Back in the UK, almost the first thing Gek and I did was to join the local library. But this book I read in Singapore whilst awaiting our leaving date. A very interesting look at the Islamic, Hindu and Confucian views of humanity and their struggle to understand the runaway success of a seemingly chaotic Western Enlightenment view coupled with the attendant industrial revolution. al-Afghani for Islam, Liang for Confucianism and Rabindranath Tagore for Hinduism; all three looked to Japan as a model for reaping the benefits the West had to offer without losing control of their own societies, ie without democratising . They are still struggling with this puzzle even today, The Islamic State is currently using Western invention and production with it's Jeeps, guns, missiles, computers, the internet etc. whilst at the same time trying to destroy the system that gives them clout. Hopefully, we are perhaps seeing the death throws of extremist views, extremist views on anything. But I will not hold my breath.
