William Duggan

Fascinating essay about von Clausewitz's idea of coup d'oeile (coo-DOY)--"sudden insight that shows you what course of action to take." A variety of things go into a person being able to have this insight, including a knowledge of history and past experiences as well as an openness to being flexible enough to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. Pretty much the opposite of needing to have everything planned in advance.

Duggan provides snapshots of historical and modern people who exhibited coup d'oeile--Napoleon (of course), General Patton (WW II), Alice Paul (suffrage), Ella Baker (civil rights), Mohammed Yunus (Grameen Bank), and many more.

Lots of lessons for everyday people, not just for those like generals who obviously need to know about strategy.… (meer)

A saga of six generations of an imaginary African people, this extraordinary first novel creates a myth at the margins of history. The BaNare, living on the fringes of the Kalahari Desert, must contend with the vagaries of nature and with the cultural challenges posed by Zulus, Boers, and the British in South Africa. The central figure is Mojamaje, Eater of Rocks, a hero to his people, first among equals in a cast of remarkable and colorfully named characters. In his life and exploits Mojamaje represents the resolution and resilience necessary to endure when all tradition is called into question. The tradition not in question in The Great Thirst is that of good storytelling, a tradition Duggan sustains with humor, human insight, and not a little magic.… (meer)