Central / national / federal government policies Books

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Book SynopsisProf. Dr. Christoph Knill is Professor of Politics and Public Administration at the Geschwister Scholl Institute of Political Science at Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany.Prof. Dr. Jale Tosun is Professor of Political Science at the Institute of Political Science at Heidelberg University, Germany, and a co-director of the Heidelberg Center for the Environment.Trade ReviewChristoph Knill and Jale Tosun have provided an excellent update and extension of their textbook on public policy. The first edition provided an excellent introduction to the field for students, and the new edition will be an even more valuable resource for understanding contemporary public policy. * B. Guy Peters, University of Pittsburgh, USA *The first edition of Public Policy rapidly became a modern classic in the field, a must-read for all those working on public policy, whether students or established scholars. The epithets elegant, concise, profound and clear easily attached themselves to the well-written and useful book that stands head and shoulders above all its competitors. It is very welcome indeed to have the second edition that retains all the strengths of the first, but is fully updated to reflect recent thinking and scholarship in public policy as well as taking account of the profound changes in politics and policy that have occurred in recent years. Christoph Knill and Jale Tosun have pulled off a tremendous feat. * Peter John, King’s College, London, UK *This book is an outstanding introduction to studies of public policy. It combines both traditional approaches with innovative perspectives on the design and implementation of public policies. It is the best text book for policy studies in Europe. * Karin Ingold, University of Bern, Switzerland *There is no better policy textbook with a global perspective than Knill and Tosun’s. It combines the leading paradigms with innovative insights in a well-written, comprehensive and state-of-the-art account of the policy process. This volume belongs in the personal library of any student, scholar and practitioner who wants to master the essentials of public policy-making around the world. * Raymond Tatalovich, Loyola University Chicago, USA *The radically updated second edition of Public Policy engages with empirical developments, such as climate change, digitization and the questioning of the global international order, that have a path-changing significance for public policy. The authors successfully integrate theoretical, analytical and methodological advances in the book, which reflects that Jale Tosun and Christopher Knill are leading scholars in the field. I strongly recommend this book to scholars and educators of public policy and related fields. * Caroline de la Porte, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark *In this fresh edition of their Public Policy textbook, Knill and Tosun offer a comprehensive review of the theories that students must master if they want to make a difference in the policy world. This is the go-to resource book for all those who seek to formulate workable solutions to complex societal problems. * Arjen Boin, Leiden University, the Netherlands *Knill and Tosun’s Public Policy has proved to be an excellent text for introducing my students to fundamental ideas in public policy and policy making. It structures theoretical content in a clear and thoughtful way, and uses relevant real world examples to demonstrate the complexities of policy making across national and international contexts. * Alex Mankoo, University of Sussex, UK *Knill and Tosun have written a highly accessible and comprehensive textbook that not only discusses traditional policy theories but also highlights the importance of public-private governance and policy-making beyond the state. This text forms an excellent introduction for students and the new edition’s increased attention to climate change in particular makes this book even more indispensable than before. * Stefan Renckens, University of Toronto, Canada *Public Policy is a highly accessible book introducing public policy through examples drawn from all over the world. The authors survey and present a wide range of theoretical perspectives in a clear and concise fashion. It is a tremendous introduction to public policy and points the reader where to go next for detailed work on each topic. * Martin Hansen, Brunel University London, UK *Public Policy continues to provide an excellent foundation in key theories and debates regarding policy processes. This revised edition not only reflects development in the fields of academic debate but also political changes to provide an excellent introduction for new students. The revised conclusion provides useful practical guidance for students and practitioners alike. * Lee Gregory, University of Birmingham, UK *Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. The Nature of Public Policies 3. The Context for Policy Making: Central Institutions and Actors 4. Theoretical Approaches to Policy Making 5. Problem Definition and Agenda Setting 6. Decision-Making 7. Implementation 8. Evaluation 9. Governance: A Synoptic Perspective on Policy Making 10. Public Policies Beyond the Nation-State 11. Policy Change and Policy Convergence 12. Conclusions: Theoretical Insights and Practical Advice.

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Book SynopsisThis enlightening book scrutinizes the shifting and overlapping governance paradigms that inform public administration reforms. Exploring the models that shape and reshape the daily operation of public organizations, it explains the core features of public bureaucracy and professional rule in the modern day. From the rise to supremacy of New Public Management to the growing preference for alternatives, such as Digital Era Governance, Public Value Management and New Public Governance, four world-renowned authors launch a powerful and systematic comparison of the competing and co-existing paradigms. Advancing the 'public governance diamond' as a critical tool for comparing the core features of governance paradigms, this insightful book discusses the underlying behavioural assumptions of these models and the challenges faced by leaders when managing in a public sector. Informed by both key theory and empirical analysis, this book will be crucial reading for students and researchers seeking an authoritative voice on competing and co-existing modes of governance. Public leaders and managers, as well as public employees, will also benefit from its insights into the varying and multifaceted dynamics of public governance.Trade Review'The Danes have done it again: advancing the field of public administration in a way that is both imaginative and helpful. Public Governance Paradigms provides us with a highly sophisticated ''think piece'' about the consecutive philosophies and designs of how to design and run a system of government that have emerged since Max Weber laid down his model of bureaucracy. Clear, concise, balanced, and constructive, this book effortlessly traverses a hundred years of public sector scholarship and reform. Easily the single best compass available to students, researchers and practitioners seeking to balance continuity and innovation in the ways in which we envisage and craft our public institutions and their professional practices.' --Paul 't Hart, Utrecht University and Netherlands School of Public Administration, the Netherlands'This book orients readers to the major issues and debates concerning how the public sector should be organized and run. The authors brilliantly use their ''public governance diamond'' to provide back-to-back comparisons of seven different public governance paradigms, bringing each paradigm's relative strengths and weaknesses into clear focus.' --Christopher Ansell, University of California, BerkeleyTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction 2. Bureaucracy 3. Professional rule 4. New Public Management 5. Neo-Weberian State 6. Digital Era Governance 7. Public Value Management 8. New Public Governance 9. Comparing governance paradigms 10. Managing a public sector with competing and co-existing governance paradigms Index

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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 SynopsisTrade Review"No Trade is Free is a masterpiece that describes how my Administration stood up to China and fought back against the Globalists and Communists that have been ripping off American workers for decades." — Donald Trump “Bob Lighthizer is the best in the business. He completely transformed the paradigm on trade, changing the course of American history. If our leaders apply the lessons in this book, America can still have a prosperous future.” — Larry Kudlow, former director of the National Economic Council and host of Kudlow on the Fox Business Network “Over Bob Lighthizer’s decades-long career in public policy, he helped reset the direction of US trade policy and advanced the commonsense, realistic approach: recognizing that ‘no trade is free.’ His book exposes the ideological fault lines that subjected too many workers to the ravages of a naive view that free trade was a reality rather than an outdated theory. This book is a must-read for those seeking a better understanding of how we got to where we are, and how we can chart the path forward.” — Tom Conway, president of the United Steelworkers “In the wake of heightened geopolitical rivalries and worsening inequality, America is reorienting its trade policy to align with its strategic priorities. Anyone interested in understanding what unfolded in the Trump administration and the debates that lie ahead ought to read this book. Bob Lighthizer continues to challenge us to reconsider why we trade and what we hope to gain from it.” — Mark Wu, professor of law, Harvard University “For decades, Washington gave China concessions even while they grew more powerful and more hostile to our interests. No Trade Is Free is the story of how Bob Lighthizer and the Trump administration brought common sense back to the negotiating table.” — Marco Rubio, United States senator “This book is destined to be a historic masterpiece. It is an eyewitness account of a lifetime focused on better trade deals. The details of the most significant US-Chinese negotiations since Nixon met with Mao will make this riveting story a bestseller.” — Michael Pillsbury, senior fellow for China strategy at the Heritage Foundation and author of the national number one bestseller The Hundred-Year Marathon “Bob Lighthizer reopens a question forbidden in Washington for decades: Just how costly is free trade? His answer reveals defects in the entire project of globalization and lets us glimpse a path beyond it.” — Peter Thiel, entrepreneur, cofounder of PayPal, and author of the number one New York Times bestseller Zero to One “The author is a wise man whose advice we would do well to heed. Bob Lighthizer educated me on trade and economic policy during long flights on Air Force One. Now, in No Trade Is Free, what he taught me is accessible to all.” — Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster, former national security advisor and author of Battlegrounds

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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 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 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 SynopsisManagement experts Frank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev sift through decades of data to show why workplace diversity training fails and what works. Arguing that it’s time to focus on changing systems rather than individuals, the authors make data-driven recommendations for diversifying management and creating workplaces where everyone can thrive.Trade ReviewToo many companies don’t know how to walk the walk of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Getting to Diversity shows them how. It relies on hard data and real-life examples about what works and what doesn’t, laying out a case for making real change in a thorough, well-written, no-fluff account. Figures showing effects of diversity programs are absolutely riveting. Bravo. -- Lori George Billingsley, former Global Chief DEI Officer, Coca-Cola CompanyFrank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev upended the conventional wisdom of diversity and inclusion practitioners with their seminal article ‘Why Diversity Programs Fail.’ Now they’re back with a data-driven book about one of corporate America’s most pressing contemporary issues, offering up required reading that is certain to shift the paradigm once again. -- Ben-Saba Hasan, Global Chief Culture, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Walmart Inc.Most companies say they want to advance diversity and equity, but they resort to using the same old unsuccessful strategies. In many cases, this is undoubtedly because leaders are uncertain about which approaches really work. Fortunately, Dobbin and Kalev have written an accessible, engaging book that documents which initiatives actually help organizations better reflect the diverse society in which we live—so if you don’t know, now you know! This is the book all leaders need to read to achieve results. -- Adia Wingfield, author of Flatlining: Race, Work, and Health Care in the New EconomyGetting to Diversity makes good on the promise of its title. Years of research by Dobbin and Kalev have yielded concrete answers to questions about what is needed to achieve diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforces. Among the critical solutions they offer are ways to end sexual harassment and to democratize leadership opportunities—both keys to systemic, lasting, positive reform. At last a book that shows leaders how they can realize change. -- Anita Hill, University Professor, Brandeis University, and author of Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End Gender ViolenceGetting to Diversity is a compelling, evidence-based book grounded in well-crafted multi-organizational research and the reality of people’s experiences at work. This book has the potential to change CEO mindsets, human resource practices, manager behavior, and employee well-being—if only enough people grab it and heed its powerful messages. -- Rosabeth Moss Kanter, author of Think Outside the BuildingThese influential sociologists have spent their careers studying why diversity initiatives fail and what it takes to fix them. Their data-driven book doesn’t just spotlight the problems—it’s packed with solutions. -- Adam Grant * Adam Grant Thinks Again newsletter *This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn which practices can actually improve managerial diversity in organizations. * Science *A book that is tailored for anyone who is craving actionable, evidence-based advice about how to create effective programs. -- Elizabeth Weingarten * Behavioral Scientist *Drawing on more than 30 years of data from 800 companies as well as in-depth interviews with managers, two leading management experts set out to explain why, despite increasing diversity in American society, change in makeup of the management rank has stalled, and how to do things better. * Human Givens Journal *The great strength of the book is its consequentialist orientation: diversity programs are evaluated solely on the basis of their impact on gender and racial inequalities in organizations, looking away from intentions and discourses…Rich and stimulating. -- Laure Bereni * La Vie des Idées *

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Book SynopsisIn 1970, Richard Sennett published the groundbreaking The Uses of Disorder, arguing that the ideal of a planned and ordered city was flawed. Fifty years later, Sennett returns to these still fertile ideas and, alongside campaigner and architect Pablo Sendra, sets out an agenda for the design and ethics of the Open City.The public spaces of our cities are under siege from planners, privatisation and increased surveillance. Our streets are becoming ever more lifeless and ordered. What is to be done? Can disorder be designed? In this provocative essay Sendra and Sennett propose a reorganisation of how we think and plan the social life of our cities. 'Infrastructures of disorder' combine architecture, politics, urban planning and activism in order to develop places that nurture rather than stifle, bring together rather than divide up, remain open to change rather than closed off.Trade ReviewIn this very readable essay, Sennett pushes on the ideas he developed in his 'Uses of Disorder'. The upshot seems to be the 'open city'; the antithesis of places like New York'sHudson Yards; a pre-determined, real-estate driven 'community' that can only degrade over time. Given contingent times, a necessary critical view of the modern urban realm. * RIBA Journal *The promotion of this sense of impotence, and the resulting inertia, are encouraged by a patronising capitalist "nanny state" on behalf of corporations for whom profits, not people, matter. The only antidote to that inertia is surely to start planning the "disorder" promulgated by Sendra and Sennett. * Morning Star *Timely and relevant...For both Sennett and Sendra, cities are at their best when they resist homogeneity and promote difference, and when they empower people to actively shape and reshape their built environment and its public uses. -- Eoin Ó Broin * Irish Times *A bold invitation to take sides ... a city of power (Hudson Yards) versus a city of the people (the Garment District in New York City), before formulating the no less audacious goal of the book: to enable urban spontaneity by means of design -- Plácido González Martínez * Journal of Urban Design *Evocatively, he paints a picture of brittle cities, which serve closed systems and whose buildings are destroyed rather than adapted as their use changes. -- Charmaine Chan * South China Morning Post *This book can be seen as an ongoing and open-ended conversation rather than a static presentation of the authors' points of view ... a very lively and engaging read. -- Judith Ryser * Urban Design *I thought of my home town, Dublin, while reading Pablo Sendra and Richard Sennett's Designing Disorder: Experiments and Disruptions in the City. Here, the authors explore ethical urban design in an age of privatisation, hostile architecture and widespread surveillance. -- Naoise Dolan * Observer, Best Books of 2020 *A good public space should offer the possibility of surprise. Sennett and Sendra contrast the idea of the "brittle city" or the "closed city" with the idea of the "open city": a place that can change as its residents', visitors', and workers' needs change. A building, street, or neighborhood should always remain "incomplete," so that it can adapt with the times. . . .worth reading as a guide to post-pandemic urban-space management. * City Journal *

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Book SynopsisWhen the US government resettled thousands of Hmong in 1975, the work was done by Christian organizations deputized by the state. Exploring the resiliency of tradition amid shaky US commitments to pluralism and secularism, Melissa May Borja shows how Hmong Americans developed a new way that blended Christianity with their longstanding practices.Trade ReviewSuperb…Borja’s book is a beautiful study of how people work out the meaning of faith in their homes as much as in their religious communities. -- William J. Schultz * Christian Century *A fascinating, deeply perceptive, and highly readable study of the Hmong experience in America. Borja’s pathbreaking book will appeal to a broad readership in religion and cultural studies, refugee resettlement and humanitarian aid, and church-state relations, as well as to the Hmong community itself. An exemplary model of careful scholarship with far-reaching significance. -- Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a NationBeautifully written and sensitively told, Follow the New Way foregrounds the resilience of Hmong ‘religious migrants’ while highlighting the power of the state. This illuminating book is a must-read for anyone interested in migration, pluralism, and religious freedom. -- Kathryn Gin Lum, author of Heathen: Religion and Race in American HistoryA deeply nuanced story of the politics and practices of religious pluralism. Borja deftly illuminates how American refugee resettlement policies have shaped the spiritual lives of Hmong Americans and raises timely questions about the promise of religious freedom in America. Required reading for anyone interested in American religion. -- Carolyn Chen, author of Work Pray Code: When Work Becomes Religion in Silicon ValleyA story that changes the way we tell stories. In the histories it recounts, the characters it follows, and ‘the way’ it illuminates, Follow the New Way stretches the bounds of what we mean by religion, culture, immigration, and tradition. With compassion and a deeply held humanity, Borja renews our thinking not just about Hmong Americans, but about America as such. -- Jonathan Tran, author of Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial CapitalismA superb book. Tracing the complicated process of religious change among Hmong refugees, Borja persuasively demonstrates how state policies disrupted Hmong traditions. Yet she also shows how refugees creatively and resiliently drew upon a variety of religious resources to gain spiritual strength in their new land. -- Russell Jeung, author of Family Sacrifices: The Worldviews and Ethics of Chinese AmericansFor far too long, writing about Southeast Asian refugees, and specifically Hmong Americans, has ignored the issue of faith. In a refreshing, much-needed analysis, Borja draws out the unexpected connections between US refugee resettlement policy and religious change among Hmong migrants. Readable, engaging, and innovative, Follow the New Way is a tremendously important contribution to Asian American history. -- Sam Vong, Curator of Asian Pacific American History, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian InstitutionAn outstanding, profoundly original book. Borja brings together methods from migration history and religious studies to show how the pluralist ambitions of the post-1965 United States shaped both Hmong refugees and the Christian churches that sponsored their resettlement. In the process, she offers a nuanced and compelling way to think about both the power and the limitations of religious pluralism. -- Alison Collis Greene, author of No Depression in Heaven: The Great Depression, the New Deal, and the Transformation of Religion in the Delta

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Peddling Protectionism admirably conveys the context of the events it describes, surveying America's domestic politics in the late 1920s and providing a vivid account of the foreign retaliation that the tariff called forth."--James Grant, Wall Street Journal "In his new book, Douglas A. Irwin tells the fascinating story of how Congress stubbornly passed a bill that, as opponents noted at the time, was truly doomed to fail."--Roger Lowenstein, New Republic's The Book "[Irwin's] account of how the act came about is at once a thorough study and a breezy read. The often overblown rhetoric that Smoot-Hawley has inspired, seemingly from the start, also means that the book is often surprisingly amusing... Mr. Irwin's description of how an attempt to prop up America's agricultural sector metastasised into a law that raised nearly 1,000 import tariffs, mostly on manufacturing products, is fascinating."--Economist "A vivid, anecdotal, judicious telling of a timeless story: what happens when cocksure politicians fall into the grip of a really bad economic idea."--Christopher Caldwell, Financial Times "Peddling Protectionism, by the economist and historian Douglas Irwin, is a vivid, anecdotal, judicious telling of timeless story: what happens when cocksure politicians fall into the grip of a really bad economic idea."--Christopher Caldwell, Financial Times "In Peddling Protectionism, a short, clear and graceful book, in which maps, photographs and cartoons complement the handful of tables and graphs, Irwin makes a surprisingly lively story of the tradition of tariff revisions in the United States, the domestic politics that produced the Smoot-Hawley statute, in particular the various retaliatory measures that ensued... [I]f only economists could write more books like it about other controversies!"--David Warsh, Economic Principals "A short, clear and graceful book."--David Warsh, Economic Principals "In his wonderful new book Peddling Protectionism, Dartmouth College economist and historian Douglas A. Irwin warns that congress, left on its own to fashion trade policy, will quickly be captured by special interests."--Daniel Griswold, Washington Times "Irwin's encyclopedic knowledge of the literature on Smoot-Hawley will make this the standard work on the subject for many years to come... The memory of Smoot-Hawley and its link to the Great Depression is one of the few things that keeps protectionism in check. For this reason, Peddling Protectionism deserves a wide readership."--Fiscal Times "[P]ersuasive."--Arnold Kling, Econlog "The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, named after two congressmen who sponsored it, raised U.S. duties on thousands of imported goods. Its ramifications on world trade reverberated for decades. In this comprehensive history, Irwin examines the political wrangling that caused the yearlong delay in its passage."--Library Journal "A rarity among books of its ilk, Peddling Protectionism is a stellar read both as a historical narrative and an economic text. As mundane as the issues at hand might sound--think of Ben Stein's famous monotonic lecture about Smoot-Hawley in Ferris Bueller's Day Off--Irwin makes them comprehensible and even enjoyable to consider, peppering his text with anecdotes and contemporary political cartoons as he unpacks the economic context that led to the act's passage."--Asa Fitch, The National "A rarity among books of its ilk, Peddling Protectionismis a stellar read... [T]hink of Ben Stein's famous monotonic lecture about Smoot-Hawley in Ferris Bueller's Day Off--Irwin makes [the issues] comprehensible and even enjoyable to consider, peppering his text with anecdotes and contemporary political cartoons as he unpacks the economic context that led to the act's passage."--Asa Fitch, National "Irwin's book is not technical; he summarizes research findings, including his own, but does not formally present models or econometric results. His approach makes the book quite suitable for the interested general reader, undergraduates, and economic historians and other economists interested in the life and times of Smoot-Hawley. Finally, this volume is well priced for individual purchase and is nicely illustrated with a number of photographs and political cartoons of the day. It is also mercifully free of the typos that plague so many university press books these days."--Anthony Patrick O'Brien, EH.Net "Irwin, an economics professor at Dartmouth College and one of the world's leading scholars of international trade, makes a careful, fact-freighted case."--David R. Henderson, Regulation "Irwin's outstanding book will teach even well-informed scholars a great deal... [H]is scholarship is impeccable; his reasoning is sure and never overreaching; and his prose is clean and direct... [T]o date the finest set of words devoted exclusively to that justly infamous spectacle of American protectionism."--Independent Review "Irwin's outstanding book will teach even well-informed scholars a great deal about the history and politics that produced the Smoot-Hawley tariff as well as about its economic and political consequences. Read Irwin's book for the important details... No better guide to Smoot-Hawley's history and consequences is available than Doug Irwin. His scholarship is impeccable; his reasoning is sure and never overreaching; and his prose is clean and direct. His little volume may not be the last word on Smoot-Hawley (Are there ever last words on any subject?), but it is to date the finest set of words devoted exclusively to that justly infamous spectacle of American protectionism."--Donald J. Boudreaux, Independent Review "[I]rwin's recent book Peddling Protectionism demolishes the conventional wisdom [of the Smoot-Hawley tariff]."--Robert J. Samuelson, Wilson Quarterly "[Irwin's book is] eminently readable, and will be of interest to all those concerned with trade policy and the trading system, as well as being valuable for upper division undergraduate seminars. The particulars of the political arguments for and against SH, the quotes of opinions of policy makers, and the marshalling of evidence regarding policy choices and attempts at international cooperation make the period come alive and simultaneously enable a balanced assessment regarding the role of trade policy and its determinants."--Anne O. Krueger, Journal of World Trade Review "[T]his book is a welcome contribution to the field. Several of the old 'wisdoms' regarding the tariff are presented and analysed, and the empirical evidence brought forth by Irwin is convincing. The course of events is concisely presented in a chronological manner. Irwin has collected quite a number of political cartoons, caricatures and quotations to illustrate the debate of contemporaries and scholars that both entertain and point to the gravity of the issue. All this adds nicely to the economic analyses. The lines of arguments and the analyses of the author in the book are convincing and accessible to both scholars and the general reader."--Peter Hedberg, Scandinavian Economic History Review "It is, to put it mildly, a challenge to write an interesting and lively history of tariff policy. In his graceful study of the Smoot-Hawley tariff, economist Douglas Irwin successfully rises to the task... Scholars of the period will find much that is valuable in Irwin's analytical and readable narrative."--Jason Scott Smith, Journal of American Studies

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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 SynopsisTrade ReviewWinner of the 2017 PROSE Award in Government & Politics, Association of American Publishers One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016 "The best book to understand the 2016 campaign."--Matthew Yglesias "For decades, political scientists have blasted away at electoral models based primarily on the idea of rational choice. In the most recent and sophisticated entry in the field, Democracy for Realists, Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels argue that even well-informed and politically engaged voters mostly choose candidates based on their social identities and partisan loyalties. Judging from the 2016 polls, that theory looks pretty good."--E.J. Dionne, Washington Post "In an important recent book, Democracy for Realists, Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels show that 'group attachments' and 'social identities' are key to understanding voting behavior."--Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post "It flies in the face of decades of political science conventional wisdom about 'the rational voter' and other such dicta, but it seems to me obviously true, particularly in our age."--Michael Tomasky, New York Review of Books "[A] provocative book."--Edward Luce, Financial Times "Democracy for Realists, by Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels, shows that however cynical you are about the democratic process, it's worse than you think. All the flaws in cognition that psychologists have been teaching for decades make a mockery of the folk theory that democracy produces responsive governments."--Steven Pinker, Harvard Crimson "Brutally depressing."--Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution "One of the most bracing books of political science to arrive in a long time... An impressively comprehensive statement on the limits of electoral democracy, a book that can both explain the emergence of Trump and potentially charts a new course for the field."--Lee Drutman, Chronicle of Higher Education "It will confirm much that you may already have intuited--issues do not much matter--and it may make you want to jump out of a window, if you didn't already."--Kevin Williamson, National Review (Summer Reading Recommendation) "The folk theory of American democracy is that citizens deliberate on the issues and choose a candidate. That is false. The truth, as political scientists Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels describe in Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government, is that voters are tribalistic."--Jamelle Bouie, Slate "A comprehensive analysis that lays the foundation for a discussion of necessary reforms and how they can be achieved."--Kirkus (starred review) "Their writing is clear, concise, and appropriately whimsical on occasion. Certain to become a classic."--Choice "Democracy for Realists is essential reading for anyone interested in the problem of voter ignorance, and the future of democracy more generally. It illuminates a dangerous problem that may well bedevil democracy for a long time to come."--Ilya Somin, History News Network "Provocative, persuasive and unsettling, Democracy for Realists is a profoundly important--and timely--book."--Glenn Altschuler, Tulsa World "The most comprehensive recent study of the American voter."--Neal Miner, Honolulu Civil Beat "According to some conventional accounts of democracy, these systems work. Voters toss out incumbents in hard times and retain them in good times... The genius of Achen and Bartels' work--the depressing genius of it--is the breadth of evidence they marshal that this is simply not the case."--Peter Loewen, Ottawa Citizen "The book might make dreary reading about the failings of democracy. But by applying what Achen and Bartels say to what is happening in the elections... It is possible to make some sense."--Han Fook Kwang, Singapore Straits Times "An important book. The authors basically destroy our most cherished ideas about democracy."--Helio Schwartsman, Folha De S. Paolo "The 2016 election cycle has confounded a good deal of scholarship and punditry so far. But one book that's coming out smelling like a rose is Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels' new book Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government. This book's novel argument is that we've been thinking about democracy all wrong."--Seth Masket, Pacific Standard "This more than erudite book couldn't have been published at a more apt, if not fractious climate amid modern British and European political history... Democracy for Realists will set minds thinking and trigger an array of debate; which, at the end of the day, is what democracy is all about."--David Marx Book Reviews "Democracy for Realists is essential reading for 2016, an empirically and theoretically rigorous political science treatise that debunks traditional defenses of democracy as a way to reflect the 'will of the people' or allow well-informed and rational voters to guide the country. In their place, Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels advance a theory of democracy grounded in group identities and social psychology."--Jason Furman, Bloomberg "The myth of the informed democratic voter is itself an example of long-ingrained, stubborn anti-knowledge. In their brilliant new Democracy for Realists, the political scientists Christopher H. Achen and Larry M. Bartels explain that laypeople and experts alike have developed a 'folk theory' holding that American democracy is built on an engaged electorate that casts its votes for rational policy reasons. Unfortunately, as Achen and Bartels demonstrate, decades of research have shredded this theory, stomped on it, and set the remains on fire."--Noah Berlatsky, Reason "One of last year's most-celebrated works of political science."--Eric Levitz, New York Magazine Daily Intelligencer

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Book SynopsisSlaughterhouse is the first book of its kind to explore the impact that unprecedented changes in the meatpacking industry over the last twenty-five years - particularly industry consolidation, increased line speeds, and deregulation - have had on workers, animals, and consumers. It is also the first time ever that workers have spoken publicly about what's really taking place behind the closed doors of America's slaughterhouses. In this new paperback edition, author Gail A. Eisnitz brings the story up to date since the book's original publication. She describes the ongoing efforts by the Humane Farming Association to improve conditions in the meatpacking industry, media exposes that have prompted reforms resulting in multimillion dollar appropriations by Congress to try to enforce federal inspection laws, and a favorable decision by the Supreme Court to block construction of what was slated to be one of the largest hog factory farms in the country. Nonetheless, Eisnitz makes it clear that abuses continue and much work still needs to be doneTable of ContentsPart I: Opening the Slaughterhouse Door; Part II: The Stickers' Confessions; Part III: The "Slaughterhouse Eight"; Part IV: USDA Deregulates: Full Line Speeds Ahead; Part V: Friends in High Places; Part VI: A Debased Side of Human Nature; Glossary; Index.

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Book SynopsisJames Ferguson examines the rise of social welfare programs in southern Africa in which states give cash payments to their low income citizens. These programs, Ferguson argues, offer new opportunities for political mobilization and inspire new ways to think about issues of production, distribution, markets, labor and unemployment.Trade Review“Half comparative ethnography, half political pamphlet, Ferguson’s impressive narrative is a tour de force questioning, deconstructing and reconstructing classic and contemporary notions of poverty, development and the welfare state in the region and beyond. … With his creative and flexible analysis, he provokes thinking for action beyond narrow ideological boundaries. One could imagine enthusiastic endorsements of his work by Marxist campaigners, World Bank technocrats and traditional leaders alike. This highly original book is likely to leave a lasting mark not only on contemporary anthropological debates around poverty and development, but also policy and activist thinking in southern Africa and beyond.” -- Vito Laterza * Anthropology Book Forum *"The book offers an exciting challenge to many of the default ways of thinking in development and social policy. ... Give a Man a Fish is a remarkable combination of scholarly breadth, intellectual challenge and grounded reflection on the realities of people living with hardship. Avoiding the easy characterisations of left or right, it is a thoughtful, stimulating and ultimately hopeful book, which deserves to be widely read, discussed and acted on." -- Sarah C. White * Journal of Development Studies *"Overall, this is an ambitious, imaginative, and hopeful book. Although the notion that distributive processes must be understood and appreciated is already widely accepted in African studies, Ferguson's achievement is in analyzing the dynamism and implications of these claims and relations within his chosen region’s shifting political economy." -- A. Peter Castro * Journal of International and Global Studies *"[T]he book is beautifully written, and a pleasure to read. Ferguson seamlessly weaves together data, a wide range of social science literature, anecdotes, historical details, and a sprinkling of anthropological theory.... Ferguson’s book is an erudite, enjoyable, and important synthesis of facts, stories and ideas, bridging a wide range of topics around the rise of social grants in Southern Africa." -- E. Fouksman * Basic Income Studies *"James Ferguson’s latest book makes an important contribution to the basic income literature. The book draws its empirical ballast from cash transfer programs in southern Africa, but this is not an ethnographic text; rather, Ferguson leverages the idea of cash transfers and basic income to launch a theoretical meditation on the nature of money, value, society, welfare, justice, and the state. The end product is reflective, thought-provoking, and beautifully written. One is left with the distinct impression that Ferguson is feeling his way into a social theory of the future." -- Jason Hickel * Anthropological Forum *"Like the best kind of anthropology, James Ferguson’s latest book, Give a Man a Fish, invites readers to see the world differently, questions taken-for-granted truisms, and reasserts the significance of lives considered peripheral to the concerns of powerful elites.... In a world of radical inequality and chronic unemployment, few development agents are willing to spend time 'translating' anthropology into action. Ferguson has done this work with the sensibility of an anthropologist." -- Ilana van Wyk * American Anthropologist *Table of ContentsForeword / Thomas Gibson vii Preface and Acknowledgments xi Introduction. Cash Transfers and the New Welfare States: From Neoliberalism to the Politics of Distribution 1 1. Give a Man a Fish: From Patriarchal Productionism to the Revalorization of Distribution 35 2. What Comes after the Social? Historicizing the Future of Social Protection in Africa 63 3. Distributed Livelihoods: Dependence and the Labor of Distribution in the Lives of the Southern African Poor (and Not-So-Poor) 89 4. The Social Life of Cash Payments: Money, Markets, and the Mutualities of Poverty 119 5. Declaration of Dependence: Labor, Pesonhood, and Welfare in Southern Africa 141 6. A Rightful Share: Distribution beyond Gift and Market 165 Conclusion. What Next for Distributive Politics? 191 Notes 217 References 237 Index 259

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Book SynopsisA first-of-its-kind theoretical overview and practical guide to wargame design Government, industry, and academia need better tools to explore threats, opportunities, and human interactions in cyberspace. The interactive exercises called cyber wargames are a powerful way to solve complex problems in a digital environment that involves both cooperation and conflict. Cyber Wargaming is the first book to provide both the theories and practical examples needed to successfully build, play, and learn from these interactive exercises. The contributors to this book explain what cyber wargames are, how they work, and why they offer insights that other methods cannot match. The lessons learned are not merely artifacts of these games—they also shed light on how people interpret and interact with cyberspace in real life. This book covers topics such as cyber action during conventional war, information effects in conflict scenarios, individual versus group decision-making, the intersection of cyber conflicts and nuclear crises, business resilience, emerging technologies, and more. Cyber Wargaming will be a vital resource for readers interested in security studies and wargame design in higher education, the military, and the private sector.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments 1 Shall We Play a Game? Fundamentals of Cyber WargamingFrank L. Smith III, Nina A. Kollars, and Benjamin H. Schechter Part I: Research Games2 Cyber Wargames as Synthetic DataAndrew Reddie, Ruby Booth, Bethany Goldblum, Kiran Lakkaraju, and Jason C. Reinhardt3 Wargames Research on Cyber and Nuclear Crisis Dynamics Benjamin H. Schechter, Jacquelyn Schneider, and Rachael Shaffer4 Wargaming International and Domestic Crises: Island Intercept and NetwarDavid E. Banks and Benjamin M. Jensen5 Imperfect Information in Conventional WargamingChris Dougherty and Ed McGrady6 Adding Time to the Cyber Kill Chain: The "Merlin" Tool for WargamingPaul Schmitt, Catherine Lea, Jeremy Sepinsky, Justin Peachy, and Steve Karppi7 Games within Games: Cognition, Social Groups, and Critical InfrastructureRachael Shaffer Part II: Educational Games8 Playful Learning about CybersecurityAndreas Haggman9 The Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge: Feedback Loops for Student SuccessSafa Shahwan Edwards and Frank L. Smith III10 The Evolution of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's Grid Security ExerciseMatthew Duncan11 Breaching the C-Suite: Cyber Wargaming in the Private SectorMaxim Kovalsky, Benjamin H. Schechter, and Luis R. Carvajal-Kim12 Develop the Dream: Prototyping a Virtual Cyber WargameChris C. Demchak and David H. Johnson13 Breathing Life into Military Doctrine through Cyber GameplayBenjamin C. Leitzel14 Matrix Game Methodologies for Strategic Cyber and Information WarfareHyong Lee and James DeMuth Part III: Conclusion15 Balancing Zealots and Skeptics About Emerging Technology: A Wargaming Blueprint for InnovationNina A. Kollars and Benjamin H. Schechter Index Contributors

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Book SynopsisWhy does knowing more mean believing—and doing—less? A prescription for change The more facts that pile up about global warming, the greater the resistance to them grows, making it harder to enact measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare communities for the inevitable change ahead. It is a catch-22 that starts, says psychologist and economist Per Espen Stoknes, from an inadequate understanding of the way most humans think, act, and live in the world around them. With dozens of examples—from the private sector to government agencies—Stoknes shows how to retell the story of climate change and, at the same time, create positive, meaningful actions that can be supported even by deniers. In What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming, Stoknes not only masterfully identifies the five main psychological barriers to climate action, but addresses them with five strategies for how to talk about global warming in a way that creates action and solutions, not further inaction and despair. These strategies work with, rather than against, human nature. They are social, positive, and simple—making climate-friendly behaviors easy and convenient. They are also story-based, to help add meaning and create community, and include the use of signals, or indicators, to gauge feedback and be constantly responsive. Whether you are working on the front lines of the climate issue, immersed in the science, trying to make policy or educate the public, or just an average person trying to make sense of the cognitive dissonance or grapple with frustration over this looming issue, What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming moves beyond the psychological barriers that block progress and opens new doorways to social and personal transformation.Trade ReviewChoice, , winner, Outstanding Academic Title 2015- "Stoknes (a psychologist, economist, and entrepreneur based in Norway) does not explain climate change. Rather, he illuminates barriers that prevent solving problems caused by increasing global temperatures while simultaneously giving a clear strategy to overcome these hurdles. The book's three parts—'Thinking: Understanding the Climate Paradox,' 'Doing: If It Doesn't Work, Do Something Else,’ 'Being: Inside the Living Air'—examine how people think about climate, what individuals can do to affect climate, and how one relates to environment. Each is well researched and insightful and offers powerful proposals. Stoknes explains why so many people have laissez-faire attitudes to dire predictions from the scientific community, and he reveals tactics employed by those wishing to conduct business as usual. He poses a clear blueprint for new ways to engage in global climate discussions. This reviewer notices that many journalists are adopting Stoknes’ designs—evidently his ideas are becoming mainstream. Although he successfully addresses the climate issue, it is clear that Stoknes has something bigger in mind as he expertly describes contemporary human relationships with the natural world and offers hope for a revitalized ecological link. This book will initiate a paradigm shift in thinking about and discussing climate change. Read it soon. Summing Up: Essential. All readers.” Library Journal- "Norwegian psychologist and economist Stoknes (Money and Soul) has produced a work about the psychological effects of global warming messages. While accepting dire facts and projections put forth by scientists, the author argues that their usual type of presentation is counterproductive. Providing audiences with abstract but scary information requiring sacrifice has produced apathy and denial among citizens of wealthy nations, the author says. Stoknes notes that there are social barriers against discussing the situation, and it can be politically divisive. However, ethics require all of us to find valid ways to combat climate disruption, he states, adding that we need to harness ancestral human drives to this task. Messaging needs to be simple, positive, and social to lead to mass behavioral change. The author commends movements such as Transition Town, which promotes community resilience and explains that the many inspiring stories about green innovation can help shift public attitudes over time. VERDICT: Stoknes has done a service for readers alarmed or concerned about global warming. He provides helpful strategies for accepting and dealing with their own reactions to the evidence, reducing carbon footprints, and influencing others to do likewise.”Publishers Weekly- Stoknes (Money and Soul), a Norwegian psychologist and economist, addresses the polarized American debate over anthropogenic climate change, observing how it has devolved into 'a deteriorating and desperate spiral.' In this earnest and well-organized volume, he introduces a new aspect to the discussion, focusing not on the phenomenon’s causes or consequences, but people’s responses to it, including how they think, what they do, and how they live in the world. Stoknes puts a cognitive-psychological spin on the matter at hand and differentiates among climate 'skeptics,' ‘contrarians,' and 'deniers,' distinguishing active and passive forms of denial. He also looks at evolutionary self-interest and the ways in which people can use social networks to further their goals. People like to believe their actions matter, he notes, and a solution is more likely to be implemented 'when people want it, like it, love it,' not when they are guilted or shamed into it. The more people 'see happy others conserve energy ... the more they are inclined to support ambitious climate policies on local, state, and national levels.' Framing the argument in this manner, Stoknes effectively combines talk of social psychology with environmental activism.”"Stoknes offers expert insights, drawn from the discipline of psychology and the art of storytelling, to the high-stakes quandary of our time: Why the response to climate change has not, yet, come close to matching the overwhelming magnitude and sophistication of the scientific evidence. He peels away the multiple layers of passivity-inducing narratives, and demonstrates how avoiding climate caricatures—apocalypse on one hand, ecotopia on the other—is the most effective way to prompt action. His alternative narratives, highlighting the many co-benefits of a switch away from fossil fuels, suggest a broad common ground across the ideological spectrum.”--Mark Schapiro, author of Carbon Shock: A Tale of Risk and Calculus on the Front Lines of a Disrupted Global Economy"Science is no longer the bottleneck to action on climate change. Why do we so often ignore, deny, and resist the science? Why aren’t we outraged, demanding change? In a style both rigorous and personal, Per Espen Stoknes explains why, and more importantly, offers strategies for success. A pleasure to read, this book can help us all become more understanding, more committed, more effective—and, along the way, more joyful."--John Sterman, professor, MIT Sloan School of Management, and author of Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World"Mahatma Gandhi said 'First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.' We’re in this last phase but to win we need to change tactics, from using guilt to draw attention to instead using persuasion to change behavior and policy at a mass scale. Per Espen Stoknes shows the way with this brilliant description of how to go with rather than against the flow of human nature and thus shift society to action. There is no more important challenge facing society today and Stoknes's contribution is crucial.”--Paul Gilding, author of The Great Disruption"How, most effectively, to communicate the reality and ramifications of a slow-motion planetary meltdown? Whether you are a scientist or a CEO, an activist or a slacker, this book provides a simple toolkit for breaking down frozen attitudes. As a work that surveys a great deal of psychological research, it's at once accessible, practical, and – in its last third – richly reflective and evocative. In these concluding chapters Stoknes wrestles eloquently with the ways in which earthly calamity reverberates and sometimes wreaks havoc in any person’s innermost sense of self and meaning."--David Abram, author of The Spell of the Sensuous "In a fresh and intimate voice Per Espen Stoknes navigates the obstacles and collective denial of climate change. Drawing on his own deep love of nature he suggests ways to overcome our ‘Deep Grief’ by creating a spiritual connection with the air around us. In every way this is a book full of new perspectives and insights."--George Marshall, author of Don't Even Think About It: Why Our Brains are Wired to Ignore Climate Change"Combining an entrepreneur’s innovation with an economist’s analytics and a psychologist’s knowledge of human behavior, Per Espen Stoknes gives us a much-needed guide to moving beyond the politics and paralysis that generally cripple action on climate change, and provides us with concrete ways to inspire grounded hope for real climate solutions”--Heidi Cullen, chief scientist, Climate Central"The human brain is poorly equipped to cope with mind-numbing problems like climate change. Per Espen Stoknes tell us why—and then explains what we can do to change the way we think, act, and live. Highly recommended."--John Elkington, cofounder of Volans, SustainAbility, and Environmental Data Services (ENDS), and coauthor of The Breakthrough Challenge"If information enlightened, then effective climate policies would have been put in place two decades ago, after the second IPCC assessment. The recent, massive fifth assessment enlightens only a teeny bit more. Stoknes’ small, powerful, readable book enables us to build the social networks that will lead to action and change our old stories, the blinders that comfort so many along our path to destruction. Read it, get to work, and find joy in being effective."--Richard B. Norgaard, coauthor of The Climate Challenge Society and professor emeritus, University of California at Berkeley

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Book SynopsisJohn Taylor Gatto's radical treatise on public education, a bestseller for 25 years, continues to advocate for the unshackling of children and learning from formal schooling. Now, in a changing world with an explosion of alternative routes to learning, it's poised to continue to shake the world of institutional education for many more years.Table of Contents Foreword, by Zachary Slayback Preface - About the Author 1. The Seven-Lesson Schoolteacher 2. The Psychopathic School 3. The Green Monongahela 4. We Need Less School, Not More 5. The Congregational Principle Extra Bonus Chapter: Against School Afterword Postscript 2005 - From the Publisher Postscript 2017 - From the Publisher Also available by John Taylor Gatto A Note about New Society Publishers

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Book SynopsisJeffrey D. Sachs shows how the United States can find a path to renewed economic progress that is fair and environmentally sustainable. Sachs explores issues including infrastructure, trade deals, energy policy, and income inequality, providing illuminating and accessible explanations of the forces at work and specific policy solutions.Trade ReviewJeffrey Sachs remains one of the most thought-provoking economists in the world today because he dares to challenge presidents of both parties and the orthodoxies that bind them to disastrous policies. His critiques are fierce and his solutions fearless in the face of political and academic groupthink. That makes Professor Sachs a rarity in public life and this book an absolute necessity. -- Joe Scarborough My father famously declared that GDP "measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile." Jeffrey Sachs presents an economic vision beyond GDP, one that is based on compassion and sustainability, and that aligns with the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals. This is a roadmap for America's future economic strategy. -- Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human RightsTable of ContentsForeword, by Bernie SandersPrefaceAcknowledgments1. Why We Need to Build a New American Economy2. Investment, Saving, and U.S. Long-Term Growth3. Decoding the Federal Budget4. Sustainable Infrastructure After the Automobile Age5. Facing Up to Income Inequality6. Smart Machines and the Future of Jobs7. The Truth About Trade8. Disparities and High Costs Fuel the Health Care Crisis9. A Smart Energy Policy for the United States10. From Guns to Butter11. Investing for Innovation12. Toward a New Kind of Politics13. Restoring Trust in American Governance14. Prosperity in SustainabilitySuggested Further ReadingsNotes

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsForeword by Joseph Wronka Introduction 1. Development and History of Human Rights 2. Universal Declaration of Human Rights 3. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 4. International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 5. Diversity Within a Human Rights Perspective 6. Human Rights and Children, Persons with Disabilities, Persons with HIV-AIDS, Gays and Lesbians, Older Persons, and Victims of Racism 7: International Aspects of Human Rights 8: Applying Human Rights to the Social Work Profession Conclusion Appendix A: Universal Declaration of Human Rights Appendix B: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Including Optional Protocol Appendix C: International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights Appendix D: Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly Appendix E: Suggested Internet Websites for Further Research Index

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Book SynopsisDemocracy for Realists assails the romantic folk-theory at the heart of contemporary thinking about democratic politics and government, and offers a provocative alternative view grounded in the actual human nature of democratic citizens. Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels deploy a wealth of social-scientific evidence, including ingenious original analyses of topics ranging from abortion politics and budget deficits to the Great Depression and shark attacks, to show that the familiar ideal of thoughtful citizens steering the ship of state from the voting booth is fundamentally misguided. They demonstrate that voters--even those who are well informed and politically engaged--mostly choose parties and candidates on the basis of social identities and partisan loyalties, not political issues. They also show that voters adjust their policy views and even their perceptions of basic matters of fact to match those loyalties. When parties are roughly evenly matched, elections often turn on irrelevant or misleading considerations such as economic spurts or downturns beyond the incumbents' control; the outcomes are essentially random. Thus, voters do not control the course of public policy, even indirectly. Achen and Bartels argue that democratic theory needs to be founded on identity groups and political parties, not on the preferences of individual voters. Democracy for Realists provides a powerful challenge to conventional thinking, pointing the way toward a fundamentally different understanding of the realities and potential of democratic government.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2017 PROSE Award in Government & Politics, Association of American Publishers One of Bloomberg's Best Books of 2016 One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016 "The best book to understand the 2016 campaign."--Matthew Yglesias "For decades, political scientists have blasted away at electoral models based primarily on the idea of rational choice. In the most recent and sophisticated entry in the field, Democracy for Realists, Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels argue that even well-informed and politically engaged voters mostly choose candidates based on their social identities and partisan loyalties. Judging from the 2016 polls, that theory looks pretty good."--E.J. Dionne, Washington Post "In an important recent book, Democracy for Realists, Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels show that 'group attachments' and 'social identities' are key to understanding voting behavior."--Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post "It flies in the face of decades of political science conventional wisdom about 'the rational voter' and other such dicta (what the authors call the 'folk theory' of democracy), but it seems to me obviously true, particularly in our age."--Michael Tomasky, New York Review of Books "[A] provocative book."--Edward Luce, Financial Times "Democracy for Realists, by Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels, shows that however cynical you are about the democratic process, it's worse than you think. All the flaws in cognition that psychologists have been teaching for decades make a mockery of the folk theory that democracy produces responsive governments."--Steven Pinker, Harvard Crimson "Brutally depressing."--Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution "One of the most bracing books of political science to arrive in a long time... An impressively comprehensive statement on the limits of electoral democracy, a book that can both explain the emergence of Trump and potentially charts a new course for the field."--Lee Drutman, Chronicle of Higher Education "It will confirm much that you may already have intuited--issues do not much matter--and it may make you want to jump out of a window, if you didn't already."--Kevin Williamson, National Review (Summer Reading Recommendation) "The folk theory of American democracy is that citizens deliberate on the issues and choose a candidate. That is false. The truth, as political scientists Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels describe in Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government, is that voters are tribalistic."--Jamelle Bouie, Slate "A comprehensive analysis that lays the foundation for a discussion of necessary reforms and how they can be achieved."--Kirkus (starred review) "Their writing is clear, concise, and appropriately whimsical on occasion. Certain to become a classic."--Choice "Democracy for Realists is essential reading for anyone interested in the problem of voter ignorance, and the future of democracy more generally. It illuminates a dangerous problem that may well bedevil democracy for a long time to come."--Ilya Somin, History News Network "Provocative, persuasive and unsettling, Democracy for Realists is a profoundly important--and timely--book."--Glenn Altschuler, Tulsa World "The most comprehensive recent study of the American voter."--Neal Miner, Honolulu Civil Beat "According to some conventional accounts of democracy, these systems work. Voters toss out incumbents in hard times and retain them in good times... The genius of Achen and Bartels' work--the depressing genius of it--is the breadth of evidence they marshal that this is simply not the case."--Peter Loewen, Ottawa Citizen "The book might make dreary reading about the failings of democracy. But by applying what Achen and Bartels say to what is happening in the elections... It is possible to make some sense."--Han Fook Kwang, Singapore Straits Times "An important book. The authors basically destroy our most cherished ideas about democracy."--Helio Schwartsman, Folha De S. Paolo "The 2016 election cycle has confounded a good deal of scholarship and punditry so far. But one book that's coming out smelling like a rose is Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels' new book Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government. This book's novel argument is that we've been thinking about democracy all wrong."--Seth Masket, Pacific Standard "This more than erudite book couldn't have been published at a more apt, if not fractious climate amid modern British and European political history... Democracy for Realists will set minds thinking and trigger an array of debate; which, at the end of the day, is what democracy is all about."--David Marx Book Reviews "Democracy for Realists is essential reading for 2016, an empirically and theoretically rigorous political science treatise that debunks traditional defenses of democracy as a way to reflect the 'will of the people' or allow well-informed and rational voters to guide the country. In their place, Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels advance a theory of democracy grounded in group identities and social psychology."--Jason Furman, Bloomberg "The myth of the informed democratic voter is itself an example of long-ingrained, stubborn anti-knowledge. In their brilliant new Democracy for Realists, the political scientists Christopher H. Achen and Larry M. Bartels explain that laypeople and experts alike have developed a 'folk theory' holding that American democracy is built on an engaged electorate that casts its votes for rational policy reasons. Unfortunately, as Achen and Bartels demonstrate, decades of research have shredded this theory, stomped on it, and set the remains on fire."--Noah Berlatsky, Reason "One of last year's most-celebrated works of political science."--Eric Levitz, New York Magazine Daily IntelligencerTable of ContentsList of Illustrations ix Preface xiii 1 Democratic Ideals and Realities 1 2 The Elusive Mandate: Elections and the Mirage of Popular Control 21 3 Tumbling Down into a Democratical Republick: "Pure Democracy" and the Pitfalls of Popular Control 52 4 A Rational God of Vengeance and of Reward? The Logic of Retrospective Accountability 90 5 Blind Retrospection: Electoral Responses to Droughts, Floods, and Shark Attacks 116 6 Musical Chairs: Economic Voting and the Specious Present 146 7 A Chicken in Every Pot: Ideology and Retrospection in the Great Depression 177 8 The Very Basis of Reasons: Groups, Social Identities, and Political Psychology 213 9 Partisan Hearts and Spleens: Social Identities and Political Change 232 10 It Feels Like We're Th inking: Th e Rationalizing Voter 267 11 Groups and Power: Toward a Realist Th eory of Democracy 297 Appendix Retrospective Voting as Selection and Sanctioning 329 References 335 Index 371

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Book SynopsisElgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas.In this Advanced Introduction, Christopher Pollitt starts a penetrating account of the theories, methods and possible trajectories of the study of public management, also examining the academic community itself, and its relationship to the world of practice. There is no more authoritative - or lively - text of such scope and focus.This is a stimulating analysis by a leading international scholar. It includes:- a global overview- a critical and authoritative analysis of the current state of the field- the location of academic research firmly in the real world context of austerity, climate and demographic change, and technological transformation- an examination of the relationship between academic study and the practice of public management- a look inside the ivory tower , at the forces changing the way the subject is studied and practisedThis truly unique work will be of particular interest to graduate students, advanced scholars, lecturers and trainers in public administration, public management, government, public policy, political science and development administration. Middle level and senior practitioners in public administration and public management will also find this an invaluable and sophisticated introduction.Trade ReviewThis masterly introduction reflects Christopher Pollitt's decades of experience as a practitioner, adviser and top international scholar. It offers a balanced and judicious account of how this complex and fascinating subject has developed, how it can be approached and its possible futures. And above all, it shows us why public management and administration is so important in our world today. --Christopher Hood, All Souls College, Oxford, UKChristopher Pollitt's new book is a bright contribution to the literature on Public Management and Administration. The overall picture of the academic field is written from a pluralistic variety of interesting and relevant perspectives. His endeavour to picture relevant megatrends in the field, and to draw some sketches of the future, shows his wide-ranging and thorough-going mastering of the subject. Pollitt's humorous and eloquent writing style makes it a true pleasure to read the book. --Walter Kickert, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the NetherlandsThis truly is an advanced introduction, by one of the field's great masters. It's a book we've long needed and, in a style that's eminently accessible and enjoyable, plows important new ground. It's a must-read for students just starting out and for scholars charting the field's future. --Don Kettl, University of Maryland, College ParkTable of ContentsContents: 1. What Kind of a Subject is Public Management/Public Administration? 2. Theory 3. Methods and Approaches 4. The Public Management Community 5. The Relationship with Practice 6. Current and Future Issues (’Megatrends’) 7. Public Management in Interesting Times References Index

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive textbook explores the policy process from a multitude of perspectives, including rationalism, culturalism, institutionalism and from a political point of view. This allows students to discover key concepts from the policy science literature and gain a deeper understanding of how public policy is discussed academically and shaped empirically. Public Policy in Action gives a detailed breakdown of all stages of the policy process by discussing the emergence of policy problems affecting the agenda, the formulation of policy alternatives, the decision-making process, the implementation of policies and the progression to evaluation, learning and policy change. The authors also outline the sets of factors which influence the steps of the policy process internally and externally. The book is supported by a wide variety of case studies from a number of national and international contexts of relevance to an international audience. Key features include: Up-to-date review of the literature on the policy process Coverage on all key elements of the policy cycle Insight into the complexity of policy making in practice Multiple perspectives of the policy process Critical reflections on the roles of policy analysts Multiple case studies including water management, migration and social policies. This extensive and detailed textbook will be an invaluable resource for undergraduate and masters students of public policy, policy analysis and public administration, by providing an insight into the complexity of policy making in the real world.Trade Review'The field of policy studies has long been characterized by rather narrow empirical perspectives. In more recent years, however, there has been a flurry of theoretical orientations that have sought to reorient the field in ways that speak to contemporary policy realities. By focusing on the differences and intersections between four competing perspectives - rational, political, institutional, and cultural - Public Policy in Action offers a useful framework that helps to move the field forward.' --Frank Fischer, Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin, GermanyTable of ContentsContents: 1. Politics and Policies in a Changing World 2. Four Perspectives on the Policy Process 3. Policy Problems and Agenda Setting 4. Policy Formulation: Development, Steering, Instruments and Decision-Making 5. Policy Implementation 6. Evaluating Public Policy 7. Policy Dynamics: Learning, Change and Innovation 8. The Reflective Policy Maker Index

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Book SynopsisA leading foreign correspondent looks at how social media has transformed the modern battlefield, and how wars are foughtModern warfare is a war of narratives, where bullets are fired both physically and virtually. Whether you are a president or a terrorist, if you don''t understand how to deploy the power of social media effectively you may win the odd battle but you will lose a twenty-first century war. Here, journalist David Patrikarakos draws on unprecedented access to key players to provide a new narrative for modern warfare. He travels thousands of miles across continents to meet a de-radicalized female member of ISIS recruited via Skype, a liberal Russian in Siberia who takes a job manufacturing Ukrainian news, and many others to explore the way social media has transformed the way we fight, win, and consume wars-and what this means for the world going forward.Trade ReviewImportant and accessible....A relatable, even enjoyable, introduction to the way the battlefield has moved onto our phones and laptops, and from there directly into our brains. War in 140 Characters is a necessary read for everyone affected by this baffling state of affairs. * Washington Post *War in 140 Characters details a new kind of conflict that puts military dominance at risk by weaponizing social media in ways that Silicon Valley's digital optimists never imagined...Offers vivid profiles of individuals on both sides of the battlefield. * Wall Street Journal *War in 140 Characters is filled with fantastic on-the-ground reporting on how social media is changing war. It is worth reading for anyone trying to comprehend Russian disinformation campaigns-and to help us anticipate the social media challenges of future wars. * Financial Times *Thrilling...War In 140 Characters offers us the first substantial steps of clarity in the digital maelstrom. * Forbes *Highly readable...Patrikarakos asks searching questions and never overstates his case. * Foreign Affairs *This is not the future of war, but what war is like right now as exposed in this bold, original account of the front lines...War in 140 Characters is no dense tech book, but a gripping war book...It is only a matter of time before the British Army will be fighting on this terrain; War in 140 Characters should be mandatory reading at Sandhurst. * The Times (UK) *Thoughtful and immensely enjoyable...A timely reminder that journalism...is a small-and vital-part of the solution. * Newsweek *What fascinates Patrikarakos, a widely traveled foreign correspondent, is how social media are changing the nature of armed conflict...This is our new reality, and War in 140 Characters is an excellent guide to it. * Weekly Standard *In his highly readable new book War in 140 Characters, David Patrikarakos examines how social media has impacted armed conflict in the 21st century...War in 140 Characters is an important effort to understand why the 21st century does not look like we had fervently hoped it would. * American Interest *The book is a fast-paced read exploring the power of the individual in shaping the narrative of war online...As Patrikarakos's timely work shows, determining who won and who lost depends on where you stand. * The Times of Israel *

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Book Synopsis`Panarchy’ is a new term coined from the name of the Greek god Pan, a symbol of universal nature and associated with unpredictable change. It represents an alternative framework for managing the issues that emerge from the interaction between people and nature. That interaction generates countless surprises, often the result of slow changes that can accumulate and unexpectedly flip an ecosystem or an economy into a qualitatively different state. That state may be not only impoverished, but also effectively irreversible. Thus, understanding how such change occurs is critical to achieving a sustainable society. Developed from the work of the Resilience Alliance, a worldwide group of leading organizations and individuals involved in ecological and economic research, Panarchy provides a framework to understand the cycles of change in complex systems and to gauge if, when, and how they can be influenced. This synopsis introduces lay readers and decision makers to this widely acclaimed line of inquiry and to the basic concept behind Panarchy, published by Island Press.

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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 SynopsisDoes timing, circumstance, or luck impact your health care? This groundbreaking book reveals the hidden side of medicine and how unexpected—but predictable—events can profoundly affect our health. • Is there ever a good time to have a heart attack? Why do kids born in the summer get diagnosed more often with A.D.H.D.? How are marathons harmful for your health, even when you''re not running?Fantastically entertaining and deeply thought-provoking. —Emily Oster, New York Times bestselling author of The Family Firm, Cribsheet, and Expecting Better Smart, entertaining, and full of surprises. —Steven D. Levitt, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of FreakonomicsAs a University of Chicago–trained economist and Harvard medical school professor and doctor, Anupam Jena is uniquely equipped to answer these questions. And as a critical care doctor at Massachusetts General w

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Book Synopsis*The basis for the documentary Join or Die—now streaming on Netflix!* Updated to include a new chapter about the influence of social media and the Internet—the 20th anniversary edition of Bowling Alone remains a seminal work of social analysis, and its examination of what happened to our sense of community remains more relevant than ever in today’s fractured America. Twenty years, ago, Robert D. Putnam made a seemingly simple observation: once we bowled in leagues, usually after work; but no longer. This seemingly small phenomenon symbolized a significant social change that became the basis of the acclaimed bestseller, Bowling Alone, which The Washington Post called “a very important book” and Putnam, “the de Tocqueville of our generation.” Bowling Alone surveyed in detail Americans’ changing behavior over the decades, showing how we had become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and social structures, whether it’s with the PTA, church, clubs, political parties, or bowling leagues. In the revised edition of his classic work, Putnam shows how our shrinking access to the “social capital” that is the reward of communal activity and community sharing still poses a serious threat to our civic and personal health, and how these consequences have a new resonance for our divided country today. He includes critical new material on the pervasive influence of social media and the internet, which has introduced previously unthinkable opportunities for social connection—as well as unprecedented levels of alienation and isolation. At the time of its publication, Putnam’s then-groundbreaking work showed how social bonds are the most powerful predictor of life satisfaction, and how the loss of social capital is felt in critical ways, acting as a strong predictor of crime rates and other measures of neighborhood quality of life, and affecting our health in other ways. While the ways in which we connect, or become disconnected, have changed over the decades, his central argument remains as powerful and urgent as ever: mending our frayed social capital is key to preserving the very fabric of our society.

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Book SynopsisIn Resource Nationalism in Indonesia, Eve Warburton traces nationalist policy trajectories in Indonesia back to the preferences of big local business interests. Commodity booms often prompt more nationalist policy styles in resource-rich countries. Usually, this nationalist push weakens once a boom is over. But in Indonesia, a major global exporter of coal, palm oil, nickel, and other minerals, the intensity of nationalist policy interventions increased after the early twenty-first-century commodity boom came to an end. Equally puzzling, the state applied nationalist policies unevenly across the land and resource sectors. Resource Nationalism in Indonesia explains these trends by examining the economic and political benefits that accrue to domestic business actors when commodity prices soar. Warburton shows how the centrality of patronage to Indonesia's democratic political economy, and the growing importance of mining and palm oil as drivers of export earnings, enhanced both the instrumental and structural power of major domestic companies, giving them new influence over the direction of nationalist change.

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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 SynopsisDoes timing, circumstance, or luck impact your health care? This groundbreaking book reveals the hidden side of medicine and how unexpected—but predictable—events can profoundly affect our health. • Is there ever a good time to have a heart attack? Why do kids born in the summer get diagnosed more often with A.D.H.D.? How are marathons harmful for your health, even when you're not running?Fantastically entertaining and deeply thought-provoking. —Emily Oster, New York Times bestselling author of The Family Firm, Cribsheet, and Expecting Better Random Acts of Medicine shows that the ingenious use of natural experiments can improve medicine and save lives. —Wall Street JournalAs a University of Chicago–trained economist and Harvard medical school professor and doctor, Anupam Jena is uniquely equipped to answer these questions. And as a critical care doctor at Ma

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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 Synopsis"A powerful case for limitarianism—the idea that we should set a maximum on how much resources one individual can appropriate. A must-read!" —Thomas Piketty, bestselling author of Capital in the Twenty-First CenturyAn original, bold, and convincing argument for a cap on wealth by the philosopher who coined the term "limitarianism."How much money is too much? Is it ethical, and democratic, for an individual to amass a limitless amount of wealth, and then spend it however they choose? Many of us feel that the answer to that is no—but what can we do about it?Ingrid Robeyns has long written and argued for the principle she calls "limitarianism"—or the need to limit extreme wealth. This idea is gaining momentum in the mainstream – with calls to "tax the rich" and slogans like "every billionaire is a policy failure"—but what does it mean in practice?Robeyns explains the key reasons to support the case against extreme wealth: It keeps the poor poor and inequalities growing It’s often dirty money It undermines democracy It’s one of the leading causes of climate change Nobody actually deserves to be a millionaire There are better things to do with excess money The rich will benefit, too This will be the first authoritative trade book to unpack the concept of a cap on wealth, where to draw the line, how to collect the excess and what to do with the money. In the process, Robeyns will ignite an urgent debate about wealth, one that calls into question the very forces we live by (capitalism and neoliberalism) and invites us to a radical reimagining of our world.Trade Review"A powerful case for limitarianism – the idea that we should set a maximum on how much resources one individual can appropriate. A must-read!"—Thomas Piketty, bestselling author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century"Robeyns has written an essential book from a radical point of view. It is high time someone asked the question, "Is there such a thing as having too much money?" Along with its corollary question, 'So what are we going to do about it?' Robeyns tackles both with deep knowledge, experience and empathy." —Abigail Disney, filmmaker, philanthropist, and activist "Is it possible to meet the needs of all people within the means of the living planet? Definitely not in a world dominated by extreme wealth, as Ingrid Robeyns powerfully argues. This landmark book combines meticulous logic with compelling personal stories to draw everyone - from the super-rich to the super-riled - into one of the most critical public debates of our times. Read it." —Kate Raworth, bestselling author of Doughnut Economics "Limiting extreme wealth is an idea whose time has surely come and Ingrid Robeyns makes a powerful case for why this should be a priority for public and political debate. Limitarianism builds on what the epidemiology shows so clearly - inequality damages all of us and it needs to be tackled with the greatest urgency." —Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Livel "Robeyns proves that in a true democracy there are no rights without duties – no wealth without limits. Limitarianism offers a way to re-democratize wealth and thus re-socialize the richest 1%." —Marlene Engelhorn, author of Geld and co-founder of taxmenow "Many people accept that there is a threshold that no one should fall below. But few have thought that there is a threshold that no one should be free to soar above. In this wonderful book, Ingrid Robeyns presents a novel and nuanced set of arguments for just such an upper threshold. This is a model of how to bring rigorous analysis to bear on practical issues, and to do so in an engaging, humane and accessible way." —Debra Satz, author of Why Some Things Should Not Be For Sale"Ingrid Robeyns raises what, historically, would be a tendentious question because in the Industrial Age a rising tide of wealth tended to lift yachts and dinghies alike. But in our Digital Age yachts proliferate while dinghies get swamped. Robeyns’ argument that top heavy wealth is sinking living standards for the many, spreading economic fear that authoritarians exploit is sound and her thoughtful ideas for reining in extreme wealth are provocative."—David Cay Johnston, Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author of Perfectly Legal, Free Lunch, and It's Even Worse Than You Think"Effortlessly navigating between ethics, political theory, economics and public policy, Ingrid Robeyns’ nuanced and persuasive defence of limitarianism is also a much-needed manifesto for reimagining political institutions." —Lea Ypi, author of Free: Coming of Age at the End of History "Robeyns delivers an urgent, thought provoking treatise that is both a compelling critique of limitless inequality and an imaginative account of a world without the superrich." —Peter Geoghegan, author of Democracy for Sale: Dark Money and Dirty Politics "The best case I've read for putting an upper limit on the accumulation of wealth. Even the super-rich might be glad if there was a finishing line!" —Richard Wilkinson, bestselling author of The Spirit Level and The Inner Level (with Kate Pickett)"There is a limit beyond which additional wealth can’t do much to enhance its owner’s life or happiness. But our economic system generates fortunes far beyond any such limit. Is the existence of billionaires and multi-millionaires a necessary feature of a system that makes everyone better off in the long run? Or is it one of the sources of the growing inequality and political breakdown that we see today? Ingrid Robyens makes a convincing case that an upper limit on wealth would be good for society as a whole and even for the wealthy themselves." —John Quiggin, author of Zombie Economics"Ingrid Robeyns makes a compelling case for limiting extreme wealth, along economic, political and moral lines—and outlines the structural, fiscal and ethical actions required to achieve this. This argument has never been more important, and this book is a persuasive call to action." —Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts AmherstTable of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: How much is too much?Chapter 2: Keeping the poor poor while inequalities growChapter 3: Dirty moneyChapter 4: Undermining democracyChapter 5: Setting the world on fireChapter 6: Nobody deserves to be a multimillionaireChapter 7: There’s so much we can do with excess moneyChapter 8: Philanthropy is not the answerChapter 9: The rich will benefit, tooConclusion: the road ahead

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Book SynopsisEthics and Public Policy: A Philosophical Inquiry, second edition subjects important and controversial areas of public policy to philosophical scrutiny. Jonathan Wolff, a renowned philosopher and veteran of many public committees, introduces and assesses core problems and controversies in public policy from a philosophical standpoint. Each chapter focuses on an important area of public policy where there is considerable moral and political disagreement. Topics discussed include:â Can we defend inflicting suffering on animals in scientific experiments for human benefit?â What limits to gambling can be achieved through legislation?â What assumptions underlie drug policy? Can we justify punishing those who engage in actions that harm only themselves?â What is so bad about crime? What is the point of punishment?Other chapters discuss health care, disability, safety, and the free market. Throughout the book, fundamental questions for both philosopher anTrade ReviewPraise for the First Edition:'Not only does Jonathan Wolff provide the invaluable service of helping us explore the ethical dimension of decision making through a historical and concrete understanding of specific policy dilemmas but he does so in a way which is authoritative, clear and engaging. This book is strongly recommended for putative decision makers who want to think and act wisely and for the philosophically-inclined wishing to test their ideas against the hard realities of policy making.' - Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive, RSASelected by The Philosopher's Magazine as one of 'The best books of 2012'.'Wolff's book will benefit anyone (student or professional) who wants to know more about how good moral philosophy can make a valuable contribution to decisions about public policy. It is worth remembering that Wolff's objectives are ones that we all have a stake in (if not as philosophers, then at least as potential victims of bad policy-making). Wolff is to be applauded for making a valuable contribution to progress in such important areas.' - Daniel Halliday, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews'Clearly, this is a book intended to be good to teach with - in relevant courses in applied ethics, social policy and healthcare - and accessible too to policy workers seeking a critical angle on their work. That it manages this while also enhancing our understanding of what is philosophically at stake is an impressive achievement. And that it does this while factoring in the process of policymaking - its possibilities, pitfalls and limits - makes it valuable in a different way again. I hope it marks the start of a thriving, long-term genre.' - Gideon Calder, Ethics and Social Welfare'Wolff illustrates the importance for political philosophy of extensive, detailed knowledge of public policy issues for the development of good philosophy and effective contributions to urgent social issues. Wolff has extensive experience as a member of policy-making boards dealing with a wide range of issues: the treatment of animals in research, gambling, recreational drugs, public health funding, disabilities, and the cost of public safety. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above.' - CHOICE'This book sets the bar for how moral philosophy can inform, and be informed by, public policy debates. It will be of great value to students interested in ethics, philosophy, political science, economics, and public policy as well as those with interests in the important social issues Wolff addresses.' - Debra Satz, Stanford University, USA'This is the book we have been waiting for: a treatise on the ethics of public policy by a major political philosopher. An ideal text for a course on practical ethics, or on contemporary social problems: understandable but not at all dumbed-down.' - Daniel Wikler, Harvard University, USA'A first-class examination of where philosophy meets public policy by one of the leading political philosophers today. I have no doubt that this book will set a new benchmark for all future work, as well as offer a substantial contribution to policy analysis. I cannot recommend it highly enough.' - Thom Brooks, Durham University, UK'Many books promise to introduce the reader to philosophy and ethics; very few do it with such wit, elegance, and intellectual honesty.' - Richard Ashcroft, Queen Mary University, UK'A model contribution of political philosophy to the development of public policy - and, as importantly, of the practice of public policy to theory. Policy makers and philosophers will learn an enormous amount from reading it.' - Leslie Pickering Francis, University of Utah, USA'A beautifully crafted, clear and concisely formulated survey of many controversial and pressing issues in public policy. Wolff's writing conceals an apparently effortless command of a wealth of philosophical argument, and helps painlessly to steer the reader through complex material.' - David Archard, Queen's University Belfast, UK'Written with his customary clarity, elegance, and intelligence, Jo Wolff's excellent new book sheds some much needed light on the under-explored connections between applied ethics and public policy. It will be of real interest to anyone with even a passing interest in these issues.' - Gerald Lang, University of Leeds, UKPraise for the First Edition:'Not only does Jonathan Wolff provide the invaluable service of helping us explore the ethical dimension of decision making through a historical and concrete understanding of specific policy dilemmas but he does so in a way which is authoritative, clear and engaging. This book is strongly recommended for putative decision makers who want to think and act wisely, and for the philosophically-inclined wishing to test their ideas against the hard realities of policy making.' - Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive, RSASelected by The Philosopher's Magazine as one of 'The best books of 2012'.'Wolff's book will benefit anyone (student or professional) who wants to know more about how good moral philosophy can make a valuable contribution to decisions about public policy. It is worth remembering that Wolff's objectives are ones that we all have a stake in (if not as philosophers, then at least as potential victims of bad policy-making). Wolff is to be applauded for making a valuable contribution to progress in such important areas.' - Daniel Halliday, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews'Clearly, this is a book intended to be good to teach with - in relevant courses in applied ethics, social policy and healthcare - and accessible too to policy workers seeking a critical angle on their work. That it manages this while also enhancing our understanding of what is philosophically at stake is an impressive achievement. And that it does this while factoring in the process of policymaking - its possibilities, pitfalls and limits - makes it valuable in a different way again. I hope it marks the start of a thriving, long-term genre.' - Gideon Calder, Ethics and Social Welfare'Wolff illustrates the importance for political philosophy of extensive, detailed knowledge of public policy issues for the development of good philosophy and effective contributions to urgent social issues. Wolff has extensive experience as a member of policy-making boards dealing with a wide range of issues: the treatment of animals in research, gambling, recreational drugs, public health funding, disabilities, and the cost of public safety. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above.' - CHOICE'This book sets the bar for how moral philosophy can inform, and be informed by, public policy debates. It will be of great value to students interested in ethics, philosophy, political science, economics, and public policy as well as those with interests in the important social issues Wolff addresses.' - Debra Satz, Stanford University, USA'This is the book we have been waiting for: a treatise on the ethics of public policy by a major political philosopher. An ideal text for a course on practical ethics, or on contemporary social problems: understandable but not at all dumbed-down.' - Daniel Wikler, Harvard University, USA'A first-class examination of where philosophy meets public policy by one of the leading political philosophers today. I have no doubt that this book will set a new benchmark for all future work, as well as offer a substantial contribution to policy analysis. I cannot recommend it highly enough.' - Thom Brooks, Durham University, UK'Many books promise to introduce the reader to philosophy and ethics; very few do it with such wit, elegance, and intellectual honesty.' - Richard Ashcroft, Queen Mary University, UK'A model contribution of political philosophy to the development of public policy - and, as importantly, of the practice of public policy to theory. Policy makers and philosophers will learn an enormous amount from reading it.' - Leslie Pickering Francis, University of Utah, USA'A beautifully crafted, clear and concisely formulated survey of many controversial and pressing issues in public policy. Wolff's writing conceals an apparently effortless command of a wealth of philosophical argument, and helps painlessly to steer the reader through complex material.' - David Archard, Queen's University Belfast, UK'Written with his customary clarity, elegance, and intelligence, Jo Wolff's excellent new book sheds some much needed light on the under-explored connections between applied ethics and public policy. It will be of real interest to anyone with even a passing interest in these issues.' - Gerald Lang, University of Leeds, UKTable of ContentsPreface to Second Edition Preface to First Edition Introduction 1. Scientific experiments on animals 2. Gambling 3. Drugs 4. Safety 5. New technologies 6. Crime and punishment 7. Health 8. Disability 9. The free market 10. The future of work 11. Poverty 12. Immigration 13. Conclusion. Note on the Chapters Further Reading Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA challenge to the conventional wisdom surrounding financial risk, providing insight into why easy solutions to control the financial system are doomed to failTrade Review“In The Illusion of Control, [Daníelsson] argues that putting central banks in charge of financial stability is an error because they face ‘a complex, ill-defined policy domain for which there is no clear consensus on either the problem or the objective.’ So, the enterprise is doomed to fail. Separate agencies, with more direct political accountability, are needed for that task.”—Sir Howard Davies, The Guardian“In this thought-provoking book, Jón Daníelsson, professor of finance at the London School of Economics, offers five recommendations. First, ‘the real danger is endogenous risk,’ that is, the risks the system itself creates. Second, models of risk will always miss what matters. Third, remember the objectives of regulation. Fourth, think globally, not locally. Finally, encourage a diverse financial system, not a monoculture.”—Martin Wolf, Financial Times, “Best Books of 2022: Economics”“Daníelsson dives into why financial crises happen. His explanations also lay waste to conventional thinking.”—Mike Berner, The Tycoonist“Jón Daníelsson provides a fascinating synthesis of systemic financial crises, based on theoretical and empirical research.”—George Inderst, IPE“Too little financial regulation or too much of the wrong kind? Whatever your view, Jón Daníelsson’s lively account and richly informed discussion will surely intrigue you and challenge preconceptions.”—Patrick Honohan, former governor, Central Bank of Ireland“Financial regulators should be required to read this book. It shows in sparkling and non-technical language what aspects of risk can, and frequently cannot, be measured. Anyone concerned with portfolio management should read it.”—Charles Goodhart, London School of Economics“Jón Daníelsson makes a compelling case for a fundamental re-think in the approach to risk management taken by both financial services firms and their regulators. Those charged with the management, governance and regulation of risk—either at the level of an entity or an economy—should benefit enormously from Jón ’s alternative framework.”—Lutfey Siddiqi, Risk Management Institute, National University of Singapore“Is international cooperation on regulatory standards stifling good risk taking, leading to bad risk taking? Refreshingly critical, The Illusion of Control is an important contribution to the ongoing mapping of financial risk.”—Yves Mersch, former ECB board member and vice-chair, Single Supervisory Mechanism

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Provocative. . . . A useful corrective to the pervasive and misleading Europe-bashing that often occupies the global press."---Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs

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Book SynopsisPresents a documented investigation that uncovers the secrets surrounding John F Kennedy's assassination. Offering a different perspective - that JFK's death was not just an isolated case, but rather a symptom of hidden processes - this title examines the deep politics of early 1960s American international and domestic policies.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Abbreviations Preface PART ONE: DEEP POLITICS, VIETNAM, AND THE ASSASSINATION 1. The Kennedy Assassination, Deep Politics, and Denial 2. Kennedy, Johnson, and Vietnam: A Tale of Two NSAMs 3. The Dialectical Cover-Up 4. The Key to the Cover-Up: The FBI, COINTELPROS, and the Case PART TWO: LEE HARVEY OSWALD 5. Oswald, Intelligence, and the Mob in New Orleans 6. Oswald, Intelligence, the Mob, and the Banana Companies 7. Mexico, Somoza, and the Martino- Rosselli Story 8. Ruby and Narcotics: The Heart of What Was Suppressed 9. Ruby's Background: Narcotics, the Teamsters, and the Racing Wire Service 10. The Nationally Protected Drug Traffic and Ruby's Relation to It 11. Blakey and the Politics of Fighting Crime 12. Ruby, Narcotics, and the Establishment PART FOUR: THE PLOT AND THE COVER-UP 13. The Coalitions against the Kennedys 14. Intrigue, Murder, Cover-Up: The Continuity of Manipulation 15. Oswald as an Informant for the Government 16. Oswald as a Double Agent for Hoover 17. Army Intelligence and the Dallas Police 18. The Assassination and the Great Southwest Corporation 19. Who Killed JFK? The Deep Political System Notes Bibliography Index

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