcome relief from earlier, more cartoonish incarnations.

5. The Prestige (2006)

Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale face off as rival magicians around the turn of the century.  If you look very closely you will notice a surprising cameo by David Bowie.  This might by my favorite of Nolan's films, and I have seen it many times.
 

6. The Dark Knight (2008)

Maybe the best superhero movie ever, and also a prescient commentary on the loss of individual freedoms in modern America.  Heath Ledger turns in an Oscar-winning performance as The Joker, and the whole thing builds up to a big, triumphant finale.

7. Inception (2010)

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a corporate spy capable of infiltrating people's dreams.  The visuals are stunning, and the variable passage of time would also be explored in Interstellar.  In my opinion Inception was the best movie of 2010.

8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

A somewhat disappointing end to Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy.  This movie felt overlong, and lacked the twists and turns that made both Inception and The Dark Knight so great.  While Anne Hathaway was excellent as Catwoman, I almost wish that Nolan had never made this movie.

9. Interstellar (2014)

Nolan's most recent film, and perhaps the film that suffers most from his already weighty reputation.  There is an ambition in this movie that's admirable, but it's trying to do too many things at once.  I'll probably have a more concrete opinion on this film after I've seen it again on DVD.

10. His Next Film? (?)

Nolan is the producer on several of Warner Bros. upcoming superhero properties, but he's wisely avoided announcing any further plans with regard to directing.  He has stated a wish to avoid the superhero genre in the future, and I think this is a wise decision.  I'm hoping that whatever he does is a bit smaller in scale.