Acquire Summer Meditations Presented By Václav Havel Contained In Version

I first read this series of essays in, the revolutions ofwere still giving off a soft afterglow, Havel, the dissident playwright, led the "Velvet Revolution" that overthrew the communist regime in Czechoslovakia and was subsequently chosen as president, He symbolized the new Europe for many people,

Havel argues that the validity of political systems should be judged on how well they conform to humanistic values, Reading his work gives one hope that a politics based in ethical relations between state and citizen is not only desirable but possible,

Plus, you have to appreciate a man who invited Frank Zappa to be the first official visitor to postcommunist Czechoslovakia, A vital read This book was an engaging read, despite having aged a bit over the last two and a half decades, I would recommend skipping the second chapter unless you are terribly interested in the minutae of the Velvet Revolution, However, the final two chapters are a much needed voice in the age of amoral and cruel politics of the last decade, While contemporary politicians have weaponized fear and hate, and people are voting for politicians who serve only themselves, Havel talks about a politics of love and respect, from the people on the bottom to the people at the top.
I find myself interested in what he has to say, while at the same time unable to accept some of the arguments he puts forward, because he has far more faith in man's inherent goodness than the last few decades would give us reason to believe in.
This year, there are rolling protests in Prague because of the deep corruption that the current prime minister has displayed, and yet there is no sign that he is leaving.
Does this mean that Havel was right, or Havel was wrong if you were to take everything i've ever said, felt, or thought about politics and write it down into a book, this would be it.
Except told from the viewpoint of a revolutionary Czech president, Vaclav, bravo! I read this to fulfill a summer reading bingo box book with summer in the title, but oh wow was it interesting to read inin the U.
S. with our political climate. Summer Meditations by Václav Havel

In the immediate aftermath of the Velvet Revolution, also known as the "Gentle Revolution" where the people of Czechoslovakia regained their independence from Communist Russia control, Czechoslovakians were in desperate need of a leader to guide their country through this transitional period.
They turned to a rebellious playwright and human rights activist Václav Havel when they elected him as President in, President Havel served as the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the newly formed Czech Republic, following Slovakia's separation from Czechoslovakia to form an independent state,

In Summer Meditations, President Václav Havel writes a memoir that essentially gives him an unmuted, unchallenged platform to share his thoughts on a broad range of topics and policies relevant to Czechoslovakians.
Most notably is the defense for his decisions regarding the switch to a marketbased economy, despite hardships and increased unemployment, from the communistbased economy that the country was accustomed to under the Soviet control, and then his advocacy for Czechoslovakia to remain a united independent state, rather then the separation of Slovakia from the Czech Republic.
Written in the summer ofwhile he was was still serving in office, President Havel lays out his positions in a detailed, pointbypoint method, President Havel shares his opinions, many of which are unpopular, and then makes bold statements and predictions on many of the topics in the hearts and minds of Czechoslovakians,

President Havel presents himself as a humble, "for the people"type leader, His writing style and thought process reminded me of President Obama, Havel was exceptionally careful with his words and phrasing, often times saying, "let me be clear, . . ", while giving a nuanced, detail and evidencebased opinion, Havel spends a significant amount of time outlining his reasoning for why Czechoslovakia should remain a united state, despite Slovakia's desire to separate and form an new independent nation, Ultimately, the Czechoslovakians did not listen to their President's plea, as Slovakia became an independent state in,

What stood out to me the most during my reading of this book was how relevant his writings are towards modern politics, nearly thirty years later, One could extract a quote from nearly every page in the book and apply it towards a political situation in today's world and it would be relevant, It demonstrates how the challenges that we are facing at the moment are not necessarily new, just with different actors on the world stage, This is especially evident when Havel discusses the benefits of a marketbased free economy over a governmentcontrol communist economy, He warns against the alluring and tempting claims of communism while he advocates for a free, democraticallyelected society, We are seeing these issues reemerge as a major theme in today's political environment, as the communist governments of Russia,

China, and North Korea try to reassert their authority and weaken western democracies.


President Havel's book Summer Meditations, is worth revisiting in order to regain perspective on many of the issues facing global politics, It reminded me of what politicians can be, rather than what we so often see, and that is leaders that are humble, intelligent, and respectful, Havel describes in the beginning of his book about how he somewhat reluctantly accepted the presidential nomination for his party, His desire was never to have absolute power, but to improve his country by establishing a free democratic society, A Primer to Ethical Politics, all over the world and at home, this book should be read it's first chapter at least by those who want to be leaders or in politics.
For the way it describes the the political machine in human terms, and the fact that he wrote this book while president of a country, about the country, most of it can't be limited to just Czechoslovakia.
However there are other books written around this phenomena of a playwright politician, so this may not be the absolutely best book on Vaclav Havel, I don't know. I thought I read this book for the first time when I was, but when I "reread" it a couple of months ago, it seemed to me that I maybe hadn't actually read the whole thing back then.
I think I may only have read the first couple of chapters, Anyways, now I've read the whole thing,

Havel wrote this book while he was the president of Czechoslovakia, shortly before the Velvet Divorce when the county split up, This is a book that really gives you hope that politics really can be moral and civil, I have a lot of respect for this guy,

This book was very much written for a Czech audience, although the translator explains things for Englishspeaking audiences a little bit, Being a person who didn't live in Czechoslovakia inmakes it a little harder to enjoy this book, but it's still really great,

I once read a book of Havel's speeches called The Art of the Impossible, but I think it must be out of print, Summer Meditations, by Vaclav Havel, offers a refreshing contrast to the barrage of negative stories that dominate our current political landscape, The Czech president, rather than being embittered by the repression and persecution that he endured during the Soviet domination of Czechoslovakia, offers a view of political leadership that inspires and exhorts.
Havel defines government as a means to create a moral and cultured society where working for the collective good supersedes partisanship and incivility, Havel's vision is in marked contrast to the current situation in the United States and other nations whose leadership seem determined to divide rather than unite and to appeal to the lowest common denominator in the name of political gain.
How rare a message it is when Havel proclaims that "it makes sense to behave decently or to help others, to place common interests above their own, to respect the elementary rules of human coexistence.
"

The common interests to which Havel refers are rooted in education, culture, and a strong market economy, He envisions an increasingly integrated European community where a united Czechoslovakia finds a role to play as its people reclaim a tradition of democratic governance and reliance on the rule of law rather than the whim of communist dictators.
While a united Czechoslovakia did not survive the transition from Cold War to postmodern Europe, Havel's larger message is not diminished, He defines home as a series of concentric circles where a person and nation can reside simultaneously and compatibly in a number of different realms, recognizing the value in a complex national identity and history.
As a longtime victim of an ideology that subverted individual rights, he proclaims the value of ideas and action based on moral standards even when those decisions come at the expense of one's personal comfort or popularity.
Ultimately, his message is one of hope, a belief that leaders determined to act can effect lasting change, and that a good and humane state can, in fact, yield a society of the same character.


Since the book is entirely in Havel's voice, one wonders how time and hindsight have altered the Czech people's view of someone who, from an outside perspective, seems to offer a positive vision for the modern world.
Despite this caveat, the book is a quick read and revealing glimpse into the way that one man used his position of leadership to challenge people making a difficult and historic transition.
In a book written while he was president of Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel combines the same powerful eloquence, moral passion, and abiding wisdom that informed his writing as a dissident and playwright, with a candor unprecedented from one with the broad perspective and infinite responsibility of governing a country.


Havel, now president of the Czech Republic, addresses the legacy of Communism as the euphoria of the Velvet Revolution gives way to a more problematic reality, Yet even as he grapples with the challenges of political change, he affirms his belief in a politics motivated by moral responsibility in an economy tempered by compassion and in the central roles of art and culture in the transformation of society.
Summer Meditations is not only a timely and necessary testament of events in Eastern Europe but a profound reflection upon the nature and practice of politics and a stirring call for morality, civility, and openness in public life throughout the world.
If only more world leaders were as passionate and dedicated as Havel, A beautiful insight into the mind of a great Czech humanist and a former president, Two years after the Velvet revolution, he kindly explains his political action, his intentions and humanistic principles, He reflects on the way of establishing democracy in Czechoslovakia and creating the new constitution, his fear of separation of Czech and Slovak nations with admirable understanding of the Slovak side of view, the status of Czechoslovakia among other states and its participation in international organizations, his opinions on ideology in general and his personal principles and his dreams about future.
While based on experience from Czechoslovakia his thoughts are universal, enriching for foreigner reader as well, Fantastic. Timely, yet thirty years old, A chapter or two may be dated, but the pleas for civility, truth, ideas without slavery to ideology, . . though written for Czechoslovakia as she wrestles with her new found freedom, need to be heard today, Though Havel wrote this book about then Czechoslovakia in, so much of the text resonated with me as an American in, I have to admit my ignorance when it comes to the Czech Republic's political history, and I am sure a stronger understanding would have helped me better appreciate Havel's meditations.
Still, these are clearly the words of a thoughtful leader during an interesting time of transition,

As a teacher, I especially appreciated Havel's take on the importance of public schooling, Havel explains, " At all levels, schools must cultivate a spirit of free and independent thinking in the students, Schools will have to be humanized, both in the sense of their basic component must be the human personalities of the teachers, creating around themselves a 'forcefield' of inspiration and example, and in the sense that technical and other specialized education will be balanced by a general education in the humanities.
" I hold Havel in high esteemthe closest thing in our modern age to one of the American Founding Fathers, endowed with good sense, intellect, principle, and love of country,

This book is a collection of his thoughts on the path for the Czechoslovakian nation in the earlys, Much of what he predicted and hoped for has come to pass, but the real value of this book is in its expression of timeless wisdom about political principles and human nature.
Wednesday morning after Election Day, My media blackout book. Gave me a sense of peace and perspective during these crazy times, Hope to experience his plays soon, Dreamer and a moralist. Yes, please. Beautiful sentiments expressed effortlessly. Highly underrated, highly recommended the next presendential election is over a year away, and i'm already feeling disenchanted by politics again, reading havel's political and personal philosophy was a breath of fresh air, it's nice to hear a public figure talk about morality and discover they are referring to kindness, sincerity and compassion rather than the "morality" talking points we are subjected to by politicians in this country dogmatic right wing ideology.
imagine having a dissident and playwright as our president who "acted as an instrument of the times," rather than "the decider, " i wish every american "public servant" would read this book and be compelled to try sincerty rather than pandering to focus groups, .