“The book that I keep rereading is ‘Il Deserto dei Tartari’” (N. Taleb, from a 2018 interview with Cowen).
The author wrote it while employed as a (dead-)beat reporter in Italy during Fascism, so you know where this is coming from.
Not sure which translation is best. Anyway, highly recommended for:
- frequent visitors of the Steppe
- people with an irrational fear of Tartars
- but also for those seeking to meet Tartars
- disaffected career soldiers
- people exceedingly in love with themselves
- and those hoping for the light at the end of the tunnel