Political leaders and leadership Books

Book SynopsisA fresh take on the Manitoba schools question and the Conservative Coup that toppled Canada's fifth prime minister.When Mackenzie Bowell became Canada's fifth prime minister in December 1894, everyone including Bowell expected the job would involve nothing more than keeping the wheels on the Conservative wagon until a spring election.Plans for a quiet caretakership were dashed in January 1895 when the courts ruled that the Manitoba government had violated Roman Catholics' constitutional rights by abolishing the provincial separate school system. Catholics in Quebec demanded that Bowell force Manitoba to restore the schools, while Ontario Protestants warned him to keep his hands off.Backed into a corner, Bowell tried three times to negotiate a compromise with the Manitoba government over the course of 1895, but to no avail. By January 1896, seven of Bowell's cabinet ministers had had enough. Convinced that Bowell had tarnished the ConsTrade ReviewFew Canadians know that the key issue in the 1896 federal election was the Manitoba Schools question; fewer know that religion and language once played a very important part in our elections; and fewer still know that Sir Mackenzie Bowell, former Grandmaster of the Orange Lodge of British North America, proposed remedial legislation which would have returned to French Roman Catholics their rights to language and religion. Bowell’s views were controversial within his caucus and a coup was staged to remove him as Prime Minister. I well remember the heat the issue generated in the 1960s when my boss, the Honourable Duff Roblin, Premier of Manitoba, tried to restore justice. Ted Glenn is an excellent author with a sound command of the historical issues and the structure of the English language. -- Joe Martin, author of Relentless Change, A Case Book for the Study of Canadian Business HistoryTed Glenn has taken one of the most dramatic yet little-known events in Canadian history and made it come alive. He tells the detailed story with compelling language. His research is impeccable as he navigates the tricky issues of the 1890s. This is precisely how to present historical non-fiction. The characters shine through, one can sense the tone of the era and it reads like a suspense novel from beginning to end. -- Michael Hill, Author of The Lost Prime MinistersTable of ContentsContentsCast ixTimeline xviiIntroduction 11 Sans Souci 32 Black Day 93 Halifax 334 Ides 455 Blazing Heather 716 Friendly Negotiations 997 Coup 1198 Anew 1479 Coda 171Notes 175Sources 179Image Credits 199Index 201About the Author 207

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Book SynopsisThere have been many books on Theodore Roosevelt, but there are none that solely focus on the last years of his life. Racked by rheumatism, a ticking embolism, pathogens in his blood, a bad leg from an accident, a bullet in his chest from an assassination attempt, in the last two years of his life from April 1917 to January 6, 1919 he went from the great disappointment of being denied his own regiment in World War I, leading a suicide mission of roughriders against the Germans, to the devastating news that his son Quentin had been shot down and killed over France. Racked by grief and guilt, marginalized by world events, the great glow that had been his life was now but a dimming lantern. But TR's final years were productive ones as well: he churned out several instant books that promoted U.S. entry into the Great War, and he was making plans for another run at the Presidency in 1920 at the time of his death. Indeed, his political influence was so great that his opposition to the pol

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Book SynopsisIn Kremlin Winter, Robert Service, acclaimed biographer of Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky and one of the finest historians of modern Russia, brings his deep understanding of that country to bear on the man who leads it. 'One of our most accomplished, erudite and prolific historians of modern Russia.' – Rodric Braithwaite, New StatesmanVladimir Putin has dominated Russian politics since Boris Yeltsin relinquished the presidency in his favour in May 2000. He served two terms as president, before himself relinquishing the post to his prime minister, Dimitri Medvedev, only to return to presidential power for a third time in 2012. Putin’s rule, whether as president or prime minister, has been marked by a steady increase in domestic repression and international assertiveness. Despite this, there have been signs of liberal growth and Putin – and Russia – now faces a far from certain future.Robert Service reveals a premier who cannot take his supremacy for granted, yet is determined to impose his will not only on his closest associates but on society at large. Kremlin Winter is a riveting insight into power politics as Russia faces a blizzard of difficulties both at home and abroad.'A masterful portrait of Putin and Russia' – Jack Coleman, Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewRobert Service, our pre-eminent Kremlinologist, does not offer a lot of new gossip about Putin. He does not believe in demonising the Russian leader. Rather, in a piece of superb analysis, he sets out how Putin the man was swallowed up by the machine he created. * The Times *The book has many qualities, not least in ambitious breadth, covering domestic politics, foreign policy, economics and military matters . . . makes for comprehensive introductory reading for those new to the subject. And in the way of any good book, it will be provocative for those already well versed in it. * Literary Review *Substantial, well-documented . . . One of our most accomplished, erudite and prolific historians of modern Russia. -- Rodric Braithwaite * New Statesman *A masterful portrait of Putin and Russia -- Jack Coleman * Daily Telegraph *[A] Nuanced account of Putin in power -- Victor Sebestyen * Financial Times *Service is too good a historian to attempt to string Putin's actions into a coherent strategy. Rather, he offers a portrait of a leader cobbling together response to a series of crisis. -- Owen Matthews * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisBob Crow was the most high-profile and militant union leader of his generation. This biography focuses on his leadership of the RMT union, examining and exposing a number of popular myths created about him by political opponents. Using the schema of his personal characteristics (including his public persona), his politics and the power of his members, it explains how and why he was able to punch above his weight in industrial relations and on the political stage, helping the small RMT union become as influential as many of its much larger counterparts. As RMT leader, Crow oversaw a rise in membership and promoted a more assertive and successful bargaining approach. While he failed to unite all socialists into one new party, he established himself as the leading popular critic of neo-liberalism, 'New' Labour and the age of austerity.Trade Review‘In this well –written new biography Gregor Gall explains how and why Bob Crow achieved this fame. Central to Bob’s rise to power was the position of the RMT workers on the London Underground.’Bernadette Hyland, Lipstick socialist‘Gregor Gall’s biography does justice to Crow – the socialist, leader and fighter. He was a complicated figure and some of that complexity comes over in the book.’Paul Salveson, Tribune – April 2107‘There’s a great exploration of the structures that Crow inherited, the limitations they placed on him and what he did to change the situation, thereby encouraging the development of the RMT on the trajectory that it became renowned for.’Alan Crowe, Socialist Review May 2017‘The late leader of the small but politically important RMT union – a “Marxist Millwall supporter”, as the papers had it, and he was both; “the most hated man in Britain”, as some papers tried on, and he wasn’t – is well served by an account of his career set against informed analysis of 21st-century UK trade unions’ far-from-dinosaurish determination to grapple with changing workplaces, state rollback, electoral politics after Labour’s Blairite takeover, gender equity and globalisation. Gall is wary of the “great man” approach, but wherever Crow’s own words appear, the tale shifts from scholarly grey to vivid, quotable, charismatic and quip-filled Red Flag red – and the words “great man” look pretty spot on. ‘ THES 20/04/2017‘As the first book about Bob Crow published since his untimely death three years ago, Gregor Gall’s political biography of Crow provides us with an opportunity to review his life and his time in the railworkers’ union NUR and its successor RMT, to highlight the key reasons for his effectiveness and impact, and to examine the limits of those.’Janine Booth, Solidarity Newspaper May 2017'As a political analysis it is refreshing, nuanced and worthwhile.' Conrad Landin, TLS, June 2017‘Gall neatly presents Crow’s early life in poverty and the unshakeable class consciousness, learned from his Communist Party father, heretained all his life. He also describes Crow’s rise to prominence in the union, the industrial struggles and the RMT break with the Labour Party in 2004…a well-researched book.’Martin Pitt and Anne Kenefeck, International Socialism, A quarterly review of socialist theory, Issue 157‘The book is a fitting record of Bob’s life which draws out lessons and inspirations for us as a movement and as a class going forward.’Richard Whyte, Scottish Left Review, Issue 103‘this book should be placed high on the reading list of anyone interested in British industrial relations and the labour movement in general.’ David O’Connell, Global Labour Journal, 2018 -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Formative years 2 The 1990s 3 Becoming RMT general secretary 4 Second term as general secretary 5 Last term of office 6 Person and personal life 7 Politics and practice 8 Perception and practice 9 Legacy and legend Appendix 1: Testimonies Appendix 2: Tributes to Crow References Index

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Book SynopsisThe new biography of President Joe Biden by National Book Award winner and New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos - A Financial Times, Guardian and Daily Express Book of the Year 'A thoroughly readable primer' Guardian 'Biden has overcome unimaginable tribulation, multiple presidential primary humiliations, a potentially crippling speech impediment and his own mediocrity. Now he carries the hopes of billions upon his shoulders' Sunday Times President Joseph R. Biden Jr. has been called both the luckiest man and the unluckiest – fortunate to have sustained a fifty-year political career that reached the White House, but also marked by deep personal losses that he has suffered. Yet even as Biden’s life has been shaped by drama, it has also been powered by a willingness, rare at the top ranks of politics, to confront his shortcomings, errors and reversals of fortune. His trials have forged in him a deep empathy for others in hardship – an essential quality as he addresses a nation at its most dire hour in decades. Blending up-close journalism and broader context, Evan Osnos illuminates Biden’s life and captures the characters and meaning of an extraordinary presidential election. He draws on lengthy interviews with Biden and on revealing conversations with more than a hundred others, including President Barack Obama, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, and a range of progressive activists, advisers, opponents, and Biden family members. In this nuanced portrait, Biden emerges as flawed, yet resolute, and tempered by the flame of tragedy – a man who just may be uncannily suited for his moment in history.Trade ReviewTreads back along the trail of horrendous tragedies, dashed hopes and dramatic implosions that preceded Biden’s improbable third run at the presidency . . . It is impossible to come away from Osnos’s biography without a sense of awe at what Biden has overcome to arrive at this point . . . Osnos has written a fast-paced biography that draws on extensive interviews with his subject, as well as with Obama and a host of Democratic party heavyweights * Guardian *There’s just something about Joe, as this short biography from New Yorker writer Evan Osnos illustrates. At 77, Biden has overcome unimaginable tribulation, multiple presidential primary humiliations, a potentially crippling speech impediment and his own mediocrity. Now he carries the hopes of billions upon his shoulders . . . Eloquent and well-informed * Sunday Times *What kind of president would Biden make? Osnos, who has been writing about Biden for years for the New Yorker, believes he could be more radical in office than people who have tracked his career might believe . . . [A] beautifully written short volume * Financial Times *Reveals Biden’s flaws but also the compassion and courage needed to start America’s healing process * Observer *Beautifully written . . . A light, enjoyable read . . . Osnos gives you a taste of what could be to come under a Biden presidency … He has a delightful turn of phrase * Telegraph *A timely and stylish work at a key juncture in US history . . . This book tries to get behind Joe Biden the person to analyse Joe Biden the politician . . . [It] is strongest on Biden’s relationship with Obama, where the author draws on interviews he conducted with both men when they were in the White House . . . As Osnos moves to Biden’s most recent political chapter, his analysis of how a Biden presidency might work is fascinating . . . Osnos’s fluid style, access to Biden, and insightful analysis makes it a worthwhile and eminently readable portrait * Irish Times *Brimming with insights . . . A richly detailed profile . . . Osnos – an award-winning journalist – spoke with more than 100 people in Biden’s orbit and interviewed the former senator four times . . . The overarching image Osnos presents is that of a veteran American legislator whose moment has finally, and improbably, arrived * Herald *A pithy and succinct biography * The Times *Evan Osnos is an immensely talented reporter . . . Joe Biden ably takes the measure of the man and the politician * Washington Post *Gives the low-down on the new leader of the free world. Everything about Biden is refreshing after Trump * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisWinston Churchill was no stranger to storms. They had engulfed him in various ways throughout his long career and he had always turned to face them with jutting jaw and indomitable spirit. Dark clouds had hovered over him from the moment he became Britain's Prime Minister in May 1940\. Now, fifteen harrowing months later, he was setting out to meet President Franklin Roosevelt, the one man who could offer real assistance in his hour of need. And another storm awaited -this time one of a meteorological kind as his ship, HMS _Prince of Wales_, ran into a howling gale within hours of leaving its base at Scapa Flow. Churchill demanded to be escorted to the Captain's cabin. His escort was a nervous young officer who feared that, in total darkness up swaying stairs, the Prime Minister, a man of some girth, might fall into the roiling sea. But Churchill relished it, remarking later that it was like an adventure after being trapped in No.10 Downing Street. The storm was so bad that the three-destroyer escort, sailing alongside to ward off the very real prospect of the battleship being torpedoed by German U-Boats, could not keep up. Undaunted, Churchill gave the order Full steam ahead!' The risks were considerable, especially as Churchill had brought the bulk of his senior military staff with him. When he heard of it, the Canadian Prime Minister thought him mad. When the secret journey was revealed a few days later, Members of Parliament were aghast. But, Churchill knew where his deliverance lay, and he knew that he could no longer postpone a meeting with the man who held Britain's fate in his hands. After five days, the coast of Newfoundland hove into view and when Britain's Prime Minister was piped aboard USS _Augusta_ at Placentia Bay, there began a meeting which, in hindsight, could be seen as one of immense profit for the future of mankind. It was a meeting that allowed FDR and Churchill to get to know each other and become friends. It was also a meeting that, somewhat unexpectedly, produced a document, strangely never signed, called The Atlantic Charter -an eight point agreement designed to act as a guide for how the world's nations should behave towards each other in the post-war years. Many of the principles laid out in this document are incorporated into the Charter of the United Nations. In this book, the authors seek not only to explain how this document came into being -bits of it being scrawled out on scraps of paper over dinner -but to delve into the lives of the two most prominent and influential figures of the twentieth century. For most people belonging to younger generations, they are but legendary names from history. In addition the authors have added biographies of the men who helped them change history -Harry Hopkins and Sumner Welles; Lord Beaverbrook and Lord Cadogan as well Randolph Churchill, the rambunctious and often misunderstood son who had a greater influence on his father's life than many critics were willing to accept. The creation of the Atlantic Charter stands as a pivotal moment in time -the moment two great leaders, men of courage, empathy and imagination, stood alone against tyranny to save the world.

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Book Synopsis‘An absolutely fascinating read’ - newsreader Emily MaitlisJames Comey, former FBI Director and Sunday Times number one bestselling author of A Higher Loyalty, uses his long career in federal law enforcement to explore issues of justice and fairness in the US justice system.James Comey might best be known as the FBI director who Donald Trump fired in 2017, but he’s had a long, varied career in the law and justice system. He knows better than most just what a force for good the US justice system can be, and how far afield it strayed during the Trump presidency.In his much-anticipated follow-up to A Higher Loyalty, Comey uses anecdotes and lessons from his career to show how the federal justice system works. From prosecuting mobsters as an assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York in the 1980s to grappling with the legalities of anti-terrorism work as the deputy attorney general in the early 2000s to, of course, his tumultuous stint as FBI director beginning in 2013, Comey shows just how essential it is to pursue the primacy of truth for federal law enforcement.Saving Justice is gracefully written and honestly told, a clarion call for a return to fairness and equity in the law.Trade ReviewAn absolutely fascinating read for anyone who wants to understand the workings of the US justice system and American politics more broadly -- Emily MaitlisThe Capitol riot was our Chernobyl . . . I was sickened to watch an attack on the literal and symbolic heart of our democracy, and, as a law enforcement person, I was angered. I am mystified and angry that Capitol Hill wasn’t defended. It’s a hill! If you wanted to defend it, you could defend it, and for some reason it was not defended. I think that’s a 9/11-size failure and we’re going to need a 9/11-type commission to understand it so that we don’t repeat it -- James Comey, Guardian interview, 19 January 2021

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Book Synopsis'Elegantly written, full of wit and charm, this is travel writing at its very best' Orlando FigesIn the summer of 1849, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italy's legendary revolutionary hero, fled Rome and led 4,000 of his men hundreds of miles through Umbria and Tuscany, then across the Apennines, Italy's mountainous spine, toward the refuge of the Venetian Republic. After thirty-two exhausting days of skirmishes and adventures, only 250 survivors reached the Adriatic coast.This hair-raising journey is brought vividly to life by bestselling author Tim Parks, who in the blazing summer of 2019, followed in Garibaldi's footsteps. A fascinating portrait of Italy past and present, The Hero's Way is a celebration of determination, creativity and desperate courage.Trade ReviewA single page might contain a delightful mix of history, referencing accounts of the original journey...together with accounts of incidents that bring a smile to the reader's face... Tim Parks will remain a favourite author of mine * Writing Magazine *

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Book SynopsisTo limit executive power, the Founding Fathers created fixed presidential terms of four years, giving voters regular opportunities to remove their leaders. Americans also discovered more dramatic paths for disempowering--or coming razor-close to removing--chief executives: undermining the president's authority, a preemptive strike to derail a presidential candidacy, assassination, impeachment, resignation, and declaration of inability. Although the United States has gone decades without assassination or resignation, the most dramatic forms of presidential removal, getting rid of a president or a potential president is a political reality-just ask not president Hillary Clinton.How To Get Rid of a President presents the dark side of the nation's history, from the Constitutional Convention through the aftermath of the shocking 2016 election, a stew of election dramas, national tragedies and presidential exits mixed with party intrigue, political betrayal and backroom scheming. It is a briskly paced, darkly humorous voyage through historical events relevant to today's headlines, highlighting the many ways that presidents have been undermined and nearly kicked out, how each method of removal offers opportunities and dangers for the republic and the thorny ethical issues that surround the choice to resist, disobey, or eject a president.

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Book SynopsisJudge Jeanine Pirro, author of two New York Times bestsellers, puts the Trump-hating left on trial and exposes the lies and distortions of the president's enemies.It's been nearly four years since President Trump took office, and Judge Jeanine Pirro has had enough of the left's countless lies and false accusations. She is now forced to ask: How could anyone vote against President Trump this November? What more could you possibly want?In Don't Lie to Me, Judge Jeanine brings her signature lively writing style and acute legal mind to topics such as the impeachment inquiry, the military, and the road to the 2020 presidential election. She will highlight President Trump's triumphs and his strength during the coronavirus crisis.

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Book SynopsisThe rising unhappiness that leaders didn’t see That’s because while leaders pay close attention to measures like GDP or unemployment, almost none of them track their citizens’ wellbeing. The implications of this blind spot are significant and far-reaching—leaders missed the citizen unhappiness that triggered events ranging from the Arab uprisings to Brexit to the election of Donald Trump. What are they going to miss next? Grounded in Gallup’s global research, Blind Spot makes the urgent case that leaders should measure and quantify wellbeing and happiness—how citizens’ lives are going—and shows them how. It also discusses the five key elements of a great life and where the world needs to improve in each of them to better the lives of people everywhere.Table of Contents Introduction Overview Part I: The Leadership Blind Spot: Happiness and Wellbeing Chapter One: What Economic Models Miss Chapter Two: Unhappiness and Elections Part II: Addressing the Blind Spot: Measuring Happiness and Wellbeing Chapter Three: The Happiest People in the World? Chapter Four: How on Earth Do You Measure Happiness? Chapter Five: Do People Know How Happy They Are? Chapter Six: Behavioural Economics and Measuring a Great Life Part III: What Makes A Great Life? Chapter Seven: The Five Elements of a Great Life Chapter Eight: The Global Great Jobs Crisis Chapter Nine: Does Money Buy Happiness? Chapter Ten: The World's Broken Communities Chapter Eleven: The Global Hunger Crisis Chapter Twelve: A Lonely Planet Chapter Thirteen: The Serious Outcomes of Unhappiness Part IV: What Leaders Can Do to Improve How People's Lives Are Going Chapter Eighteen: What Public Sector Leaders Can Do Chapter Nineteen: What Private Sector Leaders Can Do Chapter Twenty: What Public Sector and Private Sector Leaders Can Do Together Conclusion: Five Million Conversations Appendix The Birth of the Gallup World Poll The Questions We Ask the World How Gallup Surveys the World References About Gallup About the Author Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times chief television critic James Poniewozik traces the history of television and mass media from the early 1980s to today and demonstrates how a “volcanic, camera-hogging antihero” merged with America’s most powerful medium to become the forty-fifth president. He charts the seismic evolution of television from a monolithic mass medium of mainstream networks into today’s fractious media subculture. He then examines Donald Trump, who took advantage of these changes to reinvent himself: from boastful cartoon zillionaire; to 1990s self-parodic sitcom fixture; to The Apprentice-reality-TV star to Twitter-mad, culture-warring demagogue. A trenchant, often hilarious work, Audience of One provides an eye-opening history of American media and a reflection of a raucous, “gorillas-are always-fighting” culture.Trade Review"According to The New York Times TV critic, Trump’s addiction to TV and Twitter meant that even before he won the presidency, he “had essentially become a cable news channel in human form, loud, short of attention span, addicted to conflict … a meshing of man and machine”." -- Martin Pengelly and David Smith - The Guardian"The Mueller Report of television criticism! James Poniewozik’s Audience of One is both damning and illuminating, a witty, penetrating exposé of Trump’s most intimate relationship, the one with the medium that made him." -- Emily Nussbaum - The New Yorker"With wit, insight, and clarity, James Poniewozik puts Trump at the center of a series of changes that swept through American popular culture and political systems. Poniewozik’s essential book shows how these evolutions incubated Trumpism, even as Trump’s rise exposed the limits and vulnerabilities of the media, which too often found itself floundering in the face of his shameless manipulations." -- Maureen Ryan - Variety"Illuminating... Poniewozik is a funny, acerbic and observant writer… [He] uses his ample comedic gifts in the service of describing a slow-boil tragedy. If humor is the rocket of his ICBM, the last three years of our lives are the destructive payload... Poniewozik brings a new microscope with which to analyze the drug-resistant bacterium that is our president. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of is that it makes Trump's presidency seem almost inevitable." -- Gary Shteyngart - The New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisBernie Sanders is one of the most influential figures of our time, a politician who inspires fervent love and, even among his enemies, a measure of grudging respect—yet we know comparatively little about this famously private left-wing firebrand. Now, Ari Rabin-Havt, a trusted Sanders aide, is able to take us where no press features or televised interviews have been able to go. The Fighting Soul is a behind-the-scenes chronicle of Sanders’s meteoric 2020 campaign for president—from the first campaign meeting in Rabin-Havt’s living room, to Sanders’s heart attack and the end of the campaign as the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world—that deepens into an unforgettable portrait of Sanders. Rabin-Havt unfolds the history that drives his deep ideological commitments to the working class, his views of his young supporters, his sense of humour, which few outside his immediate circle ever witness, and the role his wife, Jane, plays in his success. In the tradition of What It Takes and other exuberant works of American political writing, The Fighting Soul shows the making of the rare politician motivated by principle, not power.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing an amazing cast of historical figures, this is the story of how President Theodore Roosevelt led an American sports and fitness revolution. Give up exercise, Theodore Roosevelt was told by a doctor while attending Harvard, or you might die of a heart attack! This after being plagued by crippling asthma, myopic eyesight, and other ailments as a child. Roosevelt's body was his weakness, the one hill he could never conquer. But, oh, how he tried! In vivid detail, The Strenuous Life shows how Roosevelt developed an obsession with athletics, carried it to the nation's highest office, and championed a new age of American athleticism. As President, Roosevelt boxed, practiced Ju-Jitsu, played tennis, conducted harrowing "point-to-point" walks, and invited athletes to the White House. He also made certain that each of his children played sports. Not surprisingly, Roosevelt's personal quest had broad reverberations. During his administration, America saw an unprecedented rise in sports and recreational activities. With Roosevelt in office, baseball's first ever World Series took place, interscholastic sports began, and schools placed a legitimate emphasis on physical education. Additionally, the NCAA formed, and the United States hosted the Olympics for the first time. Yes, the "Bull Moose," as he'd come to be known, resided squarely in the midst of this upheaval. Filled with amazing anecdotes, a who's who of American political and sports figures from the early 20th century, and Rooseveltian gusto and humor, this book is the play-by-play and color commentary on Roosevelt's "Strenuous Life." Trade Review“An engaging book you can hold with one hand while doing light bicep curls with the other...Swanson succeeds in telling stories that will be entertaining for readers without any previous knowledge of Roosevelt, as well as those who don’t closely follow sports.” —Washington Post “Ryan Swanson, a history professor at the University of New Mexico, [is] one of those enterprising academics who have perfected slicing American history into ever finer layers…Roosevelt is such a compelling figure that the book snaps awake when he’s in action.” —Wall Street Journal “There can hardly be a better companion for a romp through American history than TR, and Ryan Swanson’s The Strenuous Life captures the great man in all his vividness. Through the sheer force of his personality, Roosevelt changed the way Americans take their leisure—and their sports—and ushered in the age of mass participation in athletics. Swanson takes this facet of Roosevelt’s legacy and makes a compelling case that this is the way in which he most powerfully shaped us as a people. This is important stuff—and fun to boot.” —Jeremy Schaap, ESPN Journalist and New York Times bestselling author "A contemporary described Theodore Roosevelt, America’s most peripatetic president, as 'pure act.' He prefigured modern America, including its passion for competitive sports. Ryan Swanson shows how the person who turned himself from a sickly youth into a robust man saw athletics as means of making a muscular nation." —George F. Will “Do Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney, Mike Krzyzewski, and John Calipari realize that when they cash one of those hefty paychecks they should be thanking the 26th President of the United States? For, thanks to Ryan Swanson, we know that college sports as we know it owes a huge debt of gratitude to Theodore Roosevelt, surely the most obsessively strenuously fit man ever to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and someone who believed firmly that sport and competition maketh the man. No fiction writer could concoct a more amazingly complex presidential character than Teddy Roosevelt, and Ryan Swanson captures him in all his bombastic genius. Perhaps the most important tidbit unearthed by Ryan Swanson: be aware that if summoned by Teddy Roosevelt to ‘take a walk,’ leave the dress shoes and good outfit at home. It is not going to be a Harry Truman ‘constitutional.’” —Bob Ryan, Boston Globe and ESPN, winner of the PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing “A fascinating account of president Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1918) and his influence on sports in America…. Sports fans and history buffs alike will enjoy this focused portrait.” —Publishers Weekly "So Teddy Roosevelt, President of the United States, invites a few of his advisers for a little five-mile walk along the Potomac River. There's an assistant secretary of state, a major general in the U.S. Army, the French ambassador, and 'a couple other guys.' They ditch the secret service, climb a few ragged stretches of rock, take off their clothes, swim naked in the river's swirling and dangerous waters, return damp and dirty to the White House and resume work and Teddy didn't even worry about how his hair looked.... Read this joyous book about the birth of Roosevelt's 'strenuous life' and sport in America. This is great fun. Teddy got everything rolling." —Leigh Montville, New York Times bestselling author of Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero and The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth "The Strenuous Life is essential reading for anyone who cares about the history of sports in America. In luminous prose, Ryan Swanson shows how, as athlete and president, Teddy Roosevelt shaped the contests we play, watch, and to which we are gloriously addicted.” —Michael Kazin, author of War against War: The American Fight for Peace, 1914-1918 “It seemed as if Theodore Roosevelt’s biographers had closed the book on his life story. But Ryan Swanson has uncovered an untold chapter in Roosevelt’s life. His work reveals how Teddy Roosevelt, the forefather of the ‘Strenuous Life,’ became America’s first sports president, shaping the country’s obsessions with sports at a pivotal moment in American history.” —Johnny Smith, author of Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship between Muhammad Ali and Malcom X “Offers a window into the sporting culture that influenced Roosevelt's life and vice versa…This work adds intriguing depth to Roosevelt histories. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal "In The Strenuous Life, Ryan Swanson does a superb job of illuminating how America’s 26th president helped propel the concept of 'wellness' long before it was fashionable, during an era when modern sports was still in its infancy. The press of the day gobbled up Roosevelt’s practices and pronouncements, and history buffs will likely gobble up this book." —Washington Independent Review of Books “Peppered with expertly researched anecdotes…The Strenuous Life is an extraordinary look into a lesser-studied aspect of American History, thoroughly accessible to scholars and lay readers alike…Highly recommended.” —Midwest Book Review “The sports fan is going to love The Strenuous Life.” —The Bookworm Sez “In the richly detailed new book, The Strenuous Life, Swanson tells the story of Roosevelt's personal fitness odyssey and incredible athletic boosterism, and how it changed America.” —Brooklyn Digest “Introduces a further side of a President already celebrated for skill as a soldier and statesman. It’s a wonderful tale of the asthmatic boy, encouraged by his father to be a sportsman, emphasizing effort to be more important than success on the field or the tennis court…Whether or not one is a Teddy Roosevelt admirer or a sports junkie, the book’s detail and humor are captivating.” —Manhattan Book Review

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Book Synopsis"...the Winston Churchill of our time." - Former President George W. Bush, in reference to Ukraine leader Volodymyr ZelenskyyAmidst the turmoil of an unprovoked attack by neighboring Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emerged almost overnight as a modern-day folk hero in the eyes of both civilians and military/government leaders across the globe. On the heels of two runaway successes, Melania Trump: Elegance in the White House, and Trump 45: American's Greatest President, author and historian L. D. Hicks has curated another beautiful collection of portraits and facts. Be it in fatigues observing military training exercises alongside his servicemen, or formal attire at meetings with foreign dignitaries, Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Defender of Freedom brings the leader of Ukraine in focus as a shining example of courage and leadership.

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Book SynopsisA collection of essays achieving a deeper understanding of the historical roots and theoretical assumptions that inform the realities and fantasies of German female leadership. The Western tradition of excluding women from leadership and disparaging their ability to lead has persisted for centuries, not least in Germany. Even today, resistance to women holding power is embedded in literary, cultural, andhistorical values that presume a fundamental opposition between the adjective "female" and the substantive "leader." Women who do achieve positions of leadership are faced with a panoply of prejudicial misconceptions: either considered incapable of leadership (conceived of as alpha-male behavior), or pigeonholed as suited only to particular forms of leadership (nurturing, cooperative, egalitarian, communicative, etc.). Focusing on the German-speakingcountries, this volume works to dismantle the prevailing disassociation of women and leadership across a range of disciplines. Contributions discuss literary works involving women's political authority and cultivation of community from Maria Antonia of Saxony to Elfriede Jelinek; women's social activism, as embodied by figures from Hedwig Dohm to Rosa Luxemburg; women in political film, environmentalism, neoliberalism, and the media from Leni Riefenstahlto Petra Kelly to Maren Ade; and political leaders Hillary Clinton and Angela Merkel. Contributors: Dorothee Beck, Seth Berk, Friederike Brühöfener, Margaretmary Daley, Aude Defurne, Helga Druxes, Sarah Vandegrift Eldridge, Anke Gilleir, Rachel J. Halverson, Peter Hudis, Elisabeth Krimmer, Stephen Milder, Joyce Marie Mushaben, Lauren Nossett, Patricia Anne Simpson, Almut Spalding, Inge Stephan, Lisa Fetheringill Zwicker. Elisabeth Krimmer is Professor of German at the University of California, Davis. Patricia Anne Simpson is Professor of German at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Trade ReviewKrimmer and Simpson bring together literary, historical, political, and media analyses to chart the shifting parameters for women's societal contribution and leadership since the eighteenth century. . . . [T]he contributions provide valuable insights into the strategies that women throughout German history have adopted to legitimate themselves amongst skeptical audiences. . . . German Studies scholars with interests in the history of women's writing and contemporary politics will find this volume particularly valuable; its historical and thematic depth promise new insights to any reader. -- Katharine Stone * GERMAN QUARTERLY *Table of ContentsIntroduction - Elisabeth Krimmer and Patricia Anne Simpson Women's Political Authority in Maria Antonia Walpurgis von Sachsen's Talestris: Königin der Amazonen (Thalestris: Queen of the Amazons, 1763) - Seth Berk Maxims of Leadership for a Silent Readership: Sophie von La Roche's Pomona für Teutschlands Töchter and Mein Schreibetisch - Margaretmary Daley Marcus Aurelius, Also for Girls: Discussions on the Best Form of Government in Enlightenment Hamburg - Almut Spalding Dux Femina Facti: Gender, Sovereignty, and (Women's) Literature; Marie Antonia of Saxony's Thalestris and Charlotte von Stein's Dido - Anke Gilleir Dux Femina Facti: Gender, Sovereignty, and (Women's) Literature in Marie Antonia of Saxony's Thalestris and Charlotte von Stein's Dido - Aude Defurne Crossing the Front Lines: Female Leadership, Politics, and War in Die Familie Seldorf - Sarah Vandegrift Eldridge Power Struggles between Women in Schiller's and Jelinek's Works - Inge Stephan Age and Purpose: Unmarried Women and Female Agency in the Works of E. Marlitt and Hedwig Dohm - Lauren Nossett "Heroism of the Mother": Women's Right's Pioneer Jeannette Schwerin, Motherlove, and Women's Leadership in German-Speaking Central Europe, 1890-1914 - Lisa Fetheringill Zwicker Strategic Optimism: Bertha von Suttner's Activism for Peace - Elisabeth Krimmer Humanizing Socialism: The Feminist Dimension of Rosa Luxemburg's Intellectual Leadership - Peter Hudis Follow-the-Leader: Tracing Male Influence on Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph des Willens - Rachel J. Halverson "Leaning In": The Career Woman as Instrument of Neoliberal Critique - Helga Druxes Change, Persistence, and Contradiction: The Representation of Female Political Leadership in Gendered Media - Dorothee Beck Petra Kelly: A Green Leader out of Place? - Stephen Milder and Friederike Brühöfener "Mama Merkel" and "Mutti-Multikulti": The Perils of Governing While Female - Patricia Anne Simpson Women Leaders in Troubled Times: The Leadership Styles of Angela Merkel and Hillary Clinton - Joyce Marie Mushaben Bibliography Notes on the Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisWhen Ukrainian journalist Iuliia Mendel got the call she had been hired to work for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, she had no idea what was to come.In this frank and moving inside account, Zelenskyy’s former press secretary tells the story of his improbable rise from popular comedian to the president of Ukraine. Mendel had a front row seat to many of the key events preceding the 2022 Russian invasion. From attending meetings between Zelenskyy and Putin and other European leaders, visiting the front lines in Donbas, to fielding press inquiries after the infamous phone calls between Donald Trump and Zelenskyy that led to Trump’s first impeachment. Mendel saw firsthand Zelenskyy’s efforts to transform his country from a poor, backward Soviet state into a vibrant, prosperous European democracy. Mendel sheds light on the massive economic problems facing Ukraine and the entrenched corrupt oligarchs in league with Russia. She witnessed the Kremlin’s repeated attacks to discredit Zelenskyy through disinformation and an army of bots and trolls. Woven into her account are details about her own life as a member of Zelenskyy’s new Ukraine. Written with the sound of Russian bombs and exploding shells in the background, Mendel details life lived under Russian siege in 2022. She says goodbye to her fiancé who joins the front lines, like so many other Ukrainian men. Throughout this story of Zelenskyy, Ukraine, and its extraordinary people, Iuliia Mendel reminds us of the paramount importance of truth and human values, especially in these darkest of times.Trade Review"Moving.... [Mendel] helps demystify the dictator [Vladimir Putin] whom the Western media has long portrayed as having the cunning and wit of a fearless Bond villain... Her reflections on her relationship with the Ukrainian language at a time when Ukraine’s cultural ties to Russia have been all but severed are also extremely important to the cultural discourse." —The Washington Post“By sharing her own story, Iuliia Mendel offers a powerful window into the soul of modern Ukraine. The Fight of Our Lives brings you inside a generation raised in transformation and provides vital context around Putin’s war on Ukraine. Her journey and her nation’s will move you and push you to learn more.” —Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, New York Times bestselling author of The Daughters of Kobani“Iuliia Mendel’s book reminds us that war is not only about machines and destruction—it is also about people and ideas. The Fight of Our Lives shows us how Ukraine’s fight for freedom is our fight—humanity’s fight against tyranny.” —Kurt Volker, former United States ambassador to NATO“In earnest and perceptive prose, Mendel’s The Fight of Our Lives tells the gripping story of Ukraine’s determined coming-of-age amid the most ghastly of circumstances.” —Marci Shore, associate professor of history at Yale University and author of The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution“Who is Mr. Zelenskyy? Few people who write about the Ukrainian president and his surprising meteoric rise, first to the top of Ukrainian politics and then to the status of America’s most popular foreign leader, know him as well as Iuliia Mendel. In this book she shares with the world her personal story as the first press secretary of Mr. Zelenskyy and the story of the president and the country he leads. This is an essential read for anyone who wants to understand Ukraine of today and the values it fights for.” —Serhii Plokhy, Mykhailo S. Hrushevs'kyi Professor of Ukrainian History, Harvard University, and author of The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine and Atoms and Ashes: A Global History of Nuclear Disasters"Iuliia Mendel's extraordinary story shows us her Ukraine, a young country that chose progress with President Zelenskyy’s transformative election but now finds itself under attack in Vladimir Putin's war on democracy." —Ivan Mikloš, Slovakian economist and politician, former minister of finance of Slovakia"A spirited account of history in the making" —Publishers Weekly“A closely observed [and] nuanced portrait of a leader in a time of crisis who has definitely risen to the occasion.” —Kirkus

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Book SynopsisDavid Lloyd George is widely regarded as one of the most effective British prime ministers of the twentieth century. A dynamic speaker and committed social reformer, he led Britain successfully through the devastation of World War I and had a powerful impact on international politics. In the post-war peace treaties, he sought a just, rather than a vengeful, settlement for the defeated powers in an attempt to preserve a peaceful international order. Whilst Lloyd George's achievements were undoubtedly substantial, his political record was not entirely without blemish and, in his personal life, he was a fascinating and complex character. Renowned as a womaniser, after 1913 he retained two separate households - one with his wife and one with his mistress, his former private secretary. Based on extensive research, Travis L. Crosby provides a fresh appraisal of the life of one of Britain's most conflicted politicians.Trade Review'This book provides a new assessment of a somewhat enigmatic figure. Travis Crosby cuts through the thicket of views and suggests persuasive explanations of Lloyd George's behaviour. In the process the Lloyd George laid bare is neither an opportunist nor an ideologue; instead, he is shown to be someone who calculated and responded to situations and sought to produce resolutions.' Peter Catterall, Reader in History, University of Westminster 'This is a deeply considered, vivid, lucid and genuinely illuminating book that deals as frankly and comprehensively with Lloyd George's capacity to encounter and foment conflict in his public life as with his tendency to take similar risks in his private affairs.' - Denis Judd, author of Empire: The British Imperial Experience 1765 to the PresentTable of ContentsIntroduction The Education of a Statesman To England, To Parliament With Radical Intent? In the Cabinet Robbing the Hen Roost Triumph Scandal and Failure Imperial Matters and Foreign Affairs Nightmare ‘The Righteousness That Exalteth a Nation’ Prime Minister in War Prime Minister in Peace Reconstruction and Resistance The Irish Revolution ‘To Straighten Ragged Edges’ The Long Good-Bye 18. Return to Wales

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Book SynopsisThe son of a former slave, Pertinax was the Roman Emperor who proved that no matter how lowly your birth, you could rise to the very top through hard work, grit and determination. Born in AD 126, he made a late career change from working as a grammar teacher to a position in the army. As he moved up the ranks and further along the aristocratic cursus honorum, he took on many of the most important postings in the Empire, from senior military roles in fractious Britain, the Marcomannic Wars on the Danube, to the Parthian Wars in the east. He held governorships in key provinces, and later consulships in Rome itself. When Emperor Commodus was assassinated on New Year's Eve AD 192/193, the Praetorian Guard alighted on Pertinax to become the new Emperor, expecting a pliable puppet who would favour them with great wealth. But Pertinax was nothing of the sort and when he then attempted to reform the Guard, he was assassinated. His death triggered the beginning of the Year of the Five Emperors' from which Septimius Severus, Pertinax's former mentoree, became the ultimate victor and founder of the Severan Dynasty. This previously untold story brings a fascinating and important figure out of the shadows. A self made everyman, a man of principle and ambition, a role model respected by his contemporaries who styled himself on his philosophising predecessor and sometime champion Marcus Aurelius, Pertinax's remarkable story offers a unique and panoramic insight into the late 2nd century AD Principate Empire.Trade Review"Elliott, author of several books about Roman affairs, has a deep understanding of Roman life, especially as it was lived in Britannia. His challenge is that there is very little personal information in accounts of Pertinax's life, and he fills the gaps with more particulars about military life than are likely to interest general readers. The author vividly documents Pertinax's last days and effectively captures the tenor of the era, a time awash in corruption and violence. Roman history enthusiasts will find new material to digest and general readers, useful context for the Roman way of life."-- Kirkus Reviews 'An authoritative new history unearths the true story of a slave’s son who rose through the ranks to become the Roman Empire’s most powerful man… The author vividly documents Pertinax’s last days and effectively captures the tenor of the era, a time awash in corruption and violence.Roman history enthusiasts will find new material to digest and general readers, useful context for the Roman way of life.’ - Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisBarack Obama was the breath of fresh air the Democrats didn’t even realise they needed. Running on a platform of hope, change and progress, he won his first term with a decisive landslide, completely rewriting the rules of politics. So how did we go from Obama to Trump – and how can the Democrats turn the tide? Once his communications director, and now co-host of Pod Save America, Dan Pfeiffer was at Obama’s side through two presidential elections and six years in the White House. Offering up surreal stories from behind the scenes, Pfeiffer explains how Obama navigated the forces that propelled Trump to power, and metes out critical wisdom on how the Democrats can reverse the country’s fate. A funny, thoughtful and humble account of Pfeiffer’s time on the front line of politics, Yes We (Still) Can is not just a memoir but an action plan for those who still dare to hope for change – and for the end of the Trump era.

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Book SynopsisThis volume reflects on two decades of Welsh devolution, and a contributes to debate on its significance and future course. Drawing on previously unpublished interviews undertaken by the late Professor Michael Sullivan with key protagonists in Welsh devolution, and with expert analysis from leading researchers in different disciplines and fields of policy, the book examines what has been described as the emergence through devolution of a 'Welsh stripe' in social democracy. While the volume editors conclude this epithet, coined by Professor Sullivan, is apt, this collection of essays also presents a complex, multi-faceted picture of the drivers of policy, of continuity from the pre-devolution era, as well as change driven by factors within and without Wales. A mixed picture emerges, featuring variously (and in various combinations of) boldness of ambition, distinctive ideological positioning, homegrown priority-setting, the frustrations of the devolution settlement, and adverse (arguably unfair) international comparisons.Table of ContentsTables and illustrations About the Contributors Foreword by Prys Morgan Preface and acknowledgements Abbreviations and terms Editors' Introduction Aled Eirug and Jane Williams Chapter One The Sullivan Dialogues Aled Eirug Chapter Two Iechyd Da? Devolution and health care Ceri J. Phillips Chapter Three Education in Wales since Devolution David Egan Chapter Four Economic Development in Wales: Evolution and Revolution Gareth Davies Chapter Five Welsh Devolution and the Quest for Sustainable Development: Into a New Era Terry Marsden Chapter Six Civil Society, Equalities and Inclusion Elin Royles and Paul Chaney Chapter Seven Threads in Policy on Children and Young People: Rights, Welfare and Well-being Jane Williams Chapter Eight Towards a million speakers? Welsh language policy post-devolution Huw Lewis and Elin Royles Chapter Nine Wales and the World Geraint Talfan-Davies

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Book SynopsisFrom the moment Jeremy Corbyn was elected Labour leader, Corbynism has been dismissed, derided or romanticised, but rarely taken seriously as a set of ideas on its own terms. This book critically outlines the shared understanding of capitalism and its alternatives that unites the component parts of the Corbyn movement. It decodes the central tenets of the Corbynist worldview, showing their coherence with contemporary political-economic shifts and conspiratorial understandings of global capitalism as a 'rigged system' common to populist nativism in an age of Trump and Brexit.Trade Review"Using Marxist critical theory, this timely and courageous book analyses Corbyn's left populism as significantly diverging from the key traditions of the class struggle and democratic left." -- Dr David Hirsh * University of London *"This book is much needed . . . it cuts through the fog of uncritical adulation and unthinking hostility toward Jeremy Corbyn to shine a light on the origins and dynamics of this often misunderstood part of modern British politics." -- Professor Paul Thompson'In Corbynism: A Critical Approach Bolton and Pitts have produced the most thorough and alarming overview of the Corbyn worldview to date….Corbynism: A Critical Approach, is the best book on the phenomenon of Corbynism by some distance because it slots the movement firmly within this camp of moralising and intolerant populism. In doing so it ought to free up space on the broader Left for a more critical approach to the Corbyn project, not least because it is written by two activists who have by their own admission long-yearned for “the Left to take the reins.' -- James Bloodworth, Unherd'In a fascinating critique from the anti-capitalist left, Matt Bolton and Frederick Harry Pitts argue that Corbynism’s big move is away from seeing capitalism as a system with its own unalterable dynamics, compelling all within it to operate according to its own logic, to seeing its cruelties instead as the work of malign individuals.' -- Jonathan Freedland, The Guardian'A fascinating new book, Corbynism: A Critical Approach, by two Marxist academics, Matt Bolton and Frederick Harry Pitts, argues that Mr Corbyn’s brand of socialism is a breeding ground for conspiracy theories. The essence of Corbynism is the belief that a “cosy cartel” of capitalists have constructed a “rigged system” for their own benefit.' -- Bagehot, The Economist'Anyone who wants to understand what a Corbyn government would be like might be better off studying the movement, rather than the man. Corbynism: A Critical Approach, a recent study by Matt Bolton and Frederick Harry Pitts, both former Corbynistas steeped in leftwing thought, provides several interesting insights. The authors argue convincingly that the Labour leader’s image as a moral paragon has been crucial to his rise — as has the argument that “Jeremy” has always been on the right side of history.' -- Gideon Rachman, The Financial Times'Matt Bolton and Frederick Harry Pitts’ Corbynism: A Critical Approach is a rare left-wing critique by authors who are virtual Marxists. Inevitably, it has been all but ignored, which is a fault that needs remedying as this rich and urgent work deserves better than that…Bolton and Pitts’ are worth reading because theirs is an explanation not just of the Corbyn Labour party but of the post-crash West.' -- Nick Cohen, The Spectator'Jeremy Corbyn…He really means it. His position is ideological and you have to understand his ideology. A recent book, Corbynism: A Critical Approach by Matt Bolton and Frederick Harry Pitts, makes this effort. The authors are two Marxist academics who argue that Mr Corbyn’s view of the single market is an expression of his particular brand of socialism…It is not, however, necessary to have an opinion on this to grasp the authors’ central and powerful point. Corbynism, they suggest, is a version of socialism derived from one understanding of Marx in which the role of class is replaced by “the elite” and “the people.' -- Daniel Finkelstein, The Times'In a recent book ostensibly focused on Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party, but partly about recent British political history, the academics Matt Bolton and Frederick Harry Pitts explain the last decade in terms of “austerity populism”. Cuts, welfare crackdowns and the case for leave, they explain, were all sold to the public via the exclusion of supposedly unproductive undesirables: “scroungers” in the austerity narrative; “migrants” in the stories that swirled around the 2016 referendum.' -- John Harris, The GuardianTable of ContentsIntroduction: Taking Corbynism SeriouslyChapter 1. Explaining 2017: The Strange Death of the Deficit Chapter 2. Taking Back Control: From Bennism to Corbynism Chapter 3. The Rigged Economy? Capitalism and Conspiracy Theory Chapter 4. The Making of a Saint: Corbynism as Moral Community Chapter 5. International Corbynism: Nation, State and People Conclusion: A Critical Marxist Alternative

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Book SynopsisThe generals that defined the Nazi WarJames Lucas, military historian and British Army veteran, spoke with many veterans of both Axis and Allied armies, digging deeper into the question of what it is that makes a good soldier. His studies of German forces are some of the most insightful and significant ever undertaken, showing why they were such formidable foes.Here he has selected fifteen of the leading players in Hitler’s war effort, including men at or near the top, and describes their role in the German military hierarchy and their performance at strategic or battlefield level.They had, Lucas suggests, an extra dimension, an additional quality—administrative skill, the ability to motivate, great tactical awareness, originality of thought—which set them apart from others of equal rank. Here his subjects include iconic names like Kesselring, von Manstein, Model, Nehring and Rommel in a riveting book about command, control, military tactics and the hard realities of soldiering.Perfect for readers of Max Hastings or Ian Kershaw.

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Book SynopsisJohn F. Kennedy carried on a lifelong love affair with England and the English. From his speaking style to his tastes in art, architecture, theatre, music and clothes, his personality reflected his deep affinity for a certain kind of idealised Englishness.Setting his work against a backdrop of some of the twentieth century’s most profound events – the Great Depression, the Second World War, the Cold War and its arms race – noted biographer Christopher Sandford tracks Kennedy’s exploits in Great Britain between 1935 and 1963, and looks in depth at the unique way Britain shaped JFK throughout his adult life and how he in turn charmed British society.Trade ReviewAn amazing story discovered and entertainingly told, it gives whole new meaning to [the US’s] Special Relationship with Great Britain. -- James W. Graham, author of Victura: The Kennedys, a Sailboat and the SeaUnion Jack is a fresh and richly researched addition to the body of literature about John F. Kennedy. -- Curtis Wilkie, co-author of The Road to Camelot

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Book SynopsisThis is the untold story of black music – its triumph over racism, segregation, undercapitalised record labels, media discrimination and political anxiety – told through the perspective of the most powerful office in the world: from Louis Armstrong's spat with President Eisenhower and Eartha Kitt's stormy encounter with Lady Bird Johnson to James Brown's flirtation with Nixon, Reaganomics and the 'Cop Killer' scandal. Moving, insightful and wide-ranging, Hey America! charts the evolution of sixties soul from the margins of American society to the mainstream, culminating in the rise of urban hip-hop and the dramatic stand-off between Donald Trump and the Black Lives Matter movement. Trade Review'An erudite and deeply passionate dive into the complex relationship between American music and politics' -- Sean O'Hagan * The Observer *'The author has done a terrific job of accentuating the social tensions and ambiguities among various racial groups which still exist in the United States and which, if anything, have been heightened since Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president in 2017' -- Neil Drysdale * Dundee Courier *'Hey America! delivers another startling, detailed account melding music and politics as [Cosgrove] charts how black music has coloured the White House' * Sunday Post *

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Book SynopsisBorn in Shanghai and raised in the city's International Settlement, Gu Weijun, a.k.a. Wellington Koo (1887-1985) became fluent in English during his postgraduate studies abroad - he got a PhD in Law from Columbia in 1912. He was recalled soon afterwards to become the English Secretary to the newly formed Republic of China, and became ambassador to the United States in 1915. He achieved notoriety at the Paris Peace Conference where he sternly resisted Japanese attempts to hold onto seized German colonial territory in mainland China. In protest at their treatment, the Chinese were the only delegates not to sign the subsequent Treaty of Versailles. Koo was China's first representative to the League of Nations, and ended up as acting president of Republican China during the unrest of the period 1926-7.He subsequently served briefly as a Foreign Minister during the peak of the Warlord Era, before returning to Europe, first as a delegate at the League of Nations, and then as China's ambassador to France. With the Nazi occupation, Koo fled to Britain, where he became the Chinese ambassador to the UK until 1946. A founder member of the United Nations, Koo was instrumental in maintaining the position of Republican China on the Security Council - by this time, 'Republican China' was limited solely to the island of Taiwan, while the Communists proclaimed themselves to be the new rulers of China itself.Retiring from the diplomatic service in 1956, the venerable Koo went on to become a judge at the International Court of Justice at the Hague, rising to vice-president before his retirement, aged 80, in 1967. He settled in New York, where his final years were tormented by 'Republican' China's loss of its seat on the United Nations Security Council to the Communists, following Nixon's famous visit to China.Trade Review'[A] beautifully-produced series...Two titles, both by Jonathan Clements, give a wealth of much-needed detail about the Chinese diplomat Wellington Koo and the Japanese statesman Prince Saijoni.' Nigel Jones, Literary Review, November 2008 -- Nigel Jones Literary Review 20081101

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Book Synopsis“A truly expansive and valuable book that challenges the assumptions and constraints of current leadership thinking... Its focus on integrating theory and practice is particularly helpful in linking its key ideas to current public sector management concerns.”—Gareth Morgan, Author of Images of Organization“While other authors have offered general principles of systemic leadership or given readers single approaches, Hobbs is much more ambitious: she brings together diverse, well-tested theoretical, methodological and practical approaches to provide today's leaders with a multifaceted resource that can aid them in thinking systemically. In this respect, her book is a significant advance on previous offerings, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to leaders, aspiring leaders and leadership academics around the world.”—Gerald Midgley, University of Hull, UK“This is an impressive and innovative work that draws together the disparate strands of complexity theory, systems thinking and operational research to build an adaptive social learning approach for local governance, helping to shift it from a service-led to systemic-deliberative model. This is essential reading for local government actors, students of local policy and for the public policy generalist.”—Robert Geyer, Lancaster University, UKAddressing matters of complexity systemically rather than mechanistically is now an ethical and practical paradigm-changing challenge for public policy. This optimistic book explores how action could be led in a joined-up way, signposting resources to thinking differently. Attention is paid to leading the design of adaptive social learning around what matters, re-connecting with public purpose to enable tailoring towards contemporary needs and constraints. Relevant to postgraduates, academics, local government managers, curious practitioners and the wider public, private and third sectors where there is interest in interpreting leadership via the cognitive capabilities of Systems Science.Table of Contents1 Introduction: local government reform and a journey to the empty quarter2 Thinking differently matters 3 Assumptions matter 4 The wider context matters 5 People matter 6 Systemic effectiveness matters 7 An Adaptive Learning Pathway for Systemic Leadership 8 With or without? 9 Conclusion: systemic leadership as design for adaptive social learningIndex

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Book SynopsisThis book argues that the defeat of the main French Centre Right party in the 2017 presidential and legislative elections, and its subsequent disintegration, were the result of a failure to respond effectively to the challenges posed by a continuing realignment of the party system. By the start of the Hollande presidency, many sections of the electorate had lost faith in the traditional parties of government and the ideologies which they represented and were adopting a more individualist approach to politics. The Left/Right divide, which had determined relations between parties since the creation of the Fifth Republic in 1958, gave way to a new arrangement, based on three axes – identity, liberal economics and Europe. These policy areas would provoke major differences of opinion among supporters of the Centre Right, and lead a significant number of them to abandon Les Républicains, which was a major factor in the election of Emmanuel Macron.Table of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: A changing French society and the rise and fall of consensus (c.1981-2012)Chapter 2: Parties, party systems and the electorateChapter 3: Axis 1: Identity: Division within the French Centre Right during the Hollande Presidency: the case of cultural insecurity.Chapter 4: Axis 2: Economic Liberalism: The Centre Right and the challenges of economic reformChapter 5: Axis 3: Europe: Europe and the realignment of the French Party SystemChapter 6: In search of a leader: The Centre Right and its leadership crisis, 2012-2017Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThe British General Election of 2019 is the definitive account of one of the most consequential and controversial general elections in recent times, when Boris Johnson gambled everything calling an early election to 'Get Brexit Done', and emerged triumphant. Drawing upon cutting-edge research and wide-ranging elite interviews, the new author team provides a compelling and accessible narrative of this landmark election and its implications for British politics, built on unparalleled access to all the key players, and married up to first-class data analysis. The 21st volume in a prestigious series dating back to 1945, it offers something for everyone from Westminster insiders and politics students to the interested general reader.Table of ContentsPart 1: The 2017-19 Parliament Chapter 1: The Calling of the Election – (guest author Philip Cowley) Chapter 2: The Long Goodbye: Brexit – (guest authors Anand Menon and Alan Wager) Chapter 3: From May to Johnson: The Conservatives Chapter 4: The Man Who Wasn’t There: Labour Chapter 5: A New Hope? The Liberal Democrats and others Chapter 6: Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Politics in the Devolved Nations (guest authors Ailsa Henderson, Roger Scully and Jon Tonge) Part 2: The Election Campaign Chapter 7: “Get Brexit Done”: The national campaign Chapter 8: The Red Wall Falls Chapter 9: Redemption? The Polls Chapter 10: The Air War: Broadcasting Chapter 11: Enduring Brands : The Press (guest authors David Deacon, David Smith and Dominic Wring) Chapter 12: All change? MPs and candidates (Guest authors: Rosie Campbell, Jennifer VanHeerde-Hudson and Chris Butler) Part 3: The Results Chapter 13: The British voter in 2019: an individual level analysis Chapter 14: The outcome in the constituencies: an aggregate analysis (guest authors John Curtice, Stephen Fisher and Patrick English) Chapter 15: The Election in Retrospect Appendix 1: The Results Analysed (guest authors John Curtice, Stephen Fisher and Patrick English) Appendix 2: The Voting Statistics

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Book SynopsisFear is an inescapable part of how human beings experience reality. The impact of fear becomes particularly evident in a crisis. When a crisis strikes, be it a war, a pandemic, global warming or a financial crisis, leaders are challenged to exercise sound judgement by speaking and acting. This book argues that there are three fears every leader has to know – apocalyptic fear, political fear, and private fear. By appealing to these three fears in an adequate manner, a leader’s appeal to fear may serve a constructive purpose in a crisis.Table of ContentsChapter 1. The Dilemma of Fear. - Chapter 2. Two Stories – One Dilemma. -Chapter 3. Apocalyptic Fear. - Chapter 4. Political Fear. - Chapter 5. Private Fear. - Chapter 6. Dressing up to Address Fear. - Chapter 7. The Virtue of Fear

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Book SynopsisThis research monograph examines presidential constitutional conventions and the role they play in the political systems of four Central European countries – the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. As primarily unwritten rules of constitutional practice, constitutional conventions represent political arrangements and as such are political in origin. Not only this, constitutional conventions, in general, and presidential constitutional conventions, in particular, have significant political implications. They shape both the everyday operation and character of regimes. Central Europe represents a particularly useful example on which this role of constitutional conventions can be studied and assessed.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: What Are Presidential Constitutional Conventions?Chapter 3: Presidents in Constitutions Chapter 4: Presidential Constitutional Conventions in Central Europe Chapter 5: Constitutional Conventions and Constitutional Courts Chapter 6: Conclusion

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Book SynopsisAct East Policy launched in 2014 has been one of the signature foreign policy approaches of Modi-1 government and is a proactive foreign policy initiative. The movement from Look East to Act East was necessitated by the changing contours of security architecture in the larger context of the Indo-Pacific region. Act East Policy has further expanded the geography within its imprint; Myanmar to Australia comes under its domain. ASEAN and East Asian countries expect India to play a counter-balancing role within the region. Under Modi government, India has taken a principled stand on disputes like South and East China Seas stating that all disputing parties must adhere to international laws. This policy provides a broad canvass for issues ranging from economy, culture to strategy. The re-election of Modi with a larger majority in May 2019 is bound to consolidate the Act East Policy. India has developed convergences with many important countries of the region under the ambit of this policy and it is bound to pay more dividends in the foreseeable future for India`s national interests.

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Book SynopsisThis book sheds new light on the life and times of Theodore Roosevelt, drawing on a remarkable set of oral histories gathered in the 1950s from those who knew him. Remembering Theodore Roosevelt presents fourteen intimate interviews with Roosevelt’s friends, family, and contemporaries. Never before published, the transcripts reveal colorful details about the infamous Rough Riders, the political scene in New York City, the lives of his extended family, including the Hyde Park Roosevelts Franklin and Eleanor, and how the former president inspired successive generations. The book benefits from the author’s discerning annotations and commentary that provide the reader with lesser-known facts and a full appreciation of the oral history project. Trade Review“The book also includes a list of the interviews, when and where they occurred, and the archives where intrepid researchers can find them.” (Michael Patrick Cullinane, History News Network, historynewsnetwork.org, December 19, 2021)Table of Contents1 Introduction Part I Family 2 The Other Washington Monument: Alice RooseveltLongworth 3 From Hyde Park to Oyster Bay: Helen RooseveltRobinson 4 The Next Generation: William and Margaret Cowles andCorinne Alsop Cole 5 First Lady of the World: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt 6 The Scions of Sagamore Hill: Ethel Roosevelt Derby andEleanor Butler Roosevelt Contentsviii ContentsPart II Neighbors 7 A Grande Dame: Georgiana Farr Sibley 8 The Worst Friend of the Worst Boy: Barclay H. Farr Part III Political Disciples 9 The Political Backroom: William M. Chadbourne 10 That Tammany Boy: Henry Root Stern, Sr. 11 Secondhand Memories: Murray T. Quigg 12 The Account of a College Man: Karl H. Behr 13 When Trumpets Call: Stanley M. Isaacs Part IV Brothers in Arms 14 Roosevelt’s Enduring Legacy: Frederick Trubee Davison 15 The Last Rough Rider: Jesse Langdon

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