@cstross

That's a good pitch actually. I have one friend who reads a great deal of nonsense, particularly about the Middle East, just to keep up with the points of view expressed, and I suppose he would devour this with interest. But I've never felt that's the best use of his time.

Someone gave me a book by Thomas Friedman, which I then read. I asked him why he did that, and he apologized; apparently he was confused. As to why I read it, that's a known weakness I have when given a book.