Politics and government Books

Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling author of Reading Lolita in Tehran returns with a guide to the power of literature in turbulent times, arming readers with a resistance reading list, ranging from James Baldwin to Zora Neale Hurston to Margaret Atwood.[A] stunning look at the power of reading. ... Provokes and inspires at every turn. —Publishers Weekly (starred review)Remarkable. ... Audacious. —The ProgressiveStunningly beautiful and perceptive. —Los Angeles Review of BooksWhat is the role of literature in an era when one political party wages continual war on writers and the press? What is the connection between political strife in our daily lives, and the way we meet our enemies on the page in fiction? How can literature, through its free exchange, affect politics?In this galvanizing guide to literature as resistance, Nafisi seeks to answer these questions. Drawing on her experiences as a woman and voracious reader living in the Islamic Republic of Iran, her life as an immigrant in the United States, and her role as literature professor in both countries, she crafts an argument for why, in a genuine democracy, we must engage with the enemy, and how literature can be a vehicle for doing so.Structured as a series of letters to her father, who taught her as a child about how literature can rescue us in times of trauma, Nafisi explores the most probing questions of our time through the works of Toni Morrison, Salman Rushdie, James Baldwin, Margaret Atwood, and more. 

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisPOWER AND RESPONSIBILITY is the third volume of Alastair Campbell''s unique daily account of life at the centre of the Blair government. It begins amid conflict in Kosovo, and ends on September 11, 2001, a day which immediately wrote itself into the history books, changing the course of both the Bush presidency and the Blair premiership. In this volume, we see that New Labour''s honeymoon is well and truly over. In addition to detailing the continuing tensions at the top, here we find graphic accounts of a variety of domestic crises: foot-and-mouth disease and protests over fuel prices which almost brought Britain to a halt. Volume Three includes Peter Mandelson''s second resignation, the agonies of the Millennium Dome, and the most unexpected slow-handclapping in memory, when the Women''s Institute turned against Tony Blair. Yet despite all the problems - not least the most accident-prone manifesto launch in history, complete with deputy prime minister John Prescott punching a voter - Labour won a second successive landslide election victory. That triumph is intimately recorded here, alongside the high points of this period, such as devolution to Northern Ireland and the fall of Milosevic.Trade ReviewA compulsively fascinating record * Daily Telegraph (on Vol. 2) *A belter * Independent (on Vol. 2) *Instantly captivating * Spectator (on Vol. 2) *Alastair Campbell's diaries have the quality of Pepys ... people will be looking for insights and finding them in 100 years' time * Lord Alex Carlile (Vol. 1) *

Read more less

Book SynopsisBringing together experts from across the globe to provide a comprehensive introduction to strategic studies, this is the only overview to critically engage with both enduring and contemporary issues that dominate strategy. Throughout the chapters, readers are encouraged to explore key debates and alternative perspectives. A debates feature considers key controversies and presents opposing arguments, helping students to build critical thinking skills and reflect upon a wide range of perspectives.The new edition has been thoroughly updated to incorporate the latest developments in the field of strategic studies. Four new chapters feature in-depth coverage of cyber power and conflict, strategic culture, the evolution of grand strategy in China, and the relationship between military technology and warfare.Digital formats and resourcesThe seventh edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and is supported by online resources- The e-book offers aTrade ReviewThis forward-thinking, comprehensive textbook is a must-have for instructors of international relations and strategic studies in the modern age. It covers a broad range of theoretical and topical issues ranging from strategic theory to nuclear weapons, from irregular warfare to great power competition. Incorporating military and scholarly views, the chapters provide students with in-depth instruction on a variety of the most critical strategic issues of our time. * Dr Molly Dunigan, Senior Political Scientist, RAND Corporation, and Senior Lecturer, Carnegie Mellon University *Strategy in the Contemporary World is the most comprehensive introduction to strategic studies. Drawing on the expertise of leading scholars, this volume is an essential text to understand the broad range of debates and contemporary problems that shape the study and the practice of strategy. * Dr Damien Van Puyvelde, Director of the Scottish Centre for War Studies, University of Glasgow *Contemporary strategy involves enduring issues of force and war, but it also includes an expanding cast of characters in a rapidly changing technological environment. The relationship between traditional theory and modern dilemmas is complex, and students of strategy may struggle to make sense of it all. John Baylis, James Wirtz, and Jeannie Johnson have assembled an outstanding roster of experts to guide them. * Dr Joshua Rovner, Associate Professor, American University *More than just a fresh coat of intellectual paint, the 7th edition of Strategy in the Contemporary World is an important new instalment in an ongoing seminar about how the basic issues of international security affairs are evolving in an ever-changing world led by some of the most important contemporary thinkers on the subject. An indispensable resource for teachers and scholars. * Dr Michael C. Desch, Packey J. Dee Professor of International Affairs; Brian and Jeannelle Brady Family Director, the Notre Dame International Security Center *Table of Contents1: John Baylis, James J. Wirtz, and Jeannie L. Johnson: Introduction: Strategy in the Contemporary World Part I: Enduring Issues of Strategy 2: Beatrice Heuser: The History of the Practice of Strategy from Antiquity to Napoleon 3: Michael Sheehan: The Evolution of Modern Warfare 4: Thomas G. Mahnken: Strategic Theory 5: John Garnett and John Baylis: The Causes of War 6: Dmitry (Dima) Adamsky: Strategic Culture 7: Justin Morris: Law, Politics, and the Use of Force 8: Ryan Grauer: Technology and Warfare 9: Roger Z. George: Intelligence and Strategy 10: Daniel Moran: Geography and Strategy Part II: Contemporary Problems 11: James D. Kiras: Irregular Warfare: Terrorism and Insurgency 12: C. Dale Walton: Nuclear Weapons in the Twenty-first Century 13: John Baylis: The Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction 14: John Ferris: Conventional Power and Contemporary Warfare 15: Sheena Chestnut Greitens: Humanitarian Intervention and Peace Operations 16: Ryan C. Maness, Rebecca Lorentz, and Brandon Valeriano: Cyber Conflict in the Age of Great Power Competition 17: Stephanie Ortmann and Nicholas Whittaker: Geopolitics and Grand Strategy 18: Oriana Skylar Mastro: Chinese Grand Strategy Part III: The Future of Strategy 19: Amitav Acharya and Jiajie He: Strategic Studies: The West and the Rest 20: Columba Peoples: Strategic Studies and its Critics 21: James J. Wirtz: A New Agenda for Security and Strategy? 22: Colin S. Gray and Jeannie L. Johnson: The Practice of Strategy 23: Sir Lawrence Freedman: Does Strategic Studies Have a Future?

Read more less

Book SynopsisUntil the modern period the integration of church (or other religion) and state (or political life) had been taken for granted. The political order was always tied to an official religion in Christian Europe, pre-Christian Europe, and in the Arabic world. But from the eighteenth century onwards, some European states began to set up their political order on a different basis. Not religion, but the rule of law through non-religious values embedded in constitutions became the foundation of some states - a movement we now call secularism. In others, a de facto secularism emerged as political values and civil and criminal law altered their professed foundation from a shared religion to a non-religious basis. Today secularism is an increasingly hot topic in public, political, and religious debate across the globe. It is embodied in the conflict between secular republics - from the US to India - and the challenges they face from resurgent religious identity politics; in the challenges faced by religious states like those of the Arab world from insurgent secularists; and in states like China where calls for freedom of belief are challenging a state imposed non-religious worldview. In this Very Short Introduction Andrew Copson tells the story of secularism, taking in momentous episodes in world history, such as the great transition of Europe from religious orthodoxy to pluralism, the global struggle for human rights and democracy, and the origins of modernity. He also considers the role of secularism when engaging with some of the most contentious political and legal issues of our time: ''blasphemy'', ''apostasy'', religious persecution, religious discrimination, religious schools, and freedom of belief and freedom of thought in a divided world.Previously published in hardback as Secularism: Politics, Religion, and FreedomABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewCopson has managed to put together an accessible, but surprisingly nuanced and comprehensive, introduction to secularism that would be appropriate for undergraduate classrooms or lay readers interested in the topic. * Mary Leah Friedline, Religious Studies Review *Today's world is in dire need of the noble tradition of secularism, and I know nobody better qualified than Andrew Copson to expound it. * Richard Dawkins *This is an exceptionally careful, fair-minded and positive introduction to the many meanings of a word often carelessly used. It will be an enormous help to all who want to understand better the current controversies about religious belief and modern society. * Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury *A must read. It is a worthwhile introduction that will inform and may correct some assumptions and prejudices. * The Rev Maurice Stafford, Methodist Recorder *Concise and fair-minded ... Secularism helps the reader navigate [the] ... shifting terrain admirably. * Nick Spencer, Times Literary Supplement *Andrew Copson's short book covers a lot of ground. It is one of the best books I've read in this excellent series. Copson [...] provides a balanced and generous interpretation that presents arguments on different sides ... His approach is subtle and intelligent, and is informed by a deep understanding of the positions of those with whom he disagrees. I learnt a great deal from reading this. * Nigel Warburton, Five Books *Recommended. * CHOICE *Copson is even-handed in his analysis ... This is as nuanced a defence of secularism as you'll find * Jonathan Wright, Catholic Herald *Andrew Copson ... looks for genuine debate in Secularism ... It is natural to review books on atheism and secularism together. The intersection of the two groups is large. But one of the chief benefits of reading Copson is that he enables us to think more deeply about how they diverge. * Maximilian de Gaynesford, The Tablet *It is to Andrew Copson's credit that his short book refuses to circumvent ... big issues but rather brings them blinking out into the light and enables readers to understand better and think more clearly about them. It is undoubtedly the author's hope-and by and large this reviewer's too-that by the end of the book readers will look more positively on secularism. But that would mark not the end of a debate, but the start of a new one. Secularism yes. But what kind? * Nick Spencer, Theos *An excellent and sympathetic introduction to secularism * Paradigm Explorer *[Copson's] new book strikes the rare balance of being both entertaining and informative ... [His] gift, it seems, is the ability to condense decades of the evolution and analysis of the concept of secularism into 140 short pages. * The Pink Humanist *Secularism is of growing importance all over the world, yet it is also an approach with deep roots reaching far back into our history. Andrew Copson elegantly explores this history as well as secularism's importance today, showing how it evolved and how it is the key to de-escalating so many of the modern world's points of conflict. * Dan Snow *Andrew Copson is one of the most thoughtful people in the world on secularism. We have never needed a sane, intelligent, persuasive guide to secularism more than now - so I'd say thank God for this excellent book, if that wasn't too obviously ironic. * Johann Hari *A timely tour de force and indispensable analysis for anyone seeking to get to grips with the roots, philosophy, and current controversies surrounding secularism which are challenging our vexed world. * Professor Francesca Klug, author of Magna Carta For All Humanity: Homing in on Human Rights *A secular state embraces freedom of religion or belief, the equal treatment of persons regardless of faith, and the separation of religious and state authorities. In this wide-ranging and timely study Andrew Copson describes the virtues of secularism as the guarantor of equal dignity, freedom, and security for all, but also the various platforms from which it is opposed, and its fragile and increasingly beleaguered state across the world. Scrupulously fair, his book brings much-needed clarity into a confused and embittered area of dispute. * Simon Blackburn, author of Ethics: A Very Short Introduction and Plato's Republic: A Biography *This is a dazzling tour of the history and meanings of Secularism. Copson pulls off that most compelling thing a synthesis of nuance and rigour that is global in its vision, historical in its foundation, but fully contemporary in its relevance. For being so intimately involved in advocacy, the author demonstrates balance and understanding of critical as well as supportive positions, and with its authoritative research base this is immensely useful for student learning in the growing arena of Studies in Nonbelief. * Callum Brown, Professor of Late modern European History, University of Glasgow *Table of Contents1: What is secularism? 2: Secularism in Western societies 3: Secularism diversifies 4: The case for secularism 5: The case against secularism 6: Conceptions of secularism 7: Hard questions and new conflicts Afterword: The future of secularism References and Further Reading Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first English translation of the French cult classic that lampoons France’s most popular intellectuals of the post-1968 period and their ideas, which became forces of counterrevolution.Eric-John Russell’s translation of Jaime Semprún’s brutal takedown of France’s best-known intellectuals of the post-1968 period, A Gallery of Recuperation, is one of the first full English versions of any of Semprún’s books. Originally titled Précis de recuperation, the book is a scathing critique of ten major thinkers, including Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze, Jean-François Lyotard, and Cornelius Castoriadis. Semprún uses this catalog of careerism to reflect on the concept of recuperation—capitalism’s uncanny ability to coopt anticapitalist critiques and subvert subversion. His central question: What happens to revolutionary ideas, including Marxism itself, in the hands of profess

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis new updated edition presents the overarching themes of geopolitical structures and agents in an engaging and accessible manner, which requires no previous knowledge of theory or current affairs. It helps readers understand the geopolitical implications of COVID-19, Chinaâs pronounced role in the world, the relative decline of the US, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Using new pertinent case studies and guided exercises, the title explains the contemporary global power of the United States and the challenges it is facing, the changing foreign policy of China and other countries, the persistence of nationalist conflicts, migration, cyberwar and cyberactivism, terrorism, energy geopolitics, and environmental geopolitics. Expanded case studies of the South China Sea disputes and Chinaâs Belt and Road Initiative emphasize the multi-faceted nature of conflict. The book raises questions by incorporating international and long-term historical perspectives and introduces readers to different theoretical viewpoints, including feminist contributions. The new edition features fresh discussion of island geopolitics, the Anthropocene age, and geoeconomics.Introduction to Geopolitics will provide its readers with a set of critical analytical tools for understanding the actions of states as well as non-state actors acting in competition over resources and power. Both students and general readers will find this book an essential stepping-stone to a deeper and critical understanding of contemporary conflicts.The companion website will enable readers to apply the themes of the book to the constant shifts in current affairs to enable deeper understanding. It will provide access to weekly essays showing how the themes explain current events.Table of Contents1. Introduction to geopolitics 2. A framework for understanding geopolitics 3. Geopolitical agency: the concept of geopolitical codes 4. Justifying geopolitical agency: representing geopolitical codes 5. Embedding geopolitics within national identity 6. Territorial geopolitics: shaky foundations of the world political map? 7. Network geopolitics: flows desired and feared 8. Global geopolitical structure: framing agency 9. Environmental geopolitics: agency in the Anthropocene 10. Messy geopolitics: agency and multiple structures

Read more less

Book SynopsisTremendous.' DAVID HAREAn absorbing, necessary book.' AHAD AKHTARFascinating and energising.' FINANCIAL TIMESFrom the ''Winner of Winners'' of the Baillie Gifford Prize, a timely and dramatic story of a utopian American experiment, and the self-serving politicians that engineered its downfall.In 1935 the American public was presented with a radical opportunity. Established under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, the Federal Theatre Project would employ 12,000 artists, writers, and actors; stage more than 1,000 productions; and reach over 30 million people. Its output included Orson Welles' directorial debut, a landmark modern dance programme, and shows that sought to shed light on the reality of racism, inequality and the dangers of fascism.But within three years, an opportunistic Texas congressman had embarked on a campaign to destroy it, inventing a playbook that echoes into the culture wars of today.From one of the world's great storytellers, The Playbook is an illuminating account of a terrifyingly prescient moment in twentieth-century American cultural history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 2017, a white supremacist rally at the University of Virginia forced many to consider how much progress had been made in a country that, nine years prior, had elected its first Black president. Beyond these racial flashpoints, the increasingly polarized nature of US politics has reignited debates around the meaning of identity, citizenship, and acceptance in America today. In this pioneering book, Khalilah L. Brown-Dean moves beyond the headlines to examine how contemporary controversies emanate from longstanding struggles over power, access, and belonging. Using intersectionality as an organizing framework, she draws on current tensions such as voter suppression, the Me Too movement, the Standing Rock protests, marriage equality, military service, the rise of the Religious Right, protests by professional athletes, and battles over immigration to show how conflicts over group identity are an inescapable feature of American political development. Brown-Dean explores issues of citizenship, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, and religion to argue that democracy in the United States is built upon the battle of ideas related to how we see ourselves, how we see others, and the mechanisms available to reinforce those distinctions. Identity Politics in the United Stateswill be an essential resource for students and engaged citizens who want to understand the link between historical context, contemporary political challenges, and paths to move toward a stronger democracy.Trade Review�Brown-Dean makes clear how notions of belonging and exclusion constitute relentless forces in shaping policy, laws, and political representation in the United States. The book�s lively interplay of deep historical dives and compelling empirical evidence drives home the power of boundary-making around race, gender, religion, and other identities in US political life. A must-read for students of politics.�Janelle Wong, University of Maryland�Brown-Dean situates today�s identity politics debates within a much-needed legal and political historical context, revealing that all politics are indeed about identity, and urging us to resist simplistic frameworks and instead engage in tough but necessary conversations about difference.�Heath Fogg Davis, Temple University�An exciting and comprehensive introduction to identity politics in America today.�Sharon Wright Austin, University of Florida�This superb text is masterfully written and excellently researched. Undergraduate students will find the material engaging and thought-provoking. Professor Brown-Dean is skilled at making the basic tenets of American government come alive in the 21st century by foregrounding identity politics as central to understanding American democracy.�Nadia Brown, Purdue UniversityTable of ContentsList of Tables, Figures and Illustrations Acknowledgements Chapter 1: The Personal is Political Chapter 2: Identity Politics and the Boundaries of Belonging Chapter 3: The Substance of U.S. Citizenship Chapter 4: Racial Identity, Citizenship, and Voting Chapter 5: Ethnic Identity: Demography and Destiny Chapter 6: Gender, Sexual Identity, and the Challenge of Inclusion Chapter 7: Religious Identity and Political Presence Chapter 8: Identity and Political Movements Chapter 9: The Inescapability of Identity Politics Glossary Works Cited Notes

Read more less

Raymond Aron's 1955 masterpiece The Opium of the Intellectuals, is one of the great works of twentieth- century political reflection

Read more less

Book SynopsisProvides a telling history of one of the most important relationships in the Middle East. This is the first book to tell the remarkable story of the relationship between Jordan and the United States and how their leaders have navigated the dangerous waters of the most volatile region in the world.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisChanging the Rules enters into the debate between theoretical analyses of constitutional amendments (considered the most important part of a constitution) and empirical research (which argues that amendment provisions have little or no significance). George Tsebelis demonstrates how strict provisions are a necessary condition for amendments to have low frequency and significance and provides empirical evidence from case studies and over 100 democracies to corroborate this claim. Examining various cultural theories that dispute these findings, Tsebelis explains why their conclusions have weak foundations. He argues that constitutional rigidity is also a necessary condition for judicial independence and provides theoretical argument and empirical evidence. Tsebelis also establishes a negative correlation between the length of a constitution and problematic indicators such as time inconsistency, low GDP/capita, high corruption, inequality, and lack of innovation. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisA sharp and timely exploration of the dark art of manipulation through weaponised storytelling, from the best-selling author of Four Lost Cities

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe indispensable guide to conflict resolution in a troubled world Conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding have never been more important as priorities on the global agenda. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and tensions between the major powers in what is now a multi-polar world, require new conflict resolution responses. The fifth edition of this hugely popular text offers a commanding overview of today's changing conflict landscape and the latest developments and new ideas in the field. Fluently written in an easy-to-follow style, it guides readers carefully through the key concepts, issues and debates, evaluates successes and failures, and assesses the main challenges for conflict resolution today. Comprehensively updated and illustrated with new case studies, the fifth edition returns to its favoured twelve-chapter format. It remains the leading text for students of peace and security studies, conflict management and international politics, as well as policy-makers and those working in NGOs and think tanks.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDarren McGarvey grew up in Pollok, Glasgow. He is a writer, hip-hop artist, broadcaster and campaigner. His bestselling and acclaimed first book Poverty Safari was awarded the Orwell Prize for political writing in 2018.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPoliticians are weird - we can all agree on that. But do you know how much weirder they used to be? If not, Honourable Misfits is the book for you. Spanning from the past seven hundred years, this is a celebration of the oddest and most eccentric MPs the House of Commons has ever seen. From mad inventors and fearless adventurers to machiavellian villains and mavericks with more money than sense, it offers sixty-five pen portraits of the unique, the mysterious and the downright deranged.There is the one who built a complex network of tunnels and underground rooms underneath his estate; the one who liked to go hunting naked; the one who set himself on fire to cure his hiccups, and the one who invented a very small gun with which to kill flies.Still, they weren't all useless; there was also the MP who invented weather forecasts, and the one who documented more animal species than nearly everyone else. They weren't all good either; between the fascist turned Buddhist monk and the spy who faked his death, there are more than enough villains to go around. They also weren't all lucky; included in Honourable Misfits are tributes to MPs with tragic deaths, from falling on a turnip to getting in a car accident the day after getting elected. This is a book to celebrate human nature in all its odd, compelling complexity.Trade ReviewAt a time when British politics is so depressing, it's a joy to read about the follies of MPs in the past written with such gusto and elan. Every politician should have a copy of this by their bed and by the side of any other bed they may use -- Tony RobinsonWhat a brilliant collection of characters - the wacky, the weird and (occasionally) the wise. Marie makes history more fun than it's meant to be. Dip in, and you won't be able to dip out -- Evan DavisThis is something you didn't know you needed: a book to make you strangely fond of MPs. At least, some MPs - and all of them dead. At heart it is a very entertaining, affectionate celebration of weirdness, and a memorial to many people who have almost completely been forgotten (some of them rightly). And it will almost certainly make you feel better about how YOUR career's going -- Mark Watson

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Dizzyingly flexible, deeply human, often funny, it blasts aside our preconceptions and urges us to see the world as it is' iFeminist philosophy meets family memoir in Siri Hustvedt's most personal essay collection yet, a scintillating and profound exploration of motherhood, the maternal and misogyny. Ranging across artistic mothers such as Jane Austen and Louise Bourgeois, psychoanalysis, science, literature and ethnography, this is a polymath's journey into urgent questions about familial love and hate, human prejudice and cruelty, and the transformative power of art. Fierce, moving and witty, it warns against drawing hard and fast borders where none exist.'The voice is consistent, combining assured erudition with more playful questioning, always thoughtful and capable of surprising shifts of register and even genre' Lara Feigel, GuardianPRAISE FOR SIRI HUSTVEDT:'Hustvedt is that rare artist, a writer of high intelligence, profound sensuality and a less easily definable capacity for which the only word I can find is wisdom' Salman Rushdie'It is Hustvedt's gift to write with exemplary clarity of what is by necessity unclear' Hilary Mantel'Her novels have received a deserved acclaim. But to my mind, she is even more to be admired as an essayist . . . in this regard I feel that she resembles Virginia Woolf ' Observer'Few contemporary writers are as satisfying and stimulating to read as Siri Hustvedt' Washington PostTrade ReviewMemoir, psychoanalysis, feminist theory and literary criticism combine in a thoughtful essay collection . . . Now, as issues of surrogacy and trans motherhood pose fresh challenges, feminism's confrontation with the issue feels newly urgent. Siri Hustvedt joins the fray with a mixture of directness and obliqueness. She takes on motherhood from every direction, combining memoir with ethnography, the history of science and psychoanalysis, literary and art criticism. -- Lara Feigel * Guardian *American novelist and feminist philosopher Siri Hustvedt is a wonderful essayist, equally at ease discussing the thoughts of Plato or the lyrics of Tom Waits. Her new collection is replete with personal history and recollection, and sparkles with small descriptive gems. -- Martin Chilton * Independent *Dizzyingly flexible, deeply human, often funny, Mothers, Fathers, and Others blasts aside our preconceptions and urges us to see the world as it is. -- Emily Watkins * i *In precise yet luxuriant prose Hustvedt uses her family history to explore questions of memory and identity. -- Sophie McBain * New Statesman *Ranging from portraits of her family, through female artists and authors, to the sometimes disturbing eruptions of the male psyche, this is an extremely well-written exploration of the hinterland of a modern feminist. More than once, I found myself comparing her analyses to Socratic dialogues, and there can be no higher praise than that. -- Chris Nancollas * Tablet *Mothers, Fathers, and Others, showcases a wonderfully relaxed erudition. Blending family memoir and feminist philosophy, its subjects include misogyny, motherhood and what we inherit from our parents -- Alex Peake-Tomkinson * The i *Siri Hustvedt takes feminist discourse to a new level . . . a powerful collection with an impressive variety of disciplines through whose prism the themes of art, motherhood, neuroscience, misogyny and sex are revealed. It is an engaging and educational read that makes a valuable contribution to contemporary feminist discourse. -- Elizaveta Kolesova * The Upcoming *Another outstanding compilation of essays from Hustvedt. As in her previous standout collections, the author shares personal, familial stories as well as incisive ruminations on a breadth of literary, political, arcane, and germane subjects . . . Although each essay is a stand-alone piece, their cumulative effect is staggering. Themes related to sexual hierarchies abound . . . The author, one of our most appealing literary polymaths, quotes innumerable resources, and she maintains a pleasingly nuanced balance between striking originality and intellectual synthesis . . . Brilliant and utterly transfixing. * Kirkus Reviews *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Whether you agree with him or not, P.J. writes a helluva piece.' Richard Nixon P.J. O'Rourke has had a prolific career as one of America's most celebrated humourists. But that career almost didn't happen. As he tells it, 'I began to write for pay in the spring of 1970. To tell the truth I didn't even mean to be a writer, I meant to be a race car driver, but I didn't have a race car.' Fortunately for us, he had to settle for writing. From his early pieces for the National Lampoon ('How to Drive fast on Drugs While Getting Your Wing-Wang Squeezed and Not Spill Your Drink'), through his classic reporting as Rolling Stone's International Affairs editor in the 80s and 90s ('Among the Euroweenies'), and his brilliant, inimitable political journalism and analysis (Parliament of Whores, Give War a Chance, Eat the Rich), P.J. has been entertaining and provoking readers with high octane prose, a gonzo Republican attitude and a rare ability to make you laugh out loud while silently reading to yourself. For the first time Thrown Under the Omnibus brings together his funniest, most outrageous, most controversial and most loved pieces in the definitive P.J. reader.Trade ReviewP.J. O'Rourke is the rarest of breeds; a veteran rightwinger who is both funny and clever but not bitter at all... It's very funny, utterly thought-provoking... O'Rourke emerges as a hero for admitting what few of his generation dare to. * The Times on The Baby Boom *Few journalists are as bold and iconoclastic as P.J. O'Rourke... Thoroughly entertaining. * Mail on Sunday on The Baby Boom *P.J. O'Rourke is what happens when America does Grumpy Old Men. Instead of sour-faced curmudgeons bleating that "politics is just a load of crap", you get a succession of amusing and incisive observations about why politics is a load of crap. * Spectator *Here is (nearly) everything you wanted to know about P. J. O'Rourke but were afraid to ask. * RTE Guide *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMichael Crick tells the extraordinary story of the man who put the swing into British politics. Sir David Butler pioneered the science of elections, bringing the voting figures to life on national television. An Oxford boffin who has publicly analysed every British general election since the war, Butler has done more than anyone to transform TV coverage of British elections. As a twenty-year-old student in 1945, Butler was the first to turn election results into percentages, and hence a science. And seventy-two years later, the academic known as the 'father of psephology' was using Twitter to talk about the contest in 2017. Back in 1950, as an expert on the BBC's first TV election night, Butler promoted the idea of 'swing' to explain gains and losses to the British public. Later he invented the BBC's popular Swingometer, which is still used today, and helped make the BBC's results broadcast the `go-to' programme, combining authority, academic rigour and showmanship. Having first been summoned by Churchill for polling advice when he was only twenty-five, David Butler got to know most of Britain's senior post-war politicians, and has acted as a highly influential voice behind the scenes. He has written dozens of books and taught scores of leading figures in politics, the media and universities around the world, building a huge international reputation which regularly took him to America, Australia and India. Award-winning TV correspondent Michael Crick has known David Butler for forty years. Based on interviews with Butler himself, his friends, colleagues and family, and with access to many previously unseen papers, Crick chronicles the long and energetic life of the greatest analyst of British elections - a story which weaves its way through post-war history with surprises, colour and humour.

Read more less

Book Synopsis"She woke with a start. Could it really have happened, or was it just a cruel dream? One way to find out. She reached for the remote control ... 'You're watching GB News, the fair and balanced way to start your day,' intoned the voice of Andrew Neil, overlaid on a remix of 'Land of Hope and Glory'. And then it hit her, as she took in the newsreader's first headline. 'The new Prime Minister, Priti Patel, is about to announce her first Cabinet appointments...' The new Prime Minister... So it was real." What does it take to change history? Clement Attlee dying on the battlefield, perhaps? John Lennon surviving that bullet, or Theresa May finally (finally!) passing her Brexit deal? Or maybe the pivotal recent years of UK history turned on one man's decision to have just one more drink... This is the world of political counterfactuals. Here, twenty-three fictional accounts, written by experts in their fields, tell the tales of what might have been - and what might still come to pass. Captivating and illuminating, these stories are guaranteed to make you smile - or gasp in horror...Trade Review"Another tantalising series of what-ifs... but Priti Patel for Prime Minister? I wouldn't rule it out." - Chris Mullin, author of A Very British Coup

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver a decade before Margaret Thatcher swept to power, another woman was running Britain from 10 Downing Street: Marcia Williams was the first ever female political adviser to a Prime Minister and was said to have a powerful grip on her boss. Historians have described the relationship between Marcia and Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson as one of the most famous but mysterious partnerships in modern political history. A brilliant tactician, Marcia masterminded Wilson's multiple election victories. Indeed, he said that but for her ingenuity, he would never have become Prime Minister. But misogyny, jealousy, a shocking private life and accusations of money-grubbing and bribery all contributed to her reputation as a public nuisance. Marcia's young and ambitious male colleagues said she humiliated and screamed at Wilson, single-handedly ruining his chances of being remembered as a 'great' Prime Minister. There is no doubt Marcia was outspoken, forthright and, by contemporary standards, deeply unconventional. But her critics failed to understand her unbreakable partnership with Wilson - they were politically wedded to each other and equal contributors to his success. In this passionate and fascinating biography, Linda McDougall seeks to rescue Marcia from previously dismissive verdicts, suggesting a more nuanced context in which to assess her actions and reactions and restoring this trailblazing pioneer to her rightful place in British political history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA history of Iran's political underdevelopment, of how and why social movements emerged, and of how they blossomed into revolutions that ultimately betrayed their ideals.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the early 1960s, the city of Durban consolidated racially circumscribed group areas with brutal intensity. In the tiny enclave of Wentworth, designated a Coloured area, newly relocated residents made their homes and sought work in the numerous heavy industries that proliferated on its edges. As people built places of worship and newborn friendships reached across fences and staircases, soccer became the game of choice. Rudimentary pitches were marked out, cool drinks staked and the game unfolded with a mixture of delicate touches and bruising tackles. By the early 1970s, Wentworth’s ability to spawn soccer talent, headlined by the glamorous Leeds United, grew into the stuff of legend. Ashwin Desai digs deep into this history, bringing to life those who inspired and played the game when Wentworth was nothing more than a jumble of shacks and whitewashed blocks of flats, watched over by plumes of smoke from local factories that blackened the sky and slowly poisoned the body. The book’s power comes from its ability to keep its focus on soccer while situating the game in the broader social relations, as geography and history, spatial and temporal meld into a beguiling narrative. Page after page reveals writing of haunting power and sensitivity as memories are cajoled from ageing soccer legends and the interior lives of families are illuminated. It is an evocative exemplar of how community history should be brought to life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the national bestselling author of Stalin: An epic history on the grandest scale” (Financial Times) about the most successful dynasty of modern times, a family who created the world’s greatest empire—and then lost it all. An essential addition to the library of anyone interested in Russian history.” —The New York Times Book Review The Romanovs ruled a sixth of the world’s surface for three centuries. How did one family turn a war-ruined principality intoc the world’s greatest empire? And how did they lose it all? This is the intimate story of twenty tsars and tsarinas, some touched by genius, some by madness, but all inspired by holy autocracy and imperial ambition. Simon Sebag Montefiore’s gripping chronicle reveals their secret world of unlimited power and ruthless empire-building, overshadowed by palace conspiracy, family riv

Read more less

Book SynopsisWithout the State explores the 201314 Euromaidan protests a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine through in-depth ethnographic research with leftist, feminist, and student activists in Kyiv. The book discusses the concept of self-organization and the notion that if something needs to be done and a person has the competence to do it, then they should simply do it. Emily Channell-Justice reveals how self-organization in Ukraine came out of leftist practices but actors from across the spectrum of political views also adopted self-organization over the course of Euromaidan, including far-right groups. The widespread adoption of self-organization encouraged Ukrainians to rethink their expectations of the relationship between citizens and their state. The book explains how self-organized practices have changed people’s views on what they think they can contribute to their own communities, and in the wake of Russia’s renewed invasion of UkraineTrade Review“Anchored in events in Kyiv in 2013–2014, Without the State offers insights relevant for other societies that were once part of the Soviet Union and that may be currently engaged in their own efforts to extricate themselves from Moscow’s grasp. This book sheds needed light on the ideational struggles of people worldwide seeking participatory alternatives to the neoliberal economic order.” -- Jessica Pisano, New School for Social Research * The Russian Review *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Note on Language Introduction: “we provide the content of Maidan!” 1. Without Any Help from the State: Self-Organization in Ukraine 2. Twenty-First Century Leftists 3. Decommunization and National Ideology 4. #LeftMaidan: Violence, Repression, and Re-creation 5. “For free education”: Education Activism and Maidan 6. “These aren’t your values”: Gender and Nation on Maidan Conclusion: Volunteerism after Maidan Afterword Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less