We met Hamish during our 3 long years in Reading in the mid-2010s. It was simply wonderful to know him. Such a big heart and such a big mind. Despite the fact that his life and my life had been shaped in very different times and very different contexts, I felt 100% understood by him and it was easy to connect and to talk (discussions about big issues and also at the personal level). He was amazing how independent his thinking was and how open-minded he was. It was clear that he had every intention to avoid dullness and instead to find truth, justice, and --- as we realized when he invited Miriam and me for a really nice dinner --- to enjoy the good life. I wish more people would read good books and then summarize, digest, and contextualize them for others as he did so magnificently and with much perseverance and success (collected, along with further thoughts of his, on https://www.engagingthepowers.org). I admire him. I once came across the thought if we want to have a test (and a test we can't cheat) for how well we have lived we should look at the expression in our eyes in old age. If I ever do as well as he did on that test, I'll be very happy.