Politics and government Books

Book SynopsisThe Inside Story of How the Blair Government Transformed Britain's Public Services

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the Iranian hostage crisis through the Gulf War and the World Trade Centre bombing, the West has been haunted by a spectre called ''Islam''. As portrayed by the news media - and by a chorus of government, academic and corporate experts - ''Islam'' is synonymous with terrorism and religious hysteria. At the same time, Islamic countries use Islam to justify unrepresentative and often oppressive regimes. In this landmark work, for which he has written a new introduction, one of our foremost public thinkers examines the origins and repercussions of the media''s monolithic images of Islam. Combining political commentary with literary criticism, Edward Said reveals the hidden assumptions and distortions of fact that underlie even the most ''objective'' coverage of the Islamic world.Trade ReviewNo-one studying the relations between the West and the decolonizing world can ignore Mr. Said's work * New York Times Book Review *Edward Said belongs to that small band of American intellectuals who talk sense (and write beautifully) about the outside world * Guardian *Edward Said is a brilliant and unique amalgam of scholar, aesthete and political activist... He challenges and stimulates our thinking in every area * Washington Post Book World *

Read more less

Book SynopsisKey content coverage is combined with practical tips to create a revision guide that students can rely on to review, strengthen and test their knowledge.With My Revision Notes every student can:- Plan and manage a successful revision programme using the topic-by-topic planner- Enjoy an interactive approach to revision, with clear topic summaries that consolidate knowledge and related activities that put the content into context- Build, practise and enhance exam skills by progressing through revision tasks and Test Yourself activities- Improve exam technique through exam-style questions and sample answers with commentary from expert authors and teachers- Get exam ready with extra quick quizzes and answers to the activities available online

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnton de Kom’s We Slaves of Suriname is a literary masterpiece as well as a fierce indictment of racism and colonialism. In this classic book, published here in English for the first time, the Surinamese writer and resistance leader recounts the history of his homeland, from the first settlements by Europeans in search of gold through the era of the slave trade and the period of Dutch colonial rule, when the old slave mentality persisted, long after slavery had been formally abolished. 159 years after the abolition of slavery in Suriname and 88 years after its initial publication, We Slaves of Suriname has lost none of its brilliance and power.Trade ReviewA New Statesman Book of the Year Selected as a Best Book of 2022 by Public Books “one of the most important works of twentieth-century anticolonial literature.” LSE Review of Books “De Kom is to Suriname what Mandela is to South Africa: a heroic patriot, an advocate of the oppressed, and a symbol of resistance against colonialism.” Unherd “Heart-breaking... he succeeds in bringing to painful life the savagery of what is now widely considered the most vicious colonization project ever.” New Internationalist “Almost ninety years after its first appearance, We Slaves of Suriname is still an exemplary description and analysis of Suriname’s history, which has not lost its power of expression. From micro to macro situations, De Kom displays phenomenal psychological insight and an acute sense of the driving forces of class and race.” Gloria Wekker, Professor Emerita, Utrecht University "We Slaves of Suriname is both an analysis of Suriname’s postcolonial predicament and an insurgent commentary on the archives of Dutch writing about Suriname… By interrogating the crater left by colonialism in the landscape of modernity, De Kom produces a text that speaks, avant la lettre, directly to postcolonial concerns." Postcolonial Studies Journal “An astounding work of lyrical fury … De Kom is a towering radical and anticolonial figure, and this book a painful masterpiece.” China Miéville, New Statesman “a classic of anticolonial Black leftist thought” Public Books"The plantation-dominated past that Suriname shares with the wider Caribbean is vividly brought to life in a 'new' book ... Books in English on Suriname are rare, and this one — We Slaves of Suriname — is a gem."Caribbean BeatTable of ContentsTranslator’s NoteIntroductionsFrimangron by Tessa LeuwshaThe Breath of Freedom by Duco van OostrumWhy Anton de Kom Still Inspires Generation after Generation by Mitchell EsajasForeword by Judith de KomWe Slaves of Suriname“Sranan,” our fatherlandThe era of slaveryThe arrival of the whitesEl DoradoThe first settlementsThe Dutch regimeThe slave tradeThe marketEnslavedThe slave womanThe mastersThe punishmentsThe History of Our NationVan Aerssen van Sommelsdyck (1683–1688)The brutesThe forest expeditionsJohan Jacob Mauricius (1742–1751)Governor Crommelin (1752–1768)Governor Nepveu (1770–1779)Buku (decayed into dust)The final chapter for the resistanceSuriname under British ruleThe great fireThe fate of the ethicalWhite settlementFighting the currentGovernors on paradeThe abolition of slaveryFreedom?The great selloutThe era of freedomHow we liveThe essence of autonomyFin de siècleIndentured laborFree laborIn search of goldThe major cropsWhat becomes of those millions?ResultsReunion and farewellNotesGlossary of Surinamese termsIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn urgent and gripping investigation into online trolling, disinformation and conspiracy theories by an award-winning BBC correspondent.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom Dictatorship to Democracy was a pamphlet, printed and distributed by Dr Gene Sharp and based on his study, over a period of forty years, on non-violent methods of demonstration. Now in its fourth edition, it was originally handed out by the Albert Einstein Institution, and although never actively promoted, to date it has been translated into thirty-one languages. This astonishing book travelled as a photocopied pamphlet from Burma to Indonesia, Serbia and most recently Egypt, Tunisia and Syria, with dissent in China also reported. Surreptitiously handed out amongst youth uprisings the world over - how the 'how-to' guide came about and its role in the recent Arab uprisings is an extraordinary tale. Once read you'll find yourself urging others to read it and indeed want to gift it.Trade ReviewA book that must be read. It is scholarly, readable and highly relevant at a time when so many people are challenging the dictatorships under which they live. With his long historical understanding he offers really useful advice to people who are engaged on the same task today -- Tony BennSharp's contribution to the struggle for non-violence protest in the Arab world has been immense. After many years of persistent effort he has been fully vindicated. -- Raja Shehadeh

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Engaging and visceral ... Reads like a thriller' Financial Times 'Riveting and often deeply disturbing ... A punch to the stomach' Sunday Times 'Ebner has done some gutsy, thought-provoking research' Sunday Telegraph 'Fascinating and important' Spectator By day, Julia Ebner works at a counter-extremism think tank, monitoring radical groups from the outside. But two years ago, she began to feel she was only seeing half the picture; she needed to get inside the groups to truly understand them. She decided to go undercover in her spare hours – late nights, holidays, weekends – adopting five different identities, and joining a dozen extremist groups from across the ideological spectrum. Her journey would take her from a Generation Identity global strategy meeting in a pub in Mayfair, to a Neo-Nazi Music Festival on the border of Germany and Poland. She would get relationship advice from ‘Trad Wives’ and Jihadi Brides and hacking lessons from ISIS. She was in the channels when the alt-right began planning the lethal Charlottesville rally, and spent time in the networks that would radicalise the Christchurch terrorist. In Going Dark, Ebner takes the reader on a deeply compulsive journey into the darkest recesses of extremist thinking, exposing how closely we are surrounded by their fanatical ideology every day, the changing nature and practice of these groups, and what is being done to counter them.Trade ReviewEbner has done some gutsy, thought-provoking research **** * Sunday Telegraph *Engaging and visceral ... At times, Ebner’s undercover work reads like a thriller ... Going Dark pulls back the facade of invulnerability and remorselessness that extremists promote with glossy propaganda, to understand those they recruit * Financial Times *Riveting and often deeply disturbing ... Her aim is to expose the way extremist groups manipulate their members in the hope that this will prevent others from being radicalised by them. Her book is a call, too, for policy-makers to rethink their response to extremism ... A punch to the stomach * The Sunday Times *Fascinating and important ... Going Dark shows how diverse groups feed off each other, using similar tactics to create social bubbles while exploiting the weakness — or reluctance — of social media firms to control their hate-filled content. It underlines the dangers of ignoring the threat of far-right terror, the normalisation of violence-inciting ideologies and the fearsome power of technology to inspire copycat attacks * Spectator *A chilling, compulsive investigation into online extremist groups * Standpoint *A thorough and shocking exploration of how the internet has facilitated the spread of extremism ... Ebner depicts the vast and rapid spread of online extremism, and the challenge we face in fighting it * City AM *Julia Ebner advises governments and organisations on online extremism and hate speech. To complete her investigations of online fanatics, she assumes a variety of identities and goes undercover in a dozen tech-savvy extremist groups ... Absorbing and intelligent ... Ebner doesn't just analyse these things, she takes real risks to witness them up close. The result is a work that is terrifying because it is non-fiction. * Irish News *Julia Ebner's description of infiltrating extremist groups – and her first hand account of how their ideology is turned into violent action – is chilling ... [she] deserves a medal * Lord Harris of Haringey, House Magazine *Julia Ebner has not only teased out and explained the common denominator in extremist movements, she has done so in a way that is humanising, engrossing and alarming. Going Dark is not just an overdue, almost exhaustive journey of research into the lives of extremists, it is a public service -- Nesrine Malik, author of We Need New StoriesA scintillating journey into a secret world that is impacting our everyday lives in ways we are only just starting to grasp. Simultaneously immersive and analytical, Ebner’s adventures in the dark crevasses of the internet shows how fascism works today – and what needs to be done to stop it -- Peter Pomerantsev, author of This is Not PropagandaGoing Dark makes for terrifying reading, but it’s all the more essential for that, exposing just how closely we’re surrounded by fanatical ideology every day of our lives, and how that ideology is being countered * Stylist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisProviding short, clear and accessible explanations of the main areas of EU law, Understanding European Union Law is both an ideal introduction for students new to EU law and an essential addition to revision for the more accomplished.This eighth edition has been fully revised and updated with the latest legislative changes and includes an in-depth discussion of âBrexitâ and its implications for EUâUK relations. The book provides readers with a clear understanding of the structures and rationale behind EU law, explaining how and why the law has developed as it has. In addition to discussing the core areas of EU law such as its sources, the role and powers of the EUâs Institutions, the enforcement of EU law and the law of the internal market, this edition also includes a new chapter on three ânon-economicâ areas of EU law: fundamental human rights, equality (non-discrimination) and the environment.This student-friendly text is both broad in scope and highly accessible. It will inspire students towards further study and show that understanding EU law can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. As well as being essential reading for Law students, Understanding European Union Law is also suitable for students on other courses where basic knowledge of EU law is required or useful, such as business studies, political science, international relations or European studies programmes.Trade Review‘This book has proven popular among the students I have taught. They have often commented that the book is a clear and helpful introduction to a subject that may at first appear difficult and daunting.’Professor Jukka Snell, Faculty of Law, University of TurkuTable of ContentsTable of Cases Table of Legislation Glossary Abbreviations 1 Introduction 2 The creation of a European Union 3 Who runs the EU? 4 Sources of Union law 5 The relationship between Union law and national legal systems 6 Enforcing Union law 7 Free movement of goods 8 Free movement of persons 9 An introduction to EU competition law 10 Introduction to other areas of EU law: Fundamental rights, equality, the environment 11 Tips for succeeding in assessments

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisJoe Biden’s victory in 2020 was a remarkable end to four tumultuous years. But beyond removing Donald Trump from the White House, what is the mandate that the new President’s voters expect him to fulfil? Can he meet the expectations of the biggest electoral coalition in American history? How did Trump expand his support to win more votes than any previous Republican? And what are the chances of a new era of consensus and unity in America after years of division? Drawing on four years of groundbreaking research among voters across the United States, Lord Ashcroft examines the success of Biden, the appeal of Trumpism, and the prospects for the next chapter in American politics.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA man commanding unjustly and ruling tyrannically has in that no power from God.When Lex, Rex was written, the Reformation in England and Scotland was in crisis. The English Civil War had just begun after Charles I tried to impose popish rituals on the church and asserted his divine right as king to overrule parliament. Against these grandiose claims the Scottish pastor Samuel Rutherford wrote a book and changed western political philosophy forever as it led to the thinking that enabled the American revolution. In his very learned work, Rutherford shows from Scripture, classical authors, and scholastic theologians that the king is not above the law; and that when the king violates it flagrantly, the people are right to resist him, even to the point of war. The title Lex Rex is Latin for Law is King. Divine right theorists had said that the King was the law, but Rutherford reverses this and shows that natural law is above the king, and thus there are times when citizens can and must obey God rather than man.Rutherford was a practical and pastoral theologian who could soar to great heights of glorious consolation. . . But Rutherford was also a bare-knuckle brawler who was clearly able to hold his own in the theological bar fight that was the seventeenth century. You are now holding in your hands the evidence of that. ~ Introduction by Douglas Wilson

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe simplest way to get to grips with the American political system American Politics For Dummies is an engaging and accessible guide to the inner workings of the U.S. government, cutting through the political jargon, to give you the facts.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIs any conspiracy worth the life of a believer?

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the high-stakes world of politics, there are superb highs and terrible lows - and never more so than in the period since 2010. Few are better placed to give an insider's view of the turmoil than the Rt Hon. Dame Andrea Leadsom MP. From taking to the stage at Wembley as a key figure in the campaign to leave the European Union, through two leadership bids, Cabinet intrigue and squaring off against an increasingly erratic Speaker, Andrea's very personal account tracks the ups and downs of a life in politics and particularly the challenges for female MPs. In this updated edition, which sheds new light on the fraught leadership campaigns of 2022, Andrea argues that political careers don't always - as is so often claimed - end in failure, and explains how, like a game of snakes and ladders, politics is often about getting yourself into the right place at the right time.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGovernments' decisions usually impact most on the lives of women and people of marginalised genders--yet their stories often go unheard. Wander Women unites tales of different journeys around the world and shines light on the boundaries and constraints--both physical and invisible, political and social--that mould the lives of cis women, trans people and gender-nonconforming individuals. In this moving and reflective book, two journalists draw links between the gendering of migration and the policing of gender; between cities and borders that restrict mobility. Those sharing their stories tell us what it is like to move through the world with a 'threatening' gender identity, the 'wrong' nationality, 'transgressive' politics, or a 'disability'. From the streets of London to the ruins of Syria, from Calais to Russia to Western Sahara, this book gathers voices of all ages--of pioneering activists and artists, matriarchs and mothers, politicians and humanitarians. They paint a picture of structural inequality, in which gender, movement and freedom have long been intertwined. A current of warmth and resilience runs through and connects these extraordinary voices. They offer tales of resistance and determination, in a world that tries to deny many the right to make their own choices.Trade Review‘Blanchard and Howlett “weaponi[ze] storytelling as a means of resistance” as they interrogate the dehumanizing labels the media uses to frighten native British citizens about the threats coming across the English Channel from France.’ -- CHOICE'A searing examination of human mobility at the margins, in this age of criminalisation and violence against those who move in search of safety and opportunity.' -- Nanjala Nyabola, author of Travelling While Black and Strange and Difficult Times'Urgent and affecting, Wander Women brings forth extraordinary stories of courage and resistance.' -- Aanchal Malhotra, author of Remnants of Partition: 21 Objects from a Continent Divided'Everyone should read this. Wander Women shows viscerally that we are all united by the pain caused by the patriarchy and our longing to be free. It takes a village to change the world--and I am more confident than ever that we can do it.' -- Charlotte Proudman, award-winning barrister, and author of Female Genital Mutilation: When Culture and Law Clash'Wander Women explores the physical and social experiences of some remarkable individuals, navigating a bordered world and overcoming a complex intersection of vulnerabilities arising from war, migration, disability, sexual orientation, gender queerness and more.' -- Lipika Pelham, author of Passing: An Alternative History of Identity'Intimate and powerful storytelling through the voices of women on the move whose experiences and struggles are too often marginalised or ignored.' -- Leonie Ansems de Vries, Director of the King's Sanctuary Programme and Chair of the Migration Research Group, King's College London

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisCurrently in Bill Gates's bookbag and FT Books of 2018 Increasingly, the demands of identity direct the world's politics. Nation, religion, sect, race, ethnicity, gender: these categories have overtaken broader, inclusive ideas of who we are. We have built walls rather than bridges. The result: increasing in anti-immigrant sentiment, rioting on college campuses, and the return of open white supremacy to our politics. In 2014, Francis Fukuyama wrote that American and global institutions were in a state of decay, as the state was captured by powerful interest groups. Two years later, his predictions were borne out by the rise to power of a series of political outsiders whose economic nationalism and authoritarian tendencies threatens to destabilise the entire international order. These populist nationalists seek direct charismatic connection to 'the people', who are usually defined in narrow identity terms that offer an irresistible call to an in-group and exclude large parts of the population as a whole. Identity is an urgent and necessary book: a sharp warning that unless we forge a universal understanding of human dignity, we will doom ourselves to continual conflict.Trade ReviewAs wise as it is compact, travelling at great speed through difficult terrain to a sensible conclusion. -- Daniel Finkelstein * Times *As a primer on the big political shift of our times, and an explainer of how we got here, this is not a book to pass by -- Andrew Marr * Sunday Times *Sweeping and ambitious -- Nesrine Malik * Prospect *A useful primer on an important subject -- David Goodhart * Literary Review *Praise for Origins of Political Order: 'Fukuyama remains as prominent as ever' * Financial Times *Praise for The Origins of Political Order: It should be read by every democrat - and every dictator. -- Dominic LawsonFukuyama writes clear prose and is a pleasure to read. * The Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis**WINNER OF THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING****WINNER OF THE ELIZABETH LONGFORD PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY***Book of the year: The Times, Sunday Times, New Statesman, Spectator, Evening Standard*'Outstanding . . . We still live in the society that was shaped by Clement Attlee' Robert Harris, Sunday Times'The best book in the field of British politics' Philip Collins, The Times'Easily the best single-volume, cradle-to-grave life of Clement Attlee yet written' Andrew RobertsClement Attlee was the Labour prime minister who presided over Britain's radical postwar government, delivering the end of the Empire in India, the foundation of the NHS and Britain's place in NATO. Called 'a sheep in sheep's clothing', his reputation has long been that of an unassuming character in the shadow of Churchill. But as John Bew's revelatory biography shows, Attlee was not only a hero of his age, but an emblem of it; and his life tells the story of how Britain changed over the twentieth century. Here, Bew pierces Attlee's reticence to examine the intellect and beliefs of Britain's greatest - and least appreciated - peacetime prime minister. This edition includes a new preface by the author in response to the 2017 general election.Trade ReviewWinner of The Orwell Prize for Political WritingEasily the best single-volume, cradle-to-grave life of Clement Attlee yet written. Professor Bew updates but also betters all the other biographies with this intelligent, well-researched and highly readable book. Scholarly and perceptive, it tells the story of how quiet determination and impeccable political timing wrought a peaceful revolution * Andrew Roberts *If Labour is to return to power, it is not to Tony Blair and Harold Wilson to whom it should turn for inspiration but to the ethos and example of Attlee . . . Citizen Clem promises to be one of the highlights of the autumn season -- Jason Cowley * New Statesman *The brilliant young historian John Bew urges Labour to recapture something of the ethos of the Attlee period * Telegraph *In this monumental biography, John Bew sets out to explore, not just the scale of the achievement, but to discover what made Attlee tick . . . A good book about a remarkable man -- Chris Mullin * Guardian *Fascinating . . . He writes with flair and considerable intellectual confidence . . . Bew believes that Labour has lost a sense of historical mission . . . This insight seems right to me -- Jason Cowley * Financial Times *This biography makes a strong case for Attlee's greatness . . . Such contradictions deserve a discerning biographer, and in John Bew, Attlee has the man he deserves. He has written with verve and confidence a first-rate life of a man whom he correctly argues has been under-appreciated . . . What a life and what a man -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times *Outstanding . . . This excellent new life of Labour's greatest leader . . . We still live in the society that was shaped by Clement Attlee . . . Bew's achievement is not only to bring this curious and introverted man to life, but to make him oddly loveable. He steps out like a character from the pages of the social novels of H. G. Wells or George Orwell . . . To read this book in the shadow of the present Labour leadership election is a salutary experience -- Robert Harris * Sunday Times *An absorbing new life of Clement Attlee shows how a quiet man from the suburbs became Labour's unlikely postwar hero . . . So how did a man who was the object of so much private derision by his peers come to preside over Labour's greatest (some might say only) radical government? Bew puts the question at the core of his story. He answers it convincingly by mixing arresting narrative with a thorough study of the people and policies of the Labour movement at a time of hardship interspersed by war and fierce ideological difference . . . The book is replete with amusing vignettes . . . This book will become required reading for the present-day Labour party -- John Kampfner * Observer *Magisterial . . . A great work of personal biography, social history, political philosophy, international relations and ferrets-in-a-sack Labour Party infighting . . . Bew explores in great detail Attlee's pilgrim's progress toward socialism with a thorough critique of his literary, cultural and political reading. . . As the Labour Party retreats towards ideological self-immolation, as Britain stumbles on the world stage, and as European social democracy stands in peril, we need another Attlee more than ever. In the absence of which, we have Bew's brilliant book -- Tristram Hunt * Prospect *Read this book to understand what Labour once was and what has been lost because of its embrace of identity politics and ultra-liberalism. Book of the Year -- Jason Cowley * New Statesman *A masterful portrait of a man who led the Labour Party for 20 years and arguably did more than any other UK politician to shape the postwar world . . . Attlee was a patriot who believed that tolerance was Britain's greatest gift to the world. Now, more than ever, it is tolerance we need. Book of the Year -- Tom Watson * New Statesman *Attlee was a distant and austere figure by reputation, but the book sweeps that away from the start, recalling Clem the street agitator and war hero. Book of the Year -- Roland White * Sunday Times *The author sets out to claim a place among the greats for his subject and succeeds . . . The lessons for modern politics are made clearly. Book of the Year -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times *Bew has the detachment of a professional historian, but an understanding of politics and personalities. Book of the Year -- Kwasi Kwarteng * Evening Standard *The best book in the field of British politics. Book of the Year. -- Philip Collins * The Times *Bew is particularly good on the dynamics of his close relationship with Churchill . . . Bew's revelatory biography explains that achievement. But it also brings us a 3D, flesh and blood Citizen Clem, and boy, does he make him shine! -- Gordon Marsden * Times Higher Education *This is a big book in scope and depth and is a very good read besides. It is not just a political biography, but an explanation of the man, what made him, the roots of his patriotism, his military experience in the First World War, his love of literature . . . in a way Citizen Clem is a history of the twentieth century * Tablet *His true political genius and unflinching moral purpose are brilliantly reappraised in John Bew's Citizen Clem . . . This book is a rare beast - political biography at its finest, yet one that is deeply moving -- David Bell * Times Literary Supplement *Winner of the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical BiographyBoth a magnificent renewal of the art of political biography and a monument to the greatest leader the Labour party has ever had. It presents us with a man whose socialism was learned, not acquired * Jonathan Derbyshire, Judge of The Orwell Prize *John Bew's survey of Labour's post-war hero Clement Attlee resurrects the idea of the political biography almost thought lost: encyclopaedic, analytical, massive in scope but intimate in understanding. * Waterstones Weekly *

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book Synopsis- Includes all core and non-core political ideas, with key thinkers integrated throughout the text- Provides complete guidance to the Global route of the specification- Strengthens understanding by interweaving both historical context and contemporary examples into the text- Builds confidence by highlighting key terms and explaining links between different topics in the specification- Provides opportunities to test progress with quick knowledge-check questions- Develops analysis and evaluation skills with ''stretch and challenge'' activities and suggestions for targeted further reading

Read more less

Book SynopsisA stellar group of America''s leading political thinkers explore how to reboot our democracyThe presidential election of 2016 highlighted some long-standing flaws in American democracy and added a few new ones. Across the political spectrum, most Americans do not believe that democracy is delivering on its promises of fairness, justice, shared prosperity, or security in a changing world. The nation cannot even begin to address climate change and economic justice if it remains paralyzed by political gridlock.Democracy Unchained is about making American democracy work to solve problems that have long impaired our system of governance. The book is the collective work of thirty of the most perceptive writers, practitioners, scientists, educators, and journalists writing today, who are committed to moving the political conversation from the present anger and angst to the positive and constructive change necessary to achieve the full promise of a durable democracy t

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Roy has a journalist's unflinching eye, a poet's talent for detail, and a radical sense of empathy ... a stunning achievement.' - Kiran Desai, Booker Prize-winning author of The Inheritance of Loss 'If you read one book about India, read this one.' - Geeta Anand, Pulitzer Prize-winner and author of The Cure All of Mumbai's memories and castaway possessions come to die at the Deonar garbage mountains. And among these vast, teetering piles of discarded things - medical waste, rotten food, old clothes, broken glass and twisted metal - a small, forgotten community lives and works. Scouring the dump for whatever can be resold or recycled, waste pickers also mark the familiar milestones of babies born, love found, illnesses suffered and recovered from. Like a mirror image, their stories are shaped by the influx of unwanted things from the world outside. But now, as Deonar's toxic halo becomes undeniable, a change is coming. And as officials try to close it, the lives that the pickers have built on the Mountain seem more fragile than ever.Trade ReviewIt is rare that a book is a deeply moving love story with unforgettable characters while also illuminating a country and a culture. Saumya Roy's book is a riveting love story set in the harrowing world of life as a trash picker on Mumbai's garbage mountain. Read it for a most delicious story, read it to understand India, read it to know what it is like to grow up in extreme poverty in the shadow of enormous wealth. If you read one book about India, read this one -- Geeta Anand, Pulitzer Prize-winner and author of The CureRoy writes ... with utmost care and empathy ... [a] powerful book * Times of India *A terrific and thrilling book about people who are trapped in the gravitational force of a garbage mountain in Mumbai. Delightful and powerful * Manu Joseph, author of Serious Men *Roy has a journalist's unflinching eye, a poet's talent for detail, and a radical sense of empathy that illuminates this account of the people who live on the Deonar garbage mountains. Urgent as a thriller, yet lingering in its unforgettable portraits of life, love and death, Mountain Tales deserves every accolade. A stunning achievement -- Kiran Desai, Booker Prize-winning author of The Inheritance of LossSaumya Roy's gorgeous Mountain Tales is a remarkable feat of immersive reporting and story-telling, a deeply-felt exploration of ideas, and a gripping chronicle of the fates of the garbage-pickers of Mumbai; Roy immerses you so deeply in her characters' lives and physical environment that at times I felt I was experiencing them myself. I loved this book -- Suzy Hansen, author of Notes on a Foreign CountryRoy unravels the truth about overconsumption, pollution, climate change and how the most vulnerable people bear the brunt of it all * Vogue India *A gut-wrenching story ... her lucid writing not only draws the reader but also helps to reflect upon how one person's trash impacts another's life -- Soma Basu * The Hindu *Gorgeous and heartbreaking ... Roy succeeds in humanizing her subjects while emphasizing the role that consumer culture plays in their degradation. ... Readers of Behind the Beautiful Forevers will be drawn to this harrowing portrait * Publishers Weekly *A story of selflessness and sacrifice, of acceptance and renewal. The goodness in people, both in the streets where the Shaikh family lives and beyond comes to the fore ... A sense of mystery and wonderment gives Roy's tale a special edge -- Mustansir Dalvi * Wire India *

Read more less

Book SynopsisOn the 100th anniversary of his birth: a collection of Tony Benn's most important speeches and political writing. With an introduction from his daughter, Melissa Benn

Read more less

Book SynopsisPolly Toynbee and David Walker are co-authors of The Verdict and The Lost Decade. Polly is a columnist for the Guardian and her latest book is An Uneasy Inheritance. David Walker is a former director of the Audit Commission.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe proliferation of messages that the voting public is exposed to in the digital age means it has never been more important to use the right slogan or phrase in order to capture people's attention. Over the course of an extraordinary career advising organisations and candidates of all political persuasions, strategist and pollster Chris Bruni-Lowe has developed a clear understanding of what language moves people to action. To that end, he assembled a database comprising 20,000 slogans used in major elections worldwide over the past century, scrutinised the results and assessed all other relevant factors, allowing him to evaluate how effective any slogan is in delivering an election result. This amazing store of information revealed the remarkable fact that over the past 100 years just eight 'hit' words have been central to the successful outcome of most major elections. Based on information produced by his database, plus extensive interviews with more than 100 politicians, advisers, academics, marketing executives and behavioural scientists, this utterly unique book sets out to identify what makes an election slogan successful according to those who have been involved in creating them and using them. Each chapter focuses on one of the eight words and shows how it has contributed to changing the world. Those who have devised a slogan using one of the eight words will explain how they came up with it and offer their assessment of its effectiveness.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE REVEALING, DEFINING ACCOUNT OF THE DARK NETWORK THAT BROKE OUR COUNTRY.''An exceptional broadcaster'' - Guardian ''Consistently, forensically, brilliant'' - Emily MaitlisSomething has gone really wrong in Britain.Our economy has tanked, our freedoms are shrinking, and social divisions are growing. Our politicians seem most interested in their own careers, and much of the media only make things worse. We are living in a country almost unrecognisable from the one that existed a decade ago. But whose fault is it really? Who broke Britain and how did they do it?Bold and incisive as ever, James O''Brien reveals the shady network of influence that has created a broken Britain of strikes, shortages and scandals. He maps the web connecting dark think tanks to Downing Street, the journalists involved in selling it to the public and the media bosses pushing their own agendas. Over ten chapters, each focusing on a particular person complicit in thTrade ReviewHow They Broke Britain made me so angry I had to stop listening to it while driving. Superb work -- The Secret BarristerA damning account of how the country ended up in the current mess . . . O’Brien’s scathing voice provides a thorough record of the self-serving actions and pronouncements of those who have held power in Britain -- Tim Jonze * Guardian *The most important political book of the year and a fascinating must-read for anyone who cares about Britain. Eye-opening, jaw-dropping, heart-breaking -- Carol VordermanO'Brien is a punchy and compelling writer. The book is fluent, engaging and thoroughly researched . . . O'Brien eviscerates all of his targets * Times Literary Supplement *A compelling, thought-provoking and illuminating read. O’Brien doesn’t hold any punches . . . It is a book that will make you gasp in shock, shake your head in bewilderment and wonder how any of this was allowed to take place in 21st-century Britain * Herald *[A] brilliant exposé of those who deliberately turned a once admired country into an economically poorer, lamentable parody of its former self: the Brexiteer neoliberal right, their Tory MPs, journalists and think tanks who inflicted such massive self-harm -- Peter HainO'Brien's new book confirms that not only are our politicians and their backers as corrupt and incompetent as you suspected they were, it's actually worse than that. And it's packed full of facts about Brexit, Think Tanks and Tory sleaze that will help you win argument after argument with your irritating relatives -- Stewart LeeExcoriating -- Jon SopelIt’s essential. It should make you angry. Fuming * Adam Rutherford *Intelligent, forensic, devastating and shocking – How They broke Britain is as terrifying as it is brilliant -- Peter Stefanovic

Read more less

Book SynopsisCutting through the jargon of EU politics, the third edition of this engaging and informative textbook examines the history, institutions, processes and politics of the European Union with unprecedented clarity. The EU is a fascinating political experiment in regional integration and it has changed our understanding of Europe, how Europeans relate to one another, the role Europe plays in global politics and has even shifted our understanding of politics itself. Helping to make sense of it all in the author's accessible style, this book is underpinned by theory and the latest research throughout. Organised in three main parts, the text covers everything from the history of the EU and its treaties to the institutions that make up the EU and its policies in areas such as the economy, the environment and the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. This is the go-to text for all students taking courses or modules on the EU, as well as functioning as an accessible introduction for anyone whTrade ReviewEuropean Union Politics offers an engaging, lucid, and comprehensive introduction to what has become the fast-moving and at times tumultuous field of contemporary European politics. Spanning the history, institutions and policies of the EU, McCormick skilfully brings EU politics to life with up-to-date examples, research, infographics, country snapshots and case studies. This is the single best resource on EU politics for students, lecturers and researchers. * Adam Chalmers, King’s College London, UK *European Union Politics is a real masterpiece. It offers an excellent overview of the various stages in European Integration, and the way in which the EC/EU has sought to overcome old and new challenges in specific policy domains. As such, this book provides an ideal text for undergraduate and postgraduate students eager to familiarize themselves with European Union politics. * Frank Mols, University of Queensland, Australia *This is the perfect introduction for those wishing to understand how the EU really works. It offers a broad picture of the EU’s political system in an approachable way and cuts through the complexities with great supporting features. * Ariadna Ripoll-Servant, University of Bamberg, Germany *Detailed and insightful, the third edition of European Union Politics provides a comprehensive examination of European integration covering theory, governance, and key policy areas as well as offering snapshots of the individual member states. It is an excellent resource and textbook for students and indeed anyone interested in how European integration has evolved and the challenges and debates it encompasses. McCormick succeeds in making accessible an organisation and subject area that all too often are perceived as complex and impenetrable. * Nicholas Wright, University College London, UK *John McCormick has written a superb textbook on the history and institutions of the European Union. The book is comprehensive, up-to-date, clearly written and well organized. It serves both as an accessible introduction for non-experts and as a reference book for scholars. * Gary Marks, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, and European University Institute, Italy. *This engagingly written and up-to-date edition provides an excellent basis for any student wanting to understand the nature and policies of the EU, as well as the current challenges it is facing both at home and globally. John McCormick's book is still one of the most comprehensive textbooks in the area of EU studies. * Magdalena Frennhoff Larsén, University of Westminster, UK *This new version of a modern classic preserves the accessible and comprehensive style of the previous edition while updating the text for recent events and challenges, ranging from the financial crisis to new security issues. It skilfully balances the full scale of EU-related questions, including its history, attendant theories, institutions and policies. Strongly recommended for undergraduates and graduates alike. * Mark Rhinard, Stockholm University, Sweden *John McCormick’s textbook on European Union Politics is a mainstay of the student studying the institutions and policies of the European Union. The book covers the key politics, policy-making and policies in the EU and is extremely comprehensive. The book is written in an engaging style and should be read by all students of politics, international relations, European studies and contemporary history, as well as by policy practitioners and the intelligent general reader. * Neil Winn, University of Leeds, UK *From EU origins to institutional processes, from specialised EU agencies and elections to the full spectrum of public and foreign policies, John McCormick’s third edition is an incisive, engaging, must-have text on EU politics, and will be welcomed by academics and students alike. The text provides important new material on the Euro Zone, interest groups and cohesion policy, with critical updates on the EU’s emerging regional responsibilities and changing global roles. Readers will welcome the balanced range of chapters integrating concepts and theories with policies, impacts and outcomes, alongside helpful tables and maps, making the text itself a vital addition to contemporary EU courses. * Amelia Hadfield, University of Surrey, UK *McCormick’s latest version of this widely-enjoyed book is sure to be appreciated by all scholars of the EU. Filled with snapshots of contemporary life within EU member states, the book is crammed with insights and statistics while still being fully accessible to anyone dipping their toes into this area for the first time. * Paul Tobin, University of Manchester, UK *Table of ContentsPreface and Introduction PART 1: HISTORY AND IDEAS 1: Understanding Integration 2: What is the European Union? 3: Who are the Europeans? 4: First Steps (1944–58) 5: Building the Community (1958–95) 6: From Community to Union (1989–95) 7: Crisis and Opportunity (2004–present) 8: The Treaties 9: The Member States PART 2: POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE 10: The European Commission 11: The Council Ministers 12: The European Parliament 13: The European Council 14: The European Court of Justice 15: Specialized Agencies 16. Parties and Interest Groups 17. Elections and Referendums 18. Public Opinion PART 3: POLICIES 19. Public Policy 20. Economic Policy 21. Inside the Euro Zone 22. Cohesion Policy 23. Agriculture and Fisheries 24. Environmental Policy 25. Area of Freedom, Security and Justice 26. The EU as a Global Actor 27. The EU and the World Conclusions.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs President Trump’s National Security Advisor, John Bolton spent many of 453 days in the room where it happened, and the facts speak for themselves.The result is a “scathing and revelatory” (The New Yorker) White House memoir that is the most comprehensive and substantial account of the Trump Administration, and one of the few to date by a top-level official. With almost daily access to the President, John Bolton has produced a precise rendering of his days in and around the Oval Office. What Bolton saw astonished him: a President for whom getting reelected was the only thing that mattered, even if it meant endangering or weakening the nation. “I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my tenure that wasn’t driven by reelection calculations,” he writes. In fact, he argues that the House committed impeachment malpractice by keeping its prosecution focused narrowly on Ukraine when Trump’s Ukraine-like transgressions existed across the full range of his foreign policy—and Bolton documents exactly what those were, and attempts by him and others in the Administration to raise alarms about them. He shows a President addicted to chaos, who embraced our enemies and spurned our friends, and was deeply suspicious of his own government. In Bolton’s telling, all this helped put Trump on the bizarre road to impeachment. “The differences between this presidency and previous ones I had served were stunning,” writes Bolton, who worked for Reagan, Bush 41, and Bush 43. He discovered a President who thought foreign policy is like closing a real estate deal—about personal relationships, made-for-TV showmanship, and advancing his own interests. As a result, the US lost an opportunity to confront its deepening threats, and in cases like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea ended up in a more vulnerable place. Bolton’s “first tell-all memoir by such a high-ranking official” (The New York Times) starts with his long march to the West Wing as Trump and others woo him for the National Security job. The minute he lands, he has to deal with Syria’s chemical attack on the city of Douma, and the crises after that never stop. As he writes in the opening pages, “If you don’t like turmoil, uncertainty, and risk—all the while being constantly overwhelmed with information, decisions to be made, and sheer amount of work—and enlivened by international and domestic personality and ego conflicts beyond description, try something else.” The turmoil, conflicts, and egos are all there—from the upheaval in Venezuela, to the erratic and manipulative moves of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, to the showdowns at the G7 summits, the calculated warmongering by Iran, the crazy plan to bring the Taliban to Camp David, and the placating of an authoritarian China that ultimately exposed the world to its lethal lies. But this seasoned public servant also has a great eye for the Washington inside game, and his story is full of wit and wry humor about how he saw it played.Trade Review“I can’t believe I’m saying this: it’s worse than I even imagined.” – Stephen Colbert “As much as you think you know about the arrogance, vanity and sheer incompetence of Trump’s years in the White House, Bolton’s account will still astonish you... No wonder the White House was so determined to block this book.” – David Ignatius, Washington Post "A scathing and revelatory account... indispensable, jaw-dropping, and specific...what a truth he offers us." – The New Yorker “Bolton's bombshell book shows it's still possible to be shocked by Trump's presidency” – The Guardian “Mr. Bolton’s volume is the first tell-all memoir by such a high-ranking official who participated in major foreign policy events and has a lifetime of conservative credentials. It is a withering portrait of a president ignorant of even basic facts about the world, susceptible to transparent flattery by authoritarian leaders manipulating him and prone to false statements, foul-mouthed eruptions and snap decisions that aides try to manage or reverse.” – The New York Times “The most substantive, critical dissection of the president from an administration insider… lays out a long series of jarring and troubling encounters between the president, his top advisers and foreign leaders.” – Washington Post “A book full of damning details” – The Economist “Explosive” – Business Insider “Devastating portrait” – Telegraph “Eye-popping” – CNN "Jarring" – Jake Tapper, CNN "Shows the scale and depth of Trump’s depravity and corruption." – The Atlantic "A service to the nation... There is no question that this book contains explosive revelations that could well have an impact on the election." – Thomas Wright, The Brookings Institute, The Atlantic “The details are damning.” – Fareed Zakaria “The most devastating indictment yet.” – Nicolle Wallace “A harrowing portrait” – Mother Jones "Absurdly entertaining" - Ben Domenech, The Federalist “A riveting read” - Trevor Noah, The Daily Show "The most important White House memoir yet to emerge from the Trump administration" – National Review

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Why Liberalism Failed offers cogent insights into the loss of meaning and community that many in the West feel, issues that liberal democracies ignore at their own peril."—President Barack Obama"Deneen's book is valuable because it focuses on today's central issue. The important debates now are not about policy. They are about the basic values and structures of our social order."—David Brooks, New York Times"Bracing. . . . Deneen comes as a Jeremiah to announce that Tocqueville's fear that liberalism would eventually dissolve all [its] inheritances . . . may now be fully upon us."—Ross Douthat, New York Times"Mr. Deneen has written a serious book offering a radical critique of modernity, and he has taken the trouble to do so both concisely and engagingly. His insights as well as his crotchets in pursuit of his argument are often arresting. He writes compellingly on the growth of government in tandem with the spread of liberal market principles, for example, noting that a supposed preference for 'limited government' has been no match for the demand for expanding government enforcement of individual rights."—Tod Lindberg, Wall Street Journal“One of the most talked-about books of the moment.”—Scott Reyburn, The New York Times"[Deneen's] exhortations to embrace the local over the global and the cultural over the political are sound and well expressed."—Barton Swaim, Wall Street Journal, Books on Politics: Best of 2018"Few books challenge the core assumptions of modern liberalism as unapologetically as the suggestively titled Why Liberalism Failed by Patrick Deneen."—Shadi Hamid, TheAtlantic.com“Deneen makes an excellent case for the flaws of liberal theory and practice… [He] also presents an excellent place to begin in understanding (but also critiquing) the new National Populism.” —Joshua Penduck, Church of England NewspaperFinalist for the Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s 2018 Conservative Book of the Year prize, the Paolucci Book Award.“Liberalism is clearly in everybody’s sights, and Why Liberalism Failed will be an important contributor to the conversation, suggesting that we cannot work within the existing paradigm anymore. The philosophers will not solve our problems; working with our neighbors will.”—Joshua Mitchell, Professor of Political Theory, Georgetown University"Deneen writes with clarity, candor and superior scholarship to create one of the most absorbing political philosophy books of the past decade. No one who reads it, no one who considers its substance, will be able to think about the dynamics and the consequences of the American democratic experiment in quite the same way."—Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, author of Author of Strangers in a Strange Land"This courageous and timely book is a major contribution to understanding the rude awakening in the Trump moment. It shows that we must transcend the death grip of the two oscillating poles of classical liberalism (of Republican and Democratic parties) and examine the deep assumptions that hold us captive. It also reveals that if we remain tied to liberalism's failure, more inequality, repression, and spiritual emptiness await us."—Cornel West, Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy, Harvard"Patrick Deneen is a probing and gifted cultural critic, afire with controlled moral passion. Why Liberalism Failed provides a bracing antidote to the pieties of left and right by showing how an impoverished, bipartisan conception of liberty has imprisoned the public life it claims to have set free. One could not ask for a timelier or more necessary enrichment of our depleted political discourse."—Jackson Lears, Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of History, Rutgers University“A path-breaking book, boldly argued and expressed in terms that might justifiably be called prophetic in character.”—Wilfred M. McClay, G.T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty, University of Oklahoma

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A fascinating call to arms full of insight' IndependentAfter four decades broadcasting to the nation each night, Jon Snow gives vent to his opinions on the state of our nation . . . the good news and the bad newsIt is rare in history that so many nations in the developed world are in crisis at the same time. There has been a disintegration of trust in political leaders and in the media that holds them to account. For all the progress humankind has made, for all the inventions and new technologies, our society is being undermined by inequality. To fix it, we must begin by seeking out the truth about our world.In The State of Us, Jon Snow traces how the life of the nation has changed across his five-decade career, from getting thrown out of university for protesting apartheid to interviewing every prime minister since Margaret Thatcher.In doing so, he shows how the greatest problems at home and abroad so often come down to inequality and an unwillingness to confront it. But that is not our fate. Despite the challenges, Snow has witnessed profound social progress. In this passionate rallying cry, he argues that at its best, journalism reflects not just who we are now, but who we can be.We've had enough of division; the future is for us.Trade ReviewA call to arms from one of the great television journalists of his generation -- Robert McCrumNow he can finally tell us what he really thinks about everything... His book represents a break in a half-century of silence; and it is trenchant in surprising ways. -- Zoe Williams * Guardian *The State of Us looks at how Britain has changed in Snow's lifetime... His argument is supported by shocking statistics... Snow builds a strong case. * The Tablet *A fascinating call to arms full of insight * Independent *A rallying cry for change... In The State of Us, Snow untethers himself from the ropes of broadcasting impartiality and finally lets fly his opinions on everything from government spending to Boris Johnson to the Iraq War started by Tony Blair... It's serious stuff, yet there is also a deftness to Snow's writing. * Irish Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe epic history of world order, revealing how the decline of the West may be a good thing for its future. Since the dawn of the twenty-first century, the West has been in crisis. Social unrest, political polarization, and the rise of other great powers - especially China - threaten to unravel today''s Western-led world order. Many fear this would lead to global chaos. But this is a Western illusion. Surveying five thousand years of global history, political scientist Amitav Acharya reveals that world order existed long before the rise of the West. Moving from ancient Sumer, India, Greece, and Mesoamerica, through medieval caliphates and Eurasian empires into the present, Acharya shows that humanitarian values, economic interdependence, and rules of inter-state conduct emerged across the globe over millennia. History suggests order will endure even as the West retreats. Instead of fearing the future, the West should learn from history and cooperate with the Rest to forge a more equitable order.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCare is the foundation of organic life. But its fate in the economy is precarious and uncertain. The labour of care is arduous and underpaid. Yet without it health and vitality are impossible. Care itself ends up leading a curious dual life. In our hearts it's honoured as an irreducible good. But in the market it's treated as a second class citizen barely recognised in the relentless rush for productivity and wealth. How did we arrive in this dysfunctional place? And what can we do to change things? What would it mean to take health seriously as a societal goal? What would it take to adopt care as an organising principle in the economy? Renowned ecological economist Tim Jackson sets out to tackle these questions in this timely and deeply personal book. His journey travels through the history of medicine, the economics of capitalism and the philosophical underpinnings of health. He unpacks the gender politics of care, revisits the birthplace of a universal dream and confronts the demons that prevent us from realising it. Irreverent, insightful and profoundly inquisitive,The Care Economyoffers a bold and accessible manifesto for a healthier and more humane society.

Read more less

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.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State (1884), was a provocative and profoundly influential critique of the Victorian nuclear family. Engels argued that the traditional monogamous household was in fact a recent construct, closely bound up with capitalist societies. Under this patriarchal system, women were servants and, effectively, prostitutes. Only Communism would herald the dawn of communal living and a new sexual freedom and, in turn, the role of the state would become superfluous.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis'I was determined to break into the White House and, with the confidence of youth, I didn't see how anyone was going to be able to stop me.' So how did a small-town girl from Muncie, Indiana, end up an assistant to and favourite of the President, joining George H. W. Bush for early morning runs and on the White House tennis court? In this sparkling memoir, Annie Bracken takes readers straight to the heart of the action. How do the powerful live on Capitol Hill? What is Joe Biden really like and could he be a successful President? What is life like after the White House? Packed with vivid personal portraits of Bracken's encounters with Presidents, gangsters, spies and even some Hollywood greats, this is a joyful insider account of one woman's journey from America's fly-over states, through tales of hilarity and intrigue in London and Cannes, all the way to the White House.Trade Review“You definitely want her on your side.” - Katharine Graham, owner of the Washington Post “A breath of fresh air.” - Richard Helms, former director of the CIA“This book is a riot, bright and breezy, whose pages sparkle with unlikely insights into official Washington, with a first person flavour of what goes on behind the closed doors of power. Every line is worth the ticket; the fun is in the reading. It is on the tennis courts that she meets and sometimes is wooed by Washington’s high and mighty. Small as the book is, it offers us a spectacular range of celebrities, by whom the author is undaunted, offering not so much a memoir, as sketches of a life enthusiastically lived.” - John Carlin, author of Invictus “Not a page is turned without a smile” - Andrew Ovenstone

Read more less

Book SynopsisNature, money, work, care, food, energy, and lives: these are the seven things that have made our world and will shape its future. In making these things cheap, modern commerce has transformed, governed, and devastated Earth. In A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things, Raj Patel and Jason W. Moore present a new approach to analyzing today's planetary emergencies. Bringing the latest ecological research together with histories of colonialism, indigenous struggles, slave revolts, and other rebellions and uprisings, Patel and Moore demonstrate that throughout history, crises have always prompted fresh strategies to make the world cheap and safe for capitalism. At a time of crisis in all seven cheap things, innovative and systemic thinking is urgently required. This book proposes a radical new way of understanding-and reclaiming-the planet in the turbulent twenty-first century.Trade ReviewIf Patel and Moore don't quite make it to Mars, their book still covers an awful lot of ground. They move rapidly between economic analysis, history and political polemic, all in service of the premise that all the cheapness has in fact been catastrophically expensive... the overall impression is one of sweeping erudition, and an impressive ability to synthesise disparate elements. -- Mark O'Connell * Guardian *Their central argument - that the inevitable trajectory of capitalism is a race to the bottom in which we all end as losers - is surely one that needs to be heard. * New Internationalist *By shifting our attention away from the question of global warming to focus on the larger ideological manoeuvrings underpinning the way capitalism seeks to organise nature, Moore and Patel persuasively demonstrate that our responses to the crises of capitalism and climate that we are facing should not be exclusively about preventing catastrophic ecological change by blocking runway expansions. Instead, their work suggests that we are potentially seeing an unravelling of a much more complicated and convoluted set of longer running crises of capital that are becoming increasingly unmanageable, and not just because of heat waves or rising sea levels. -- Andrew Key * New Socialist *[A] highly readable, heavily-sourced book -- John Fullerton * Freedom News *Making the persuasive argument that capitalism is more than just an economic system, Patel and Moore illustrate how it has succeeded in creating an overwhelming planetary ecology, separating humans from the rest of nature, organising every relationship between them and exploiting all available resources to work for it as cheaply as possible. -- Jamie Johnson * Morning Star *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Exhilarating' Financial Times'A profound meditation on how and why democracy must keep its faith in the future and the future must keep its faith in democracy' David RuncimanDemocracy is future-oriented and self-correcting: today's problems can be solved, we are told, in tomorrow's elections. But the biggest issues facing the modern world - from climate collapse and pandemics to recession and world war - each apparently bring us to the edge of the irreversible. What happens to democracy when the future seems no longer open?In this eye-opening history of ideas, Jonathan White investigates how politics has long been directed by shifting visions of the future, from the birth of ideologies in the nineteenth century to Cold War secrecy and the excesses of the neoliberal age.As an inescapable sense of disaster defines our politics, White argues that a political commitment to the long-term may be the best way to safeguard democracy. Wide in scope and sharply observed, In the Long Run is a hi

Read more less

Book SynopsisSparrow's account of over three centuries of Parliamentary reporting brings in literary giants such as Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens (who worked as a reported in Parliament in the 1830s) as well as covering major developments in how reporting was carried out - and press coverage.

Read more less