Politics and government Books

Book SynopsisAre you fed up with the divided and unequal society or suffocating laws and regulations of the country where you live? Ever dreamed of starting your own country or just want to understand how that happens? In this refreshing new book, Matt Qvortrup provides a step-by-step guide to forming an independent country, from organising a referendum and winning it, to receiving official international recognition, establishing a currency and even entering the Eurovision song contest. The book delves into the legal, economic and political problems of creating new states, using historical examples and anecdotes from all over the world to illustrate the obstacles to these campaigns. Qvortrup recounts his globetrotting experiences as an expert consultant on referendums to give a no-nonsense explanation of the many hurdles and barriers, as well as the opportunities for those who want to break free.Trade Review‘I want to break free is the unapologetic book of political independence movements, by an advisor who has both global, ground-level political experience and encyclopaedic historic knowledge. Would-be states need this book as much as existing states in danger of runaway nations. If you are neither of these, you will simply find this book immeasurably informative and entertaining.’Dahlia Scheindlin, PhD., international political consultant and foreign affairs analyst'Matt Qvortrup’s concise book provides an expert guide to the practical issues of making a country formally independent, self-governing and part of the community of democratic nation-states. Myths are challenged, and historic and contemporary examples drawn from, which are relevant to how we make sense of independence in the age of interindependence. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in self-government in Scotland, Catalonia and elsewhere.'Gerry Hassan, Professor of Social Change, Glasgow Caledonian University and author of Scotland Rising: The Case for Independence'Full of insight and rich detail, Matt Qvortrup’s important new book provides an engaged and wonderfully engaging study of the passions and politics of state making.'Professor Alastair Bonnett, author of Off The Map and Beyond The Map'This book is a pearl within the study of secessionism that could only be written by someone knowing both the realpolitik of state-making and the depths of the multiple academic debates on this topic.'Marc Sanjaume-Calvet, Regional & Federal Studies'A good, well-written, practical survey of much of the law, politics, & economics of secession which should be informative to secessionists and counter-secessionists both.'Mark McGeoghegan, doctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow'Overall, this book is refreshing and excellent, making it easy to recommend. It renders visible and accessible to a wider audience things that would be easily recognisable to specialists. For those of us outside of the small circles of the Scottish and British insider political classes, looking in from diverse standpoints, I want to break free clearly explains what is possible and, in general terms, how. It doesn’t play down how hard it is, and it doesn’t dumb down nor back down from the difficult issues. In thinking about ‘the now’ and the ‘not yet’ in Scotland, such a pragmatic contribution is very welcome.'Hannah Graham, Bella Caledonia'How does a would-be nation become a legitimate, internationally recognized state? This short, accessible book is framed as a step-by-step guide to nation-building. In it, Matt Qvortrup paints secessionism as a very public divorce; or, at least, a trial separation.'Kerryn Baker, Australian National University -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 A brief history of self-determination and the making of new states2 Start me up: how to establish a movement and win support3 What’s law got to do with it? The legal side of creating a new state4 The power and the passion: the international politics of creating a new state5 Constitution building: rebuilding the ship at sea6 Shake your money maker: the economics of becoming a new countryConclusions: bringing it all back homeIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book, written by leading experts on European defence, analyses NATO's northern expansion, detailing the unique dynamics that forged Finland and Sweden's path to NATO membership.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERTrust will be our essential tool as we face unique challenges of the decades ahead.'The most interesting political mind since Barack Obama' GuardianIn a century warped by terrorism, Trumpism, financial collapse, populism, systemic racism, Russian interference and a global pandemic, trust within and among nations has been squandered, sacrificed, abused, stolen, or never properly built in the first place. In a piercing exploration of the soul of the American nation involving history, philosophy and memoir, former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg explores the strong relationship between prosperity and social trust. Our success, or failure, in confronting the greatest challenges of the decade - racial and economic justice, pandemic resilience, and climate action - will rest on whether we can effectively cultivate, deepen and repair the networks of trust that are now endangered, or for so many, have never even existed. This means trust in institutions, in each other, and in the democratic project itself.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR SHORTEST WAY HOME:The best American political autobiography since Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father.... Buttigieg writes unusually well for a politician.... Is it too much to imagine that America could elect a gay president? I don't think so.... Especially a man like this. * Charles Kaiser, The Guardian *Combining candor and compassion with a brilliant understanding of how government can be more effective, Shortest Way Home demonstrates that Pete Buttigieg is not only a key political figure in his generation, but also an appealing and even funny writer. Far from a conventional politician's book, his work is an important entry in the American political tradition for the twenty-first century. * Walter Isaacson *Personal, beguiling and quite moving as he talks about coming out and getting married... The story is told with brisk engagement. It is difficult not to like him...When Obama wrote his memoir, the idea that the nation would soon put an African-American in the White House seemed beyond the realm of the possible. After reading this memoir written 25 years later, the notion that Buttigieg might be the nation's first openly gay president doesn't feel quite as far-fetched. * Adam Nagourney, New York Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR FINANCIAL TIMES AND SCHRODERS BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDA FINANCIAL TIMES BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR''Excellent . . . reveals an insidious matrix of spying, deception, censorship and repression . . . compelling'' Daily Telegraph''A timely read . . . Chilling . . . Startling . . . A powerful case for more coordinated western intervention'' Guardian''Brilliant'' Irish Sunday Independent The remarkable story of China''s two-decade quest for global dominance.For several decades China''s ascendancy has been supported by an astonishingly broad and deep portfolio of quiet coercion. Stories of the Chinese Communist Party''s authoritarian reach are breathtaking - the gagging of sports stars and huge Western brands; Hollywood self-censorship; infrastructure deals in exchange for political loyalty in multilateral organizations; and of course - comm

Read more less

Book Synopsis"Fluid and poetic as well as terrifying." —New York Times Book Review "Dazzling . . . a seamless mixture of magic realism, satire and futuristic fiction." —San Francisco Chronicle "Impressive . . . a flight of fancy through a dreamlike Brazil." —Village Voice "Surreal and misty, sweeping from one high-voltage scene to another." —LA Weekly "Amuses and frightens at the same time." —Newsday "Incisive and funny, this book yanks our chains and makes us see the absurdity that rules our world." —Booklist (starred review) "Expansive and ambitious . . . incredible and complicated." —Library Journal "This satiric morality play about the destruction of the Amazon rain forest unfolds with a diversity and fecundity equal to its setting. . . . Yamashita seems to have thrown into the pot everything she knows and most that she can imagine—all to good effect." —Publishers Weekly A Japanese man with a ball floating six inches in front of his head, an American CEO with three arms, and a Brazilian peasant who discovers the art of healing by tickling one's earlobe, rise to the heights of wealth and fame, before arriving at disasters—both personal and ecological—that destroy the rain forest and all the birds of Brazil. Karen Tei Yamashita is the author of Through the Arc of the Rain Forest, Brazil-Maru, Tropic of Orange, Circle K Cycles, I Hotel, and Anime Wong, all published by Coffee House Press. I Hotel was selected as a finalist for the National Book Award and awarded the California Book Award, the American Book Award, the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association Award, and the Association for Asian American Studies Book Award.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this luxurious, pocket-sized Smithsonian edition printed in the United States, the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE and the writings that formed it make a stately gift edition befitting the significance of its contents, with features that make it the perfect keepsake:Bound in a faux-leatherFoil-stamped in goldSturdy, quality hardcoverThis edition stands out in the market with an illuminating new introduction from Lonnie G. Bunch III, the Sectretary of the Smithsonian. As one of the nation''s leading public historians, he provides essential, modern context to the historical document and examines the Declaration of Independence''s legacy and relevance to the present-day United States and its people.Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, theDECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE proclaimed that the thirteen American colonies would no longer recognize the monarch of Britain but would become independent states. With fifty-six signatures, one document changed the course of history. Celebrate the founding of this nation with a gorgeous gift edition of the document that started it all.

Read more less

Book SynopsisKarl Marx did not write Das Kapital for the bookshelves of economists and philosophers. It is economics for working people, from their viewpoint and history. It is the classic masterpiece of revolutionary working-class politics. Here, David Smith and Phil Evans explode the myth of difficulty haunting Marx's Kapital.Trade Review"Valuable...in some respects more so than all the interpretations and popularizations I have read." –– C.L.R. James "[Marx's Capital Illustrated] is very, very good, a brilliant exposition and a really creative relationship between image and explanation." –– John Berger"Valuable...in some respects more so than all the interpretations and popularizations I have read." –– C.L.R. James "[Marx's Capital Illustrated] is very, very good, a brilliant exposition and a really creative relationship between image and explanation." –– John BergerTable of ContentsIntroduction – 1 1. Commodities – 30 2. Products for Use – 34 3. Alienation of Use Value – 37 4. Overproduction – 41 5. Exchange Value – 44 6. Abstract Labour – 47 7. Alienation of Useful Labor – 54 8. Fetishism – 57 9. Money – 64 10. The Accumulation of Capital – 69 11. Labor Power – 86 12. Expropriation – 89 13. A History Lesson – 92 14. The Making of the Working Class – 97 15. Surplus Value – 113 16. The Rate of Surplus Value – 129 17. Labour Power and Class Struggle – 147 18. Abolition of Wage Labour – 162

Read more less

Book Synopsis"One of the most interesting, exhilarating, and informative aspects of the presidency was my time with the CIA analysts and my PDB briefers." -George W. Bush, correspondence with the author, November 2012.Every day, a member of the CIA presents to the president a report detailing the most sensitive activities and analysis of world events. These can range from the behavior of America's allies to the maneuvering of its adversaries, from imminent dangers to long-term strategic opportunities, and are often based on the words of highly placed sources or the interceptions of astonishingly nimble technologies.This report - for the president's eyes only-forms the basis of the president's assessment of US intelligence and strength. The story of the President's Daily Brief-the PDB, in the jargon-is a window into the character of each president and his administration, and the degree to which his worldview and policy was shaped by the information from the security services.It is a story that could only be told by a trusted insider. David Priess served during the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations as an award-winning intelligence officer, manager and daily intelligence briefer at the CIA. The CIA, despite its mission of secrecy, has diligently declassified and posted millions of pages of raw intelligence reports, analytic assessments, and memos from the late 1940s through the 1980s. These agency papers have been awaiting examination in a nondescript corner of the CIA's public website. Many more sit on an antiquated database terminal at the National Archives annex in College Park, Maryland.Few people know such documents exist. Fewer still have made the effort to dig through them as Priess has, hauling in never-before-revealed insights about the PDB. The information base for this book includes largely untapped oral histories, memoirs from PDB recipients and intelligence leaders, publicly released CIA internal studies, and tidbits about key personalities and locations from previously published works.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTruman and Picasso were contemporaries and were both shaped by and shapers of the great events of the twentieth century - the man who painted Guernica and the man who authorised the use of atomic bombs against civilians.But in most ways, they couldn’t have been more different. Picasso was a communist, and probably the only thing Harry Truman hated more than communists was modern art. Picasso was an indifferent father, a womaniser, and a millionaire. Truman was utterly devoted to his family and, despite his fame, far from a rich man. How did they come to be shaking hands in front of Picasso’s studio in the South of France? Truman’s meeting with Picasso was quietly arranged by Alfred H. Barr Jr, the founding director of New York’s Museum of Modern Art and an early champion of Picasso. Barr knew that if he could convince these two ideological antipodes, the straight-talking politician from Missouri and the Cubist painter from Malaga, to simply shake hands, it would send a powerful message, not just to reactionary Republicans pushing McCarthyism at home, but to the whole world: modern art was not evil. Truman author Matthew Algeo retraced the Trumans’ Mediterranean vacation and visited the places they went with Picasso, including Picasso’s villa, Picasso’s ceramics studio in Vallauris, and Chateau Grimaldi, a museum in Antibes. A rigorous history with a heartwarming centre, When Harry Met Pablo intertwines the biographies of Truman and Picasso, the history of modern art, and twentieth century American politics, but at its core it is the touching story of two old men who meet for the first time and realise they have more in common - and are more alike - than they ever imagined.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Art with a Capital “A” 1. The Nelson Gallery 2. Insults to Classical Ideals 3. A Beautiful Circle 4. MoMA Part II: The Gentleman from Michigan 5. Advancing American Art 6. A Stalwart Republican 7. Gallery on Wheels 8. Termites and Vermin 9. The Patriotic Council Part III: Harry Truman’s European Adventure 10. Sam and Dorothy 11. “Come on Up” 12. Distracting Visitors 13. The Independence 14. Naples 15. Genoa 16. Le Fermier 17. Madame Privat 18. Sightseeing with Picasso 19. The French Communist Caricaturist Epilogue Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisDaring to Struggle, Daring to Win tells the fascinating true story of an individual radical organizer turned independent Chicago city council member, and her forty year struggle for justice in Chicago.Helen Shiller went from radical anti-war activist in Wisconsin, to a member of a collective of white allies of the Black Panther Party in Chicago, to an elected city council person who helped break the back of the racialized opposition to Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black mayor. Shiller participated, when few others did, in the historic fight against the gentrification of a unique economically and racially mixed Chicago community on the Northside. With insight into historic community organizing and political battles in Chicago from the 1970s through 2010, this book details numerous policy fights and conflicts in Chicago during this time, illuminating recurrent political themes and battles that remain relevant to this day. Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win is a compelling, insightful, must-read for all those struggling for a better world today.Trade Review"[Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win] is an important record of late 20th century Chicago, and a sort of blueprint for how a rebel can challenge the power brokers and maybe not completely reshape society but at least win myriad small victories for people who have no one else to fight for them." —Third Coast Review"This is a serious book—full of policy and protest, firm in its convictions, and short on lighthearted anecdotes. You have to knuckle down, have some tea, and think about housing lawsuits and school boycotts of yore. But it’s well-written—Shiller worked for years for the alternative press, and can tell a story thoroughly and compactly, with even a little poetry. It’s ultimately a hopeful book—a reminder that problems have always looked insurmountable until they’re surmounted." —New City"An informative book...." —Kirkus"Shiller's memoir offers a profound look into the challenges and triumphs of community-based politics. It is a testament to the belief that dedicated individuals can make significant changes at the local level. Through Shiller’s eyes, we witness the evolution of Uptown and Chicago, warts and all. While the perspective is decidedly hers, the reader is granted valuable insight into the mechanics of local governance and the unwavering spirit of community activism.Audiences who might be interested in using this memoir pedagogically include scholars of Chicago history, urban politics enthusiasts, and readers intrigued by White youth activism in the 1970s. Given its detailed account of gentrification, urban renewal, housing issues, and business development, the memoir can offer real-life case studies to students studying the dynamics of urban development and planning. Those studying political machines, city governance, local politics, and the history of Chicago from the 1980s to 2010s would find this memoir a treasure trove of firsthand experiences and insights. The book provides a detailed account of grassroots movements, protest politics, and the challenges faced by activists, making it an invaluable resource for students and educators interested in activism, social justice, and community organizing." —H-Net Reviews"Helen Shiller's work inside and out of the Chicago City Council is a model for all those seeking to make real change in the world. From her tireless work challenging gentrification, police abuse, and homophobia, Shiller never lost sight of her roots, and always put the struggles of poor and working class people first. No matter where you live and organize there is much to be learned from Helen's inspiring and courageous life story. Read this book!" —Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez, Alderwoman Chicago’s 33rd Ward“I salute my good friend and comrade Helen Shiller for the broad vivid picture of her extraordinary life’s journey, filled with personal challenges, and her decades of exceptional social justice work with and for the poor and oppressed communities. Helen worked tirelessly with the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party and its Intercommunal Survival Committee for racial and social justice during the 1970’s. She is a true servant of the people." —Emory Douglas, Revolutionary Artist/Minister of Culture, The Black Panther Party 1967-1980"As a journalist who has covered Helen Shiller, off and on, throughout her half-century of community activism, I have long wondered how she would tell her own epic story. Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win answers that question poignantly and powerfully. Her epic journey takes us from the era of SDS, Black Panthers and school desegregation, through both Mayors Daley to the rise of Mayor Harold Washington, President Barack Obama and finally her own election to Chicago City Council—for 24 years. From outside agitator to insider alderperson, Shiller earned respect even from her political rivals for her savvy and resilience. For those who wonder whether they can “buy in” to the system without selling out, this story is a great place to start." —Clarence Page, Pulitzer-prize-winning columnist and editorial board member at the Chicago Tribune"The only way NOT to repeat history and mistakes of the past is to share it, honor it, and learn from it. . . . and Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win does just that and talks about REAL CHANGE & REAL ALLIANCES." —Ald. Jeanette Taylor, Chicago's 20th Ward"This book is a must read for today's organizers working to connect their neighborhoods to a vision of transformative, anti-racist politics. Daring to Struggle expands our knowledge of New Left organizers who rarely grabbed headlines, yet set a high standard for radical street-level and electoral activism." —Amy Sonnie and James Tracy, co-authors Hillbilly Nationalists, Urban Race Rebels and Black Power: Interracial Solidarity in 1960s-70s New Left Organizing"Helen Schiller has written a much needed, past due, historical account of her life as a community organizer and Council woman representing the poor in Uptown Chicago. Schiller has provided a voice for those poor residents who had little power to fight for their survival in a city that would only recognize them as irrelevant and refused to let them assimilate. Daring to Struggle Daring to Win is a much needed read for those who want to organize in poor communities." —Hy Thurman, Co-Founder Young Patriot Organization, Co-Founder Original Rainbow Coalition, Author, Revolutionary Hillbilly"Regardless of the era, fighting for justice and marginalized people and principled positions in the public arena is difficult and challenging. Daring to Struggle contains numerous lessons for elected's, community leaders, and others on how to fight and win in the political arena without compromising those principles." —Kim Foxx"In 1969 Helen Shiller, already a young radical activist, heard inspirational Illinois Black Panther Chairman Fred Hampton proclaim that a serious revolutionary must “dare to struggle, dare to win.” For the next five decades, Shiller pursued Fred’s credo with unparalleled energy and commitment, daring to struggle, and daring to win. Her excellent book chronicles, in compelling historical detail, that journey, from Brooklyn to Madison, from Racine to Chicago, from Cuba to Zimbabwe, but most centrally from the streets of Chicago’s Uptown to the chambers of Chicago’s City Council, and documents how she relied on the “power of the people” to speak truth to power in her tireless pursuit of Chairman Fred’s uncompromising and timeless command." —Flint Taylor"From coping with sexual abuse, experiencing life before Roe v Wade, committing to support Black liberation, and taking on the brass knuckle Chicago politics, Daring to Struggle Daring to Win is interwoven with historical milestones. Shiller chronicles her life as a radical founder of All Chicago City News, a recipient of vote tampering and intimation, and the challenges of new thinking in parenthood. The call to fight white supremacy and the erosion of human rights with intentional solidarity is more relevant than ever. Shiller fills in significant information gaps and provides much to think about in our elusive search for an equitable and anti-racist future." —Sylvia Ewing"For more than a half century, Helen Shiller has been the radical’s radical. She has led countless progressive causes, from the battle against police brutality; to bureaucracy busting; to fighting against poverty; to fighting for racial equity. Her story is a go-to-battle blueprint for the fights of today, and for those to come. It is a dare well worth taking." —Laura S. Washington, Political Analyst, ABC 7-Chicago"Helen Shiller has led no ordinary life: A witness to history, a crusader for justice, and deeply loyal to the women and men whose lives and predicaments cry for fairness, she has dedicated herself to righteous warfare, whether in the streets or in the hallowed halls of government. Her story is profoundly human and profoundly personal, but also a clarion call to the rest of us to join her." —Achy Obejas, author of Boomerang/Bumerán "Helen Shiller carefully weaves together her personal life story with the events that show her unflagging support and advocacy for grass roots communities in Chicago’s Uptown. From Campus radical to long term alderwoman in Chicago’s 46th Ward Shiller maintains her principles and effectiveness in fighting racism and building community led coalitions that took on and gained power against Chicago’s political machine. A story of personal and political triumph against all odds." —Jeffrey Haas"Helen Shiller’s Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win is an important book, not just for those of us in Chicago who were part of the struggle since the 1960s but for everyone who cares about saving our American Democracy and perfecting it today. It teaches us that this has been and will be a prolonged struggle and we have to be in it for the long haul. It is the detailed story of the grassroots efforts in our Chicago neighborhoods and city and the story of a radical who became an alderperson who helped shape the future." —Dick Simpson, UIC Professor Emeritus, author, and former Chicago alderman

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Fascinating and enjoyable ... enthused with insight' - Brian CoxUranium, carbon, iron, titanium, gold, silver and silicon - former BP CEO John Browne explains how seven elements are shaping the 21st century, for good and for bad.Humans have put the Earth's resources to extraordinary use, but not always for the benefit of humankind. SEVEN ELEMENTS vividly describes how iron, carbon, gold, silver, uranium, titanium and silicon have shaped the world around us - for good and for bad.This book takes you on an adventure of human passion, ingenuity and discovery, but it is a journey that is far from over: we continue to find surprising new uses for each of these seven key elements. Discover how titanium pervades modern consumer society, how natural gas is transforming the global energy sector and how an innovative new form of carbon could be starting a technological revolution.SEVEN ELEMENTS is a unique mix of science, history and politics, interwoven with the author's extensive personal and professional experience.Trade Review'The progress and prosperity that humanity has achieved ...', writes John Browne, `is driven by people - scientists, business people and politicians'. The author has the rare distinction of having wide and deep experience of all three fields, and this is what makes Seven Elements such a fascinating and enjoyable book. Part popular science, part history, part memoir, these pages are infused with insight, shaped by the experience of a FTSE 100 Chief Executive and lifted by the innate optimism of a scientist. -- Brian CoxSeven Elements is a boon for those, like me, who gave up science much too soon in our teens. John Browne has found a fascinating way of helping us break through the crust of our ignorance. The scientific literate too will relish his personal mix of historical knowledge and technical prowess with his gift for making the complicated understandable. -- Peter HennessyThe human quest for knowledge and insight has led to extraordinary progress. It has transformed the lives we lead and the world we live in. But that onward march has also thrown us huge challenges about how we treat each other and the planet on which we live. This book forces us to confront these realities and does it in a unique and fascinating way. It weaves science and humanity together in a way that gives us new insight. This is an expertly crafted book by a unique thinker and talented engineer and businessman. -- Tony BlairJohn Browne uses seven elements, building blocks of the physical world, to explore a multitude of worlds beyond. From the rise of civilizations, to some of today's most important challenges and opportunities, to the frontiers of research, he weaves together science, history, politics and personal experience. Browne tells a lively story that enables us to see the essential elements of modern life in a new, original and highly engaging way. -- Daniel Yergin, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Quest: Energy, Security and the Making of the Modern World and The Prize[T]his is a gripping tale of how people have utilised the intrinsic powers of the elements to shape our cultural, social and economic existence. * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *It is hard to think of another magnate who has written a general interest book of equal fascination... -- Christopher Hirst * The Independent *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt began with an unsigned email: "I am a senior member of the intelligence community". What followed was the most spectacular intelligence breach ever, brought about by one extraordinary man, Edward Snowden. The consequences have shaken the leaders of nations worldwide, from Obama to Cameron, to the presidents of Brazil, France, and Indonesia, and the chancellor of Germany. Edward Snowden, a young computer genius working for America's National Security Agency, blew the whistle on the way this frighteningly powerful organisation uses new technology to spy on the entire planet. The spies call it "mastering the internet". Others call it the death of individual privacy. This is the inside story of Snowden's deeds and the journalists who faced down pressure from the US and UK governments to break a remarkable scoop. Snowden's story reads like a globe-trotting thriller, from the day he left his glamorous girlfriend in Hawaii, carrying a hard drive full of secrets, to the weeks of secret-spilling in Hong Kong and his battle for asylum. Now stuck in Moscow, a uniquely hunted man, he faces US espionage charges and an uncertain future in exile. What drove Snowden to sacrifice himself? Award-winning Guardian journalist Luke Harding asks the question which should trouble every citizen of the internet age. Luke Harding's other books include Wikileaks: Inside Julian Assange's War on Secrecy and Mafia State: How One Reporter Became an Enemy of the Brutal New Russia.

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘Perhaps the best introduction yet to the roots of Thailand’s present political impasse. A brilliant book.’ Simon Long, The Economist Struggling to emerge from a despotic past, and convulsed by an intractable conflict that will determine its future, Thailand stands at a defining moment in its history. Scores have been killed on the streets of Bangkok. Freedom of speech is routinely denied. Democracy appears increasingly distant. And many Thais fear that the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej is expected to unleash even greater instability. Yet in spite of the impact of the crisis, and the extraordinary importance of the royal succession, they have never been comprehensively analysed – until now. Breaking Thailand's draconian lèse majesté law, Andrew MacGregor Marshall is one of the only journalists covering contemporary Thailand to tell the whole story. Marshall provides a comprehensive explanation that for the first time makes sense of the crisis, revealing the unacknowledged succession conflict that has become entangled with the struggle for democracy in Thailand.Trade ReviewA brilliant, incisive rewriting of Thailand’s history and monarchy. An instant classic that promises to permanently change the conversation, both inside and outside the country. * Christine Gray, anthropologist and pioneering analyst of Thailand’s monarchy *An explosive analysis that lays bare what the Thai elite has tried to keep hidden for decades. A clear-eyed view of what is really at stake in Thailand’s continuing turmoil. * David Streckfuss, author of Truth on Trial in Thailand: Defamation, Treason, and Lèse-Majesté *A bold and convincing argument that at the centre of Thailand’s political turmoil is the succession to the throne. * Paul Handley, journalist and author of The King Never Smiles *Finally someone says the unsayable. A must read for observers of Thai politics. * Pavin Chachavalpongpun, associate professor at Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University *Andrew MacGregor Marshall has written perhaps the best introduction yet to the roots of Thailand’s present political impasse, He explains how an aspect of the crisis whose importance many analysts in Thailand and overseas have an interest in minimising - the looming succession in the Thai royal family - is in fact central. A brilliant book that could perhaps have been written only by somebody who knows Thailand so well he knew he had to leave the country to write it. * Simon Long, Banyan columnist, The Economist *i>'A Kingdom in Crisis ... engages critically with the discourse surrounding the monarchy and represents an important contribution. * Journal of Contemporary Asia *Given the relative paucity of accessible and critical English-language writing about the Thai monarchy, and the risks that such writing entails, A Kingdom in Crisis should be considered a significant accomplishment, and Zed Books should be given credit for being willing to publish it. For the many Westerners who continue to repeat outmoded and Orientalist slogans about the Kingdom, the book should prove to be a real eye-opener—not least in its discussion of the events that led to the current king taking the throne and expanding the social and political significance of the monarchy. * Pacific Affairs Journal *A timely and highly readable account of the grim political reality of the Land of Smiles. An essential primer for every visitor. * Joe Studwell, author of Asian Godfathers and How Asia Works *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Telling the Truth About Thailand Part I: Royalty Versus Reality 1. 'When the Legends Die, All Collapses' - Thailand's political awakening 2. 'In a Never–Never Land, Never Mind' - Welcome to the Land of Smiles 3. 'Cosmological Bluster' - The Dramatics of Despotism Part II: Thai–Style Democracy and its Discontents 4. 'Our Country Belongs to the People - Not to the King': Thailand's Unfinished Revolution 5. 'I Really am an Elected King' - The Royalist Revival 6. 'There is Magic, Goodness and Power in His Heart' - The Deification of Rama IX Part III: The Secrets of Succession 7. 'Endless Struggles for the Throne' - The Causes of Chronic Palace Conflict 8. 'One Neither Walks, Speaks, Drinks, Eats, Nor Cooks Without Some Kind of Ceremony' - The Pleasures and Privations of Being King 9. 'I Cannot Afford to Die' - The Tragedy of King Bhumibol Part IV: Crisis and Confrontation 10. 'Living in Horrifying Times' - Twilight of the Oligarchy 11. 'Coupmakers' Haunted Dreams' - Escalation and Enlightenment 12. 'Returning Happiness to the People' - Denying Democracy, Sabotaging Succession Epilogue: 'Flip on the Lights and Flush out the Ghosts' - What the Future Holds

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the founder of Simple Politics comes a guide to rediscovering the heart of our democracy, reshaping our political system and making the UK a better place for all.Strikes across the country. A prime minister resigning after just forty-four days. Accusations of bullying in the House of Commons. Our politics and our democracy appear to be fundamentally broken.But that doesn? t mean that all hope is lost. Things can get better. There are solutions out there to the complex web of failure in which we? re currently entangled.Politics, But Better will look at the very fabric of our system and what improvements can be made. Exploring twenty-six issues in UK politics, from A to Z ? including censorship, elections, insults and U-turns ? it clearly lays out the problems and challenges we face, and puts forward possible solutions. Looking at a variety of ideas and real-world examples, it will encourage us to rethink the fundamental ways we do things, to question the status quo, and to chart a path towards a more hopeful future.Respect and understanding are at the heart of this book, promoting open debate, tolerance and compassion as the cornerstones of a reformed political landscape.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTony Benn was one of the twentieth century's most charismatic politicians. The Best of Benn showcases his powers of original thinking and communication over seven decades.From 'the baby of the house' to a retired widower, he was a consistently radical campaigning voice on issues such as the death penalty, the case against the European Union, opposition to war and support of workers' rights.This volume brings together Tony Benn's electrifying speeches, thoughtful journalism and passionate advocacy of often unconventional causes.'Tony Benn belongs in the great tradition of English revolutionaries - a passionate radical destined to be loved in popular memory for his defence of democracy and freedom.' Guardian'He had the facility to reach across generations and re-energise the debate about what should and should not constitute the common good.' ObserverTrade Review • "Tony Benn belongs in the great tradition of English revolutionaries -- a passionate radical destined to be loved in popular memory for his defence of democracy and freedom." --Guardian • "He had the facility to reach across generations and re-energise the debate about what should and should not constitute the common good." --Observer

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Carefully researched and excellently written . . . a wonderful account of the special relationship between Ireland and the USA.' BERTIE AHERN'Anybody with an interest in Irish-American politics and personalities will want to read The Green and White House.' DICK SPRINGIntimate, complex, long-lasting: the links between Ireland and US presidents extend much further and deeper than JFK. From Andrew Jackson in 1829 to Woodrow Wilson in 1913 and Joe Biden in 2021, Ireland's sway in the White House is hugely significant.Handwritten letters, weatherworn tombstones, shipping records and even an old desk unlock the ancestral secrets of 23 presidents.Spanning the centuries from covered wagons to the American Revolution, the birth of the Irish Republic to JFK's heady glamour, The Green and White House takes in political machinations and the firebrands who pushed for freedom, justice and peace for Ireland.For centuries, Irish emigrants crossed the Atlantic by boat, but an intense diplomatic bromance has seen American commanders-in-chief returning to remote Irish villages via Air Force One and armoured limousines.Incredible stories spring from these presidential visits. High-tech phones are installed in an ancient cemetery while an Aran cardigan is treated like a hostile device. Anti-personnel nets produce a bumper catch of salmon, but a Secret Service gun is lost then found amid a jubilant crowd.Each homecoming - always conducted with a twinkle in the eye - turns local people into international media darlings. But this transatlantic courtship, forged over the unearthed mysteries of sprawling family trees, has secured Ireland an annual invite to the White House - something no other nation can rival.THE GREEN AND WHITE HOUSE takes a wry look at the special relationship one tiny nation shares with the world's greatest superpower.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFollowing in the footsteps of the highly successful Queer: A Graphic History, illustrator Jules Scheele teams up with Dr Laura Locker in this comic-book introduction to the political history of the Land of Opportunity.How dida political outsider like Trump win the 2016 presidential election? Why do someAmericans feel so strongly about gun rights? Is there a role for more than twopolitical parties in the system?Politicsisn't something that just occurs in the West Wing or the gleaming Capitolbuilding - it comes from the interaction between state and society, theAmerican people living their daily lives. In this unique graphic guide, wefollow modern citizens as they explore everything from the United States'political culture, the Constitution and the balance of power, to socialmovements, the role of the media, and tensions over race, immigration, and LGBTrights.Stepright up, and see what lies beneath the pageantry and headlines of this greatnation.Trade ReviewUpbeat and optimistic, it reminds us that one awful president can't sink history's most powerful democracy.' * The Bookseller *

Read more less

Book SynopsisYou may be OK with standard stuff like Conservatism and Democracy, but do you really know what Patrimonialism is? And what about Oligarchy? Anarcho-syndicalism? Politics is, we are willing to bet, the most passionately argued-over subject matter, and yet how many of us flounder around in confrontational debates because we have no grip on political theory, just a vague notion that they are all out to get us? 30-Second Politics will help dispel this fog mistrust and paranoia. It challenges political theorists of all colors to come up with no-frill, no-spin, tell-it-like-it-is explanations of the 50 most important political -isms, -archies, and -ocracies that have pertained since the time of Periclean Athens. At no public expense, the book explains each political theory in nothing more than two pages, 300 words, and some propaganda-style imagery, for we all know that a picture opportunity is worth a thousand words of dull interview.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAccording to most of the media, the left and the political establishment, Donald Trump was a racist, sexist, dangerous man who debased the office of US President, embarrassed his country and brought it to the brink of civil war. Throughout his administration, the contempt in which the billionaire businessman and TV personality was held across the Western world led to sneering at any alternative view. And yet Trump came within inches of re-election, and had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic he almost certainly would have succeeded. Undeterred by all the noisy vilification, more than 70 million Americans formed their own view – and they liked what they saw. Now, determined to redress the balance of a fiercely partisan debate, Simon Dolan, a multi-millionaire British businessman and entrepreneur, looks behind the hyperbole to offer a very different take on Donald J. Trump. Just what were the achievements and personality traits that appealed to voters in their millions? Trump: The Hidden Halo sets out to reconsider this most divisive figure through the eyes of those who supported him. Looking to his economic record, the impact of ‘America First’ and the effect of his bombastic approach to foreign policy, this timely consideration of Trump’s appeal to the masses presents the man in a new light: did he have a hidden halo after all?Trade Review"Powerful and important ... Trump: The Hidden Halo gives him the fair hearing he was consistently denied." - Nigel Farage "We all know what Trump got wrong; not enough is said about what he might have got right. Dolan gives us something very different - a marvellously contrarian counterblast. It should be read by anyone who wants to understand what really happened in America in the past five years." - Freddie Gray, The Spectator USA editor "Since 2016, I have looked at US politics through anti-Trump spectacles. Maybe I have seen what I wanted to see and believed what I wanted to believe. While it has not changed my fundamental position, in arguing an alternative view Trump: The Hidden Halo has helped me understand both why over 74 million Americans voted for Trump in 2020 and how essential it is to take into account all the facts when coming to a political judgement." - Peter Gummer, Baron Chadlington

Read more less

Book SynopsisUniquely imprisoned, most Palestinians in Gaza cannot travel beyond the confines of the Strip, and in times of war escape is impossible. They live under siege – economic and armed – and yet so many remain courageous, outspoken and steadfast. Donald Macintyre lays bare Gaza’s human tragedy and reveals how it became a crucible of conflict and a byword for suffering. He identifies the repeated failings – including those of the international community – that have seen countless opportunities for peace pass by. Yet, against all odds, hope for a better future lingers. Gaza was once a flourishing coastal civilization open to the world. Could it be so again?Trade Review'This is a book which answers a lot of questions, and prompts quite a few more…Donald Macintyre is to be commended for his forthright approach.’ * The Muslim World Book Review *'As head of the Independent’s Jerusalem bureau, Donald Macintyre followed Gaza at a critical time, as he recounts in his highly impressive book Gaza: Preparing for dawn (2017). Macintyre was there when Israel dismantled the settlements, when Hamas won the democratic elections of 2006, and when it took full control in a coup a year later. He was also there when Hamas fired rockets into neighbouring Sderot, and when Israel retaliated with repeated incursions. His first-hand account of the tragedy is even-handed, balanced and devastating.' * Ari Shavit, Times Literary Supplement *‘The inflammable world of Middle Eastern politics is treacherous terrain for those who don’t know it well, and even for those who do: Macintyre navigates it with sensitivity, skill and the diligence of a committed reporter… Along the way he fills readers in on the history that led to today’s impasse.’ * Mail on Sunday *‘Superb…essential reading.’ * Tribune *‘Wise and powerful.’ * The Tablet *‘Donald Macintyre has managed to skillfully write a comprehensive account of the Strip that is faithful to history, humane in its consideration of people, and accurate with respect to events. The lucid style of this commendable journalist makes history and events comprehensible and easy to follow.’ * This Week in Palestine *'Searing, scrupulous reportage.' * Jenny McCartney *‘Highly informative and written in an engaging style, navigating the humanitarian repercussions of diplomacy and impunity well.’ * Middle East Monitor *‘A brilliant and incisive account of this tiny, vibrant, but embattled enclave. With the two million people of Gaza struggling to survive food shortages, electricity cuts, and increasing amounts of sewage in her surrounding seas, this is a must-read.’ -- Jon Snow‘Donald Macintyre skilfully picks his way through the tangle of accusations that surrounds Gaza’s tragedy. This is a lucid, essential guide. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to understand the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.’ -- Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor‘A perceptive first-hand analysis of Gaza’s hell-on-earth.’ -- Martin Bell, author of War and the Death of News‘Donald Macintyre’s Gaza is a deeply informed and elegant portrait of this small but profoundly important and misunderstood part of the world. Not only are Gaza’s history and politics made compellingly accessible, so too are her sight, sound and smell. In this way Macintyre challenges any notion of Gaza’s irrelevance and perhaps more importantly does what few authors writing on Gaza have done: elevates the ordinary in a manner that will endure, helping the reader understand that no matter who we are and where we are from, in Gaza we can recognise ourselves. This book speaks to something greater than Gaza’s pain; it speaks to Gaza’s soul.’ -- Sara Roy, Senior Research Scholar, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University‘Donald Macintyre has written a remarkable political panorama about Gaza today. In cool prose he exposes the history of the conflict and the discussion that has surrounded it. Anyone interested in understanding the situation between Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and Israel should look at the conclusion of this book. Anyone who wants to feel a little bit how people live in this narrow strip of land on the Mediterranean coast must read the whole work.’ -- Shlomo Sand, Emeritus Professor of History, Tel Aviv University, and author of The Invention of the Jewish People

Read more less

Book SynopsisOn the eve of International Women's Day in 2015, the Chinese government arrested five feminist activists and jailed them for 37 days. The Feminist Five became a global cause célèbre, with Hillary Clinton speaking out on their behalf, and activists inundating social media with #FreetheFive messages. But the Feminist Five are only symbols of a much larger feminist movement of civil rights lawyers, labor activists, performance artists and online warriors that is prompting an unprecedented awakening among China's urban, educated women. In Betraying Big Brother, journalist and scholar Leta Hong Fincher argues that the popular, broad-based movement poses the greatest threat to China's authoritarian regime today.Through interviews with the Feminist Five and other leading Chinese activists, Hong Fincher illuminates both the challenges they face and their "joy of betraying Big Brother." Tracing the rise of a new feminist consciousness through online campaigns resembling #MeToo, and describing how the Communist regime has suppressed the history of its own feminist struggles, Betraying Big Brother is a story of how the movement against patriarchy could reconfigure China and the world.Trade ReviewFeatured in The Washington Post and Times Higher Education * The Washington Post and Times Higher Education *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'The Singularity' is what Silicon Valley calls the idea that, eventually, we will be overrun by machines that are able to take decisions and act for themselves. What no one says is that it happened before. A few hundred years ago, humans started building the robots that now rule our world. They are called states and corporations: immensely powerful artificial entities, with capacities that go far beyond what any individual can do, and which, unlike us, need never die. They have made us richer, safer and healthier than would have seemed possible even a few generations ago - and they may yet destroy us. The Handover distils over three hundred years of thinking about how to live with artificial agency.Trade ReviewPersuasive ... the ever-erudite host of the terrific Talking Politics podcast ... ranges far and wide, from hunter gatherers to Elon Musk, from the wisdom of juries to the (terrifying) implications of autonomous weapons systems -- Tim Adams * Guardian *Runciman's erudition is formidable ... a wide-ranging history of the modern state and an exploration of how AI technology may change the world [from] one of our leading public intellectuals -- Jason Cowley * Sunday Times *Compelling ... David Runciman makes salutary arguments [about] the most urgent problem we face -- Blake Smith * Literary Review *Quirky, meditational, disturbing ... original thinking -- Sherelle Jacobs * Telegraph *Praise for David Runciman: 'A clear and forceful writer * Financial Times *Runciman's flair for turning a pithy and pungent phrase is one of the things to admire about his writing ... That and [his] cogency, subtlety and style * Observer *Refreshingly free of received and rehearsed wisdoms, Runciman doesn't tiptoe around sacred cows and invites us to take part in that most adult way of thinking: to examine contradictory ideas in tandem and ponder what the dissonance amounts to * Australian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt is time for a radical shake up of the purposes and practices of our education system. Melissa Benn is one of the most clear sighted and vocal campaigners for improving our schools. She shows here how we need to rethink education for life. As more and more of us live and work longer than ever before, a National Education Service should, like the NHS, be the framework that ensures a life-long entitlement for all, from early years provision to apprenticeships, universities and adult education. Like the NHS, it should be free at the point of delivery. The purpose of learning is not solely to pass exams but to prepare for living in the world; citizens of the future will need to develop their imaginations as well as their intellects, to be at ease with both knowledge and uncertainty.Life Lessons sets out a radical agenda for how we make education for all, and make it relevant to the demands of 21st century. This requires a deep-rooted, long-term vision of the role of learning in our society, one that is ready to take on the challenges of a new century and be part of a wider shift towards greater equality.Trade ReviewInvaluable in providing education activists with the tools to move debates on Labour education policies forward . A very readable book, to be thoroughly recommended. * Morning Star *Life Lessons is an eloquent and much needed blue print for a more equitable education system at a time when radical ideas are in short supply. -- Fiona MillarWhen we see what's going wrong in education, we need people like Melissa Benn to give us signposts for what else is possible. As a lifelong campaigner for a fair and equitable education system, she shows she is the ideal person to map out a progressive agenda for education in the future. With an overloaded curriculum, relentless testing and increased selection, this book is a timely appeal for a rational and democratic education service. -- Michael Rosen, author of Good IdeasCaptures the spirit of the progressive education movement as it exists today, and reflects its current grievances and priorities . will be warmly welcomed by all those who believe our education system is broken and needs radical transformation. * Red Pepper *Benn is not only an outstanding campaigner but she's also a brilliant writer. What I loved about her book is the mixture of radicalism and pragmatism; Benn presents solutions to the many problems facing parents, pupils and teachers today. This book is an essential argument for an equal and fair education system, and a vital contribution to our National Education Service, one of Labour's flagship policy proposals. -- Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretry

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Very occasionally a journalist starts an avalanche with a single gunshot... Chris Mullin and his TV colleagues belong in the glorious company."-The Observer'One of the greatest feats ever achieved by an investigative reporter'-Sebastian Faulks, the Independent on Sunday'Whoever planted the bombs in Birmingham...also planted a bomb under the British legal establishment'-Robert Harris, Sunday TimesError of Judgment lit a fire under the establishment when it was first published, shattering the prosecution case against six Irishmen charged with the Birmingham Bombings and going on to change the course of British legal history.On the evening of 21st November 1974, bombs planted by the IRA in two crowded Birmingham pubs exploded, killing 21 people and injuring at least 170. Within a day of the explosion, six men - Paddy Hill, Gerry Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, Billy Power, Johnny Walker and Hughie Callaghan - were arrested and charged. All were found guilty.Methodically, with total clarity and a tone that is both gripping and impassioned, then investigative journalist Mullin unpicked every detail of the case, revealing gaping holes in the prosecution case and the horrifying consequences of an establishment determined to close ranks.Now 50 years on from the Birmingham Bombings and with new writing from Mullin, this classic edition of Error of Judgement tells the complete story of one of the most significant miscarriages of justice ever. As relevant now as it was when it was first published, it's an essential text on corruption, violence and bias in British policing and justice.Trade ReviewVery occasionally a journalist starts an avalanche with a single gunshot: William Howard Russell of The Times on the condition of the British Army in the Crimea in the 1850s; WT Stead of the Pall Mall Gazette on child prostitution in London in the 1890s; a handful of others. Chris Mullin and his TV colleagues belong in the glorious company * The Observer *One of the greatest feats ever achieved by an investigative reporter * Sebastian Faulks, the Independent On Sunday *Whoever planted the bombs in Birmingham...also planted a bomb under the British legal establishment * Robert Harris, Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhere China's leadership and the sages of antiquity see eye-to-eye Since taking office, General Secretary Xi Jinping has promoted the 'Chinese Dream of National Rejuvenation' - a concept which neatly binds together past vitality and future prosperity. Accordingly, Xi has incorporated allusions to the classics as part of his signature style, prescribing the ideas of Confucius, Mencius, and others as cures for the vexations of modernity. From both a domestic and an international perspective this is a strikingly novel approach, well worthy of closer examination. Xi Jinping's Adages pairs 35 classical references from Xi Jinping's key speeches with expert analysis, affording the reader a fascinating perspective on the thinking of a leader who believes China's ancient past can - and should - shape its future.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A wonderful meditation on populism, nationalism, politics and truth'' Rory Stewart, author, The Marches***Chosen as a 2023 Non-Fiction highlight in the Guardian, New Statesman and Irish Times*** We live in an age of fury and confusion. A new crisis erupts before the last one has finished: financial crisis, Brexit, pandemic, war in Ukraine, inflation, strikes. Prime Ministers come and go but politics stays divided and toxic. It is tempting to switch off the news, tune out and hope things will get back to normal. Except, this is the new normal, and our democracy can only work if enough people stay engaged without getting enraged. But how? To answer that question, award-winning journalist Rafael Behr takes the reader on a personal journey from despair at the state of politics to hope that there is a better way of doing things, with insights drawn from three decades as a political commentator and foreign correspondent.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn The Corona Crash, leading economics commentator Grace Blakeley theorises about the epoch-making changes that the coronavirus brings in its wake. We are living through a unique moment in history. The pandemic has caused the deepest global recession since the Second World War. Meanwhile the human cost is reflected in a still-rising death toll, as many states find themselves unable - and some unwilling - to grapple with the effects of the virus. Whatever happens, we can never go back to business as usual. This crisis will tip us into a new era of monopoly capitalism, argues Blakeley, as the corporate economy collapses into the arms of the state, and the tech giants grow to unprecedented proportions.Trade ReviewOne of the most inspiring, thought provoking and insightful voices on the left offers a route map out of this crisis and this is a must read anyone who wants to change the world. -- Owen Jones * [For Stolen] *The best thing I've read about how we got into this mess, and how we get out. -- Frankie Boyle * [For Stolen] *A clear, accessible and informative guide to left economics, showing how we got to this era of capitalist crisis, environmental catastrophe and insurgent socialist revival. Grace Blakeley offers radical solutions to an exploitative and unfair system -- Bhaskar Sunkara * Jacobin [for Stolen] *Grace Blakeley is one of the sharpest of a new generation of economic and political thinkers, with a gift for clearly and eloquently explaining how we got to the crisis point we're in, and why only radical transformation will get us out. A must-read for today s activists on both sides of the Atlantic. -- Sarah Jaffe, author of Necessary Trouble * [For Stolen] *One of the most inspiring, thought-provoking and insightful voices on the left -- Owen Jones, author of ChavsGrace Blakeley asserts the need for Covid-19 to be a global wake-up call. * Guardian, Biggest Books of Autumn 2020 *As Grace Blakeley notes in her excellent new book, The Corona Crash, not all increases in the size of government are created equal. * Washington Post *[The Corona Crash] makes clear that we simply cannot go back to the way things were. * Huck *Blakeley asks the question: if we are already living in a planned economy, shouldn't those making the decisions be subject to scrutiny? Shouldn't the plans that determine how we live our lives be decided democratically? * Labour Hub *An urgent read ... inspiring and thought-provoking, offering expansive resolutions in line with the Green New Deal that could transform our political, economic, and social systems. -- Anna Cafolla * Dazed *The only solution, [Blakeley] believes, is an enormous global Green New Deal. It would be hard to find a purer iteration of the socialist critique of modern capitalism in a pandemic age. -- Zachary Karabell * New York Times Book Review *An excellent exposition of pre-Covid trends towards parasitic dependence of corporate and financial capital on state monetary policy. -- Bryn Jones * Chartist *Illuminating ... Blakeley connects the dots and draws out the economic and political processes that have led from the postwar boom ... to the current 'corona crash'. * Socialist Appeal *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA concise, sharp-witted and illuminating account of the lives of Britain’s prime ministers from Walpole to May, illustrated by Martin Rowson.For the reader who has heard of such giants as Gladstone and Disraeli, and has drunk in a pub called the Palmerston, but has only the haziest idea of who these people were, Gimson’s Prime Ministers offers a short account of them all which can be read for pleasure, and not just for edification. With Gimson’s wonderful prose once again complemented by Martin Rowson’s inimitable illustrations, this lively and entertaining aide-memoire and work of satirical genius brings our parliamentary history to life as never before.PRAISE FOR GIMSON'S PRIME MINISTERS:'The most engaging and insightful account of PMs to have been published' Arthur Seldon, Standpoint'Learned witty and wise, and splendidly illustrated' Tibor Fischer'Hugely enjoyable' Tom HollandGimson's Kings and Queens is also available. Trade ReviewGimson's Prime Ministers is a crisp and stylish account of every one of them -- Charles Moore * Spectator *Masterly -- Craig Brown * Daily Mail *Hugely enjoyable... has the added bonus of glorious illustrations -- Tom HollandAndrew Gimson's Prime Ministers is the best general book on British politics I've ever come across. Learned, witty and wise, and splendidly illustrated by Martin Rowson, with great snippets for dinner parties. Take Henry Pelham, prime minister from 1743 to 54: "He lived without abusing his power and died poor." -- Tibor FischerThe secret of prime ministers is that they are weak. This is a conclusion of Andrew Gimson’s wonderful portraits in his new book -- John Rentoul * The Independent *Really valuable -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times Red Box Podcast *If you associate Lord Salisbury more with a pub than with politics, here is Andrew Gimson to the rescue... This spirited blend of politics and anecdote is wonderfully complemented by Martin Rowson's Georgian-style caricatures. Tony Blair's tombstone teeth embedded in Iraq are unforgettable -- Zenga Longmore * Spectator *Pacy and entertaining. It is a perfect refresher of British political history, deserving of a place in the discerning reader’s downstairs loo alongside Gimson’s excellent earlier volume on Kings and Queens, which was, like this one, beautifully illustrated by the cartoonist Martin Rowson. -- Theo Barclay * Daily Telegraph *A cracking read -- Andrew Pierce * LBC *A gem of a book...a constant delight -- Julia Langdon * The Tablet *It could hardly be done better. His pen portraits of our 54 prime ministers are lucid, pithy and perceptive... a galloping good read -- Peter Lilley * Standpoint *The most engaging and insightful account of PMs to have been published -- Arthur Seldon * Standpoint *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing'Reading this book might make you wish to set fire to your smartphone, but it might also make you wish to call for reform. If you do the latter you might consider the former, as long as that thing is on, they know where you live.' Margaret Atwood How to comprehend and correct the negative impact of the internet on politics, the economy, the environment and humanity? Reset is a fast-paced, compelling expose; and a rallying call for clear change. Drawing on the cutting-edge research of the Citizen Lab, the world-renowned digital security research group he founded, Ronald J. Deibert exposes the influence of the communications ecosystem on civil society. He tracks a mostly unregulated surveillance industry, innovations in technologies of remote control, superpower policing practices, dark PR firms and highly profitable hack-for-hire services feeding off rivers of poorly secured personal data. He also unearths how dependence on social media and its expanding universe of consumer electronics creates immense pressure on the natural environment.  Determined to find solutions, Deibert has written a unique, readable and forward-looking book. In order to combat authoritarian practices, environmental degradation and rampant electronic consumerism, Deibert urges for very specific restraints on tech platforms and governments to reclaim the internet for civil society. It's time for us to push RESET. 'Deibert is a rare hybrid who combines an advanced understanding of computer technology with a rich background in political science. He is also a legend in security and tech circles.' Misha GlennyTrade Review'No one has done more than Ron Deibert and his lab to expose the enemies of the internet ... Reset is the definitive narrative of where we went wrong and a last chance to make things right.' Edward Snowden - 'Deibert is a rare hybrid who combines an advanced understanding of computer technology with a rich background in political science. He is also a legend in security and tech circles.' Misha Glenny, McMafia - 'Tech is at a crossroads between oppression and liberation, and Ronald J. Deibert is our leading expert on the forces steering it in either direction. Reset is a road map revealing the secret alleys and byways that brought us to this juncture, and the ways ahead that we could navigate to a better future.' Cory Doctorow, author of Radicalized and Walkaway - 'Ron Deibert has been at the heart of analysing the harms of technology to human rights, and increasingly to the human condition, for decades. His deep research and clear moral compass make his plea for a "reset" an urgent one ... Essential reading.' Marietje Schaake, international policy director of the Cyber Policy Center, Stanford University, and president of the CyberPeace Institute

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe biblical adage that 'if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand' remains sound theological advice. It also essential counsel for any political party that aspires to win elections. Though both major parties have been subject to internal conflict over the years, it is the Labour Party which has been more given to damaging splits. The divide exposed by the Corbyn insurgency is only the most recent example in a century of destructive infighting. Indeed, it has often seemed as though Labour has been more adept at fighting itself than in defeating the Tory party. This book examines the history of Labour's civil wars and the underlying causes of the party's schisms, from the first split of 1931, engineered by Ramsay MacDonald, to the ongoing battle for the future between the incumbent, Keir Starmer, and those who fundamentally altered the party's course under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDonald Trump''s relationship with the rule of law is toxic. Trump neither understands nor respects the legal system. And his opponents sometimes fail to apply reasoned legal judgment to his unprecedented words and deeds. The sum total of this combination has been years of frenzied misjudgment--on both sides of the aisle.This collection of columns, previously published in newspapers around the world, looks at two things through the lens of the law: The presidency of Donald J. Trump and the response to the presidency of Donald J. Trump.Literary Nonfiction.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWilliam Hazlitt's essay on the ludicrousness of monarchy shows him at his best.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less