For the love of books

Plus Indonesia's incoming president and unusual museums [View this email in your browser]( [The Week Evening Review]( Indonesia's future, Gen Z's love of libraries, and Vietnam's growing wealth   Good evening, Roses? For Valentine's Day? Groundbreaking. If you happened to rid yourself of the tired tradition this year, consider it an environmental win, says one of today's columnists in Instant Opinion. The romantic buds apparently have a huge carbon footprint compared to seasonal, local flowers. So may we suggest you go the Gen Z route and gift a paperback book instead? Summer Meza The Week Digital     TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Where does Indonesian democracy go from here? The American electoral system can be complex. But it pales in comparison to the gargantuan enterprise that is Indonesia's sprawling single-day election operation. Given the intricacy, the official results of this week's elections are expected to take several weeks to fully tabulate. Even so, Prabowo Subianto wasted little time declaring victory in the three-way presidential race, citing unofficial poll counts that put him well over 50% shortly after polls closed on Wednesday. His victory may represent an ominous turning point for Indonesia, which has enjoyed two decades of relative freedom since ousting longtime dictator Muhammad Suharto in 1998. What did the commentators say? Prabowo is a "wealthy former military man with close ties to the current government" and controversial due to his relationship with Suharto and his regime, said CBS News. He was previously banned from entry into the United States after being accused of military crimes like having "instigated riots that killed hundreds" after Suharto's ousting, Reuters said. While in the military, Prabowo served as "special forces commander in a unit linked to torture and disappearances" but "vehemently denies" any wrongdoing, said The Associated Press. Prabowo's strongman reputation has undergone a "social media rebranding campaign featuring his beloved felines, a cherubic AI avatar and TikTok dances" designed to appeal to younger voters, Time said. But new cuddly image aside, the freedoms of Indonesia's post-dictator era "could now be under threat" by Prabowo's ascendency, The New York Times said. He has the "implicit support of the popular outgoing president," Joko Widodo, under whom democratic norms "eroded." Joko reportedly played a "crucial role in the rehabilitation" of Prabowo's image and is the father of Prabowo's running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. What next? Prabowo has "previously advocated for removing presidential term limits, ending direct presidential elections and curtailing human rights protections," which raises concerns for Indonesia's nascent democracy, intelligence agency Verisk Maplecroft's Laura Schwartz said to CNN. Voters said Prabowo and his connections could mark a return to undemocratic "dynasty politics." And he will likely maintain Indonesia's "nonaligned approach to the region," in which China and the U.S. jockey for influence, Ian Wilson, of Murdoch University's Indo-Pacific Research Centre, told Al Jazeera. Ultimately, Prabowo likely won't allow his predecessor to "carry too much influence," Verve Research's Natalie Sambhi said to The New York Times. But if he "starts to steer Indonesia in a different direction" from Joko's path, "what will happen?"   Advertisement by Betterment [Betterment is the automated investing app that puts your money to work](   QUOTE OF THE DAY "Shots fired! I'm hit!" Okaloosa County, Florida, Deputy Jesse Hernandez shouting before shooting at an unarmed, handcuffed suspect in his car after misinterpreting an acorn falling on his car as a gunshot. After the shootout with the acorn, he resigned from the police force.     Talking Points Gen Z is bringing back reading Here's a tip for older folks looking to keep up with the latest trends among young people: Go to the library. It's a "surprising Gen Z plot twist," The Guardian said. Young adults and adolescents are really into reading — real books, the kind you find on paper. Leading the way is Kaia Gerber, a 22-year-old model-actress and the daughter of Gen X icon Cindy Crawford, who this week launched her book club. Research shows "Gen Zers and millennials prefer books in print over e-books and audiobooks," said The Conversation. This has manifested in an "unlikely love affair with their local libraries," maybe because they're "free from the insipid creep of commercialism." Instagram and BookTokTechnology is a big part of this story. On Gerber's Instagram, "hundreds of thousands" of people watch her interview celebrity authors, The Wall Street Journal said. "Most other book clubs are geared toward millennials and moms," said one publishing executive. "Having a peer with great literary taste making recommendations" for younger people is still relatively rare. Is it? On BookTok, a popular corner of TikTok, readers "go to find a new series, share their opinions and connect with authors," Saige Steele said at The Lumberjack, Northern Arizona University's newspaper. It is a "positive and healthy niche" that has revived reading as a hobby and created bestsellers along the way. But BookTok has "commodified reading," Greta Patterson said at Colorado College's Catalyst. Technology has transformed reading into just another version of fast fashion. Influencers have "increased overconsumption" everywhere, Patterson said, "reading being no exception." Socializing at 'reading parties'Reading is no longer an exclusively solitary act with the rise of "reading parties," Molly Young said at The New York Times. The events take place "on rooftops, in parks and at bars" where people knock out a few pages and then "chat with strangers about what you have just read." It is a great way to socialize without the distractions of a smartphone, said the founder of one event. You know who loves these trends? Booksellers. Business was hurting a decade ago thanks to Amazon and e-readers, said The Independent. But "if you look at what young people are doing now," said James Daunt, who oversees Barnes & Noble, they are "reading proper books, which is fantastic."     Statistic of the day 83M: The number of Americans that breathe unhealthy air every year as a result of climate change. This air is categorized as "red level," meaning that outdoor activities could cause lung problems, including coughing and chest pain. The issue is expected to affect up to 125 million people in the coming decades. CBS News     The Explainer Geopolitics might make Vietnam wealthy The United States and China have seen their relationship continue to sour as the two countries compete on the global stage. But while the superpower pair seeks to edge each other out in a race to own the next decade, there is a third party that could benefit most of all: Vietnam. Why are the US and China trying to win over Vietnam?Vietnam has "shrewdly positioned itself halfway between China and America, prompting both superpowers to woo it," The Economist said. Notably, Vietnam was the only country in 2023 to receive state visits from both President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Hanoi's balancing act between these complex, competing geopolitical interests is now known as "bamboo diplomacy." Vietnam seemingly has more in common with China than with the U.S. However, Vietnam's system of government is generally considered more democratic and less restrictive than China's. As a result, many "ordinary Vietnamese are deeply suspicious of their giant, bullying neighbor," The Economist said, largely as a consequence of China staking claims on Vietnam's portions of the South China Sea. This has led the U.S. and China to jostle for a position at Vietnam's side. How is this benefiting Vietnam?The breakdown of U.S.-China relations has seen Vietnam emerge as "one of the rare winners during recent years of deglobalization," Forbes said. Vietnam has expanded its business opportunities both domestically and with foreign markets. This has led to countries around the world pouring resources into Vietnam, with the country's General Statistics Office reporting $36.6 billion in direct foreign investments in 2023. This represented a 32.1% year-over-year increase and was the highest level of foreign investment in Vietnam in five years, the office reported. But there is a catch in all of this. Vietnam's domestic stock changes are considered frontier markets by the West, which makes "Vietnamese stocks off limits to many global investors and family offices," Forbes noted. Nonetheless, "economically it has probably never faced a more benign global environment," The Economist said of the country.     Poll watch Most Americans believe diversity makes the United States better, according to a new Marist national poll. The poll surveyed 1,582 adults and found 82% of respondents felt diversity made the U.S. either "much stronger" or "somewhat stronger." Of those polled, 62% of Democrats and 21% of Republicans fell into the "much stronger" category.     INSTANT OPINION Today's best commentary 'The Republican Party has become just another subsidiary of Donald Trump Inc.'David A. Graham in The AtlanticThe GOP is nearing its "end as a functional party," says David A. Graham. Donald Trump made the Republican National Committee a branch of Trump Inc. by deposing Ronna McDaniel and endorsing "loyalist" North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley to replace her, with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair. This is "good news" for Trump. "Given what we know about The Trump Organization and the Trump White House, it is unlikely to be good news for the party." 'Why giving roses on Valentine's Day — or any day — is really a bad idea'Amanda Shendruk in The Washington PostThis Valentine's Day, we need to ask an "unromantic question": "Can we live without roses?" says Amanda Shendruk. "The daily, nonstop, global race to get just-cut roses from greenhouses to your front door makes them punishing on the environment." They are spirited to us from "climate-controlled greenhouses" via "refrigerated trucks and a long, chilled flight," giving them a huge carbon footprint. Pay a little more for a favorite flower that is in season and grown locally. "Romance doesn't need to be limited to roses." 'What Biden should do at the border'Daniel Di Martino at National ReviewIf President Joe Biden wants to show Republican lawmakers he is "acting in good faith," he should do everything "in his power to solve the border crisis," says Daniel Di Martino. He can start by placing "every migrant encountered on the southern border into expedited removal proceedings" instead of paroling them. This would subject asylum seekers to a "credible-fear interview." Only half pass this credibility test. Maybe then Republicans would recognize it will take "congressional action" to fully secure the border.     Picture of the day Skeletal embrace An art installation called "'Till Death Do Us Part" displayed during a Valentine's Day event in Bucharest, Romania Vadim Ghirda / AP   Advertisement by Betterment [Betterment is the automated investing app that puts your money to work](   Good day 🏗️ … for Notre Dame cathedral. The scaffolding covering the top of Notre Dame after a disastrous fire in April is being taken down, "marking a milestone in its reconstruction," CBS News said. The new spire was revealed for the first time, "adorned with a golden rooster and cross, offering a glimpse of the building's expected appearance upon completion."     Bad day 🚭 … for United Airlines. After it grounded a fleet of its new Airbus A321neo planes, the airline clarified that it wasn't a safety issue. Instead, it was because of the aircraft's "No Smoking" signs, which are required by a 1990 law to be manually turned off by the flight crew. The A321neo has software that keeps the sign on continuously through flights, but United is applying for an exemption with the FAA.     Puzzles [Daily crossword]( Test your general knowledge with The Week's daily crossword, part of our puzzles section, which also includes [sudoku]( and [codewords](. [Play here](     The Week recommends [3 of the world's most unusual museums]( Art, natural history and science museums are wonderful places to explore, but sometimes you want a museum shake-up. That's where these three out-of-the-ordinary museums come into play, with their focus on ramen, toilets and tap water. Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, Yokohama, JapanRamen is a staple in many diets (looking at you, college kids), and the humble dish gets its brothy due at this museum south of Tokyo. Shin-Yokohama opened its doors in 1994, has displays on the history of ramen and offers ramen-making classes. The main draws are the shops that sell different types of ramen and the Sunset Shopping Street, a replica of a traditional sweets shop that sells hundreds of old-fashioned treats and toys. Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, New Delhi, IndiaWhile its focus is the porcelain throne, Sulabh is much more than that. It examines the history of hygiene and sanitation, with exhibitions on social customs and etiquette, toilet technology, and sewage systems. The museum has three main sections — ancient, medieval and modern — and an extensive collection of objects, including chamber pots, bidets and toilets from 1145 to present day. Museum of Tap Water, Beijing, ChinaStanding on the site of Beijing's first city water plant is the Museum of Tap Water, which delves into what it takes to bring H20 to a metropolis. The museum has exhibitions on how water is collected and filtered, with photos, models, sand tables and other objects serving as illustrations. It is an educational experience for everyone, especially those who do not have much hydrology knowledge. [Read more](     WORD OF THE DAY Alaskapox A recently discovered virus that "occurs mostly in small mammals," The New York Times said. Health officials recently identified the first fatal case after an elderly man died in Alaska.     In the morning Brace yourself: The cicadas are coming. In tomorrow’s Morning Report, you can cringe your way through Devika Rao's explanation of why the broody bugs are coming back with a vengeance this year. Thanks for reading, Summer     Evening Review was written and edited by Theara Coleman, Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Harold Maass, Scott Hocker, Justin Klawans, Kelsee Majette, Joel Mathis, Summer Meza, Devika Rao, Rafi Schwartz, Anahi Valenzuela and Peter Weber, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek. Image credits, from top: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Alamy / Getty; Getty Images; Maika Elan/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Peter Dazeley / Getty Images   © Future US, Inc • [theweek.com]( [Unsubscribe from this newsletter]( [Privacy Policy]( The Week is published by Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036.