Politics and government Books

Book SynopsisCapitalism has transformed the world and increased our productivity, but at the cost of enormous human suffering. Our shared values equality and fairness, democracy and freedom, community and solidarity can both provide the basis for a critique of capitalism, and help to guide us towards a socialist and democratic society. In this elegant book, Erik Olin Wright has distilled decades of work into a concise and tightly argued manifesto analyzing the varieties of anti-capitalism, assessing different strategic approaches, and laying the foundations for a society dedicated to human flourishing. How to Be an Anticapitalist is an urgent and powerful argument for socialism, and a unparalleled guide to help us get there. Another world is possible.Trade Review"Deserves to be widely read. In 150-odd pages, Wright makes the case for what's wrong with capitalism, what would be better, and how to achieve it. This is the rare book that can speak to both the faithful and the unconverted. You could buy it for your skeptical uncle or your militant cousin: there is something here for the reader who needs persuading that another world is possible, and the reader who wants ideas for bringing that world into being." --Ben Tarnoff, Guardian "His ideas captured the imagination of audiences, intellectuals and activists across the globe ... Wright reinvented the meaning of socialism." --New York Times "Erik Olin Wright was a visionary writer gifted with the imagination to foresee what life after capitalism might look like, but he was much more than that. He embodied an entire way to think about capitalism and the world: clear, precise, and free of bullshit. This book, his last, should be an indispensable reference point for those who want to change the world for the better." --Bhaskar Sunkara, founder and publisher of Jacobin magazine "Erik will be remembered as the most important theorist of class in the second half of the twentieth century, and the greatest Marxist sociologist of his time." --Vivek Chibber, author of Postcolonial Theory and the Specter of Capital "Possessed of an unlimited capacity to render his ideas precise and simple, without diluting them, Erik gave activists a vision of a collective project to which each could contribute. Given the resurgent interest in 'socialism' among a new generation of thinkers and activists, Erik had an ever-increasing following." --Michael Burawoy, from the afterword "[An] eloquent and accessible volume." --Tom Mayer, Colorado Daily

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times bestsellerChristopher Hitchens was an unparalleled, prolific writer, who raised the polemical essay to a new art form, over a lifetime of thinking and debating the defining issues of our times. As an essayist he contributed to the New Statesman, Atlantic Monthly, London Review of Books, TLS and Vanity Fair. Any publication of a volume of Hitchens' essays was a major event on both sides of the Atlantic. Now comes a volume of Hitchens' previously uncollected essays, covering the themes that define Hitchens the thinker: literature, religion and politics. These essays remind us, once more, of the fierce, brilliant and trenchant voice of Christopher Hitchens.Trade ReviewThe range is remarkable... Literary criticism is often where he shines - the pieces on Orwell and Chesterton, in particular, are alert, nuanced and witty. * Financial Times *And yet... there are few journalists who can match the verve and panache of Hitchens's prose. He mixes the loquaciousness of the barfly with the fluency of the literary artist, and could not pen a dull sentence if he tried. * Guardian *What you will find in And Yet..., is a body of work that offers some of the most various, nutritious and amusing prose you are likely to encounter, and that stands as a testament to the consolations of a phrase he cherished: litera scripta manet - the written word remains. * Daily Telegraph *This final collection displays his startling ability to write so well about so much... The sense of loss at the subjects he will not write about is more than outweighed by the pleasure at those that he did. * New Statesman *Table of Contents1: Che Guevara: Goodbye to All That 2: Orwell's List 3: Orhan Pamuk: Mind the Gap 4: Bring on the Mud 5: Ohio's Odd Numbers 6: On Becoming American 7: Mikhail Lermontov: A Doomed Young Man 8: Salman Rushdie: Hobbes in the Himalayas 9: My Red-State Odyssey 10: The Turkey Has Landed 11: Bah, Humbug 12: A. N. Wilson: Downhill All the Way 13: Ian Fleming: Bottoms Up 14: Power Suits 15: Blood for No Oil! 16: How Uninviting 17: Look Who's Cutting and Running Now 18: Oriana Fallaci and the Art of the Interview 19: Imperial Follies 20: Clive James: The Omnivore 21: Gertrude Bell: The Woman Who Made Iraq 22: Physician, Heal Thyself 23: Edmund Wilson: Literary Companion On the Limits of Self-improvement, Part I: Of Vice and Men 24: On the Limits of Self-improvement, Part II: Vice and Versa 25: On the Limits of Self-improvement, Part III: Mission Accomplished 26: Ayaan Hirsi Ali: The Price of Freedom 27: Arthur Schlesinger: The Courtier 28: Paul Scott: Victoria's Secret 29: The Case against Hillary Clinton 30: The Tall Tale of Tuzla 31: V. S. Naipaul: Cruel and Unusual 32: No Regrets 33: Barack Obama: Cool Cat 34: The Lovely Stones 35: Edward M. Kennedy: Redemption Song 36: Engaging with Iran Is Like Having Sex with Someone Who Hates You 37: Colin Powell: Powell Valediction 38: Shut Up about Armenians or We'll Hurt Them Again 39: Hezbollah's Progress 40: The Politicians We Deserve 41: Rosa Luxemburg: Red Rosa 42: Joan Didion: Blue Nights 43: The True Spirit of Christmas 44: Charles Dickens's Inner Child 45: G. K. Chesterton: The Reactionary 46: The Importance of Being Orwell 47: What Is Patriotism?

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Book SynopsisBOOK OF THE YEAR, The Times, Guardian and Prospect'Fascinating and instructive... his decency and pragmatism shine through.' The Times'Candid, valuable and insightful.' ObserverSince the EU referendum of 2016, British politics has witnessed a barrage of crises, resignations and general elections. Theresa May's premiership was the most turbulent of all. In her darkest hour, following the disastrous 2017 election, she turned to Gavin Barwell to help restore her battered authority. He would become her chief of staff for the next two years - a period punctuated by Brexit negotiations, domestic tragedy, and intense political drama.In this gripping insider memoir, Barwell reveals what really went on in the corridors of power - and sheds a vital light on May, the most inscrutable of modern prime ministers. He was by her side when she met Donald Trump, heard about the poisoning of the Skripals in Salisbury, and responded to the Grenfell Tower fire. He was also at the centre of Brexit talks with foreign leaders and MPs from across the house, including Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer. Revealing how government operates during times of crisis, this is the definitive record of a momentous episode in Britain's recent political history.Trade ReviewA candid, valuable and insightful account of two hugely consequential years of history. Read it if you want to fully understand why we are where we are today. * Observer *Barwell writes with a humility and honesty that makes Chief of Staff a fascinating and instructive book... his decency and pragmatism shine through the pages of his book. * The Times *An important historical document and the ultimate insiders story of how a government was slowly and painfully overwhelmed. A meticulous account of a tortured period of our politics, revealing for the first time what really happened in Downing Street. * Laura Kuenssberg, Political Editor of BBC News *Chiefs of staff at No. 10 see more of what is happening than anyone, often more even than the prime ministers themselves. This fascinating account takes us deeper than anyone before into the opaque mysteries of the turbulent premiership of Theresa May. * Sir Anthony Seldon, author of May at 10 *Chief of Staff takes us beyond the Corridors of Power and provides a unique insight into the nerve centre of decision-making in No.10 Downing Street. * Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister *'Gavin Barwell was in the room where it happens. This is a riveting, first-hand account of Britain's white-knuckle ride through the years after Brexit. Read it if you want to understand the country we live in today.' * George Osborne, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer *An important book. It explains how the prime minister's office works, which means it shows how we are governed. It is a window on one of the most important periods of modem political history: the Brexit negotiation years. Barwell is candid about the mistakes that were made, about how emotion and stupidity will often trump reason, and about the comedy of so much of government. Essential reading for anyone with even a passing interest in politics. * Robert Peston, Political Editor, ITV News *Excellent * Daniel Finkelstein, Times *Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Appointment 3: Steadying the Ship 4: Building a Team 5: Working with Sir Humphrey 6: Crisis Management 7: Strategy 8: The Brexit Challenge 9: A Place with No Government 10: Dealing with the Cabinet 11: Shuffling the Pack 12: Media Relations 13: A Tale of Two Conference Speeches 14: Dealing with The Donald 15: National Security 16: Authorising the Use of Force 17: Negotiating with Brussels 18: Chequers and Doing the Deal 19: A Lucky Break 20: Parliamentary Shenanigans 21: Talking to the Opposition 22: Time's Up 23: What Can You Achieve in Two Months? 24: Leaving Narnia

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Book SynopsisPalaeolithic hunters who learnt how to kill two mammoths instead of one had made progress. Those who learnt how to kill 200 by driving a whole herd over a cliff had made too much. Many of the great ruins that grace the deserts and jungles of the earth are monuments to progress traps, the headstones of civilisations which fell victim to their own success. The twentieth-century´s runaway growth has placed a murderous burden on the planet. A Short History of Progress argues that this modern predicament is as old as civilisation. Only by understanding the patterns of progress and disaster that humanity has repeated since the Stone Age can we recognise the inherent dangers, and, with luck, and wisdom, shape its outcome.Trade ReviewThe author sifts the findings of archaeology and anthropology with thoughtful grace to build a potent argument. * * Guardian * *A compelling work of distilled wisdom. * * The Times * *Rarely have I read a book that is so gripping, so immediate and so important to our times. Jared Diamond will be jealous. -- Robyn WilliamsRonald Wright is both trained academic and an acclaimed novelist and he has used these skills to page-turning effect in this work of non-fiction. * * Morning Star * *

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Book SynopsisBangladesh, a Muslim majority nation with a population of some 154 million people, receives little notice in the West, other than when political upheaval or natural disasters bring it to our attention. In "Understanding Bangladesh", an account of the political and economic experiences of the Bangladeshi state and its people, S. Mahmud Ali seeks to redress that imbalance. His book identifies the key players among Bangladesh's tiny military, political and business elite, explores the attempts to establish their authority in a crowded field, and considers the relative merits of their attempts at nation-building. Ali concludes by outlining both the remarkable achievements recorded by this land of unusual narratives, and the elemental challenges its burgeoning populace faces in the years ahead, among which is a resurgent and highly politicized form of militant Islamism.Trade Review'A compelling account of Bangladesh's history, politics and culture. Understanding Bangladesh is a significant contribution to the growing scholarship on this South Asian state. It will be a great resource for students of South Asian history and politics.' * Contemporary South Asia *'This richly detailed book traces the evolution of Bangladesh as an independent state since 1971. Drawing on a wealth of primary and secondary sources in English and Bengali, as well as insights based on the author's personal experience of some of the events discussed, it covers in chronological order key developments vital to any understanding of the country's politics, economic policies and external relations. At the same time, the book also addresses historical factors that have shaped groups and ideas in Bangladesh which notwithstanding their place at the margins of power, have come to define the country's political landscape. Nor does it ignore emerging environmental and demographic pressures, which the author suggests will represent new challenges that could alter Bangladesh's landscape yet again. Together they help deliver a narrative that is meticulously researched, soberly argued and set to emerge as one of the most authoritative and complete accounts of a still poorly understood country.' * Dr Farzana Shaikh, Chatham House, and author of Making Sense of Pakistan *'This latest book will further enhance the author's reputation, drawing as it does on personal experience and considerable depth of research and dealing with a country of rising importance ... a scholarly and detailed chronological account of Bangladesh's origins and complex development as a new independent country. ... I warmly recommend it to anyone seeking insight into this rapidly changing country.' * Asian Affairs *

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Book Synopsis‘A combination of all that is best in memoir, biography and history.’ – Caroline Moorehead 'In this remarkable book... Jauncey has performed the great service of reminding us of a wonderful figure from Scotland’s recent history.' – Alexander McCall Smith It would be impossible to invent Don Roberto today – a fantastic combination of Don Quixote and Sir Gawain, Indiana Jones and the Lone Ranger. He was so multi-faceted, so complex, that every chapter in his story reveals some new and contradictory aspect of his personality. He is best known as the co-founder, with Keir Hardie, of the Scottish Labour Party, and later as the founding president of the Scottish National Party. But in a long and extraordinary life he was many other things besides.

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Book SynopsisFrom the aggressive US rhetoric against China, to the escalating trade war with tit for tat responses, and China's 2025 initiative that threatens the US global leadership in advanced technologies, tensions between the US and China (the two dominant forces of today's world) have never been higher. This book provides a timely analysis of the US-China relationship. Each model is deeply rooted in their respective histories and cultures, with both models highly successful in achieving their main goals and highly resilient over time. It explores the core misconceptions on governance, economic, social and military issues, and the root causes of these misconceptions. If China and US could close the gap by each understanding those differences and their implications, the author argues, they could work together to overcome global issues to the benefit of all. This updated paperback edition includes a new introduction covering recent events in US-China relations.

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Book Synopsis“Should be required reading for anyone interested in preserving our 246-year experiment in self-government.” —The New York Times Book Review * “Well researched and eloquently presented.” —The Atlantic * “Delivers Cormac McCarthy-worthy drama; while the nonfictional asides imbue that drama with the authority of documentary.” —The New York Times Book Review A celebrated journalist takes a fiercely divided America and imagines five chilling scenarios that lead to its collapse, based on in-depth interviews with experts of all kinds.The United States is coming to an end. The only question is how. On a small two-lane bridge in a rural county that loathes the federal government, the US Army uses lethal force to end a standoff with hard-right anti-government patriots. Inside an ordinary diner, a disaffected young man with a handgun takes aim at the American president stepping in for an impromptu photo-op, and a bullet splits the hyper-partisan country into violently opposed mourners and revelers. In New York City, a Category 2 hurricane plunges entire neighborhoods underwater and creates millions of refugees overnight—a blow that comes on the heels of a financial crash and years of catastrophic droughts—and tips America over the edge into ruin. These nightmarish scenarios are just three of the five possibilities most likely to spark devastating chaos in the United States that are brought to life in The Next Civil War, a chilling and deeply researched work of speculative nonfiction. Drawing upon sophisticated predictive models and nearly two hundred interviews with experts—civil war scholars, military leaders, law enforcement officials, secret service agents, agricultural specialists, environmentalists, war historians, and political scientists—journalist Stephen Marche predicts the terrifying future collapse that so many of us do not want to see unfolding in front of our eyes. Marche has spoken with soldiers and counterinsurgency experts about what it would take to control the population of the United States, and the battle plans for the next civil war have already been drawn up. Not by novelists, but by colonels. No matter your political leaning, most of us can sense that America is barreling toward catastrophe—of one kind or another. Relevant and revelatory, The Next Civil War plainly breaks down the looming threats to America and is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of its people, its land, and its government.Trade Review“Well researched and eloquently presented.” —The Atlantic “Should be required reading for anyone invested in preserving our 246-year experiment in self-government . . . The book alternates between fictional dispatches from a coming social breakdown and digressions that support its predictions with evidence from the present. The effect is twofold: The narrative delivers Cormac McCarthy-worthy drama; while the nonfictional asides imbue that drama with the authority of documentary.” —Ian Bassin, The New York Times Book Review“Richly imagined . . . Marche is poignantly aware of the degree to which global liberty rides on what happens to America.” —Financial Times“Too many of his pronouncements ring true.” —New Yorker“It’s not a matter of if but when: A civil war is on the way. . . . In a time of torment, this is a book well worth reading.” —Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate, comprehensive guide to official country data and statistics, from the world’s most sophisticated intelligence-gathering organization. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, The CIA World Factbook 2024-2025 offers complete and up-to-date information on the world's nations. This comprehensive guide is packed with data on countries' politics, populations, economics, and environment for 2024 and looks ahead to 2025. The CIA World Factbook 2024-2025 includes the following for each country: Updated geopolitical maps Population statistics, with details on languages, religions, literacy rates, age structure, health indicators, and much more Up-to-date data on military expenditures and capabilities Geography information, including climate and natural hazards Details on prominent political figures and parties Contact information for diplomatic missions Facts on

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Book SynopsisThe Political Martyrs memorial in Edinburgh looms large on the city's skyline but its history is relatively unknown. And that is not by accident. As Edinburgh's New Town was constructed, a narrative of kilts and loyalty was created for Scotland, with its radical history deliberately excluded. The French Revolution lit a spark in Scotland, inspiring radicals and working people alike, and uniting them in opposition to the King and his government. The oligarchy of landowners that ran Scotland was worried. Leading radicals like Thomas Muir and fellow political martyrs were later rounded up and transported to Botany Bay. But the radicals fought back and formed the United Scotsmen, seeking widespread political reform throughout the Union and prepared to use physical force in defence of their ideals and as social and economic hardship followed in Waterloo's wake, the flame of radicalism was further ignited. This is Scotland's Radical History.

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Book SynopsisAn outspoken perspective on modern political systems, this book revitalizes socialist thought and rethinks the socialist practice toward a realistic utopia.

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Book SynopsisBlanton/Kegley''s WORLD POLITICS: TREND AND TRANSFORMATION, 18th Edition, combines cutting-edge research with real-world events, giving you a deep understanding of what''s happening on the global stage and why it matters. Engage in discussions that challenge you to analyze the choices that shape our global future. Explore complexities of recent challenges to global peace and prosperity, including the rise of China, Russia''s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Dive into topics like non-state armed groups, terrorism, military advancements, autonomous weapons systems, global economy, human rights, inequality, threats to health and the environment and more. Equip yourself with the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the global political landscape. Join the ranks of informed and engaged college students who are shaping the future.

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Book SynopsisHa-Joon Chang''s 23 Things They Don''t Tell You About Capitalism turns received economic wisdom on its head to show you how the world really works. In this revelatory book, Ha-Joon Chang destroys the biggest myths of our times and shows us an alternative view of the world, including: There''s no such thing as a ''free'' marketGlobalization isn''t making the world richerWe don''t live in a digital world - the washing machine has changed lives more than the internetPoor countries are more entrepreneurial than rich onesHigher paid managers don''t produce better results We don''t have to accept things as they are any longer. Ha-Joon Chang is here to show us there''s a better way. ''Lively, accessible and provocative ... read this book'' - Sunday Times ''A witty and timely debunking of some of the biggest myths surrounding the global economy'' - Observer ''The new kid on the economics block ... Chang''s iconoclastic attitude has won him fans'' - Independent on Sunday ''Lucid ... audacious ... increasingly influential ... will provoke physical symptoms of revulsion if you are in any way involved in high finance'' - Guardian ''Important ... persuasive ... an engaging case for a more caring era of globalization'' - Financial Times ''A must-read ... incisive and entertaining'' - New Statesman Books of the YearHa-Joon Chang is a Reader in the Political Economy of Development at the University of Cambridge. He is author of Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective, which won the 2003 Gunnar Myrdal Prize, and Bad Samaritans: Rich Nations, Poor Policies and the Threat to the Developing World. Since the beginning of the 2008 economic crisis, he has been a regular contributor to the Guardian, and a vocal critic of the failures of our economic system.Trade ReviewA masterful debunking of some of the myths of capitalism ... Witty, iconoclastic and uncommonly commonsensical ... this book will be invaluable * Observer *Important .. persuasive . [an] engaging case for a more cautious and caring era of globalisation * Financial Times *Myth-busting and nicely-written . the best economists are those who look around at our man-made world and ask themselves "why?". Chang is one * Independent *In 23 lucid, sometimes breezily didactic chapters, Chang takes apart the stricken ideology of neoliberalism. Chang's method is not to engage with the neoliberals but to knock them down with assertions. -- Paul Mason, Economics Editor, BBC Newsnight * Guardian *Ha-Joon Chang is a formidable critic...and a true exponent of the art of political economy -- Michael Lind * Prospect *Chang's...iconoclastic attitude has won him fans such as Bob Geldof and Noam Chomsky. -- Rachel Shields * The Independent on Sunday *For anyone who wants to understand capitalism not as economists or politicians have pictured it, but as it actually operates, this book will be invaluable. -- John Gray * Observer *

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Book SynopsisEd Moloney''s Voices from the Grave follows his highly acclaimed A Secret History of the IRA, the best-informed account yet written of the IRA''s evolution from ruthless guerilla army into governmental party. But reconciliation between political figures who until very recently wished each other dead or in jail has not been accompanied by very much truth-telling about the past. Men who have been to the White House and fraternized with Tony Blair deny that they ever fired a shot in anger, or caused a bomb to be planted.Now, in Voices from the Grave, a truly ground-breaking piece of historical evidence is unearthed. Two former paramilitary leaders - one republican, one loyalist - speak with unprecedented frankness about their role in some of the most appalling violence of the Troubles. The openness of Brendan Hughes of the IRA and David Ervine of the UVF results in a book of shocking and irresistible testimony, their voices set in the context of a narrative by Ed Moloney of their lives and of the society they grew up in.

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Book SynopsisRobert Kagan is the Senior Fellow at Washington think tank Brookings; a contributing columnist at The Washington Post; and the author of several NYT bestsellers including The World America Made (Knopf, 2012), Return of History and the End of Dreams (Knopf, 2008), Dangerous Nation (Knopf 2006). Politico Magazine named Kagan one of the 'Politico 50' in 2016. He served in the State Department from 1984 to 1988. He is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and holds a doctorate in American history from American University.

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Book SynopsisThis is the book The West Wing deserves. Allison JanneyA joy and a MUST READ for all the Wingnuts out there! Brad WhitfordA behind-the-scenes look into the creation and legacy of The West Wing as told by cast members Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack, with compelling insights from cast and crew exploring what made the show what it was and how its impassioned commitment to service has made the series and relationships behind it endure. Includes an exclusive foreword by showrunner Aaron Sorkin and introduction by cast member Allison Janney.Step back inside the world of President Jed Bartlet''s Oval Office with Fitzgerald and McCormack as they reunite the West Wing cast and crew in a lively and colourful backstage pass to the timeless series. This intimate, in-depth reflection reveals how The West Wing was conceived, and spotlights the army of people it took to produce it, the lifelong friendships it fo

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Book SynopsisThis striking collection of more than 200 full-color infographics is a vivid portrait of Israeli settler colonialism and the Palestinian struggle for freedom. As a new generation of movement-builders seek to understand Israel’s brutal, illegal occupation of Palestine, Visualizing Palestine''s vivid and informative graphics reveal deep truths about the decades-long Palestinian struggle for freedom. The infographics present more than just data: colorful, accessible, and thoughtfully arranged, the oppression they document in stark detail dovetails with stories of perseverance and strength. From the history of Zionist settlement to the depopulation of Palestinian villages; from the construction of an apartheid wall to the destruction of olive trees; from hunger strikes to mass protests to boycotts, Visualizing Palestine’s graphics are powerful, comprehensive, and demand our attention.

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Book SynopsisThe most sweeping account of how neoliberalism came to dominate American politics for nearly a half century before crashing against the forces of Trumpism on the right and a new progressivism on the left.The epochal shift toward neoliberalism--a web of related policies that, broadly speaking, reduced the footprint of government in society and reassigned economic power to private market forces--that began in the United States and Great Britain in the late 1970s fundamentally changed the world. Today, the word neoliberal is often used to condemn a broad swath of policies, from prizing free market principles over people to advancing privatization programs in developing nations around the world.To be sure, neoliberalism has contributed to a number of alarming trends, not least of which has been a massive growth in income inequality. Yet as the eminent historian Gary Gerstle argues in The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order, these indictments fail to reckon with the full contours of what neoliberalism was and why its worldview had such persuasive hold on both the right and the left for three decades. As he shows, the neoliberal order that emerged in America in the 1970s fused ideas of deregulation with personal freedoms, open borders with cosmopolitanism, and globalization with the promise of increased prosperity for all. Along with tracing how this worldview emerged in America and grew to dominate the world, Gerstle explores the previously unrecognized extent to which its triumph was facilitated by the collapse of the Soviet Union and its communist allies. He is also the first to chart the story of the neoliberal order''s fall, originating in the failed reconstruction of Iraq and Great Recession of the Bush years and culminating in the rise of Trump and a reinvigorated Bernie Sanders-led American left in the 2010s.An indispensable and sweeping re-interpretation of the last fifty years, this book illuminates how the ideology of neoliberalism became so infused in the daily life of an era, while probing what remains of that ideology and its political programs as America enters an uncertain future.Trade ReviewFascinating and incisive. * Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times *Enlightening . . . Gerstle carefully recreates the new order Reagan wanted . . . [and] emphasizes its market side . . . [A] fine book. * The New York Times Book Review *It's rare that one can use the term instant classic in a book review, but Gary Gerstle's latest economic history, The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order, warrants the praise. * Rana Foroohar, Financial Times *Gerstle offers a rich and sophisticated discussion of neoliberalism . . . an important and beautifully written book. * The Washington Post *His American focus might also finally allow British readers to escape their factional trenches and appreciate the shape of neoliberalism. It is a terrific service . . . . a joy to read. * Tom Clark, Prospect *Masterfully blends compelling analysis with a propulsive narrative. * Irish Times *Brilliantly conceived, capaciously argued, and written with great clarity . . . For those interested in a meaningful historical perspective on where we are now, I can think of no better book. * Steven Hahn, The Nation *A cogent, erudite historical analysis. * Kirkus Reviews *[A] splendid and stimulating history of neo-liberalism's rise and possible 'fall.' * Australian Book Review *This book is an interesting account of what is exceptional about "America". * Michael Laver, Society *Essential reading. * Adam Tooze, author of Crashed *One of the smartest, most perceptive books I've read in years. * Christopher Leonard, author of The Lords of Easy Money *Anyone baffled at how the U.S. could possibly have moved over a half-century from embracing a state-centered New Deal to relentlessly unraveling it will be greatly enlightened by Gerstle's beautifully written, engrossing, and powerful telling of the rise of the neoliberal order. And some may take heart from his claim that it too is in free-fall, albeit leaving behind enduring vestiges of free market orthodoxy. I know no better guide to the complex transformations that have shaped our own times. * Lizabeth Cohen, Howard Mumford Jones Professor of American Studies, Harvard University, and author of Saving America's Cities *Gerstle's important book offers us an illuminating and rich interpretation of the power and popularity of neoliberalism in America. A true history of the movement, situating neoliberalism in relation to classical liberalism, the New Deal and global Communism. Essential reading. * Adam Tooze, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of History, Columbia University *Expertly synthesizing a vast body of new scholarship—on international trade, the Cold War, race, polarization, Ralph Nader, the labor movement, and the rise of conservatism—Gary Gerstle delivers the most compendious and commanding history of neoliberal America to date. Along the way he opens new windows on the unexpected collaboration between Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich in deregulating America into the internet future. Gerstle also provides the best account I've read of how neoliberal" came to be the word of choice for an order that promises liberation and delivers subjection, that divides our two parties on some issues but conjoins them on others. * Corey Robin, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center *Among the foremost chroniclers of the American past, Gary Gerstle deploys in this bold book the powerful notion of 'political order' to examine our most recent history—the past forty years when the nation fastened its fortunes to marketization, global economic integration, a harsh penal state and sharpening inequality. By charting the rise and fall of the neoliberal order, this fast-paced account helps us make sense of the arch of American history from Ronald Reagan to Bernie Sanders, from Bill Clinton to Donald Trump. A must read for anyone interested in the world we inhabit today, with all its mortal dangers and yet-to-be fulfilled promises. * Sven Beckert, Laird Bell Professor of History, Harvard University *Gary Gerstle offers a brilliant, engaging, and provocative first-draft history of the last half century, a period sorely in need of scrutiny. With characteristic big-think flair, he shows that the neoliberal wisdom of that era—that markets would bring democracy, that the age of big government was over—emerged from specific historical forces and circumstances. He also suggests that many of those ideas can and should now be consigned to the past. * Beverly Gage, Professor of History & American Studies, Yale University *Just beneath the surface of our fractured and polarized polity, Gary Gerstle argues that there has been a Neoliberal Order under which both parties worked in the 1990s and early 2000s. Even as they bitterly disagreed, the nation's political debate moved far away from the class-based pillars of the New Deal. In another of his characteristically eye-opening analyses, Gerstle takes readers through the rise and fall of the political order that has shaped our leaders and electorate—that is, until powerful forces over the past decade, on the right and left, have opened the door to a new era. * Julian Zelizer, author of Abraham Joshua Heschel *Gerstle, a political historian specializing in contemporary history of the U.S., provides a comprehensive political history of the U.S. over the past six decades (Gerstle 2022)...Full of revelations. * Thomas König, Austrian Journal of Political Science *Southern historians might best use it as a provocation for graduate students regarding the role of the South in the rise and decline of neoliberalism. * William D. Goldsmith, Journal of Southern History *Gerstle's book has achieved the rare feat of both critical success and popular acclaim, having been shortlisted for the FT Business Book of the Year Award in 2022. It deserves it. * The OEconomia *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part I: The New Deal Order, 1930-1980 Chapter 1: Rise Chapter 2: Fall Part II: The Neoliberal Order, 1970-2020 Chapter 3: Beginnings Chapter 4: Ascent Chapter 5: Triumph Chapter 6: Hubris Chapter 7: Coming Apart Chapter 8: The End Notes Index

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Book Synopsis''I lap up everything John Crace writes gratefully: I love his cleverness, his wit, and his heart'' Nigella LawsonFrom the ingeniously quick-witted John Crace comes a satirical memoir from the eyes of his beloved dog, Herbie. And as a Westminster veteran, boy does he have some stories to share.It started when a chance encounter with Sadiq Khan''s Labrador landed Herbie a job working as a special advisor to Ed Miliband in 2014. Then he was summoned by David Cameron to work on the Remain campaign in the EU referendum. He experienced the pain of working with Theresa May; was sacked and then rehired by Boris Johnson to advise on Covid; was at Balmoral when the Queen died; had a ringside seat for Liz Truss; was fired by Rishi Sunak and then latterly taken on by Keir Starmer.This is the story the politicians didn''t want you to know. What are Larry the Cat and Dilyn the Dog really like? How did Charlotte Owen get a peerage? Herbert Hound, final

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Book Synopsis*SHORTLISTED FOR THE WESTMINSTER BOOK AWARDS AND THE UNWIN AWARD**LONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE**A WATERSTONES AND GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF 2024*''Both dynamite and medicine'' AMY-JANE BEER''Timely and rousing'' THE TIMES________________________________The lie of the land: that Britain's landowners care for the countryside.Our landowning elite are paid billions of taxpayer pounds to be good stewards. But these same landowners have carelessly trampled over our best-loved landscapes, leaving the rivers polluted, fenlands drained, and moorlands burned.Guy Shrubsole has travelled across Britain to expose the lie and meet the communities fighting back to restore our lost landscapes. This is a bold, shared vision for our nation's wild places, and how we can treat them with the awe and care they deserve.*Guy Shrubsole''s The Lost Rainforests of Britain was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2023-04-30*

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Book SynopsisThis work examines the problem of natural right and argues that there is a firm foundation in reality for the distinction between right and wrong in ethics and politics.

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Book SynopsisJeffrey D. Sachs presents timely and achievable plans to foster global economic growth and shift from war making to peacemaking. A New Foreign Policy explores both the danger of the “America first” mindset and the concrete steps the United States must take to build a multipolar world that is prosperous, peaceful, fair, and resilient.Trade ReviewForceful and angry, Sachs verges on hyperbole in his indictment of America past and present, but he does highlight the perils of continuing on the same path. * New York Times Book Review *His new book is entitled A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism, and there is much inside to be celebrated. I never thought I would utter the words “I agree with Jeff Sachs,” let alone put them in print, yet here we are. * American Conservative *Highly recommended. * Choice *A challenging departure from the Beltway assumption that America has acted as a force for good in the world. * Financial Times *Sachs provides a broad alternative vision not only to the Trump administration’s foreign policy, but to past U.S. foreign policy more generally. * LSE Review of Books *A worthwhile read, in which Sachs demonstrates expertise on vastly different policy fields and makes a convincing case that abdicating the toxic intersection of militarism and exceptionalism is key to building a brighter future, both in the U.S. and around the world. * Global Policy *Jeffrey Sachs is one of the few prominent American academics who dares to make the bold case that the US has been on the wrong track for decades. Its non-academic style makes this book accessible to any reader who wants to gain a broad understanding of what is driving American grand strategy * International Spectator *Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionPart I: U.S. Exceptionalism in a Changing World 1. From Exceptionalism to Globalism2. Exceptionalism as the Civic Religion3. The Era of Global Convergence4. Eurasia on the Rise, America on the Sidelines5. Russia-U.S. Relations in the Changing World Order Part II: America’s Wars 6. American Imperialism and “Wars of Choice”7. Contradictory Promises and a Century of Conflict in the Middle East8. North Korea and the Doomsday Clock9. Trump's National Security Strategy Part III: U.S. Foreign Economic Statecraft 10. The Economic Balance Sheet on “America First”11. Foreign Policy Populism12. Economic War with China13. Will Trump Hand China the Technological Lead?14. Toward a World Economy of Regions Part IV: Renewing American Diplomacy 15. From Diplomatic Leader to Rogue Nation16. The Ethics and Practicalities of Foreign Aid17. Managing Migration and Immigration18. Achieving Sustainable Development19. A New Foreign Policy for American Security and Well-BeingNotesReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisAn illuminating study tracing the evolution of drone technology and counterterrorism policy from the Reagan to the Obama administrationsTrade Review“An insightful history of the development of America’s counterterrorism strategy, technology and organization from Reagan to Obama. This book offers well-researched and balanced judgments which underscore the crucial need for robust and clear oversight of covert operations.”—Bruce Riedel, Director of the Intelligence Project, Brookings Institution -- Bruce Riedel“In Christopher J. Fuller’s brilliantly written book, the origins of America’s controversial policy of using drones to fight terrorism emerge clearly for the first time.”—Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, author of We Know All About You: The Story of Surveillance in Britain and America -- Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones“Scholars, practitioners, and citizens alike will learn more here than anywhere else about the rise of drones and, especially, the largely unheralded role the CIA played in this development."—Loch K. Johnson, Regents Professor of Public and International Affairs, University of Georgia -- Loch K. Johnson“A deeply researched, provocative, and important analysis of the origins of the CIA’s drone program.”—Kathryn Olmsted, Professor of History, University of California, Davis -- Kathryn Olmsted“Fuller carefully structures a historical analysis of American counterterrorism policy and the subsequent evolution of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) from the Reagan administration through today.”—Choice * Choice *

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Book SynopsisThe surprising story of Iran’s transformation from America’s ally in the Middle East into one of its staunchest adversariesTrade Review"An original interpretation that puts Iranian actors where they belong: at center stage."—Michael Doran, Wall Street Journal“An extraordinary account...Takeyh delivers a deeply nuanced and eloquent history of the shah.”—Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post “A timely offering...The narrative that emerges is woven together using a wealth of primary and secondary sources.”—Kevjn Lim, Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs“A sober, fair-minded assessment, enabled by perspectives afforded by both the passage of time and increasingly accessible archives.”—Lisa Anderson, Foreign Affairs"Books on twentieth century Iran abound, but none deliver the substance or the insight that Ray Takeyh does. For the clearest view of Iran for the last 100 years, this book is it."—Marvin Zonis, author of Majestic Failure: The Fall of the Shah“Ray Takeyh’s astute and provocative study of the last Shah of Iran sheds new light on the Cold-War foreign policy of the United States, the impact of individual personalities on the course of history, and the causes of the Iranian Revolution of 1979, with which the world has now had to live for more than four decades.”—Michael Mandelbaum, author of The Rise and Fall of Peace on Earth“Ray Takeyh has compellingly written the prequel to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s forty-year confrontation with the United States. He tells this fascinating story with unmatched perspicacity and insight all while restoring the agency of Iranian participants in this frequently tragic tale. Anyone who wants to understand the current impasse with Iran will have to come to grips with the arguments he makes and the issues he illuminates.”—Eric Edelman, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, 2005-2009“In The Last Shah Takeyh sets the record straight on the history of US-Iran relations.”—Hussain Abdul-Hussain

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Book SynopsisWhy and how America’s defense strategy must change in light of China’s power and ambition—A Wall Street Journal best book of 2021Trade Review“Colby, the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, here lays out—realistically, concretely and in plain-spoken American English—how Washington must act decisively to check Beijing’s growing power and ambition.”—Wall Street Journal, “Ten Best Books of 2021”“Rigorously argued and compelling. . . . This book will define the basis for future debate about U.S. defense strategy in Asia. . . . Mr. Colby earns a place as an intellectual heir to the Cold War strategists who thought seriously about how to thwart Soviet designs. . . . [He] is courageous in forcing readers to think concretely about the unthinkable. . . . The task of deterring Chinese aggression is urgent, and Mr. Colby’s book presents a needed path forward.”—Dan Blumenthal, Wall Street Journal “What to do about China’s rising might and territorial ambition? Brilliant strategist Elbridge Colby takes on this vexing and increasingly urgent challenge with a clear-eyed, forceful but carefully thought-out approach. Cogently, lucidly, he uses the lessons of history to show that the best way to avoid war is to prepare for war.”—Evan Thomas, coauthor of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made “Colby’s well-crafted and insightful Strategy of Denial provides a superb and, one suspects, essential departure point for an urgent and much-needed debate over U.S. defense strategy.“—Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr., Foreign Affairs “An exceptional book. Elbridge Colby has written a book on defense strategy that reaches a level of theoretical mastery akin to Hans Morgenthau’s Politics Among Nations. There is no better guidebook to how we should think about war and peace in this new age of great power competition.”—Robert D. Kaplan, author of Asia’s Cauldron “This is a realist’s book, laser-focused on China’s bid for mastery in Asia as the 21st century’s most important threat.”—Ross Douthat, New York Times “Anyone interested in US strategy should read this tour de force from the primary author of the celebrated 2018 U.S. National Defense Strategy. This well-written, masterfully constructed, logically compelling book conveys the essence of strategy from one of the best current practitioners of the trade. Highly recommended!”—Robert O. Work, former Deputy Secretary of Defense “Elbridge Colby has written an outstanding book. For anyone interested in understanding what a possible war between China and the United States might look like, The Strategy of Denial is the place to start. It is analytically rigorous, well-informed, and filled with interesting and smart insights.”—John Mearsheimer, author of The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities“Succeeds brilliantly in the task of building a broad strategic framework—one that is actually new—for how to think about America’s defense in the face of a rising China. . . . The Chinese military are going to translate and classify this book—if they haven’t already.”—Michael Pillsbury, senior fellow and director for Chinese Strategy, Hudson Institute “This is an incredibly important book. . . . The definitive work on U.S. defense strategy that should guide our strategic competition with China for the years to come.”—Christian Brose, author of The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare “There are many ways to lose wars or win them, but only one way to avoid them: to envision closely enough the dangers to be averted by deterrence or defense. This book brings together pure intellect, wide knowledge, and practical experience to show how U.S. defense strategy must change—and fast.”—Edward Luttwak, author of The Rise of China vs. the Logic of Strategy “As experts continue to warn of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan within the decade, denying such an invasion must be our top defense-planning priority. Mr. Colby spells out what we need to do in order to deter—and if necessary, win—a war over Taiwan. . . . An essential read.”—Mike Gallagher, U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin, “Who Read What: Political Figures Share Their Favorite Books of 2021” “[A] brilliant . . . book on how to deal with the geopolitical and military threat from China. Will be much discussed and constantly referred to as we grapple with this challenge.”—Rich Lowry, editor of National Review (via Twitter) “The Strategy of Denial is an excellent book and a very important one. Fundamentally, it’s not an argument about ‘global stability’ . . . but rather that we need to think about defense strategy in terms of regions in order to achieve political objectives.”—Nadia Schadlow, senior fellow, Hudson Institute “Colby gives us an original and provocative approach to containing adversaries, especially China. . . . [D]istinguished by its moving seamlessly from international relations theory to detailed questions of diplomacy and force deployment.”—Robert Jervis, author of How Statesmen Think“The book is just a marvel of analytic clarity and of ruthless logic . . . a true pleasure to read . . . [and] a marvel of clear argumentation and deductive reasoning. . . . [It] cuts through a lot of politics and uncertainty in a really helpful way.”—Jennifer Lind, Dartmouth College “I suppose there are others who could have written such a book, but they didn’t, at least not with such mastery of analysis. I think I’ve read most [of the] worthwhile books on U.S. defense strategy that have appeared in the last two decades, but I’ve rarely come across one that has the intellectual rigor, the systematicity of analysis, and the sheer ruthlessness of logical reasoning—not to mention the erudition—found in The Strategy of Denial.”—Ashley J. Tellis, senior fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace “An engaging, vigorously argued and refreshingly readable case for a U.S. strategy focused on deterring China to reduce the danger of war.”—Doyle McManus, Washington columnist, Los Angeles Times “Thoughtful and rigorous. . . . Makes an extended case for curtailing other commitments to focus on China. . . . The book’s fundamental strength . . . is Colby’s willingness to test all sides of complicated debates. . . . Required reading for lawmakers, national security hands, and 2024 presidential hopefuls.”—Adam O’Neal, Washington Examiner “Exceptionally well-thought out. . . . A well-argued . . . case for why the United States should care about Beijing’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. . . . Its arguments are both self-evident and well explained [and] it is thoroughly enjoyable to read.”—Joshua Huminski, Diplomatic Courier “This is a book well worth reading, packed with fresh paradigm-cracking ideas, breaking all the china in thinking how to handle China.”—James Jay Carafano, National Interest

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Book SynopsisChiura Obata (1885-1975) was one of the most significant Japanese American artists working on the West Coast in the last century. Born in Okayama, Japan, Obata emigrated to the United States in 1903 and embarked on a seven-decade career that saw the enactment of anti-immigration laws and the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. But Obata emerged as a leading figure in the Northern California artistic communities, serving not only as an influential art professor at UC Berkeley for nearly twenty years, but also as a founding director of art schools in the internment camps. With a prodigious and expansive oeuvre, Obata's seemingly effortless mastery of, and productive engagement with, diverse techniques, styles, and traditions defy the dichotomous categorizations of American/European and Japanese/Asian art. His faith in the power of art, his devotion to preserving the myriad grandeur of what he called Great Nature, and his compelling personal story as an immigrant and an American are all as relevant to our contemporary moment as ever. This catalogue is the first book surveying Chiura Obata's rich and varied body of work that include over 100 beautiful images, many of which have never been published. It also showcases a selection of Obata's writings and a rare 1965 interview with the artist. The scholarly essays by ShiPu Wang and the other contributors illuminate the intense and productive cross-cultural negotiations that Obata's life and work exemplify, in the context of both American modernism and the early twentieth-century U.S. racio-ethnic relations-a still-understudied area in American art historical scholarship. Published in association with the Art, Design and Architecture Museum, UC Santa Barbara. Exhibition dates: Art, Design and Architecture Museum, UC Santa Barbara: January 13-April 29, 2018 Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City: May 25-September 2, 2018 Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Okayama, Japan: January 18-March 10, 2019 Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento: June 23-September 29, 2019Trade Review“The exhibition catalog fairly glows with transcendent images, many of which are nominally landscapes that are less descriptive than visionary reactions to the natural world.” -- Charles Desmarais, * San Francisco Chronicle *"Obata’s work, a marvel of invention, nuance and emotional resilience, is the subject of a SmithsonianAmerican Art Museum exhibition . . . it’s worth looking up his work online or purchasing the catalogue for the exhibition, and reveling in the poetic economy of Obata’s painting, and his deft distillation of this country’s natural and urban wonders into masterful watercolors and pen and ink drawings." * Washington Post *"...a quietly revolutionary exhibition . . . . Chiura Obata’s massive body of work is rarely exhibited and, until now, has never had a major retrospective. . . . the opportunity to consider Obata as a major artist within the canon of American art, and more widely within the dominant canon of Western art and art history, and therefore deserving of a traditional retrospective, is what makes this exhibition revolutionary." * Panorama: Journal of the Association of Historians of American Art *"The catalogue is the first book to survey Chiura Obata's rich and varied works from his seven-decade career, and includes more than 100 images, many of which have never been published before." * ArtDaily.org *"The exhibition mixes beautiful images with documentary history, iconic American landscapes with incredible American failure. It highlights immigrants’ important contributions while not shying away from the realities of the experience. And it contests the notion of the American canon of art even as it seeks to broaden it." * The Washington Diplomat *"Looking at this retrospective exhibit, it’s hard to believe it all came from the same artist. Obata’s skillset was vast, as were his subjects. Traditional Japanese ink paintings rest along innovative woodblock pieces and large paintings of Yosemite National Park. Obata also combined these techniques in ways that are equal parts inspiring and confounding. It’s made Obata a difficult artist to classify. It’s also what made him so good." * Deseret News *"An American Modern has a lot of firsts. It’s the first touring exhibition of Obata’s work that includes work from all decades of his working life. It’s also the first time his works have been presented as a collective retrospective in Japan, since they’ve only shown in fragments before and not always translated. But perhaps most importantly, one of the next stops for this exhibition will be the Smithsonian, which marks Obata as an American Modernist in the larger artistic canon, a place he has every right to be, recognition long overdue." * Slug Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe political thriller of the year - UPDATED WITH A DEVASTATING NEW CHAPTER ON THE CHILCOT INQUIRY''Excellent'' Sunday Times''Devastating'' Daily MailWhen Tony Blair became prime minister in 1997, he was, at forty-three, the youngest to hold that office since 1812. With a landslide majority, his approval rating was 93 per cent and he went on to become Labour''s longest-serving premier. So what went wrong? With unprecedented access to more than 180 Whitehall officials, military officers and politicians, Tom Bower has uncovered the full story of Blair''s decade in power. He has followed Blair''s trail from his resignation, since which he has built a remarkable empire advising tycoons and tyrants. The result is the political thriller of the year, illuminating the mystery of an extraordinary politician who continues to fascinate to this day.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of Caledonian Road and Mayflies In The Secret Life: Three True Stories, Andrew O'Hagan issues three bulletins from the porous border between cyberspace and the real world'.Ghosting' introduces us to the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, whose autobiography the author agrees to ghostwrite, with unforgettable consequences.The Invention of Ronald Pinn' finds O'Hagan using the identity of a deceased young man to construct an entirely new one online, leading him on a journey into the deep web's darkest realms.The Satoshi Affair' chronicles the strange case of Craig Wright, the Australian web developer who may or may not be the mysterious inventor of Bitcoin, and who may or may not be willing, or even able, to reveal the truth.

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Book SynopsisChina expert Robert Spalding reveals the success China has had infiltrating American institutions and compromising their national security.

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Book SynopsisFor decades neuroscientists understood sensory perception as a matter of external stimuli “sparking” regions of the brain. But this view has a key flaw: odors don’t line up consistently with the neural map. A. S. Barwich explores the new science of smell and urges us to rethink theories of mind and brain inspired by the mapping model.Trade ReviewThis is a special book…Barwich does philosophy that is empirically directed and historically informed. It teaches readers a lot about olfaction. It teaches us even more about what philosophy can be. -- Rachel Fraser * Times Literary Supplement *Seeks to banish entrenched prejudice against the nose. Barwich…argues that we could discover far more about consciousness if we would only relinquish our old-school fixation on sight…Rather than mapping the external world and constructing an accurate representation of it in the brain, our sense of smell seems to involve a continuous, ever-shifting negotiation between our interior and exterior lives. * Harper’s *Lively, authoritative…Aims to rehabilitate smell’s neglected and marginalized status. -- Mike Jay * Wall Street Journal *Barwich writes with charm and precision about our preconceptions of how the olfactory system works and how it is different from the other sensory mechanisms that keep us alive and (relatively) safe…An illuminating discussion of the interface between the logical coherence of philosophy and the empirical disciplines of science. -- Michael Bywater * The Spectator *Barwich melds a philosophical perspective with a rich history of olfactory science, tackling big questions with layers of perceptual, psychological, and neurobiological explanations…She offers rich discussions of olfactory perception, the conscious and subconscious impacts of smell on behavior and emotion, and the physical and behavioral details that determine what odors we inhale, furnishing broad insights into the psychology of olfaction. -- John P. McGann * Science *A beguiling analysis of olfactory experience that is fast becoming a core reference work in the field. -- Joe Humphreys * Irish Times *Barwich takes us deeper into the human stories, key advances, and dead ends of olfaction science, interspersed with philosophical theory…A timely dispatch from the research trenches, surveying a field in flux. -- Barbara Kiser * Issues in Science and Technology *An impressive work…Undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive and accessible studies of olfaction…Barwich brilliantly dovetails psychology with neurophysiology, detailing how olfaction operates by markedly distinct principles of neural representation in comparison with vision, audition, and somatosensation. -- Ekin Erkan * Perception *Barwich guides the reader into the fascinating science (both historical and contemporary) of odors and olfaction. -- Brad Thompson * The Philosophers’ Magazine *Finding out why mint smells different from a skunk’s spray turns out to be a much harder problem than why red looks different from blue. Barwich tells the fascinating story of why the science of smell has gone down many a false trail, and why the sciences of vision and audition made breakthroughs while olfaction remained mired in mystery. Smellosophy taught me a lot about my brain’s smelly world. -- Patricia Churchland, author of Conscience: The Origins of Moral IntuitionA. S. Barwich’s new book, written with passion and infectious delight, unites history, art, philosophy, and in-depth interviews with pioneers in modern olfaction science. The result will enhance every reader’s appreciation for the role of smell in human life. -- Gordon M. Shepherd, author of Neurogastronomy: How the Brain Creates Flavor and Why It MattersLewis Thomas famously remarked that smell contains ‘all the mysteries’ of biology; figure it out and you will have solved most of them. A. S. Barwich is a superb documentarian of the science behind how the brain detects an enormous range of odorous molecules, while also capturing the wonder of perceiving complex smells that form lasting emotional memories. Smellosophy is a unique and wondrous blend of the science of smell, the art and practice of research, the philosophy of consciousness, and ‘all the mysteries’ in between. -- Stuart Firestein, author of Ignorance: How It Drives ScienceThis is the book on perception we have been waiting for: a scientifically-informed and philosophically astute treatment of our elusive sense of smell. A. S. Barwich skillfully guides us through the history of its study, recent discoveries, and philosophical theorizing about smell, and, in doing so, makes a significant contribution to all three. -- Barry C. Smith, Centre for the Study of the Senses, University of LondonFabulous…[A] serious work that [has] brought me a great deal of pleasure. -- Victoria Moore * Daily Telegraph *A love letter to olfaction. This book effortlessly blends science and philosophy and is a must-read for anyone with a sense of smell. -- Leslie B. Vosshall, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and The Rockefeller UniversityWell-written and engaging, Smellosophy transforms the breakdown of complex concepts into a really good read. This book is an astonishing integration of all aspects of olfaction, relevant to scientists across disciplines as well as to any reader interested in the aromas of wine, coffee, and other scents hidden in our daily experiences. -- Ann Noble, creator of the Wine Aroma WheelBarwich brings the curious science of smell to life through interviews with many of its key players. If you relish mysteries and constructing the logic to solve them, read Smellosophy. -- Terry Acree, Department of Food Science, Cornell UniversityMakes a strong case for rethinking the scientific study of odor perception…Smellosophy works to shape olfaction studies—and neuroscience writ large. -- Nedah N. Nemati * History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences *Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people temporarily lost their ability to detect smell (and the closely connected sense of taste), this book’s topic is an impetus for important scientific exploration…Smellosophy makes a strong case for rethinking the scientific study of odor perception. -- David Upegui * American Biology Teacher *

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive study of cooperation among the advanced capitalist countries. It analyzes the institutions, or 'international regimes', through which cooperation has taken place in the world political economy and describes the evolution of these regimes as American hegemony has eroded.Trade ReviewWinner of the 1989 Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 1984 "Can cooperation increase if there is no hegemony? Yes, says Professor Keohane in this outstanding book... The author's painstaking consideration of difficulties and objections should show how often narrow assumptions and obscurantist jargon have led to loose thinking and worse policy conclusions."--Foreign Affairs "[T]he 'state-of-the-art' publication on the influential, and somewhat controversial, idea of 'regime' in the study of international political economy. The concept is provided with its most thoroughgoing, cogent and stimulating defence."--R. J. Barry Jones, Political Studies "This is vital and powerful stuff. It makes a major contribution towards breaking the destructive polarization between realism and idealism which for far too long has obscured intellectual middle ground of real importance to policy-making."--Barry Buzan, International Affairs "This book takes a major step toward bringing economic reasoning and understanding of politics to bear on questions of international political economy."--James E. Alt, Journal of Economic Literature From review of Princeton's original edition: "The 'state of the art' publication on the influential, and somewhat controversial, idea of 'regime' in the study of international political economy."--Political Studies

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Book SynopsisWesterners tend to divide the political world into good democracies and bad authoritarian regimes. But the Chinese political model does not fit neatly in either category. Over the past three decades, China has evolved a political system that can best be described as political meritocracy. The China Model seeks to understand the ideals and the reality of this unique political system. How do the ideals of political meritocracy set the standard for evaluating political progress (and regress) in China? How can China avoid the disadvantages of political meritocracy? And how can political meritocracy best be combined with democracy? Daniel Bell answers these questions and more. Opening with a critique of one person, one vote as a way of choosing top leaders, Bell argues that Chinese-style political meritocracy can help to remedy the key flaws of electoral democracy. He discusses the advantages and pitfalls of political meritocracy, distinguishes between different ways of combining meritocracy and democracy, and argues that China has evolved a model of democratic meritocracy that is morally desirable and politically stable. Bell summarizes and evaluates the China model--meritocracy at the top, experimentation in the middle, and democracy at the bottom--and its implications for the rest of the world. A timely and original book that will stir up interest and debate, The China Model looks at a political system that not only has had a long history in China, but could prove to be the most important political development of the twenty-first century.Trade ReviewA Financial Times Summer Books Selection Selected as one of Financial Times (FXXT.com) Best Books of 2015 A Guardian Best Holiday Reads of 2015 selection "[I]t is part of the job of academics to ask fundamental questions that challenge conventional thinking. Bell performs this role admirably in lucid, jargon-free prose that leads the reader back to some of the most fundamental questions in political philosophy - refracted through the experience of contemporary China ... I found the questions that Bell raised consistently stimulating."--Gideon Rachman, Financial Times "Bell ... has written a fascinating study. Open-minded readers will find it equips them with a more intelligent understanding of Chinese politics and, no less valuable, forces them to examine their devotion to democracy... [The China Model] isn't just for those who want to better understand China. More than anything I've read for a while, it also forced me to think about what's good and bad about Western systems of government. From start to finish the book is a pleasure and an education."--Clive Crook, Bloomberg View "Bell makes a solid and worthy case for why the outside world might want to think about the Chinese experiment in governance a bit more deeply... This is a very clearly written book."--Kerry Brown, Asian Review of Books "The China Model ... is as important for us as it is for China. If the book brings us some humility about the ways in which an undemocratic model like China's can be deeply rooted in history and culture, it will have done good work. But it will do something better if it can remind us that our own history isn't over."--Rob Goodman, POLITICO "In careful, clear and measured prose, [Bell] works hard to overcome prejudice, defuse emotions and discuss the pros and cons in the cool language of political philosophy. This, perhaps, is the book's greatest contribution."--James Miller, Literary Review of Canada "Serious re-evaluations of democracy are inhibited by two factors: fears about the alternatives turning sour and a century of educational indoctrination that makes imagining the alternatives a frightful exercise. Bell's book should be read as an antidote (or if you prefer, an elixir) to overcome these doubts."--Siddharth Singh, Mint "This book is a welcome addition to the expanding literature on the emerging 'China model'... Bell's argument, based on his long-term observation of China's political development, provides a nuanced, thought-provoking view of the meritocratic aspects of the Chinese system that have been obscured by the broad label 'authoritarianism.' It offers an original explanation for the resilience of the Chinese regime and essentially challenges the widely held notion that liberal democracy is the universally desirable political outcome for modern societies."--Choice "Bell is not an apologist for China but someone who teaches us to ask different questions. And these questions are fascinating."--Mariana Mazzucato, Financial Times, a FT Best Book of 2015 "A must-read scholarly account of China's political development with stimulating questions, powerful analysis as well as theoretically relevant arguments."--Bingdao Zheng, Chinese Political Science Review "This book is a must-read text for all political scientists, in particular, for those who study democracy and democratization. It can open their eyes and help them to move out of their comfort zone to examine the tough and pressing issues in the real world in which democracy and meritocracy must be combined to improve democratic government and solve many practical issues."--He Baogang, Perspectives in Politics "A deeply stimulating contribution to normative political theory."--Thomas Pangle, Perspectives in Politics "In conclusion, Bell's book is interesting and intriguing. It argues convincingly that every political system is a trade-off, and asks important questions about the US (electoral) democracy and Chinese (communist) meritocracy. Bell also develops his own model, combining elements from both."--Dao "A must-read scholarly account of China's political development with stimulating questions, powerful analysis as well as theoretically relevant arguments. The discussion of political elite-recruiting system impressively spans thousands of years, from ages of empires to nowadays, and a number of countries and regions including United States, China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan among others. One has to admire the comparative perspective the author puts in various historical periods and social contexts."--Bingdao Zheng, Chinese Political Science Review "A very well-written book that presents original scholarship."--Zhiming Cheng, Political Studies Review "Reading Bell is rewarding... This book is more than a bold challenge to democracy: it serves as a sincere invitation to a sober and less ideologically loaded dialogue between East and West."--Tao Wang, Asian Journal of Comparative PoliticsTable of ContentsPreface to the Paperback Edition ix Acknowledgments xxi Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Is Democracy the Least Bad Political System? 14 Chapter 2 On the Selection of Good Leaders in a Political Meritocracy 63 Chapter 3 What's Wrong with Political Meritocracy 110 Chapter 4 Three Models of Democratic Meritocracy 151 Concluding Thoughts: Realizing the China Model 179 Notes 199 Selected Bibliography 283 Index 307

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The best statement of the psychological position in the literature on international politics. Highly readable, informative, and thought-provoking."--Library Journal "This exceptional book is a landmark in the study of cognitive processes in government foreign policy decision making. It integrates a thorough grasp of major psychological theory and research concerning individual cognitive processes with a detailed and perceptive reading of numerous historical accounts of international politics."--Contemporary Psychology "A valuable contribution to the theoretical literature on international relations."--ChoiceTable of ContentsPREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION xiii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xci INTRODUCTION 3 I The Setting 1 Perception and the Level of Analysis Problem 13 Do Perceptions Matter? 13 The International Environment 18 Compulsion in Extreme Circumstances? 19 Domestic Determinants 21 The Bureaucracy 24 Perceptions, Reality, and a Two-Step Model 28 2 External Stimuli, Internal Processes, and Intentions 32 Introduction 32 External versus Internal Sources of Behavior 35 Intentions 48 Inaccurate Predictions about One's Own Behavior 54 3 Deterrence, the Spiral Model, and Intentions of the Adversary 58 Two Views of International Relations and the Cold War 58 Deterrence 58 The Spiral Model 62 Psychological Dynamics 67 Self-Fulfilling Prophecies and Problems with Incrementalism 76 Self-Defeating Power 78 Prescriptions 82 Universal Generalizations? 84 Evidence against the Spiral Model 84 Evidence against Deterrence 90 Deterrence and World War II; Spiral Model and World War I 94 When Will Force and Threats Work? The Decision-Maker's Choice 96 When Will Force and Threats Work? Hypotheses 100 Perceptions of Intention and Analyses of What ls at Stake 102 Other Explanations for the Differences between the Spiral and Deterrence Theories 107 Differences in Values 108 Claims for a Dominant Strategy 109 Dangers of Applying Gradualism to an Aggressive Adversary 110 Suggestions 111 II Processes of Perception 4 Cognitive Consistency and the Interaction between Theory and Data 117 Consistency: Rational and Irrational 117 Rational Consistency 119 Cognitive-Affective Balance 120 Source-Message Interaction 122 Implications 124 Irrational Consistency-Avoidance of Value Trade-Offs 128 Assimilation of Information to Pre-existing Beliefs 143 The Impact of Expectations on Perceptions 145 The Necessary Interdependence of Facts and Theories 154 The Interdependence between Facts and Theories in Science 156 The Impact of Categorization 162 Different Theories, Different Perceptions 163 The Emergence of New Theories and Images 165 Cognitive Distortion and Implications for Decision-Making 172 Failure to Recognize the Influence of Pre-Existing Beliefs 181 Excessive and Premature Cognitive Closure 187 Implications for Decision-Making 191 Confidence, Commitment, and Ambiguity 195 Implications for Decision-Making 201 5 The Impact of the Evoked Set 203 Evoked Set in the Absence of Communication 203 Communication and Estimating the Evoked Set of the Other 205 Misunderstandings within a Government: Differences in Information, Perspectives, and Time Lags 206 Uneven Distribution of Information within Governments 209 Differences in Evoked Set Caused by Differences in Concerns 211 Conclusions 215 6 How Decision-Makers Learn from History 217 Introduction 217 Lessons as Predispositions 222 Alternative Explanations 225 The Learning Process 227 Organizational Learning 238 Events from Which People Learn Most 239 Firsthand Experiences 239 Some Consequences 243 Alternative Explanations 246 Early Experiences and Generational Effects 249 Generational Effects 253 Alternative Explanations 257 Delayed Impact on Policy 260 Events Important to the Person's State or Organization 262 Revolutions 262 The Last War 266 Range of Available Alternative Analogies 270 What Lessons Do People Learn? 271 Impact of Constant Factors 271 Lessons about Specific Actors 274 Reactions to Failure 275 Nothing Fails like Success 278 Alternative Explanations 219 Summary 281 Appendix: The Impact of Domestic Politics and Training on Perceptual Predispositions 283 Learning from Domestic Politics 283 Training 287 7 Attitude Change 288 Introduction 288 Mechanisms of Attitude Preservation and Change 291 Centrality 297 The Rate at Which Discrepant Information Is Received 308 Beliefs Especially Resistant to Discrepant Information 310 III Common Misperceptions 8 Perceptions of Centralization 319 Unity and Planning 319 Plans, Not Accidents and Confusion 321 One Actor, Not Several 323 Special Cases 326 Variables Encouraging the Perception of Unity and Planning 327 Being Misinformed about One's Own Behavior 329 Misinformation about Physical Effects 331 Disobedience by Agents 332 Causes of Disobedience 332 Types of Disobedience 333 Consequences of Lack of Awareness of Agents' Behavior 334 Consequences of Perceptions of Unity and Planning 338 9 Overestimating One's Importance as Influence or Target 343 Introduction 343 Overestimating One's Effectiveness 344 Perceptions of Influence and Turning Points 348 Injury and Perceptions of the Other's Autonomy 349 Belief that the Other Understands that You Are Not a Threat 354 10 The Influence of Desires and Fears on Perceptions 356 Wishful Thinking 356 Experiments: Lack of Incentives for Accuracy 357 Desires or Expectations? 359 Direct Impact of Affect 361 Experimental Manipulation of Affect 361 Judgments of Desirability and Probability 362 Other Experiments 363 Wishful Thinking in International Relations 365 Perceptions of Danger: Vigilance or Defense? 372 Avoidance of Perceptions of Extreme Probabilities 378 Summary 380 11 Cognitive Dissonance and International Relations 382 Cognitive Dissonance Theory 382 Cognitive Dissonance and Inertia 387 The Magnitude of Dissonance 392 The Impact of Spending Resources 393 Incentives and Compulsion 399 Boomerang Effects 404 Summary 406 IV In Lieu of Conclusions 12 Minimizing Misperception 409 Making Assumptions and Predictions Explicit 410 Devil's Advocates 415 Conversions 418 Identities and Missions 418 Awareness of Common Misperceptions 423 BIBLIOGRAPHY 425 INDEX 433

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

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