Central / national / federal government policies Books

Book SynopsisThe COVID-19 pandemic is the first time that many of the UK population, including its national politicians, have become aware of the practical dimensions of devolution to its four nations through the delivery of support to those affected by the virus. Part of the COVID Collection, this topical book explores how the public perception of the decentralized governments has changed during the pandemic and uses case studies to discuss the actions taken by central government to undermine the devolution settlement. Assessing the role of local government in supporting communities despite cuts from central government, it makes a vital contribution to the debate on the future options for the UK within the context of Brexit and what follows.Table of ContentsDevolution in the UK: The Twin Challenges of Brexit and COVID-19 Central Government, Brexit and COVID-19: Centralisation Through Privatisation? The Role of the Devolved Nations in Meeting COVID-19 Getting to the Local: Managing the Pandemic in Practice COVID-19 and a UK Unitary State Post Brexit?

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Book SynopsisA provocative look at how today’s trade conflicts are caused by governments promoting the interests of elites at the expense of workersTrade Review“The authors weave a complex tapestry of monetary, fiscal and social policies through history and offer opinions about what went right and what went wrong. . . . Worth reading for their insights into the history of trade and finance.”—George Melloan, Wall Street Journal“This is a very important book.”—Martin Wolf, Financial Times“An eagle-eyed perspective on the global economy, underpinned by close analysis and a remarkable clarity of exposition. The book is a terrific survey of the forces behind today’s global trade tensions and imbalances.”—Ann Pettifor, Times Literary Supplement“[O]ffers a deeper argument about the source of the trouble.”—The Economist“Matthew Klein and Michael Pettis have successfully woven a grand narrative linking income inequality, geopolitics, trade, finance and even environmental issues.”—Maximilian Kärnfelt, Merics China Briefing Newsletter“[A]s Matthew Klein and Michael Pettis argue in their brilliant polemic Trade Wars Are Class Wars, industrial policy instruments are only part of the story.”—Adam Tooze, London Review of Books“A well-written, highly recommended, and thought-provoking book.”—Ian Bright, Reading Room for the Society of Professional Economists“This timely analysis should be of interest to policymakers as well as to scholars in economics, political science and international relations.”—Luqman Saeed, Journal of Peace Research“Trade Wars Are Class Wars is a tale of three economies, China, Germany and the US. . . . It’s a terrific book.”—Enlightened EconomistWinner of the Lionel Gelber Prize, sponsored by Munk Centre for International Studies“An erudite, original, and provocative explanation of the global economic imbalances that have been at the root of numerous financial crises.”—Ernesto Zedillo, director, Yale Center for the Study of Globalization“This is a book that everyone concerned with the global economy should read. A fascinating account of the damage that rising inequality—especially in China and Germany—has done to all our economies.”—Dani Rodrik, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisTraversing the nation, Municipal Dreams offers an architectural tour of some of the best and most remarkable of our housing estates, and in doing so offers an engrossing social history of housing in Britain. John Broughton asks us to understand better their complex story and to rethink our prejudices. His accounts include extraordinary planners and architects who wished to elevate working men and women through design and the politicians, high and low, who shaped their work, the competing ideologies which have promoted state housing and condemned it, the economics which has always constrained our housing ideals, the crisis wrought by Right to Buy, and the evolving controversies around regeneration. He shows how the loss of the dream of good housing for all is a danger for the whole of society - as was seen in the fire in Grenfell Tower.Trade ReviewThe book celebrates an era during which dreams of shelter and security for all-not just those who could afford to purchase it-were in large part made a reality, and asks us if we oughtn't to consider reviving that dream before it gets destroyed completely . There couldn't be a better time for this book. -- Lynsey Hanley * Guardian *Required reading . provides a comprehensive history of Britain's council estates [that] challenges the well-worn narrative. -- Anna Minton * Prospect *This serious, heartfelt book makes a convincing case that publicly provided homes have to be at least part of the response to the dysfunctional state that British housing has now attained. -- Rowan Moore * Observer *A fine survey of an astonishing achievement. -- Ed Heathcote * Financial Times *Boughton's book works as a gazetteer of public achievement-from Arts and Crafts cottages to modernist monuments to ordinary streets, from Hammersmith to Hull-and a nuanced but polemical tale of how the municipal idea was destroyed, revealing the caricatures and pseudo-history that were used to convince us that the places built to swindle us were better than the places we built for ourselves to live in. -- Owen Hatherley, author of A Guide to the New Ruins of Great BritainFollows the epic story of British council and social housing, from its Victorian origins to Twentieth Century estates, the right to buy and the Grenfell fire. While every page is rich with fascinating detail, Boughton also tells the grand narrative of how modern housing was created for millions, and how that dream has been cynically and carelessly undermined. This is an inspiring read and a necessary corrective to the myths that seek to destroy one of the most important struggles of our times - the drive for decent housing for all. -- John Grinrod, author of OutskirtsA well-written, humane and even-handed appraisal of the successes and failures of municipal and national housing programmes from the 1890s to the present. * Blueprint *A deeply informed account of the ways in which local and national governments in the U.K. have or have not sought to provide affordable housing for their citizens. -- Rebecca Mead * The New Yorker, Favourite Nonfiction Books of 2019 *Despite the crowded field, Boughton's book has quickly established itself as a landmark text in the reevaluation of the legacy of council housing, a sober, thorough work that reminds us of some of the most significant achievements of Britain's postwar 'social democratic moment. -- Gareth Millington * Public Books *

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Book SynopsisWe need to act five times faster to tackle climate change before it is too late. A policy insider, Simon Sharpe provides compelling ideas on how to rethink our strategies and reorganise our efforts in the fields of science, diplomacy, and economics to speed up progress in addressing climate change.Trade Review'Pace is truly what matters in the climate fight - and the idea in this book that intrigues me the most is that a certain kind of reductionism has blinded us to the common interests that need to guide our work if it's going to happen in time.' Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature'Now more than ever, there is an obvious need for a full assessment of the risks of climate change to be given to heads of government and their advisers. And yet still this is missing … I strongly support this book, which brings the risks of climate change and potential solutions to a wider audience. There is no-one I can think of in the world who could do this better than Simon Sharpe.' Sir David King, Founder and Chair, Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge University; Former Chief Scientific Adviser to the British Government; former UK Climate Envoy'This book needs to be read, and its recommendations embraced, by all those seeking to make rapid progress in the fight to preserve a habitable planet. Simon has witnessed first-hand how progress is being impeded by … [and] his book presents a blueprint for the way climate science should be conducted and presented, how thinking about the economy should change, and international diplomacy be redesigned. It's a much-needed new take on a problem we've been wrestling with for decades but making only sporadic progress in addressing.' Baroness Bryony Worthington, leading creator of the UK's Climate Change Act; former Europe Director, Environmental Defense Fund; member of the UK House of Lords'In a crowded market, this book promises to stand out head and shoulders above the rest as a seminal, timely, and much needed synthesis of the lessons learned from five decades of effort by scientists, the business community, and politicians on how to address the threat of climate catastrophe. Simon Sharpe has been a thought leader at the core of diplomatic and government activity … The lessons learned that he describes, and the approaches he recommends, could genuinely cut Gordian knots and allow new levels of progress. I cannot recommend this book more highly.' Chris Rapley CBE, former Director of the Science Museum, former Director of the British Antarctic Survey'The Race To Zero is the biggest ever global campaign to deliver a zero carbon future as soon as possible. It is an exercise in radical collaboration to drive non-linear change in every sector of the economy. Simon Sharpe's informative and accessible book will provide a manual for scientists, CEOs and policy makers to work together to deliver systemic transformation much faster than current efforts.' Nigel Topping, High Level Climate Action Champion, UNFCCC COP26'As the world is suffocating under extreme weather events, widespread food and water scarcity, destruction of ecosystems, and a series of other interrelated climate-linked crises, Simon Sharpe's book is a breath of fresh air … Five Times Faster takes you on a captivating - yet alarming - journey through the complexities of climate change … Simon's book is an important leap in the right direction.' Mariana Mazzucato, University College, London, and author of Mission Economy: A Moonshot Guide to Changing Capitalism'We need to act five times faster to avoid dangerous climate change. So says the policy insider author of this look at how the real blocks to progress might be the ideas and institutions that are meant to be helping us; from the science that is pulling its punches, to diplomacy that is picking the wrong battles.' The Bookseller'An absorbing new insider's account.' Pilita Clark, Financial Times'In his excellent and informative book Five Times Faster, Simon Sharpe proposes solutions to climate change challenges on three fronts: science, economics, and policy … an important book that focuses on the too often overlooked problem of pace and the need to turn procrastination into bold action.' Jeff Fleischer, Foreword Reviews'… Sharpe's prose is crisp and urgent …' Publishers Weekly'Five Times Faster is based on robust analysis and succeeds in treading the fine line between optimism and realism. If you're serious about tackling the climate crisis, make time to read it.' Bob Ward, The Observer'… packed with the insights gained from years of close involvement in processes that are obscure from the outside.' Prospect Magazine'It has become apparent that, just as renewables must replace coal power stations, we need entirely new ways of thinking about the climate dilemma. Three books published this year attempt to do just this for fields that run from science and economics to politics … The most provocative is the non-fiction Five Times Faster, an insider's account of government efforts to cut emissions by former British civil servant Simon Sharpe.' Pilita Clark, Financial Times'Five Times Faster shift[s] the focus to national and international initiatives and policies … [and explains] that individual climate action includes making effective political choices.' Yale Climate Connections'By persuasively shifting the narrative to encourage ambitious policy action, influential book's like Sharpe's becomes a part of the dynamic ecosystem that induces the clean innovation we desperately need.' ForbesTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. Science: 2. Looking up at the dam; 3. Knowing the least about what matters most; 4. Telling the boiling frog what he needs to know; 5. Runaway tipping points of no return; 6. The meaning of conservative; 7. More than science; 8. Tell the truth; Part II. Economics: 9. Worse than useless; 10. The allocation of scarce resources; 11. The configuration of abundance; 12. Not just fixing the foundations; 13. Investing with our eyes open; 14. Regulating for a free lunch; 15. Stuck in first gear; 16. Runaway tipping points of no return, revisited; 17. Revolutionary; Part III. Diplomacy: 18. A foreseeable failure; 19. The greatest public relations gamble in history; 20. System change, not climate change; 21. Better late than never; 22. From coal to clean power; 23. From oil to electric vehicles; 24. From deforestation to sustainable development; 25. The Breakthrough Agenda; 26. Tipping cascades; 27. Epilogue.

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Book Synopsis***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***A Times and Telegraph Book of the Year'Shocking, scathing, entertaining.' Guardian 'Incredibly compelling.' The Times'Heart-breaking.' Sunday TimesWhere can a tin of tuna buy you clean clothes? Where is it easier to get 'spice' than paracetamol? Where does self-harm barely raise an eyebrow?Welcome to Her Majesty's Prison Service. Like most people, documentary-maker Chris Atkins didn't spend much time thinking about prisons. But after becoming embroiled in a dodgy scheme to fund his latest film, he was sent down for five years. His new home would be HMP Wandsworth, one of the largest and most dysfunctional prisons in Europe.With a cast of characters ranging from wily drug dealers to senior officials bent on endless reform, this powerful memoir uncovers the horrifying reality behind the locked gates. Filled with dark humour and shocking stories, A Bit of a Stretch reveals why our creaking prison system is sorely costing us all - and why you should care.Trade ReviewShocking, scathing, entertaining... If you thought you knew how bad British prisons are, you haven't read this book... It's an inside story to make you weep at the incompetence, stupidity and viciousness of the current system. * Guardian *An incredibly compelling account, not just because of Atkins' incongruity and his knack for black, observational humour, but because it lays bare a system that has become utterly dysfunctional. Atkins is thrust into the heart of Britain's prison crisis and can never quite believe what he is seeing. It's a sort of Kafkaesque haplessness. A bleak catalogue of absurdity. * The Times *Surreal, darkly funny, at times horrifying but always humane account of what it's like to be locked up. * Observer *A soul-searching account... A pacy memoir which is imbued with a dark humour... heartbreaking. [Atkins is] honest enough to have left in the parts that would make his mother wince. * Sunday Times *A razor-sharp and darkly funny memoir... * Spectator *A highly readable and thought-provoking account, which illuminates a failing and anachronistic institution in dire need of a radical overhaul. * Daily Mail *Powerful... a dispassionate record of the grinding down of the human soul, deliberate hopelessness, insane and moribund bureaucracy, the whims of bullying guards, roll calls, curses, kicks and punches. * Roger Lewis, The Telegraph *Terrifically vivid... what makes the book so riveting is that Atkins takes us behind the statistics to show us prison life in all its chaotic, sometimes surreal weirdness. * Reader's Digest *A Bit of a Stretch shows a system in chaos, as guards struggle to deal with mentally ill, poorly educated men housed in decaying old buildings. It is also, in places, very funny. * Helen Lewis, The Atlantic *Heartbreaking and hilarious. * Christie Watson – bestselling author of The Language of Kindness *An entertaining memoir, but also an indictment of our creaking, underfunded prison system. * The Times *Atkins's shocking yet entertaining diary of his time behind bars is a must-read. * Independent *Powerful and highly readable. * Peter Dawson – Director of the Prison Reform Trust and former prison governor *Funny, shocking and powerful. * The Secret Barrister *Gripping, warm and empathetic. Atkins exposes the shocking gap between what politicians claim about prison and the humiliating reality. You'll roar with laughter before turning to deep despair. * Isabel Hardman – author of Why We Get the Wrong Politicians *Fabulous. Candid, funny and never self-pitying, this is a must-read insight into why prison simply doesn't work. * Jon Snow – presenter, Channel 4 News *Shocking, funny, and very moving. * Mark Thomas – comedian *Absolutely extraordinary. Heartbreaking without being self-pitying, shocking without being gratuitous and, of course, very, very funny. * John Niven – novelist and screenwriter *Harrowing... required reading for anybody concerned with what entitles a society to call itself civilised. * Law Gazette *Honest and authentic. Atkins perfectly captures the madness, hope and despair of prison. Please read this. * Professor David Wilson – founding Director of the Centre for Applied Criminology at Birmingham City University and former prison governor *An important, urgent and entertaining memoir. It made me laugh, cry my eyes out and think hard, not only about forgiveness, but about love and life in general. An essential read. * Sathnam Sanghera – bestselling author of The Boy with the Topknot *Table of Contents0: Introduction 1: Trauma and Toothpaste 2: Lockdowns and Love Actually 3: Showers and Slips 4: Goodfellas and Goldilocks 5: Biohazard and Back Rubs 6: Suicide and Sellotape 7: Spinsters and Spiceheads 8: Murder and Mutiny 9: Courtrooms and Cheeseburgers 10: Despair and Dancing Queen 11: Paedophiles and Prizes 12: Epilogue

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Book SynopsisAn engaging guide to the various ways in which war is now waged—and how to adapt to this new realityTrade Review“This brisk everyman’s guide—straight-talking and free of jargon—is a useful tasting menu to a fast moving, constantly evolving set of problems. . . . A lively reminder that war adapts to technology, that civilians are part of modern conflict whether they like it or not.”—Roger Boyes, Times (UK)“Galeotti’s field guide is an admirably clear overview (in his words, ‘quick and opinionated’) of a form of conflict which is vague and hard to grasp. Variously described as hybrid, sub-threshold or grey-zone warfare, this is the no man’s land between peaceful relations and formal combat.”—Helen Warrell, Financial Times“A valuable and accessible guide to the insidious methods adopted regularly by the Russians and others to wage war by more covert means.”—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs “The Weaponisation of Everything needs to be on the curriculum of every military and national security college in the Western world. . . . [Galeotti] has done more to decode the environment in which we find ourselves than all the think tanks put together.”—Jason Logue, Australian Journal of Defence and Strategic Studies“A thought-provoking and important work. Galeotti wears his considerable knowledge lightly.”—Mark Urban, author of The Skripal Files: The Life and Near Death of a Russian Spy“Necessary reading for the strategically inclined. Wars are no longer won on battlefields, and Galeotti explains where and how to win. Governments around the world will find it a necessary wake-up call.”—Sean McFate, author of The New Rules of War: How America Can Win Against Russia, China, and Other Threats“Consistently interesting and always accessible, a book that contributes greatly to the public debate on the future of war.”—Jeremy Black, author of Military Strategy: A Global History“A terrific book written in a fast and lively style, and covering all the relevant issues. . . . Galeotti is a well-known authority in this field.”—Chris Bellamy, author of Absolute War: Soviet Russia in the Second World War

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Book SynopsisWith the rise of coal power, the producers who oversaw its development acquired the ability to shut down energy systems, a threat they used to build the first mass democracies. Oil offered the West an alternative, and with it came a new form of politics. Oil created a denatured political life the central object of which-the economy-appeared capable of infinite growth. What followed was a Western democracy dependent on an undemocratic Middle East. We now live with the consequences: an impoverished political practice, incapable of addressing the crises that threaten to end the age of carbon democracy - namely, the disappearance of cheap energy and the carbon-fuelled collapse of the ecological order.For the updated edition of this classic title, Timothy Mitchell has written a new preface, reassessing its arguments in the light of recent political events.Trade ReviewA challenging, sophisticated, and important book that undermines expectations in the best kind of intellectual provocation. * Foreign Policy *It's a book that tackles a really big subject, in a sweeping but readable fashion, and after reading it, it's hard to imagine thinking about political power the same way again ... This book utterly blew me away. -- Matt Stoller * Naked Capitalism *Timothy Mitchell's Carbon Democracy examines the simultaneous rise of fossil-fuelled capitalism and mass democracy and asks very intelligent questions about the fate of democracy when oil production declines. -- Benjamin Kunkel * New Statesman *A brilliant, revisionist argument that places oil companies at the heart of 20th century history - and of the political and environmental crises we now face...If we're ever to curb such behaviour, and to regain some comprehension of our planet's preciousness, we need first to understand how it came about. Not a book for the season of indulgence, this one. But one that demands to be widely shared. -- Susanna Rustin * Guardian *Carbon Democracy is a sweeping overview of the relationship between fossil fuels and political institutions from the industrial revolution to the Arab Spring, which adds layers of depth and complexity to the accounts of how resource wealth and economic development are linked. * Financial Times *This study of the basis of modern democracy over the past century connects oil-producing states of the Middle East with industrial democracies of the West. Mitchell argues that carbon democracy in the West has been based on the assumption that unlimited oil will produce endless economic growth, and he concludes that this model cannot survive the exhaustion of these fuels and associated climate change. Tim Mitchell has written a remarkable book that deserves a wide audience. -- Mahmood Mamdani, author of Good Muslim, Bad MuslimA remarkable account of the politics of oil and nation building in the Middle East. * The Herald *An insightful historical account of how changes in energy production have expanded and restricted possibilities for democratic governance. Mitchell's provocative approach is a critical intervention into the study of the politics of energy. Recommended. * Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries *

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Book SynopsisIn defence of councillors is an unashamed defence of local representative democracy and of those elected to serve as councillors from the often ill-informed, ill-judged and inaccurate criticism made by the media, government and public, of councillors' personal, political and professional roles. By using qualitative research from a number of related projects, the book examines the roles, functions and responsibilities of councillors and the expectations placed upon them by citizens, communities and government. It also examines the impact council membership has on other facets of the councillor's life. The book examines how councillors develop strategies to overcome the constraints and restrictions on their office so as to be able to govern their communities, balance their political and public life and democratise and hold to account a vast array of unelected bodies that spend public money and develop public policy without the electoral mandate and legitimacy held by our councillors.Table of Contents1. The constancy of change2. Re-appraising and re-thinking the Office of Councillor3. Councillors and RealLokalPolitik4. Councillors: bringing order to chaos 5. Why seek to serve? 6. A 24 hour a day job: when worlds collide7. Official mind and public image8. New directions and new purposes Conclusion: Councillors, hope for the future?Index

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Book SynopsisIn 1930 the great economist Keynes predicted that, over the next century, income would rise steadily, people''s basic needs would be met and no one would have to work more than fifteen hours a week. Why was he wrong?Robert and Edward Skidelsky argue that wealth is not - or should not be - an end in itself, but a means to ''the good life''. Tracing the concept from Aristotle to the present, they show how far modern life has strayed from that ideal. They reject the idea that there is any single measure of human progress, whether GDP or ''happiness'', and instead describe the seven elements which, they argue, make up the good life, and the policies that could realize them.ROBERT SKIDELSKY is Emeritus Professor of Political Economy at the University of Warwick. His biography of Keynes received numerous prizes, including the Lionel Gelber Prize and the Council on Foreign Relations Prize for International Relations. He was made a life peer in 1991, and a Fellow of the BritTrade ReviewA crisp and pungent book -- Rowan Williams * Prospect *"How much is enough?" is a good question. Anyone who sets store by capitalism and markets will find [this] book uncomfortable reading. It should be read all the same * Economist *A truly innovative and radical perspective on reshaping the economy ... thought-stirring and extremely refreshing -- John Gray * Guardian *A welcome call to reinvigorate society's ethical aspect and bring about the good life for everyone * New Yorker *In their thoughtful book, the Skidelskys move seamlessly from the abstract to the concrete; from philosophy to public policy. They note that Keynes's futuristic essay was ignored as the world sank into the Great Depression. Will we again ignore this call to imagine a better future? -- Jon Cruddas MP * Independent *

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Book SynopsisFew things are more precious in a democratic society than individual freedom, and few things are easier to take for granted. In this timely, provocative essay, Philip Slayton argues that Canada, in ways large and small, is frittering away the liberties on which a free and open society depends.We give too much power to our politicians and unelected judges. We paper over our divisions and stifle voices that challenge conventional wisdom. We tolerate inaction on the most pressing issues of the day. It is time, writes Slayton, for Canadians to throw off their self-imposed chains, to stand up and fight for what we believe in before we lose our ability to do soa prospect, he warns, that is far more likely than we realize.

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Book SynopsisIn this fascinating and provocative book, David Willetts shows how the baby boomer generation has amassed unprecedented wealth and power at the expense of its children. Today's young people will pay heavier taxes, work longer hours for less money and live in a vastly degraded environment in order to pay for their parents' quality of life.Worried about the world they are passing on to their children, baby boomers are taking note. But are they willing to make the sacrifices necessary for a more equal distribution of wealth and assets? The Pinch is an insightful look at one of the most pressing issues facing Britain today; this fully revised and updated edition is essential reading for parents and policymakers alike.Trade ReviewThis is a wonderful, thought-provoking book, and is something of a tour de force...The implications of his argument are profound. * Financial Times *Mr Willetts's book lucidly explains how this unsuitable situation came about through the interaction of demographics, economics and electoral politics. * The Times *The Pinch is both a treasure trove of elegantly harvested statistics and a tremendous syhthesis of social analyses, culled from half a lifetime's study of economic and philosophical thought. -- Dominic Lawson * Sunday Times *Table of Contents0: Introduction to the First Edition 1: Who We Are 2: Breaking Up 3: The Baby Boom 4: Spending the Kids' Inheritance 5: The Social Contract 6: Ages and Stages 7: Why Bother About the Future? 8: What Governments Do 9: Time for Childhood 10: Education and Social Mobility 11: Houses and Jobs: Generation Crunch 12: 3G

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Apocalypse Never is an extremely important book. Within its lively pages, Michael Shellenberger uses science and lived experience to rescue a subject drowning in misunderstanding and partisanship. His message is invigorating: if you have feared for the planet’s future, take heart." — Richard Rhodes, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for The Making of the Atomic Bomb “Environmental issues are frequently confused by conflicting and often extreme views, with both sides fueled to some degree by ideological biases, ignorance and misconceptions. Michael Shellenberger’s balanced and refreshing book delves deeply into a range of environmental issues and exposes misrepresentations by scientists, one-sided distortions by environmental organizations, and biases driven by financial interests. His conclusions are supported by examples, cogent and convincing arguments, facts and source documentation. Apocalypse Never may well be the most important book on the environment ever written.” — Tom Wigley, climate scientist, University of Adelaide, former senior scientist National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) “We must protect the planet, but how? Some strands of the environmental movement have locked themselves into a narrative of sin and doom that is counterproductive, anti-human, and not terribly scientific. Shellenberger advocates a more constructive environmentalism that faces our wicked problems and shows what we have to do to solve them.” — Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment Now "If there is one thing that we have learned from the coronavirus pandemic, it is that strong passions and polarized politics lead to distortions of science, bad policy, and potentially vast, needless suffering. Are we making the same mistakes with environmental policies? I have long known Michael Shellenberger to be a bold, innovative, and nonpartisan pragmatist. He is a lover of the natural world whose main moral commitment is to figure out what will actually work to safeguard it. If you share that mission, you must read Apocalypse Never.” — Jonathan Haidt, author of Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion "The painfully slow global response to human-caused climate change is usually blamed on the political right’s climate change denial and love affair with fossil fuels. But in this engaging and well-researched treatise, Michael Shellenberger exposes the environmental movement’s hypocrisy in painting climate change in apocalyptic terms while steadfastly working against nuclear power, the one green energy source whose implementation could feasibly avoid the worst climate risks. Disinformation from the left has replaced deception from the right as the greatest obstacle to mitigating climate change." — Kerry Emanuel, professor of atmospheric science, MIT "The trouble with end-of-the-world environmental scenarios is that they hide evidence-based diagnoses and exile practical solutions. Love it or hate it, Apocalypse Never asks us to consider whether the apocalyptic headline of the day gets us any closer to a future in which nature and people prosper.” — Peter Kareiva, director of the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA, and former chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy "In this tour de force of science journalism, Michael Shellenberger shows through interviews, personal experiences, vignettes, and case histories that environmental science offers paths away from hysteria and toward humanism. This superb book unpacks and explains the facts and forces behind deforestation, climate change, extinction, fracking, nature conservation, industrial agriculture, and other environmental challenges to make them amenable to improvements and solutions." — Mark Sagoff, author of The Economy of the Earth "We environmentalists condemn those with antithetical views of being ignorant of science and susceptible to confirmation bias. But too often we are guilty of the same. Shellenberger offers ‘tough love:’ a challenge to entrenched orthodoxies and rigid, self-defeating mindsets. Apocalypse Never serves up occasionally stinging, but always well-crafted, evidence-based points of view that will help develop the ‘mental muscle’ we need to envision and design not only a hopeful, but an attainable, future.” — Steve McCormick, former CEO, The Nature Conservancy and former President of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation "Michael Shellenberger loves the Earth too much to tolerate the conventional wisdom of environmentalism. This book, born of his passions, is a wonder: a research-driven page turner that will change how you view the world. I wish I'd been brave enough to write it, and grateful that he was." — Andrew McAfee, Principal Research Scientist at MIT and author of More from Less "Will declaring a crisis save the planet? The stakes are high, but Michael Shellenberger shows that the real environmental solutions are good for people too. No one will come away from this lively, moving, and well-researched book without a deeper understanding of the very real social challenges and opportunities to making a better future in the Anthropocene." — Erle Ellis, professor of geography and environmental systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and author of Anthropocene: A Very Short Introduction "Michael Shellenberger methodically dismantles the tenets of End Times thinking that are so common in environmental thought. From Amazon fires to ocean plastics, Apocalypse Never delivers current science, lucid arguments, sympathetic humanism, and powerful counterpoints to runaway panic. You will not agree with everything in this book, which is why it is so urgent that you read it." — Paul Robbins, Dean, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison

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Book SynopsisFrom Los Angeles to Boston and Chicago to Miami, US cities are struggling to address the twin crises of high housing costs and household instability. In most cities, debates over the appropriate course of action have been defined by two poles: building more housing or enacting stronger tenant protections. These options are often treated as mutually exclusive, with support for one implying opposition to the other. Shane Phillips takes on this tension in The Affordable City, arguing that effectively addressing the housing crisis requires that cities support both tenant protections and housing abundance. To improve affordability, cities must build new homes that serve all people and accommodate the needs of a growing population and changing demographics. At the same time, they must also protect existing residents from harm and help them share in the benefits of investment in their communities. Phillips explains that the solution to America's housing crisis comes down to three priorities that he calls the Three S's: Supply, Stability, and Subsidy. Supply is about having enough homes for everyone. Stability is about recognizing and upholding the dignity of housing, especially related to tenant protections and rental housing preservation. Subsidy is about ensuring that everyone enjoys the benefits of abundant housing and stable, accessible communities. Far from being in conflict, these three goals can and should be mutually reinforcing, both technically and politically. In The Affordable City, Phillips offers 55 policy recommendations, beginning with a set of principles and general recommendations that should apply to all housing policy. These are followed by sections covering the Three S's of Supply, Stability, and Subsidy, with a moral and economic case for why each is essential and recommendations for making them work together. Phillips ends with a policy blueprint and implementation plan for each policy, including whether it should be pursued as an immediate, medium-term, or long-term priority. To address the housing crisis, we need everyone in the fight. The Affordable City is an essential tool for professional city planners, policymakers, public officials, and advocates working to improve affordability and increase community resilience through local action.

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Book SynopsisProviding a sociological analysis of the policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, this study places particular analytical emphasis on the interplay between powerful structural interests and the influence on the development of COVID-19 policy. Considering a range of actors, (including the government, scientific experts and the medical profession, the media, and the public) and the nature of their relationships with one another, the authors identify the key sociological aspects that have shaped, facilitated, challenged, or constrained COVID-19 policy in England. Drawing on published documentary material, the authors first examine government attempts to contain, delay, mitigate and suppress the spread of the coronavirus with non-pharmaceutical interventions in the absence of a vaccine (during the first wave) and then whilst vaccines were being gradually rolled out (during the second wave and third waves). The focus then shifts on to vaccination policy and the actors central in the design and implementation of the vaccination programme in England. The approach taken to the funding, development, and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines is also explored and furthermore considers vaccine coverage, vaccine passports, and vaccine nationalism. The authors conclude with a discussion of the overall impact of COVID-19 policy on health and between socio-economic groups and with reflections on the sociologies of pandemics and COVID-19. This book will appeal and be accessible both to policymakers and health service managers and to those studying for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the social, medical, and public health sciences. Table of ContentsChapter 1. Situating and Conceptualising Pandemics and Power Chapter 2. Stopping the Spread Chapter 3. The Vaccination Programme Chapter 4. Assessing Power and the Policy Response

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Book Synopsis'This humane, accessible and lucid work will enlighten any voter, and remind any would-be – or currently serving – politician of the pitfalls to avoid' - TLSBarely a week goes by without another government U-turn and with the cost of living crisis and rising mortgage rates we really need those in charge to get it right. In this timely book Cambridge Professor Dennis C. Grube explores the pitfalls, failures and successes of those in power around the world.'A must-read' - Sebastian Payne'Convincing' - David Lammy MPWe live in an era when we really need governments to be effective – the economy, our health and the future of the planet are at stake – but so often they can seem clueless, and their decisions leave us confused. With insight and wit, Grube explains how governments can improve their decision-making and by examining fascinating case studies he highlights the key factors that make for effective government. With the stakes higher than ever before, this original and important book is an essential read for any concerned citizen who wants to understand why governments make the wrong decisions and, crucially, what can be done about it.‘Highly original and very entertaining' - Gavin Esler'There is a real gap for this book' - Isabel HardmanTrade ReviewInsightful . . . A timely book with accessibly provocative arguments -- Steve Richards, author of The Prime Ministers We Never HadA fascinating and timely look at how government decisions affect our lives and how those in charge can do much better. A must-read -- Sebastian Payne, author of Broken HeartlandsEngaging and accessible -- Ivor Crewe, co-author of The Blunders of Our GovernmentsThere is a real gap for this book . . . international in scope and non-partisan -- Isabel Hardman, author of Why We Get the Wrong PoliticiansHighly original and very entertaining . . . This is the book Boris Johnson should have read before he promised to 'Get Brexit Done' -- Gavin Esler, author of How Britain EndsFrom the pandemic to the climate crisis, we are living in an era of historic policy-making. Dennis Grube’s convincing book teaches all of us how governments get decisions wrong and what we have to do to get them right -- David Lammy MPThis humane, accessible and lucid work will enlighten any voter, and remind any would-be – or currently serving – politician of the pitfalls to avoid * TLS *

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Book SynopsisThe subject of numerous biographies and history books, Winston Churchill has been repeatedly voted as one of the greatest of Englishmen. Even today, Boris Johnson in his failing attempts to be magisterial, has adopted many of his hero's mannerism! And, as Tariq Ali agrees, Churchill was undoubtedly right in 1940-41 to refuse to capitulate to fascism. However, he was also one of the staunchest defenders of empire and of Britain's imperial doctrine. In this coruscating biography, Tariq Ali challenges Churchill's vaulted record. Throughout his long career as journalist, adventurer, MP, military leader, statesman, and historian, nationalist self belief influenced Churchill's every step, with catastrophic effects. As a young man he rode into battle in South Africa, Sudan and India in order to maintain the Imperial order. As a minister during the first World War, he was responsible for a series of calamitous errors that cost thousands of lives. His attempt to crush the Irish nationalists left scars that have not yet healed. Despite his record as a defender of his homeland during the Second World War, he was willing to sacrifice more distant domains. Singapore fell due to his hubris. Over 3 Millions Bengalis starved in 1943 as a consequence of his policies. As a peace time leader, even as the Empire was starting to crumble, Churchill never questioned his imperial philosophy as he became one of the architects of the postwar world we live in today.Trade ReviewIn Ali's telling, which draws on more honest existing historical scholarship than most popular biographies of Churchill, the two-times prime minister emerges not so much as deeply racist - some of his contemporaries remarked on it in shock - as profoundly authoritarian, with a soft spot for fascist strongmen, and a hostility to working-class assertion. -- Priyamvada Gopal * Prospect *For Tariq Ali, Churchill debunking, like Churchill worship, is a political act. -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *Ali portrays Churchill as cruel, incompetent and blinded by prejudice * Spectator *A Marxist insult to history. -- Simon Heffer * The Telegraph *A powerful corrective...shining a light on the nasty parts of the Churchill story that his supporters conveniently ignore. This book is an unreserved polemic against the man usually celebrated for standing up to Hitler -- Martin Chilton * Independent *An essential antidote to the Churchill myth...This book could not be more timely. -- Lindsey German * Counterfire *A counter to popular mythology; an effort to peel back the curtain of propaganda and locate truth ... a worthy contribution in a crowded field -- Labour Hub * Talal Hangari *[Ali] seeks not so much to flush WC down the toilet of history, but to reassign him to his rightful place as one of history's most over-rated figures ... [a] highly readable book -- Donald Sassoon * Political Quarterly *The important thing about Ali's book, even after a thousand on the same subject, is that it is primarily interested in Churchill's years in service to British imperialism, and only secondarily interested in World War II, inverting the usual balance...a vital corrective. -- Alex Skopic * Current Affairs *Ali's book is a helpful corrective to the cult of Churchill that has come to dominate British culture. His study makes one thing clear: there is ultimately no path to a socialist and internationalist future without challenging this legacy. -- Liam Kennedy * Jacobin *Ali's examination remains an important corrective to the hagiographic praise that Churchill receives to this day. -- Andrew Moravcsik * Foreign Affairs *Ali has produced a searing critique full of little known detail, of a long and powerful British life which did untold damage at home and abroad. -- Victoria Brittain * Review of African Political Economy *

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Book SynopsisThe book studies the impact of COVID-19 on the Chinese economy and the country's response to policies. It examines various aspects of national macroeconomic operations, industrial shocks, changes in financial markets, regional economic order, public governance challenges. It also analyzes changes in the world economy while integrating economic, financial, industrial, and environmental disciplines.At the macro level, the book emphasizes counter-cyclical responses, with an emphasis on comprehensive measures and precise efforts. It highlights differentiated development strategies for industries and promotes structural adjustment and supply-side reform. At the micro-level, the book emphasizes enterprises' resumption of work and production and supply chain management. The book promotes the concept of integration, stressing that China's economy was and is sufficiently resilient and the importance of maintaining and improving public confidence. At the same time, it attaches importance to prescribing the correct remedies for shortcomings, strengthening weaknesses, confronting the obstacles and difficulties in economic development, and restoring social order. The studies are not restricted to the facts but also focus on transforming and upgrading a modernized socialist economy and governance in the long term.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Gold Medal in Business Reference, Axiom Business Book Awards""It is hard to imagine a more timely—and entertaining—history."---Barry Eichengreen, Foreign Affairs"An erudite yet good-humored history of taxation. . . . Reading about taxes, it turns out, is a lot more fun than paying them. That's a low bar, but Rebellions, Rascals and Revenue clears it with ease. Check with your accountant: The book may be tax-deductible."---Daniel Akst, Wall Street Journal"Offers a historical precedent for almost any tax debate or controversy imaginable. . . . Keen and Slemrod have amassed the most remarkable collection of evidence to bolster and illuminate their case. . . . An invaluable primer to some of the underlying tensions behind contemporary political debate."---Chris Giles, Financial Times"Societies throughout the ages have wrestled with the question of how to tax, who to tax, and how to make people pay. The stories that emerge are remarkable. In this highly enjoyable tour de force, Keen and Slemrod show how the travails of our ancestors can help us understand the problems we face today—and pass on a few eternal lessons. Prepare to read, learn, and enjoy!"---Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank"The main effect of this enjoyable gallop through state levies of the past is to expose the continuing oddities of how governments raise revenue today. . . . The tales of historic folly and wisdom breathe life into dry principles of tax theory."---Liam Proud, Reuters"Amusing historical anecdotes. . . . Shed[s] light on how the modern-day tax system works—as well as its potential pitfalls."---Reed Tucker, New York Post"A fascinating and often funny book. . . . The real skill of Keen and Slemrod is to explain not just the history of tax but (painlessly) the economic forces that shape and are shaped by it."---Frances Cairncross, Literary Review"Michael Keen and Joel Slemrod’s book is wonderful and should be read by any student of tax. It is both entertaining and instructive. . . . Keen and Slemrod’s marvelous book is not an attempt to directly effectuate tax policy or to rewrite tax history. Instead, it is a very wise excursion by two highly experienced public finance economists into the past to better understand the present by comparing it to what was different, and to improve the future by learning from both past wisdom and past follies. Herodotus and Thucydides would have been delighted to read it."---Reuven S. Avi-Yonah, Tax Notes International"Tax history resembles the warehouse in the final scene of the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark—an enormous, poorly lit jumble of unlabeled boxes, one of which may be hiding the answer to all the world’s tax problems. This new book by two leading tax analysts turns up the lights, organizes many of the boxes in an enlightening way, and presents the results with a style and flair that make the subject not only understandable but—and this may come as a surprise to many—actually fun to read. The authors may not have found the answer, but even the most experienced reader can learn something from this lively and informative book."---Richard Bird, Finance & Development"It takes more than the entertainment of countless historical tax tales to produce a book on tax that actually pleases the reader. What makes this both so intriguing and worthwhile is how it draws out common threads of tax principles and practice that have underlain tax systems for thousands of years. . . . There is no way to do justice to this book in a few paragraphs." * Vox EU *"A new book on the history of taxes adds levity to, and piques interest in, a topic often with the allure of a root canal."---Joel Schlesinger, Winnipeg Free Press"An entertaining, compelling, and well-researched book."---Simon Heffer, New Criterion"A spry survey of taxes over the course of history. . . . It won’t ward off the April tax blues, but it does a fine job of explaining the hows and whys of taxation." * Kirkus Reviews *"There will likely be a tax-related anecdote (or two) that speaks to you directly in Keen and Slemrod's wonderfully comprehensive walk through the annals of taxation. . . . An immensely enjoyable and comprehensive look at the 'history' of taxation."---Frank G. Colella, New York Law Journal"Keen and Slemrod’s book took me on a romp through 4,000 years tax history. It’s a perfect gift for your CPA, or anyone seeking untoppable zingers for the next faculty club meeting."---George Spencer, Notre Dame Magazine"Unusual and stimulating. . . .a major accomplishment (with a stunning cover) that supplements standard textbooks on tax design and tax policy and provides a lively survey and exhaustive historical analysis of these frequently dry topics."---Richard Allen, Market Screener"Who says the study of taxation can’t be fun? Most of you, I would expect. But Michael Keen, deputy director of the Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF, and Joel Slemrod, the Paul W. McCracken Collegiate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business, are out to prove you wrong. Their delightful (you read that right) new book ... is a sprawling compendium of (mostly weird) anecdotes that neatly illustrate the principles of the economics of tax policy."---Peter Passell, Milken Institute Review"At first glance, a book on the history of taxation seems like something only an accountant could love. But as it turns out, Rebellion, Rascals, and Revenue is an enjoyable rompt, a fascinating mix of stories and insights." * The Australian *"A delightful book."---Michael Taylor, San Antonio Express News"With their book, Rebellions, Rascals, and Revenue: Tax Follies and Wisdom Through the Ages!, Michael Keen and Joel Slemrod definitively show that taxes and tax policy are anything but 'dull, dull, dull.' With an engaging writing style (especially for fans of puns and other word play), they provide a selective history of tax policy and administration that highlights odd policy choices and unusual behavioral responses to policies." * National Tax Journal *"A masterful compendium of not just fiscal history, but social history throughout the ages." * The Independent Review *

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Book SynopsisDaniel Tudor covers all the important issues, yet does not simply tell the more familiar stories, but looks deeper and wider to give the full story of Korea today. Martin Uden, Former British Ambassador to South Korea.Trade Review"Tudor, Seoul correspondent for The Economist, provides a fairly perfunctory account of the 'miracle on the Han River,' which saw South Korea transformed from postwar ruin to prosperous democracy within four decades. The book's real value comes in its exploration of the cultural forces behind the country's zeal for self-improvement." --Financial Times"Sixty years ago, South Korea was an economic wasteland. Today, it is not only the world's 11th largest economy but also a vibrant democracy and an emerging cultural force. This transformation is the subject of a new book, Korea: The Impossible Country, by Daniel Tudor, Korea correspondent for The Economist.'" --Time Magazine"Mr. Tudor pushes into new social and economic territory with his book, including the rising role of immigrants, multicultural families and even gay people in South Korea. He lays out some of the contradictory behavior one finds in South Korea, such as the unending desire for new and trendy gadgets and fashion and yet the tunnel-like view of what constitutes a successful life." --Wall Street Journal

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Book SynopsisAn engaging and accessible examination of what ails insurance markets—and what to do about it—by three leading economistsTrade Review“The authors, three US-based academics, keep the debate moving along with a chatty, breezy style. . . . The book hits its stride with the thornier problems insurance companies and their customers are beginning to face.”—Oliver Ralph, Financial Times“The authors, professors at Stanford, MIT and Boston, do a masterful job of explaining the intractable complexities created by this socially vital activity.”—Martin Wolf, Financial Times, “Best Books of 2022: Economics”“The problem of hidden information is central to understanding insurance, and the nature of markets more generally. The very human cat-and-mouse stories that animate Risky Business are not only great fun; they also subtly reveal the basis of a great deal of economics.”—George Akerlof, Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences“Most people—indeed, most policy makers—don’t fully get why the insurance business is really different from selling televisions or broccoli or even other financial products. Risky Business gives an accessible tour of why insurance is a special case and why it matters. Without a doubt, it is likely to be the most fun book you will ever read that includes the word ‘insurance’ in the title.”—Austan Goolsbee, former chair of the Council of Economic Advisors“Risky Business does the seemingly impossible: it makes insurance fun! Picture the most interesting book you can imagine about insurance; I promise you, this book is three times better than the one you imagined. Throw out the economics textbooks—this is how people should learn economics!”—Steven D. Levitt, coauthor of Freakonomics“This book is a fascinating look at how insurance markets work (or don’t). It’s a must read for people seeking to understand their own choices, and for policy makers who shape those options.”—Emily Oster, author of The Family Firm

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Book SynopsisIn Wealth, Poverty, and Politics , Dr. Thomas Sowell of the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, examines the reasons for large differences in income and wealth between nations and among groups within nations. A wide range of geographic, demographic, cultural, and political factors are examined, not to find a single factor or a single combination of factors that will explain all economic differences, but to show how particular combinations of factors limit or expand the possibilities for specific nations and peoples at specific times and places.Dr. Sowell also examines some popular explanations of these differences and shows why they will not stand up under scrutiny. In doing so, he takes on some of the reigning titans of the redistributionist movement,including John Rawls, Thomas Piketty, Paul Krugman, and Joseph Stiglitz,and shows how a remarkable number of their claims cannot withstand plain common sense, expressed in plain English.Trade ReviewConservative Book Club "Transcending partisanship through a careful examination of data, Wealth, Poverty, and Politics reveals the truth about the most explosive political issue of our time." Washington Times "A calmly phrased but damning indictment of perhaps the world's most rhetorical blunt political instrument: class hatred." Townhall "A true gem in terms of exposing the demagoguery and sheer ignorance of politicians and intellectuals in their claims about wealth and poverty... Dr. Sowell's new book tosses a monkey wrench into most of the things said about income by politicians, intellectuals and assorted hustlers, plus it's a fun read." Breitbart "[Wealth, Poverty and Politics should be one of the most influential works of the 2016 election season. This isn't just a work of characteristic brilliance from Sowell-it's a laser-guided intellectual weapon aimed at the foundations of liberal envy politics... Dr. Sowell's book is a masterful fusion of science and common sense on the subject of why some groups are impoverished, and what society can do to lift them out of poverty... Every presidential candidate should read this book immediately, and require all campaign surrogates to digest it as well... Wealth, Poverty, and Politics provides the sharp intellectual weapons necessary to cut through that argument, and its wisdom can help conservatives design policies that might actually make a difference." Booklist "This...book will enhance and promote ongoing and important debates and discussions." Kirkus Reviews "A provocative analysis of the universal causes of economic success and failure... While Sowell offers no pat solutions, his implied argument that cultural considerations must inform any serious attempt at improving the economic prospects of an underperforming nation or group merits serious consideration." Wall Street Journal "In his latest tome, [Sowell] draws from this well of research to do what he has done so well for so long: question basic assumptions behind public policy and follow the facts where they lead him." Forbes "It's a scandal that economist Thomas Sowell has not been awarded the Nobel Prize. No one alive has turned out so many insightful, richly researched books. His latest is another triumph of crackling observations that underscore the ignorance of our economists and policymakers. His take on how culture, geography, politics and social factors affect how societies progress-or don't-will rile those addicted to political correctness but leave everyone else wiser." National Review "Sowell has done us a great service by placing our current controversies in international context." American Spectator "Sowell's latest book, latest of 52 by my count, contains the kind of acute analysis and fearless commentary his readers have relied on since 1971's Economics: Analysis and Issues... his writing is crystal-clear, free of academic jargon and the kind of specialist clutter that often disfigures the writing of academics... Most of his books remain in print and repay the time of thoughtful readers, as does Wealth, Poverty, and Politics. Santa should be aware of this."

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Book SynopsisAN ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEARHumanity's embrace of openness is the key to our success. The freedom to explore and exchange - whether it's goods, ideas or people - has led to stunning achievements in science, technology and culture. As a result, we live at a time of unprecedented wealth and opportunity. So why are we so intent on ruining it?From Stone Age hunter-gatherers to contemporary Chinese-American relations, Open explores how across time and cultures, we have struggled with a constant tension between our yearning for co-operation and our profound need for belonging. Providing a bold new framework for understanding human history, bestselling author and thinker Johan Norberg examines why we're often uncomfortable with openness - but also why it is essential for progress. Part sweeping history and part polemic, this urgent book makes a compelling case for why an open world with an open economy is worth fighting for more than ever.Trade ReviewClear, colourful and convincing, marshalling evidence from a range of eras and civilisations. [...] The author is often amusing as well as illuminating. * The Economist *No person or society is smart enough or wise enough or noble enough to solve the wicked problems of life by themselves. With clarity and grace, Johan Norberg reminds us that openness to things and ideas from others is the only route to well-being. * Steven Pinker *If we are to recover from the pandemic of 2020, the world needs openness more than ever: open minds, open hearts, open communications, open markets. Johan Norberg's superb book demonstrates, with hundreds of examples, how openness has been the key to the success of our species over 10,000 years and is the secret of prosperity and peace today. * Matt Ridley, author of The Rational Optimist *Johan Norberg has a great story to tell: how, throughout history, open societies have always closed down, but never for good. The tension between closed and open, between trading and tribalism drives both progress and reaction. Why are the virtues and benefits of openness always under threat? We can't live without it, yet too often it seems that we can't live with it either. Norberg has a powerful argument to give us insight and hope that man's curiosity and imagination is unstoppable. * Margaret Heffernan, author of Wilful Blindness *Norberg's excellent book tells us that openness is more than a defensive reaction to those who want to close borders to migrants, trade and new ideas... [it is] a deeply rooted trait that has played a major role in the success of individuals, nations and humanity itself. * Vince Cable *Johan Norberg makes a compelling case that we all thrive -- in every sense -- on 'open'... This is big thinking that deserves everyone's attention. * Michael Blastland, author of The Hidden Half *Johan Norberg reminds us that every great civilization has been destroyed by the end of openness. His essential book, then, is a timely reminder that the fate of our civilization rests on a defense of openness. Strongly recommended. * Andrew Keen, author of The Internet Is Not The Answer *A prophet of anti-pessimism. -- Simon Jenkins * Guardian *This book is a blast of good sense. * The Economist on Progress *Norberg has a strong case and he makes it with energy and charm. A pertinent book for grumpy times. * The Times on Progress *Table of Contents0: Traders and tribalists 1: Open exchange 2: Open doors 3: Open minds 4: Open societies 5: Us and them 6: Zero-sum 7: Anticipatory anxiety 8: Fight or flight 9: Open or closed?

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Book SynopsisThe highly engaging introduction to thinking like an economist, updated for a new generation of readers. When economists wrestle with any social issuebe it unemployment, inflation, healthcare, or crime and punishmentthey do so impersonally. The big question for them is: what are the costs and benefits, or trade-offs, of the solutions to such matters? These trade-offs constitute the core of how economists see the worldand make the policies that govern it. Trade-Offs is an introduction to the economic approach of analyzing controversial policy issues. A useful introduction to the various factors that inform public opinion and policymaking, Trade-Offs is composed of case studies on topics drawn from across contemporary law and society. Intellectually stimulating yet accessible and entertaining, Trade-Offs will be appreciated by students of economics, public policy, health administration, political science, and law, as well as by anyone following current social policy debates.Table of ContentsPreface to the Third Edition Acknowledgments 1 Stepping into Social Policy Analysis 2 Do You Want to Trade? 3 Is Saving Lives Repugnant? 4 Organ Donor, I Presume? 5 Stop Bothering Me 6 The Government Taketh Away 7 To Create and Protect 8 Don’t Do the Crime If You Can’t Do the Cane 9 What a Fine Mess 10 Three Strikes and You’re In 11 For Shame 12 A Valuable Life to Some Extent 13 No Insurance for You 14 A Pound of Prevention 15 Hazardous to Your Morals 16 Doctors Behaving Badly 17 You’re Offsetting Me 18 Smoke If You Got ’Em 19 Joe Camel Wants YOU 20 A Safer Cigarette? 21 Fast-Food (Expla)Nation 22 The Addictive Choice 23 Consistently Inconsistent 24 We Will Make You Better Off—Like It or Not 25 There Are No Solutions Index

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Book SynopsisHELPING THE GOOD DO BETTER pulls back the curtain on the corridors of power in Washington to reveal how social change really happens. This book offers lessons from the trenches on how some of this generation's most defining social issues-AIDS, disabilities, global poverty, cancer, human trafficking, national service, early childhood education, and social entrepreneurship -- engendered landmark federal policies. Each chapter tells the story of how a particular issue was shaped by the movements and legislation at the center of public debate. Each case provides powerful lessons about how coalitions are built, strategies crafted, and powerful interests challenged in high-stakes, no-holds-barred political battles. Doing good requires more than just providing programs and services. It requires coordination, organization, and a new, stronger emphasis on and dedication to advocacy. Participating in advocacy is no longer a luxury -- it is a necessity. Visionaries and activists together with "white hat" lobbyists -- people who understand the power of politics and who are able to put it to work to serve the public interest -- have won some of the most transformative policy fights in recent times. The culmination of those experiences, of fighting and winning on behalf of public interest causes, is presented here in a new theory for social change. Successful campaigns and movements must possess a lobbyist's combined approach to policy, politics, and press. Leveraging these 3 Ps, with true passion and discipline, can create results that are nothing short of awe-inspiring. An insightful first-person guide to advocacy by a white-hat lobbyist who was in the rooms where historic social changes were made, HELPING THE GOOD DO BETTER is a direct and honest look at government in action and the behind-the-scenes players who help make progress a reality.

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the 2019 Jhalak Prize. From the 1960s the UK's immigration policy - introduced by both Labour and Tory governments - has been a toxic combination of racism and xenophobia. Maya Goodfellow tracks this history through to the present day, looking at both legislation and rhetoric, to show that distinct forms of racism and dehumanisation have produced a confused and draconian immigration system. She examines the arguments made against immigration in order to dismantle and challenge them. Through interviews with people trying to navigate the system, legal experts, politicians and campaigners, Goodfellow shows the devastating human costs of anti-immigration politics and argues for an alternative.This new edition includes an additional chapter, which explores the impacts of the 2019 election and the ongoing immigration enforcement during the coronavirus pandemic.Trade ReviewMaya Goodfellow provides a forceful narrative of the current state of British politics by placing anti-immigration at its centre. Goodfellow expertly tackles the consensus from left and right that immigration is a bad thing. In doing so, her book demonstrates the fundamental humanity at stake in critiquing and overturning that consensus. Now is the time to read this penetrating analysis. -- Robbie Shilliam, Johns HopkinsAn informative and insightful account of the history and politics of modern migration to Britain that is also very readable. Ranging across the intersecting histories of class, race, nation and empire, Maya Goodfellow deftly shows how the contemporary demonising of migrants, including refugees and asylum-seekers, has a long and dispiriting national and global backstory to it - but there are also heartening stories of resistance and solidarity which point to the way forward. -- Priyamvada Gopal, author of Insurgent Empire: Anticolonial Resistance and British DissentThis is a hugely important first book from Maya. After a referendum debate dominated by anti-migrant rhetoric and falsehoods, it's vital that we reflect on how we got to this toxic place. The testimony from migrants in this book, and the examination of the policies under which people have suffered for so long, are a damning indictment of government policy on migration that has failed for years. Maya's voice in this debate is much-needed and this book should be on every Home Office desk. -- Caroline Lucas, MPMaya Goodfellow's book could not be more timely. While politicians and pundits continue to peddle toxic myths about migration, Goodfellow dives into the details of the issue and exposes the way in which migrants have been vilified and mistreated in this country. The book is a brilliant exposé of both the struggles faced by migrants and a rallying cry for the pro-migrant movement we desperately need. -- Magid MagidHow immigrants became the scapegoats for injustices caused by the rich and powerful is one of the burning questions of modern politics. This masterful, wonderfully written, and vitally important book - written by one of the most powerful writers on race and migration today - more than does it justice. This book is essential to understanding the reactionary political upheavals which have swept the West. -- Owen Jones, author of ChavsMaya Goodfellow has a sharp mind, a deep well of knowledge and a readable style. When she writes something, I learn something. -- Gary YoungeThis is the book to read on UK immigration. It passionately makes the case that for too long lies, mistruths and institutional racism have morphed any conversation about immigration in the UK into something utterly demeaning. Maya Goodfellow's excellent reportage is impassioned, clear and filled with humane interviews with people from immigrant backgrounds at various stages of the process and experts on the front lines doing the necessary work to help them. This isn't a polemic. This is a human book that offers very clear and concise answers for how we have arrived at this point. A triumph of non-fiction writing. -- Nikesh Shukla, editor of The Good ImmigrantThis book is a must read if you are thinking of going into politics. It will highlight the trials and tribulations of political life and how the choices made at the very top of Government can affect people in the harshest of ways. Maya enlightens the reader on both the decisions that lead to the pain and suffering inflicted through Governments' immigration policies and Theresa May's legacy, which will no doubt be her fuelling of the hostile environment which she systematically designed to dehumanise a generation of legal citizens with devastating consequences. Maya brings to the fore in the most painful terms just how expensive it is to be poor. -- Dawn Butler, Member of Parliament and Shadow Secretary of State for Women and EqualitiesHostile Environment is a bold and at times brutal analysis. It raises many uncomfortable questions for those who sat at the table making this policy. An important contribution to an ongoing debate. -- Baroness WarsiA vital, urgent thought-provoking read as we race towards the Brexit horror. Place this book in the hands of anyone who says immigration is not about race. Using Britain's own history as a pivot, Maya Goodfellow astutely captures the gradual progression in public policy, political outlook and people's opinion that has culminated in a climate of intolerance and barely concealed racism. -- Meena Kandasamy, author and activistHostile environment is a powerful reminder that the right has been weaponising the immigration debate to distract from the real causes of working class dispossession. We need more writers like Maya Goodfellow who so clearly and passionately outline what is at work and at stake in battles for social justice. -- Kehinde Andrews, author of Back to Black: Retelling Black Radicalism for the Twenty-First CenturyA book to cut through the noise of toxic politics, the race to the bottom to demonise immigrants, and the ahistoric idea that a hostile environment is anything new. This book reveals the nuts and bolts of Britain's real immigration problem - the counter-productivity of its policies, and the failure of its leaders. So important. -- Afua Hirsch, author of Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and BelongingThis is an essential study into the toxic discussion around immigration in the UK. It is as brilliant as it is necessary -- Nish KumarThis is such an important book. Maya Goodfellow is someone we can trust to speak truth to power on immigration and what she has done here is not just engage with the issues of migration and the stigmatisation of migrants today but skilfully explain how we got here. Migration is one of the most natural of human processes, yet it has been pathologised, not only by the rhetoric of recent Tory Governments, with its "go home vans", hostile environment and "legitimate" concerns, but over many decades, through a subtle marginalisation of the voices and interests of migrants. Maya Goodfellow alerts us to the human costs of those political decisions and the accompanying mainstream narratives. But, importantly, too, she also offers a pathway to a more just and humane system -- Laura Pidcock, Member of ParliamentAn essential book...Maya gives an excellent and detailed description of how prejudices against immigration are created through political action, rhetoric and historical legacies. * Ecologist *Hostile Environment expertly unpicks the background of how 2020's racism has been framed by this process and the widespread failure to challenge the basis of it. * Counterfire *An excellent companion reading for anyone following the UK Black Lives Matter movement. [Hostile Environment] is a valuable resource, with good references for further reading, for understanding how the government and the media's simplistic interpretation of public opinion have led to the creation of inhumane immigration controls. * Peace News *Urgently necessary ... a work of diligent scholarship, but also of great humanity, which holds up a mirror to a society that may finally be ready to start truly looking at itself. -- David Wearing * New Humanist *

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Book SynopsisAn updated and refreshed edition of the groundbreaking book that shows how people can be nudged toward decisions that will improve their livesTrade Review“Amusing, enlightening and approachable. . . . The hugely influential Nudge is essential reading. It shows you the template of technocracy.”—Alexander Adams, The Critic“This eminently readable and most enjoyable book has a few new chapters added to it since 2008. The authors have taken out areas that are now seen as obsolete due to technological advances since the book was first written. New chapters cover areas such as ‘Sludge,’ a term they use to indicate the bureaucratic difficulties in attempting to take action—which still acts as a disincentive to change in so many areas and so many countries around the world.”—Vicky Pryce, Society of Professional Economists“Few books can be said to have changed the world, but Nudge did. The Final Edition is marvelous: funny, useful, and wise.”—Daniel Kahneman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Thinking, Fast and Slow“Nudge should be required reading for anyone who aspires to run a country, lead a company, raise a child, or make a choice. It’s the gold standard for using behavioral science to guide decisions and policies, and the new edition is even better than the original.”—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife“Nudge has changed the way we think about both business’s and society’s biggest problems. The Final Edition is full of new insights and well worth reading.”—Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google“We used the core principles of Nudge when designing our protocols for resuming play during the pandemic. This new edition provides a refreshed set of practical concepts and strategies to influence decision-making for good.”―Adam Silver, NBA commissioner“If you’ve read Nudge and think you fully grasp the concept and its uses, you are mistaken. The new edition significantly deepened my understanding of what nudges are and how they can be employed. It truly is a must-read.”—Robert Cialdini, New York Times bestselling author of Influence “Revolutionary. Once you’ve read it, you start seeing the evidence everywhere. Evidence that economic orthodoxy is woefully out of date, that as humans we’re not always rational, and that in every bit of architecture, design, and economic choice, we are ALWAYS being nudged in some way. Once we see and accept that, we can ask how we can make better choices. This book points us in the direction. It changes the way you see the world—this edition even more so.”—David Byrne, musician

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Book SynopsisIn an era when immigration on a global scale defines the fears and aspirations of Americans, Restoring America’s Dignity presents the complexities of migration through the stories of families fleeing violence and poverty, the government and nongovernmental organizations helping or hindering their progress, and the American communities receiving them. Ali Noorani, who has spent years building bridges between immigrants and their often conservative communities, takes readers along to Honduras, Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, and Texas, meeting migrants and the organizations and people that help them on both sides of the border, reporting from the inside on why families make the heart-wrenching decision to leave home. Going beyond the polemical, partisan debate, Noorani offers sensitive insights and real solutions. Urgently needed, Restoring America’s Dignity will appeal to a broad audience of concerned citizens across the political spectrum, faith communities, policymakers, and immigrants themselves.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Financial Times Best Economics Book of the Year 2021""A CapX Book of the Year""Winner of the Gold Medal in Business Commentary, Axiom Business Book Awards""Eloquent. . . . Thought-provoking."---Felix Martin, Financial Times ​​​​​​​"Coyle’s contribution is valuable. The book reads like a timely intervention delivered by a perceptive friend, in the kindest tone they can muster. Economists would do well to listen."---James Plunkett, Prospect"[Coyle] is extremely wise, and the best friend economics could have—one willing to offer some serious tough love."---Tim Harford, timharford.com"Full of illuminating anecdotes about the gap between theory and practice."---Simon Torracinta, Boston Review"An inspiring read for those developing, using or seeking to understand economics in a rapidly changing world."---Dr Anna Valero, London School of Economics Blog

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Book SynopsisWhy is Israel’s relatively small and low-budget military also the world’s most innovative, technologically and logistically? Edward Luttwak and Eitan Shamir look to the IDF’s unique structure: integrating army, air force, and navy in one service, under an officer class constantly refreshed by short tenures, the IDF is built for agility and change.Trade ReviewRich with rare detail, much of it a result of the authors’ access to the IDF’s inner sanctums and their intimate knowledge of grand strategy and military history. -- Tunku Varadarajan * Wall Street Journal *An incisive, original study of military innovation as it has developed over more than half a century at one of the world’s most redoubtable armed forces, the Israel Defense Forces. Bursting with pertinent information, it is also a pleasure to read. It would be hard to find authors more highly qualified than Luttwak and Shamir to write this book, which should appeal to anyone interested in the modern military. -- Martin van Creveld, author of The Transformation of WarUntil now, no one has adequately explained why the Israel Defense Forces has had such a unique legacy of innovation. Luttwak and Shamir do so in a way that illuminates not only the IDF but also the broader challenges of creativity in war. -- Eliot A. Cohen, author of The Big StickBrilliantly reveals the secret to the success of the Israeli military: its capacity for innovation. Luttwak and Shamir, two distinguished historians who know the Israel Defense Forces inside and out, show how the receptiveness to invention and the courage to change course even in the heat of battle have made the IDF one of the world’s most effective armies. Every serving officer in the armed forces of NATO should read this indispensable work. -- Col. Douglas Macgregor, US Army, Ret., author of Margin of VictoryAn important book for anyone interested in understanding how organizations innovate and improve. The saying ‘change or die’ is true for organizations in general, but in the case of the IDF, it is true in the most literal sense. Many armies throughout history have shown a great capacity for change when necessary, but Luttwak and Shamir show that for the Israeli military, innovation is a way of life. -- Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, Chief of General Staff, Israel Defense Forces, Ret.A compelling and important book. In wartime, armed forces must learn and apply what they learn in combat. In between wars, they must learn from the past and anticipate the future. The IDF is the perfect subject for drawing lessons important to developing military organizations that fight and win; Luttwak and Shamir are the perfect authors to illuminate those lessons. -- Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, US Army, Ret., author of Battlegrounds

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Book SynopsisThe most accessible policy text available.Table of ContentsPART I: POLITICS Chapter 1: The Market and the Polis PART II: GOALS Chapter 2: EquityChapter 3: EfficiencyChapter 4: WelfareChapter 5: SecurityChapter 6: Liberty PART III: PROBLEMS Chapter 7: SymbolsChapter 8: NumbersChapter 9: CausesChapter 10: InterestsChapter 11: Decisions PART IV: SOLUTIONS Chapter 12: IncentivesChapter 13: RulesChapter 14: PersuasionChapter 15: RightsChapter 16: Powers

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Book Synopsis*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*A GUARDIAN AND SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEARAn astonishing book' James O'BrienA gripping, devastating read' Sunday TimesThe inside story of the UK's response to the pandemic from the Insight investigations unit at The Sunday TimesFailures of State recounts the extraordinary political decisions taken at the heart of Boris Johnson's government during the global pandemic.Fully updated and corroborated by hundreds of sources, this is the insider's account of how the government sleepwalked into disaster and tried to cover up its role in the tragedy. Thrillingly told, it exposes one of the most scandalous failures of political leadership in British history.A damning indictment' Alan Johnson, ObserverA devastating piece of journalism' Andrew MarrThis is a scandal' Piers MorganTrade Review‘An astonishing book that you absolutely have to buy … the nearest we’ll get to an inquiry.’ James O’Brien ‘Failures of State is a Christmas-at-Argos sized catalogue of the government’s errors, page after page filled with its mistakes, misjudgments and even its possibly actionable crimes.’ Jonathan Freedland, Guardian ‘This book is superb. Painful but necessary reading.’ Rachel Clarke ‘A masterpiece. This is one of the most important books of our time.’ Owen Jones ‘A brilliantly presented indictment of the UK’s fumbling attempt to meet the Covid challenge.’ Kazuo Ishiguro, Guardian ‘Failures of State is a gripping, devastating read. It’s a piece of first-class investigative journalism… this is a work of history. It’s witness. It’s also a kind of catharsis.’ Christina Patterson, Sunday Times ‘Incredibly reported and wildly damning … It is impossible to read Failures of State, the frequently jaw-dropping book by Sunday Times journalists Jonathan Calvert and George Arbuthnott, and not conclude that the British people deserved far, far better from the government’ Marina Hyde, Guardian ‘A frightening and detailed account of the failures of the last 12 months. Some of the revelations are sickening and shocking.’ Armando Iannucci, satirist and writer ‘A damning indictment’ Alan Johnson, Observer ‘Superb journalism … a truly remarkable book.’ Professor Devi Sridhar, Chair of Global Public Health ‘Buy it and read it so you’re never tempted to forget’ John Crace, Guardian journalist ‘A devastating new account of Year Covid exposes the Prime Minister’s utter failure to meet the nation’s greatest health crisis for a century.’ Paul Routledge, Daily Mirror ‘I cannot recommend this book enough’ David Schneider, comedian and writer

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Book SynopsisA persuasive manifesto for a better Britain.' Observer Book of the DayBritain needs a fresh start. This timely book by one of the stars of the new government shows how to achieve it.In this brilliant and accessible intervention, Lisa Nandy reveals how Britain can leave behind the mess in which we find ourselves. All In charts a course towards a fairer, more equal, more prosperous country by drawing on the greatest asset we have each other.Rapid global changes, political division and economic crisis have left Britain reeling. For decades, large swathes of the country have been shut out, condemned to low productivity, underinvestment and managed decline, and stripped of their voice. With most major cities now beset with high housing costs, air pollution and congestion, even the winners' are losing.All In shows how, by handing power and resources to people with a stake in the outcome, Britain can draw on the talent, assets and potential in every part of the country and start firing on alTrade Review‘Nandy makes a powerful argument for rethinking politics.’ New Statesman ‘A much-needed intervention. … This fast and accessible read [offers] a deceptively radical vision and one that Labour should embrace.’ Observer, Book of the Day ‘Gives a clear sense of Nandy’s ambitions for the Labour party’s future policy. … Bang on the political zeitgeist.’ The Sunday Times ‘Brilliant, brave and bursting with ideas.’ Jess Phillips MP ‘A humane and decent personal manifesto that does not shirk the challenges and dangers we face. Powerful and deeply authentic.’ Philippe Sands ‘Clear-eyed and compassionate, but caustic about the people and ideas that have let Britain down so badly, Lisa Nandy is a new kind of politician and a new kind of thinker. We have never needed voices like hers more urgently.’ Stuart Maconie ‘Nandy is a big thinker and a gifted story teller. A must-read.’ Frances O’Grady, former General Secretary of the TUC ‘Original, thought-provoking and exciting.’ Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Prime Minister of Denmark ‘A positive agenda for change and renewal rooted in the best traditions of the Labour movement.’ Jon Cruddas MP ‘Informative, perceptive and at times inspiring. This is the kind of political vision the country so badly needs.’ Anand Menon, Director, UK in a Changing Europe ‘Wide-ranging, imaginative, practical and believable.’ Danny Dorling ‘A tour de force. All In outlines what a better world might look like.’ Professor Will Jennings ‘With a sharp eye for illustration, Nandy offers one of Labour’s more radical routes out of neoliberalism in her accessible book.’ The House

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Book Synopsis''One of the most important books I''ve read in years'' Brian EnoWe are losing the commons. Austerity and neoliberal policies have depleted our shared wealth; our national utilities have been sold off to foreign conglomerates, social housing is almost non-existent, our parks are cordoned off for private events and our national art galleries are sponsored by banks and oil companies. This plunder deprives us all of our common rights, recognized as far back as the Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest of 1217, to share fairly and equitably in our public wealth.Guy Standing leads us through a new appraisal of the commons, stemming from the medieval concept of common land reserved in ancient law from marauding barons, to his modern reappraisal of the resources we all hold in common - a brilliant new synthesis that crystallises quite how much public wealth has been redirected to the 1% in recent decades through the state-approved exploitation of everything from Trade ReviewBrilliant, insightful, terse, apposite, daring, and transformative. A must read to understand both the past and the future -- Danny Dorling, author of All That Is SolidGuy Standing brings great historical knowledge, political insight, and passion to documenting the market enclosures of our common wealth: the great unacknowledged scourge of our time. Plunder of the Commons is both a troubling exposé and a practical-minded call to reclaim the commons for ourselves and posterity. Sitting politicians will ignore this stirring book at their peril. Incoming reformers will learn how we might transform our predatory system of economics and the complicit political culture. -- David Bollier, Director of the Reinventing the Commons Program at the Schumacher Center for a New Economics and author of Free, Fair and Alive: The Insurgent Power of the CommonsIn an era of intensifying privatisation, we're rapidly losing sight of the idea that there are things that can be shared communally without being owned by anybody, things that stand outside of the market system - for example rivers, forests, and other natural resources. Many of them have already been sold off to private interests, and most of the rest are being pursued. This incendiary book exposes this process and explores its corrosive effect on society and resource maintenance. This clear and radical exposition is a call for the defence of the commons, and one of the most important books I've read in years. -- Brian EnoIn this majestic work, Guy Standing not only chronicles the historic plundering of our common wealth. More importantly, he shows how we can reclaim that wealth to address our most urgent contemporary problems: economic insecurity and ecological destruction. This is history, analysis and vision, all at their very best. -- Peter Barnes, author of Capitalism 3.0Standing not only wants to remind us how much common land in Britain has been enclosed by the wealthy few. His vision of the commons is extremely capacious...his provocation could hardly be timelier -- Duncan Kelly * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A comprehensive and valuable survey of the threats facing China’s economy.”—Edward Chancellor, Wall Street Journal“George Magnus offers a forensic take on why the Chinese economy will continue to be bedevilled by politics and why it matters.”—Isabel Hilton, New Statesman“Red Flags lands with exquisite timing"—Richard McGregor, Financial Times“Magnus offers the vision of a dispassionate outsider on the state of China” — Martin Wolf, Financial Times (Books of the Year 2018)"For insight into the dilemmas and decisions China’s leaders, notably Xi Jinping, will face in the next decades, it would be hard to beat Red Flags."—Diane Coyle, author of GDP: A Brief but Affectionate History"An excellent, tightly argued and fluently written analysis of the challenges that lie behind the China Dream."—Jonathan Fenby, author of Will China Dominate the 21st Century?"An immensely important and powerful book from one of our premier commentators on economics."—Rana Mitter, author of China’s War with Japan, 1937–1945"A nuanced, historically informed and highly readable account of why we should never be complacent about the People’s Republic."—Kerry Brown, author of CEO, China"Compelling, ominous and thought-provoking, George Magnus has written a book that should be essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of what is happening in China— and why it will have a global impact."—Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads

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Book SynopsisDemonstrations by far-right groups, such as the English Defence League, Britain First and PEGIDA, have caused considerable social and civic unrest in UK cities for nearly a decade. But how should policymakers respond to far-right and anti-Muslim activism? Drawing on extensive primary research with stakeholders, local authorities and policymakers, this book investigates the political, socio-economic and historic trends that fuel this form of political extremism across the UK. It also maps the different types of policy responses available to local politicians, police forces and behind-the-scenes policy officials involved in the day-to-day management of anti-Islamic street protest. The author demonstrates that it is only through developing successful countermeasures in the realm of politics, security and community-based politics that politicians, police and state actors will truly get to grips with this new far-right activism.Table of ContentsIntroduction – Why Policy Responses to the EDL and Britain First?1 Context: The Rise of Anti-Islamic Protest and the Evolution of the UK Far Right2 What Policy Responses? UK National Policy Responses and Localised Countermeasures to Anti-Islamic Protest3 ‘Where it all began’ – Policy Responses to the EDL and Britain First in Luton4 Early Responses to Anti-Islamic Protest – Policy Responses to the EDL and Britain First in Birmingham 5 West Yorkshire’s Response to Anti-Islamic Protest – Policy Responses to the EDL and Britain First in Bradford 6 ‘Somewhere near the Clock tower’ - Policy Responses to the EDL and Britain First in Leicester7 Anti-Islamic Protest in London’s East End - Policy Responses to the EDL and Britain First in Tower Hamlets8. Conclusion - Key Findings, Recommendations and Future Responses

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Book SynopsisChina's contemporary political economy features an emboldened role for the state as owner and regulator, and with markets expected to act in the service of party-state goals. This Element situates China's political economy in comparative analytic perspective with attention to adaptations of its model over time.Table of Contents1. Situating China's Political Economy; 2. Classic Conceptions and Models; 3. Evolution of China's Political Economy; 4. A New Model: Party-State Capitalism; 5. Explaining the Shifting Model; 6. External Backlash Against China's Model; 7. Conclusion: China's Development Model and Crises of Global Capitalism; References.

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Book SynopsisAn accessible, compelling introduction to today's major policy issues from columnist, best-selling author and Nobel Prizewinning economist Paul Krugman.Trade Review"[Arguing with Zombies] is a timely reminder that actual knowledge and ordinary common sense are two of the rarest qualities in mainstream journalism today." -- Business Telegraph"…Krugman’s book proves that he, a Nobel-prize winning economist, shares two rare qualities with George Orwell, the novelist who also wrote much of the best journalism of the 20th century: deep intelligence and genuine prescience." -- Charles Kaiser - The Guardian"... thoughtful, timely book... " -- Nature"... in terms of easy-to-read economic summaries of some of the biggest issues facing Western (particularly American) financial policy making, this book is a treasure-trove." -- FT Advisor

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Book SynopsisThe Earthshot concept is simple: Urgency + Optimism = Action. We have ten years to turn the tide on the environmental crisis, but we need the world's best solutions and one shared goal - to save our planet.It's not too late, but we need collective action now. The Earthshots are unifying, ambitious goals for our planet which, if achieved by 2030, will improve life for all of us, for the rest of life on Earth, and for generations to come.They are to:· Protect and Restore Nature· Clean our Air· Revive our Oceans· Build a Waste-Free World· Fix our ClimateEARTHSHOT: HOW TO SAVE OUR PLANET is the first definitive book about how these goals can tackle the environmental crisis, from rainforests to coral reefs, via wilderness, cities and in our own homes. It is a critical contribution to the most important story of the decade.

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Book SynopsisThe future may still be unpredictable, but nowadays, disasters are not. We live in a time of constant, consistent catastrophe, where things more often go wrong than they go right. So why do we still fumble when disaster hits? Why are we always one step behind?In The Devil Never Sleeps, Juliette Kayyem lays the groundwork for a new approach to dealing with disasters. Presenting the basic themes of crisis management, Kayyem amends the principles we rely on far too easily. Instead, she offers us a new framework to anticipate the "devil's" inevitable return, highlighting the leadership deficiencies we need to overcome and the forward thinking we need to harness. It's no longer about preventing a disaster from occurring, but learning how to use the tools at our disposal to minimize the consequences when it does.Filled with personal anecdotes and real-life examples from natural disasters like the California wildfires to man-made ones like the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, The Devil Never Sleeps is a guide for governments, businesses, and individuals alike on how to alter our thinking so that we can develop effective strategies in the face of perpetual catastrophe.

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