I suspect there's value to both your perspective and GP's insofar as both can help understand international affairs in the present day. The "avid book readers"

I suspect there's value to both your perspective and GP's insofar as both can help understand international affairs in the present day. The "avid book readers" vary widely in quality but are more likely to write down what they've learned; as someone who doesn't know enough to discern the quality from the trash, I guess I'm asking whose writings are worth the effort. Oh, and thank you both.