About the TalkDavid Mole, HKUSTs Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning) spoke about some histories that he has enjoyed, and his reflections on them. The thread of his discussion was a quote from Francis Bacons The Advancement of Learning on why people seek knowledge:"For men have entered into a desire of learning and knowledge,
Sometimes upon a natural curiosity and inquisitive appetite;
Sometimes to entertain their minds with variety and delight;
Sometimes for ornament and reputation;
And sometimes to enable them to victory of wit and contradiction;
And most times for lucre and profession;
And seldom sincerely to give a true account of their gift of reason to the benefit and use of men:
As if there were sought in knowledge a couch whereupon to rest a searching and restless spirit;
Or a terrace for a wandering and variable mind to walk up and down with a fair prospect;
Or a tower of state, for a proud mind to raise itself upon;
Or a fort or commanding ground, for strife and contention;
Or a shop, for profit or sale;
And not a rich storehouse for the glory of the Creator and the relief of mans estate."Admitting to the vice of often seeking "a couch" or a "terrace"; and trying to attain the virtue of a "rich storehouse" to the delight and enjoyment of the audience, he spoke about and read from a number of books, the library copies listed below.            Video of the talk: Reading history: some virtues and vices
(D16.2 .M65 2013) Return to Dragon Mountain: Memories of a Late Ming Man / by Jonathan Spence Reformation: Europes House Divided / Diarmaid MacCulloch After Tamerlane : the global history of empire since 1405 / by John DarwinThe corruption of angels : the great inquisition of 1245-1246 / Mark Gregory PeggThe Reformation / Diarmaid MacCulloch Waterloo : Napoleons last gamble/ Andrew RobertsThe coming of the Third Reich / Richard J. EvansOther books recommended are:The Third Reich in power, 1933-1939 / Richard J. EvansThe Third Reich at war / Richard J. EvansA history of histories : epics, chronicles, romances and inquiries from Herodotus and Thucydides to the twentieth century / John Burrow  About the SpeakerDr. David Mole received his BA from Cambridge University before moving to Canada for Post-graduate study. There, he earned a Masters degree from the University of British Columbia and a PhD at the University of Toronto.After teaching at a number of universities in Canada and working as an economist for the Ontario government, he moved to Hong Kong in 1989.David joined HKUST in 2005, where his main role has been to support the development of undergraduate education, especially the implementation of the four-year degree. In addition to a keen interest in sport and physical fitness, David has a life-long addiction to the pleasures and rewards of reading.For enquiry, please contact Victoria Caplan at 2358-6756.