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Bloomsbury This collection of Alvarez’s finest essays is on a wide range of ‘risky’ subjects. He is a passionate advocate of dangerous pursuits such as poker playing, mountaineering and flying aeroplanes. He expands these interests in this book to include his comments on the nonsense of Edward Lear’s poetry, the tortuous life of Jean Rhys plus an anomalous piece on a Grateful Dead concert! These contentious, lively and astute essays combine to produce a sparkling and eclectic anthology from one of our most unusual men of letters.
Price: EUR 14.90
Neoconomy: George Bush's Revolutionary Gamble with America's Future, Public Affairs Bush and his Republican Party have begun a quiet revolution as contentious as America's recent foreign policy forays but given much less media attention. The 'neoconomists' revolution has one goal: to increase the rate at which the economy grows by changing how the nation uses its resources. By radically changing the tax system and shifting the distribution of resources in the U.S. economy (which accounts for a third of the world's output and services) they are embarking on a major gamble. Following the path chosen by neoconomists could lead to a period of untold prosperity or it could also lead to nothing less than the collapse of the capitalist system. This very readable book offers scenarios of how this monumental gamble might play out, as the neoconomists' dream or the breadwinners' nightmare. Are you prepared?
A law criminalising incitement to religious hatred has been high on the Labour Government's list of priorities. It is a law with wide-ranging implications for freedom of expression in Britain: it could be used to censor anyone - whether writer, comedian or person in the street - who wishes to make a statement about religion that others might find offensive. In this eclectic collection of essays, authors such as Monica Ali, Salman Rushdie, Hanif Kureishi, Hari Kunzru among many others draw on their wide-ranging experience to show us why attempts to curtail our freedom must be vigorously resisted by anyone who wants all faiths to live peaceably side by side and our may cultures to thrive.
Price: EUR 16.90
Benazir Bhutto - Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West, Simon & Schuster Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October 2007, after eight years of exile, in the hope that she could be a catalyst for change. In ‘Reconciliation’ she recounts in gripping detail her final months in Pakistan before her tragic assassination. She offers a whole new agenda, suggesting how to curb the tide of Islamic fundamentalism and rediscover the values of tolerance and justice. Bhutto persuasively argues that America and Britain are fuelling radicalization by supporting dictators who serve only short term interests. With her experience governing Pakistan and living and studying in the West, Benazir Bhutto was versed in the complexities of the conflict from both sides and tries to offer reconciliation.
Price: EUR 29.00
Philip Bobbitt - Terror and Consent: The Wars for the Twenty-First Century Penguin Philip Bobbitt urgently argues that almost every widely held idea we may have about war and terror is biased and needs reassessment. He argues that terror is not about religion, nationalism or a ‘clash of civilizations’ but instead about the death of the nation-state and the birth of frontierless, globally net-worked ‘states of terror’ that seek to undermine entire cultures based on political consent. This challenging and complex book makes us rethink about issues vital to the security of western democracies in the face of a terror which seeks to undermine their value. The book also delivers real intellectual punch on the fraught relationship between state and society, terrorism and terrorists, unravelling the myths from the hard facts.
Broken Dreams - Vanity, Greed and the Souring of British Football by Tom Bower -- Simon & Schuster As the national sport, football is big business. At each game, millions of passionate football fans follow their team's progress praying for a championship victory. But off the pitch the agenda is different. Here money is the prize. This illuminating and well researched book reveals the dubious accounting methods, billion dollar television deals and puzzling player transfers which take place behind the scenes. Despite attempts by the government to clean up the abuses, the game adamantly insists on self-regulation. Tom Bower shows how self-interested individuals, through adopting questionable and predatory business practices, exploit the sport, often to its detriment.
Price: EUR 9.90
Vince Cable - The Storm: The World Economic Crisis and What It Means Atlantic Books This cogent, approachable synopsis of the recent economic crisis examines the topic from a broad perspective. Vince Cable argues that the British and American governments behave as if such a crisis were happening for first time. In fact, this is arguably the sixth shock since the Napoleonic Wars when economic expansion and disrupted trade and production set food and raw materials prices soaring. Cable also argues that much of the modern-day problem behind the Northern Rock collapse is the British obsession with home ownership, a cultural belief fuelled by the misleading notion that housing equity is a safe form of saving. Continuing with the cultural aspect, Cable portrays a City of London in the hands of opportunist ‘Dick Whittingtons’ and regrets the current shortage of qualified graduates, such as mathematicians and modern language linguists emerging from the British educational system. The book’s broad-based approach includes informative chapters on the more technical aspects of the crisis, as played out on both sides of the Atlantic.
Price: EUR 19.00
In this highly readable critique of American foreign policy from the late 1950s to the present, Chomsky argues that current U.S. policies in Afghanistan and Iraq are not a specific response to September 11, but simply the continuation of a consistent half-century of foreign policy - an " imperial grand strategy " - in which the United States has attempted to "maintain its hegemony through the threat or use of military force ". Such an analysis is bound to be met with skepticism or antagonism in post-September 11 America, but Chomsky builds his arguments carefully, substantiates claims with appropriate documentation and answers expected counterclaims. Maintaining that the U.S. is a rogue nation in its foreign policies and its "contempt for international law ", Chomsky brings together many themes he has mined in the past, making this cogent and provocative book an important addition to an ongoing public discussion about U.S. policy.
Paul Collier, Wars, Guns & Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places Bodley Head As a highly respected economist specialising in developing countries, Professor Collier argues that the spread of elections and peace settlements in the world’s most volatile countries may eventually lead to a new democratic world view. In the meantime, however, brutal protracted civil wars, military coups and failing economics are the order of the day until national sovereignty is curtailed and new economic disciplines introduced. Through innovative and astute analysis, Collier assesses the ethnic divisions and deep insecurities of developing countries such as Africa, Latin America & Asia where the democratic process so often fails. This failure is partly due to over-optimistic and often inappropriate policy measures developed by the U.S. and Great Britain and other developed countries since the end of the Cold War. Collier insists, however, that success can be achieved and outlines what he feels should be done to bring about long-term world peace and stability.
Germany is one of the most powerful countries in Europe, yet remains little understood, by itself or the rest of the world. It is in a state of metamorphosis, confronting demons of the past and attempting to forge a meaningful and more relaxed future. Now, more than ever, its role is central, as formerly communist Eastern European countries have been incorporated into the EU. East-West unity is becoming a reality. Politically, this is a new Germany, democratic and outspoken as never before, but the German economy stumbles from one crisis to the next with reform always just around the corner. Steve Crawshaw's remarkable book explores these changes and contentiously maintains that German society, itself, fifteen years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, is now in the middle of the greatest change of all.
Price: EUR 19.90
Daniel C. Dennett, Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, Penguin For many people, probably a majority of the people on the planet, nothing matters more than religion. Religion affects not just our social, political and economic conflicts, but the very meanings we find in our lives. Therefore, Dennett maintains, it is imperative that we subject the global phenomenon of religion to intensive scrutiny. How did it evolve? Is it an innate human need like a craving for sugar or should one view some religions as culturally evolved parasites which spread among their human hosts like germs? In this sharp-minded exploration, Dennett poses some contentious questions, but ones which it may be essential for our species to address in these increasingly divided times.
For over fifteen years, New York Times best selling author, Harry S. Dent Jr., has been uncannily accurate in predicting the financial future. His latest book offers a comprehensive forecast for the next two decades, showing new models for predicting future economic trends. He compares our current state to that of the crash of 1920-21 and gives advice on everything from investment strategies to real estate cycles. Dent is optimistic about future markets and shows how best we can profit from them. He also sees economic and philanthropic development in society as going hand in hand.
Subtitled ' Undercover in Low -Wage USA' this book is the story of the distinguished journalist Ehrenreich's foray into the underside of corporate America. She left home, took the cheapest lodgings she could find and accepted whatever job she was offered in an attempt to find out how anyone survives on six to seven dollars a day. The barely reported truth about the American dream is that it exists in a country of widespread growing and inescapable poverty, where the essential work is done by people below subsistence wages. This is a timely book as Europeans are beginning to question the effectiveness of American capitalism and most Western governments are attempting to curtail welfare spending. Ehrenreich chronicles what we see but rarely notice and, by doing so, illuminates the lives of the silent cohorts on whom we depend for everything but about whom we choose to know nothing.
Finch Pub. In this groundbreaking study, Dr.Farrell explores the skills each of us need to sustain good relationships. He demonstrates how negative stereotypes and myths about men and women combine with many men's inadequate tools in expressing themselves emotionally to lead to misunderstanding and heartache between the sexes. He helps couples transcend this problem and, in particular, assists men in overcoming their self fulfilling "silent sex" label. This sensitive and compassionate book is essential reading for those interested in psychology of the sexes, gender roles and communication skills.
Why do so many Americans vote against their economic and social interests? With his acclaimed wit and acuity, Thomas Frank takes the state of Kansas as a paradigm and describes how a place famous for its radicalism became one of the most conservative states in the union. He maintains that a thirty year backlash against the partying and protests of the late sixties resulted in a form of conservatism which trumpets family values and has somehow convinced many Americans that the Republican Party is a champion of the working class. This important and fascinating book shows us how American voters have been persuaded to elevate 'down-home' qualities above hard questions of policy. A brilliant analysis!
Price: EUR 12.90
Thomas Friedman, 'New York Times' columnist and author of 'Lexus and the Olive Tree', demystifies the brave new world of globalisation for the man on the street , making sense of the overwhelming global situation with which we are all confronted on a daily basis. By 'flat', he means level, as in a level playing field, on which any nation, community, company or individual can now compete, due to the explosion of global communication, which includes the internet. Friedman illuminates the consequences of current changes very thoroughly, from the benefits it can bestow to the threat of terrorists using computers to attack the very developments which further this progress. Regardless of your stance on globalisation, this is a timely, essential and thought-provoking book, which promotes clarity and suggests possible plans of action for coping with these fundamental changes.
Price: EUR 13.90
Attacking the right wing policy makers who were previously his colleagues, Fukuyama argues that the Bush administration is applying the principles of neoconservatism incorrectly. He shows how American political leaders underestimated the foreign hostility that the war in Iraq would cause, added to the loss of lives and the difficulties of reconstruction. With his usual sharp perception in analysing international affairs, Fukuyama connects the problems of Iraq to much wider trends, including the recent revolutions in Eastern Europe. He suggests that America emphasises the importance of tackling the development of meaningful infrastructures and creating overlapping international institutions as a way of moving forward in a more peaceful and popular fashion than hitherto practiced.
Price: EUR 11.90
In this series of essays, Garton Ash explores contemporary politics with an experienced eye on history. Drawing on an extraordinary range of sources, from conversations with leaders such as Bush, Blair and Schröder, he demolishes the popular claim that Americans are from Mars and Europeans from Venus. He gives us invaluable insight and background information about a world plunged into a crisis of conflicting belief systems, its multifaceted ideologies and aspirations. Garton Ash believes that this crisis reveals a unique opportunity for 'free' people everywhere to advance together from the old West of the Cold War to a new international order of liberty. Only in this way, he argues, can the conflict of the Middle East and Muslim fundamentalism be adequately addressed.
Little Brown In this compilation of his best writing from ‘The New Yorker’, Malcolm Gladwell, author of the ‘The Tipping Point’, ‘Blink’ and ‘Outliers’, once again reveals his mastery of playful, yet profound insight. Gladwell has an uncanny ability to see beneath the veneer of the seemingly mundane, to arouse our curiosity and make us think. In these witty, probing articles, he explores everyday topics and shows us surprising new ways of looking at them, for example, whether smart people are overrated, or why problems of homelessness are easier to solve than to maintain. He also tackles quirky subjects such as the history of women’s hair-dye advertisements, the secret of Heinz’s unbeatable ketchup and the bittersweet tale of the inventor of the birth control pill. Gladwell loves to explore the minor geniuses, the underdogs and the overlooked, revealing an intriguing story behind each topic and using each one as a gateway to some larger meaning. ‘What the Dog Saw’ is Gladwell at his very best!
Price: EUR 15.70
Richard Girling grabs the reader's attention with this provocative, persuasive and very entertaining 'call to arms' directed at a species who is hooked on throwing things away. He tells the story of our rubbish, from the first human bowel movement to the littering of outer space and rigorously examines the problems of waste in the UK in particular, questioning the effectiveness of current public and private initiatives to curb the problem. Girling argues for the importance of investment in new ideas and attempts to map a plan for our survival, showing us the ways our lives may have to change before our trash overpowers us and balloons into a catastrophe!
The New Leaders - Transforming the Art of Leadership, Daniel Goleman, Little Brown. Unveiling scientific evidence that links organisational success or failure to 'primal leadership', this groundbreaking book argues that a leader's emotions are contagious and must resonate energy, drive and enthusiasm if an organisation is to survive. Goleman isolates six leadership styles which a leader should have at his or her disposal. These styles range from visionary to coaching and commanding, as the situation requires. This book shows how to transform the art of leadership into the science of results.
Al Gore, The Assault on Reason: How the Politics of Blind Faith Subvert Wise Decision-Making, Penguin, This is a clear and visionary analysis of how the politics of fear, secrecy, cronyism and blind faith have combined with the degradation of the public sphere to create an environment that is dangerously hostile to reason. Al Gore argues that we live in an age when the thirty-second television spot is the most powerful force shaping the electorates thinking and that America is at the hands of an administration less interested than any previous one in sharing the truth with its citizens. Gore explains how the public sphere itself has evolved into a place hospitable to reason’s enemies and makes us more aware of the force at work in our own minds, leading us to an understanding of what we can do individually and collectively to restore the rule of reason and safeguard our future.
"No cliche is more supefying than that which describes Al Qaeda as a throwback to medieval times. It is a by-product of globalisation." maintains John Gray. In this short, powerful book he examines the myth that the human condition can be remade by science and political engineering. He describes, with mordant irony, the rise of the Positivists who, through their influence on economists, politicians and biologists, still powerfully affect the way we think. He gives a scathing account of the real source of conflict in the world, of American power and its illusions, and of the ways in which cultures inevitably resist the reshaping we might wish on them.
The Bitch in the House: 26 Women Tell the Truth About Sex, Solitude, Work, Motherhood, and Marriage According to its editor, this book was born out of anger. Women today are supposed to have it all: a fulfilling career, a loving marriage, children, fantastic sex and a beautiful home- not to mention looking flawless at all times and younger than they actually are. But frequently having it all means doing it all. Is it any wonder that so many feel angry, dissatisfied, stressed out? Despite its playful title, in this anthology Cathi Hanauer has collected the thoughtful, personal accounts of 26 very good writers, ranging in age from 24 to 66. An excellent antidote to the lie of domestic bliss, here are their stories: funny, personal, brave, and above all, brutally honest.
In Praise of Slowness: How A Worldwide Movement Is Challenging the Cult of Speed, Carl Honoré, Orion Canadian Journalist and former "speedaholic", Carl Honoré, traces the history of our increasingly breathless relationship with time, which most likely originated with the Industrial Revolution. It was accelerated by urbanisation and also the result of the advances in technology of the twentieth century. The author points out that, at present, many people are realising the negative consequences of their fast-paced lives, and because of this, a "slow revolution" is taking place. This "slow movement" or "quiet revolution" attempts to integrate the advances of the information age into a lifestyle marked by an "inner slowness", in which we live a slower, more measured existence, a philosophy he defines as "balance". This comprehensive, engaging and informative exploration takes a global look at the slow movement and encourages the reader to completely rethink her/his relationship with time.
‘The Complete Polysyllabic Spree’ is a collection of essays originally written for the literary magazine, ‘The Believer’. He writes about books and reading but it’s not just simple reviewing he is doing but taking the complete freedom to enjoy his very personal taste. He reads anything whether it is the latest hot novel, a classic he wants to reread or some obscure title he has always meant to get around to. Every chapter starts with two lists: ‘Books Bought’ and ‘Books Read’ which, it goes without saying, are quite often not identical. Almost every book lover can identify with this phenomenon and also with Hornby’s attitude towards literary novels. He thinks it’s not an either/or opposition if you like sophisticated novels as well as exciting thrillers. So in this book we don’t only learn a lot about books and authors most of us have probably never heard of before, but we also learn a lot about Nick Hornby and his very personal life, enjoying his unique style at the same time.
Ed Husain became an Islamic fundamentalist at sixteen. Five years later, after much emotional turmoil, he rejected fundamentalist teachings and returned to normal life and family. As the events of 7/7 unfolded, it became clear to him that Islamist groups pose a threat that is not yet fully understood. In this insightful, gripping and eye-opening book, he explores for example, why young British Muslims are becoming extremists and what the risks of another home-grown terrorist attack on British soil are. He describes his experiences inside these groups, why he joined them and how he recovered his faith and mind after he left. He also attempts to explain the appeal of extremist thought, how fanatics penetrate Muslim communities and the truth behind their agenda of subverting the West and moderate Islam. This is the first time that an ex-member has openly discussed life within radical Islamic organisations.
Will Hutton's first bestseller, "The State We're In", was an explosive analysis of British Society, widely praised for its eloquence, optimism and sanity. Now, as the world realigns itself in the wake of September the 11th, Hutton turns his attention to the global picture and the ways in which the new world should be ordered. America's greatest prides, its commitment to democracy and opportunity for all, have been enfeebled by the forces of conservatism, which have acheived such supremacy as to reduce liberalism to a term of abuse. Hutton argues that Europe should not be afraid to stand up against the American version of globalisation and that it is Europe and not the U.S. that is far nearer to building a highly efficient and socially fair economy. A stunning dissection of modern politics and economics, "The World We're In" is a powerfully invigorating account, championing individual rights and social responsibility.
Heinemann Judt describes Europe in 1945 as prostrate: Most of the continent was devastated by war, slaughter, bombing and chaos. Large areas of Eastern Europe were falling under Soviet control, exchanging one despotism for another. Today, the Soviet Union is no more, but other conflicts such as the Iraq war and war on terror have replaced its menace on Europe and its democratic institutions. Judt also discusses post-war cultural and social histories, such as the rise of the fridge, the decline of the public intellectual, immigration and gastarbeiters, Monty Python and ugly architecture. 'Postwar' makes sense of Europe's most recent history and identity and offers a compelling analysis of the counter forces that threaten its sense of cohesion.
J. Murray To conjure up the idea of boundless wealth in the nineteenth century, one only has to mention the name of Nathan Rotschild, the founder of N.M. Rotschild & Sons, the bank in the City of London. A financial genius from Germany, by the mid 1930’s Nathan was one of the richest men in the world. After a life devoted to business, he left his vast fortune to his four sons. Born and brought up in England, the sons remained united in their loyalty to their father’s interests. Their bank prospered, their riches grew and they entered the Victorian ruling elite. Drawing on a wealth of archival material, George Ireland explores the events, personalities, opinions and prejudices that shaped the course of their extraordinary lives.
Price: EUR 24.00
This thought-provoking and eloquent polemic looks closely at our consumer orientated world. Psychoanalyst and writer, Oliver James, suggests that an epidemic of 'affluenza' is sweeping through the English speaking world turning people into obsessive, envious 'must-haves', making us twice as prone to depression, anxiety, substance abuse and personality disorders than people in other developed or developing nations. He suggests that we are also infesting the rest of the world with this virulent virus! James gives sage advice as to how to combat the virus and ensure our mental health, suggesting that we pursue only what we really need rather than what advertisers persuade us we want. Packed full of pertinent, but rather uncomfortable reality checks, this book reveals how consumerism, property fever and gender issues vary across societies with different values, traditions and outcomes adding a much needed perspective to our own, which James describes rather pessimistically as 'selfish capitalism.' This book captures very precisely the mechanisms by which we are emotionally hooked to the demands of twenty-first century living and how we can free ourselves, if we so wish.
Price: EUR 14.80
Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order, Robert Kagan, Atlantic Books In this provocative essay, Kagan argues that American and European attitudes are sharply diverging and offers his explanation of the geo-political forces which are causing the rift. Kaganism is the doctrine that the Atlantic Ocean is much wider than we realize. History has lead to a fundamental and ideological division: America, putting its trust in physical power, and idealist Europe, trusting in intellectual authority and multilaterlism. Whether you agree with his analysis or not, this is a brilliant and influential work, a pleasure to read for its clarity and insight.
This new book from prize-winning American novelist, Barbara Kingsolver, is the story of the year where she and her family attempted feed themselves solely from local produce. Each food item in a U.S. supermarket typically travels 1,500 miles before it reaches the table so this involved buying from local markets, growing a lot of their own vegetables and doing without highly processed food. Their good-humoured quest is peppered with interesting nuggets of information as well as simple recipes and surprising discoveries about turkey’s sex-lives and over-zealous courgette plants. Part memoir and part journalistic investigation, ‘Animal, Vegetable, Miracle’ makes a passionate case for putting flavour and the environment before convenience and cost.
Trained as a biologist before she became a full-time writer, Barbara Kingsolver's love of nature and literature are both evident in her new essay collection. Several pieces respond directly to current events, such as terrorist attacks, while many of the others form a collection of parables and reveries on parts of the world that may seem, at first glance, very different. Her subjects are as diverse as a village at the edge of a Mexican jungle, genetic engineering, homelessness and her daughter's chicken coop. Whether she is contemplating the Grand Canyon, her vegetable garden, motherhood or genetic engineering, her writing is a hopeful examination of the world we live in, and what we might yet make of it.
James Kynge, China Shakes the World: The Rise of a Hungry Nation, Phoenix Winner of the Business Book of the year Award 2006, ‘China Shakes the World’ tells the story of a country’s emergence from the inside out. Although China is already a palpable force, the impact of its burgeoning appetite has only just started to be felt. Over the next few years, China’s hunger for foreign jobs, raw materials and energy will reshape world trade and modern politics. The corresponding outflow of Chinese manufactured goods, tourists, students, corporate and personal investment will all make their mark. This well researched, lively and informative book prepares us for the onslaught!
Price: EUR 11.95
Hutchinson Saudi Arabia is a country defined by paradox. While its fabulously wealthy princes and businesses raise grandiose cities in the desert, its fundamentalist clerics despise Western modernity and seek to roll back the Kingdom’s values to the time of the Prophet Mohammed fourteen hundred years ago. Bestselling author, Robert Lacey, who wrote the controversial and revelatory ‘The Kingdom’, first lived in Saudi Arabia in 1979 and then again after 9/11. He now paints an extended, contemporary picture of a land struggling to realign itself around concepts it once scorned, such as religious tolerance, human rights, political accountability (although not yet democracy) and the most challenging of all, equal rights for women. ‘Inside the Kingdom’ is the fullest, most honest portrait of the Desert Kingdom yet.
Price: EUR 15.00
Steven D. Levitt, 'the most brilliant economist in America', and Stephen J. Dubner, author and journalist, have collaborated to produce this stunning book which explores the economics of everyday life. As Levitt sees it, economics is a science with excellent tools for gaining answers but a serious shortage of interesting questions. His particular gift is the ability to ask questions such as 'What do estate agents and the Ku Klux Klan have in common?' or 'How can your name affect how well you do in life?' The authors find some amazing and controversial answers to these and other unusual enquiries in this provocative and surprising book which enables the reader to look at the world from a different perspective.
From the killing fields of Rwanda and Srebrenica a decade ago to those of Darfur today, the United Nations has repeatedly failed to confront genocide. For example, in 2003, urgent reports from UN officials in the Sudan detailing atrocities from Darfur were ignored for a year because they were deemed politically inconvenient. LeBor argues that the UN must return to its founding principles and take a moral stand instead of following the lead of powerful countries with vested interests. This book also sets the terms for discussion as UN Secretary General Kofi Annan steps down to make room for new leadership. LeBor draws on dozens of first-hand interviews with UN officials, current and former, and such international diplomats as Madeleine Albright, Douglas Hurd and David Owen. Annan’s legacy is also evaluated in this powerfully intelligent and informative book.
Steve Lowe & Alan McArthur: Is it Just Me or is Everything Shit?: The Encyclopedia of Modern life, Time Warner If you can't stand chick lit, global warming sceptics, Kabbalah, loyalty cards or Tony Blair, this is the book for you! Packed with explosive attacks on modern culture and its quick fixes, this book offers a standard reference work for anyone who believes everything is shit. It says NO to phoney ideas, useless products and the doublespeak that increasingly dominate our lives. Written in an acerbic, humorous style, this very funny compendium against consumer capitalism is the perfect anecdote for those who suspect they have mislaid their soul at Hagen Daas or Starbucks. Don't miss it! The Authors hope the book will be a sell out!
Hooman Majd - The Ayatolla Begs to Differ: The Paradox of Modern Iran Penguin Hooman Majd is a Western-educated journalist, grandson of an eminent Ayatollah and son of an Iranian diplomat, who lives in New York. His vivid, warm and humorous insider’s account shows how uniquely qualified he is to explain contemporary Iran’s complex culture to Western readers. He depicts an Iran that both surprises and challenges Western stereotypes, offering an insightful tour into Iranian culture. Majd introduces fascinating characters from all walks of life, including zealous government officials, tough female cab drivers and open-minded, reformist Ayatollahs. In his new preface, Majd also discusses the Iranian mood during and after the June 2009 presidential election, which instigated the largest street protests since the revolution that brought the Ayatollahs to power. This is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the paradox of Iran’s place in today’s world.
Irshad Manji, Toronto-based journalist born in South Africa to Muslim parents, shares with us some of her experiences growing up in a western Muslim household. From her feminist-journalist perspective, she brings up some compelling questions presented in an open-letter style to both Muslims and non-Muslims. 'Why are we all being held hostage by what's happening between the Palestinians and the Israelis? Who is the real coloniser, America or Arabia? How can we read the Koran literally when it's so contradictory and ambiguous? Why are we squandering the talents of women, fully half of God's creation?' This is not an anti-Muslim rant. Manji writes with passion and hope for Islam, believing democracy to be compatible with its purest doctrine. Her practical suggestions include reform which empowers women, promotes respect for religious minorities while fostering a competition of ideas and the revival of Islam's lost tradition of independent thought.
John Murray In his latest work, Andrew Mango, author of a widely praised biography of Atatürk, traces the evolution of the Turkish republic in modern times. Beginning with Atatürk's death in 1938, with the fitful spread of democracy, clashes with Greece and the departure of Istanbul's Greek community, he continues by examining the economic and social conflicts from 1960-80, which were 'contained' by a military oriented constitution and relations with Europe. He also informs the reader on the recent negotiations with Islamists and Secularists while illuminating Turkey's vital importance as conflict rages in neighbouring Iraq. Mango provides us with a well-researched, readable and thorough political history and cultural examination of this country, bringing to life the Turkish people and their dynamic and vibrant society.
Yale UP The European single currency has always been controversial. For some, it represents the ultimate pinnacle of European endeavour, for others, a reckless initiative that risks endangering Europe’s long-sought stability. The global financial and economic crisis has increased the potential rewards of the Euro’s success, but also magnifies the costs that would stem from its failure. David Marsh, chairman of London and Oxford Capital Markets, gives the first comprehensive account available of the Euro’s long and complex journey from vision to reality. Drawing on narrative accounts and hundreds of confidential documents, Marsh also recounts the rivalries and intrigues that have beset its progress. Lively, thoughtful and expertly researched, this is the authoritative guide to the Euro, a new and compelling force in the future of world money as it begins to rival the US dollar.
James Martin, The Meaning of the 21st Century: A Vital Blueprint for Ensuring our Future, Eden Project Books, € 24,00 James Martin, Britain’s leading futurologist, introduces some vital ideas into public consciousness; he gives a devastating analysis of where our world is headed, but also a powerful and interconnected set of possible solutions for change. He clearly shows how, once we have understood the significance and complexities of the 21st century and the dangers we face, rather than destroy ourselves and our planet, we would have the potential for a magnificent future. Reading this provocative and wonderfully accessible book is a vital step towards acquiring the basic information we need to begin to think differently about our world and gradually change the way we live!
Russia today is a world in dark limbo, getting by on faith, vodka and turning a blind eye to the moral and financial bankruptcy disrupting its political, social and economic systems. Andrew Meir presents us with a superbly moving account of Russia's present dilemma, that of a nation both at war with its own grim communist past and its chaotic capitalist present. He speaks to Russians of all walks of life - gangsters, intellectuals, oligarchs - and paints a detailed and lucid picture of an immense and complex country that encompasses many different strata of society, for example, those found in the capitalist buzz of Moscow, the door to door brutality of Chechnya or the grim life in the Arctic mining city of Norilsk. If you plan to travel to Russia, take this book with you as the ultimate guide to post-communism.
Pankaj Mishra: Temptations of the West - How to Be Modern in India, Pakistan and Beyond, Picador In this set of insightful and eloquent travelogues, we accompany Pankaj Mishra to the diverse regions of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and beyond. He offers a detailed and thought-provoking exploration of the history, politics, religion and philosophy of these contrasting regions. While dissolving the old boundaries between East and West, Mishra paints a lucid and often alarming picture of disarray and disorder, illuminating at the same time the old tensions that still exist, lurking beneath the veneer of a modern façade. He reports how these countries face the crisis of modernisation, hobbled by political corruption, poverty and ongoing hatred of one tribe for another. Mishra also cautions us not to underestimate ‘the rage and despair of a people who, arriving late in the modern world, have known its primary ideology, democracy, only as another delusion’. This fascinating book resonates throughout with compassion for all who live in fear of change.
In Iran in the late 90's, Azar Nafisi and seven former female students meet together to discuss forbidden works of Western literature. Shy and uncomfortable at first, the women soon open up and absorb the stories they are reading, such as 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Washington Square, 'Lolita' and 'Daisy Miller'. The women intertwine and identify their own experiences with those of their fictional heroines. Nafisi also tells her own remarkable story. She was expelled from the University of Teheran for refusing to wear the veil and left Iran for America in 1997. She gives a fascinating portrait of the Iran-Iraq war and an authentic glimpse of womens lives in the repressionist regime of revolutionary Iran. Described as a 'literary life raft on Iran's fundamentalist sea' this book is a remarkable feat of passion and poetic beauty.
Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention in 2004 with an address that spoke to all Americans across the political spectrum. He spoke about ‘the audacity of hope’ and called for a different brand of politics, a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness and nobility of spirit at the heart of the democratic experience. He explores the forces that stifle even the best intentioned politician, such as fear of losing or the difficulty of raising capital, and offers concrete ideas about how to move forward, both economically and politically. He feels that only by returning to the principles that gave birth to the American Constitution can America start repairing a political process which has broken down into rival factions and is dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans.
M. B. Oren, Power - Faith & Fantasy: America in the Middle East, Norton This first comprehensive history of America’s engagement in the Middle East shows how the U.S. has been profoundly involved in that area. The region has played a seminal role in shaping American identity during their 230 year relationship. This well researched and informative book draws on a vast range of government documents, personal correspondence, memoirs of merchants, missionaries and travellers to reconstruct the relationship between America and the Middle East. Oren examines America’s artistic legacy in the Middle East also exploring the dynamic ways in which popular culture in the U.S. has portrayed the region and its people. This deeply original work widens our understanding of these two very different cultures.
Price: EUR 21.00
For most species finding dinner does not involve a careful choice. The human omnivore’s dilemma is twofold: what we choose to eat and how we let that food be produced. We don’t usually think of what we eat as a matter of morality, but we should be concerned about where our food comes from. In this beautifully written, eye-opening book, Michael Pollan explores how the food we eat makes its way to the table and at what expense. The first section discusses industrial farming, the second, organic food and the third, what it is like to hunt and gather food for oneself. Shopping in a supermarket normally involves a wilful act of ignorance – would consumers be so tempted to buy cheap beef if they knew how the cow they were eating spent its short life, dosed with antibiotics and knee deep in manure? But Pollan’s unbiased descriptions are not judgemental. He takes us on an educational, humorous and enlightening journey, encouraging us to really think about what we eat and how this affects both our health and environment.
Robert Reich - Supercapitalism: The Battle for Democracy in an Age of Big Business Icon Books Robert Reich, a member of Obama’s Transition Economic Advisory Board and Bill Clinton’s former secretary of Labour, explains how enduring inequalities, heightened job insecurity and global warming are the logical outcomes of capitalism’s turbo-charged twenty-first century. Reich shows how taxation, education and trade unions have withered as companies have become more competitive. As world recession bites, these failings have become all the more apparent. Packed with sharp analysis, this is the ‘key’ read on the background to our current economic turmoil. Reich shows how capitalist structures have dangerously stretched into the realms of democracy and human rights and eroded them.
This new sixth edition of the Bloomsbury Good Reading Guide will prove to be indispensable to everyone who loves books. Once you start browsing through this compendium, you are hooked. It is impossible to put it down again because it has a snowball effect: if you look up one of the 375 listed authors you will not only get his or her titles but you will also get an overall idea of their main subjects, style and significance within their historical context. The entries conclude with the 'Read On' tips which give the reader cross-references to other writers' works and suggestions for further reading. The authors found in this reference book reach as far back as Jane Austen but also include contemporary new writers such as Zadie Smith or Monica Ali. Another helpful and entertaining category is 'Read on a Theme'. More than 100 entries ranging from 'Eccentric families' to 'Police Procedural' and 'Shipwreck' also cover a variety of countries and cities, each recommending about seven or eight books on the respective subjects. As a special bonus, the UK's favourite 100 titles, as voted for in the BBC's nationwide poll, are also listed.
Flamingo In this collection of speeches and essays, Arundhati Roy writes with passion, clarity and urgency about subjects of great importance. Anyone who has an interest in democracy, global justice and the direction in which certain vested interests are heading in today's world, will find this book highly illuminating. Her main focus is on the intense period leading up to and beyond the UN's altercations with Iraq. Roy opens our eyes, as no other writer can, to the problems that an increasingly divided world is creating, highlighting the growing disparity between the world's rich and poor.
Walter Russell Mead - God and Gold: Britain, America and the Making of the Modern World Atlantic Books Renowned expert on global affairs, Mead brilliantly tackles one of the biggest historical questions of our time: what accounts for the ascension of the British and American political and economic systems during the last four centuries? In one wide sweep of fascinating and illuminating research, Mead ties together religion, individualism, capitalism, philosophy and liberal democracy to underpin his provocative and original arguments. Mead’s chapters on the ‘Playing Fields of Eton’, ‘Goldilocks and the West’ and ‘Dancing with Ghosts’ show the breadth of his understanding of history and how literature can be used to reflect on political events. He then proceeds with caution to assess future developments. Mead also sheds new light on the current political, economic and cultural east-west divides in this hugely well-informed and astute investigation.
Price: EUR 16.00
Penguin Sobering but optimistic, this book by development economist and author of ‘The End of Poverty’, Jeffrey Sachs, focuses on four of our current challenges: curbing global warming and environmental destruction, stabilizing the world’s population, ending extreme poverty and breaking up the political logjams that obstruct global cooperation on these issues. He presents a lucid and harrowing exposition of the problems we face, but also elaborates a concrete, pragmatic, low-cost programme of sustainable development and international cooperation which should correct this dangerous course. This book is a crucial contribution to the debate over the future of the wellbeing of the world.
Penguin Jeffrey Sachs, economist and advisor to UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan, has travelled and worked for many years in more than a hundred countries, advising leaders on economic development and poverty reduction. In this book, he has drawn on his vast experience, systematically laying out an inspiring, understandable, big-picture vision of the necessary steps to eliminate extreme poverty and the terrorism it feeds, within the next twenty years. He explains how one could fight disease by using a scientific approach and education for all thus putting into place critical infrastructure to assist the poorest global citizens. He challenges the U.S. to transfer part of its military budget for global security to economic development and calls on the wealthy to provide extra assistance. An important, lucid and humane book.
Hodder & Stoughton Jasvinder Sanghera knows what it means to flee from your family under the threat of a forced marriage and face the terrible consequences. This groundbreaking book reveals the stories of young women such as Fozia, only fifteen when her family tries to force her into marriage, of Shazia, who was kidnapped by her family and taken to Pakistan to marry a man she had never met and of Banaz, who was murdered by her own family after escaping an abusive marriage. The author, herself, regularly faces death threats by trying to help these women as she continually has to weigh up the risks of her actions against the safety of her own children. Her unique story gives us an inspiring insight into a world where the suffering and abuse of so many women are challenged by the courage of so few, such as Jasvinder Sanghera. This book is a ‘must read’ lest we forget.
To a degree both engrossing and alarming, the story of fast food is the story of post-war America. Though created by a handful of mavericks, the fast food industry has triggered the homogenisation of society, hastened the 'malling' of the landscape, widened the chasm between rich and poor, fuelled the epidemic of obesity and propelled the juggernaut of American cultural imperialism abroad. That is a lenghy and heavy list of charges, but Schlosser makes the stick with an artful mix of first rate reporting, wry wit and careful reasoning.
In Spring 2002, following the fall of the Taliban, award-winning journalist Asne Seierstad spent four months living with a bookseller and his family in Kabul. For years Sultan Khan defied the authorities to supply the people of Kabul with books. But while Khan is passionate in his love of books and hatred of censorship, he also has strict views of family life and the role of women. Through her unique experience Seierstad, being able to move between the restricted sphere of the women and the freer more public lives of the men, has created a moving portrait of a family and a clear-eyed assessment of a country struggling to free itself from history.
Simon & Schuster The second part of Seldon’s biography about Tony Blair takes the story from 2001 until his final day of power on 27th June 2007. It recounts how Blair matures as a political leader finding his personal agenda at home and abroad, divesting himself of the figures who helped him to rise to power but then blocked him and held him back. Based on two million transcribed words of interviews with Blair, himself, Gordon Brown and George W. Bush, the book is scrupulously fair to all involved in the battles behind closed doors. It discloses the tempestuous Blair-Brown relationship; the Number Ten and White House decisions over war in Iraq and Afghanistan; the responses to 9/11 and 7/7; indeed, terrorism as a whole, including the Northern Ireland peace process. In its detail, depth and judgement ‘Blair Unbound’ is an exceptional unbiased and critical analysis of an undoubtedly charismatic, dynamic and controversial world class leader.
Oxford How can poorer countries of the world be helped to help themselves through freer, fairer trade? In this challenging and controversial study, Nobel prize winning economist, Joseph E. Stiglitz, author of 'Globalisation and its Discontents' and his co-author address one of the key challenges facing world leaders today. They propose a radical and realistic new model for managing trading relations between the richest and poorest countries, designed to open up markets in the interest of all, not just the most powerful economies. Beginning with a short history of the World Trade Organisation and its agreements, the authors look at the issues that led to the failure of Cancun and the obstacles that face successful completion of the Doha Round of negotiations. Packed with empirical evidence and accessible analysis, this book is indispensable reading for anyone interested in world trade development.
Globalization today is not solving world poverty nor is it stabilising global economy. Joseph Stiglitz- Winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics 2001- argues that the West, acting through the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation, has seriously mismanaged the processes of privatisation, liberalisation and stabilisation. By following its advice, many Third World countries and former Communist states are actually worse off than they were before. Stiglitz offers not just criticism but real, tough solutions which would involve a substantial shift in the balance of power and influence between the developed and developing nations. In doing so, he addresses some of the most pressing problems of our age.
Andrew Simms & Joe Smith, eds. - Do Good Lives Have to Cost the Earth? Constable To many of us, climate change seems a daunting and overwhelming threat, requiring impossible sacrifices on our behalf if we want to save ourselves and our planet. The contributors to this book argue that we can actually all do our bit for the environment and lead more sustainable lives and that living well does not have to cost the earth. This is the collective vision of a diverse group of well-known environmental experts, each offering their personal view of what a good life really is and how to achieve it in the many spheres of life such as food, happiness, politics and work. This hopeful and inspirational book offers many innovative ideas and practical tips!
Princeton University Press The most famous scientist of the twentieth century, Albert Einstein was also one of the century’s most outspoken political activists. Deeply engaged with the events of his tumultuous times, from the two world wars and the Holocaust, to the atomic bomb and the Cold War up to the effort to establish a Jewish homeland, Einstein was a remarkably prolific political writer. He took a courageous and an often unpopular stand against nationalism, militarism, anti-Semitism, racism, and McCarthyism. In ‘Einstein on Politics’, leading Einstein scholars, David Rowe and Robert Schulmann, gather Einstein’s most important public and private political writings and put them into historical context. The book reveals a little-known Einstein – not the ineffectual and naïve idealist of popular imagination, but a principled, shrewd pragmatist whose stand on political issues reflected the depth of his humanity. This book is a vivid first-hand view of how one of the twentieth century’s greatest minds responded to the greatest political challenges of his day.
Atlantic Books Google is the most significant, innovative and ambitious company of the Internet Age. In ‘Planet Google’, Randall Stross investigates Google’s pursuit of a business plan unlike any other: to become the indispensable gatekeeper of the world’s information, the one-stop destination for all our information needs. With at least 68 percent of all current web searches (a figure that continues to rise) the company is well on its way to becoming as dominant a force on the Web as Microsoft became on the PC. The book’s ambition is to ask and answer questions such as: Will Google succeed? What are the implications of a single company commanding so much information and, in the process, knowing too much about us? And will Google remain true to its famous ‘Don’t Be Evil’ mantra, using its power in its customer’s best interests? Based on unprecedented access to those who have spearheaded so many of Google’s new initiatives, ‘Planet Google’ is a fascinating and provocative examination of the company’s audacious vision for the future and highlights the consequences not only for the business world, but for our culture at large.
Genetically speaking, the only difference between men and women is that women have two X chromosomes and men one X and one Y. This relatively small difference seems to explain the huge difference between the sexes not only physically but also psychologically and culturally. Drawing on his own work in the forefront of modern genetics, Sykes offers some very thought provoking evidence for the gradual demise of the Y chromosome! He suggests an inherent flaw in the chromosome that can be traced over time. The female genome, on the other hand, is quietly taking over as it cannibalises parts of the Y chromosome - rather like the behaviour of the queen bee in the hive! He suggests that women are winning the evolutionary battle and sees men, as a separate sex, heading towards extinction. Although Sykes's arguments seem far fetched, the book is very beguiling and based on real evidence. His comments on homosexuality are particulary interesting and worth reading.
You might believe that all swans are white, but no matter how many white swans you see, you can never prove it for certain. However, a single unexpected sighting of a black swan completely disproves your theory. Taleb maintains that life is infused with unpredictability and indeed that almost any significant happening, in the grand sweep of history or in our personal lives, is a black swan event. Expanding the observation that we are unable to predict or identify events that are exceedingly rare but deeply consequential, he explores the collection of biases that cause us to misinterpret these events after the fact. Taleb has no time for ‘charlatans’ who think they can map the future because almost all forecasters work within accepted parameters thus failing to take account of ‘black swans’. This is a fascinating look at the cognitive shortcomings that so often cause human beings to underestimate the frequency and importance of random events.
While Terkel's chosen theme here, the incandescence of hope, might at first appear nebulous, it is anything but abstract. For Terkel, hope is born of activism, commitment, and the steely determination to resist. The spirit of activism has ebbed and flooded through Terkel's venerable life. In the Great Depression of the 1930's he recalls a man swinging form a chandelier at the Astor Hotel shouting for 'social security!' In the 1960's it was African Americans and students who advocated for equal rights and an end to maladventure overseas. And now young and old are joining forces on the streets to say 'no' to war. The spark of activism is igniting the precious idea of a better world once again. The ninety-two-year old Pulitzer Prize winner interviews more than 50 Americans, liberals and conservatives, dreamers and do-godders alike, to find out what makes these committed souls tick, invoking passionate and candid replies. He muses on such fundamental questions as: 'Where does hope spring from? How can hope sustain us in troubled times? And how does one instill hope in others?' Terkel's new book positively glows with humanity and an unquenchable passion for justice that surely warms the heart of its reader.
On a quest to find out why he is still single in his thirties, Ethan Watters goes searching for answers and makes an extraordinary discovery about his generation. Rather than opting for traditional family life, he and his friends have formed an Urban Tribe, an intricate network of young people who live and work together in various combinations and provide the same support as an extended family. These tightly-knit groups are filling the increasingly widening gap between college and married life. As Watter argues, these "tribe years" represent less of a personal failure to mate than a new kind of community, an evolutionary stage in personal development that enhances rather than detracts from partnership later. Compulsively readable and packed with refreshing ideas, "Urban Tribes" is the first front-line report on a generation that is changing the rules.
With his book ‘The World Without Us’, journalist Alan Weisman embarks on an audacious intellectual adventure. What would happen to planet Earth if humans suddenly disappeared? What would happen not only to the planet’s flora and fauna and to man-made constructions but also to all the various wastes we have accumulated? In order to answer these questions, Weisman interviews everyone from evolutionary biologists and materials scientists to archaeologists and art conservationists. He also travels to places such as Europe’s last remnant of primeval forest in Poland, the ancient underground cities of Cappadocia in Turkey and even visits the nuclear plant in Chernobyl. He creates an impressive scenario by taking New York City as a hypothetical example. He describes the days after our disappearance when pumps keeping Manhattan’s subway dry would fail, tunnels would flood, soil under streets would sluice away and the foundations of towering skyscrapers would start to crumble. Although it would take the Earth eons to get rid of our plastic and nuclear waste and roughly 100,000 years to return CO2 back to pre-human levels, Weisman’s fascinating thought-experiment is surprisingly optimistic and most entertaining!
With his unmatched investigative skills, Bob Woodward tells the behind the scenes story of how President Bush and his top security advisers, after the initial shock of the September 11th attacks, declared war against terrorism. Based on interviews with Bush himself, and over a hundred other sources, Woodward reveals Bush's sweeping, almost grandiose vision for remaking the world order. His penetrating analysis of Vice President Dick Cheney, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice make fascinating reading and secure for Woodward, one of the two journalists who uncovered the Watergate scandal, another reporting "tour de force".
Lawrence Wright - The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 This gripping narrative spans five decades and explains in unprecedented detail the growth of Islamic Fundamentalism, the rise of Al-Qaeda and the intelligence failures that culminated in the attack on the World Trade Centre. Lawrence Wright scrupulously documents the transformation of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri from incompetent and idealistic soldiers in Afghanistan to leaders of the most successful terrorist group in history. He also follows the tracks of FBI counterterrorism chief, John O’Neill, as he uncovers the emerging threat from Al-Qaeda in the 1990’s and his struggles to defuse it. ‘The Looming Tower’ illuminates the background behind the attacks with new information and a deep historical perspective.
Price: EUR 14.95
Having completed a degree in economics, Dr. Muhammed Yunus became a professor in Bangladesh. There, in 1974, he lived through a famine which ravaged the whole country and this brought about a profound change in his thinking: ‘What good were all my complex theories when people were dying of starvation on the sidewalks and porches across from my lecture hall?’ Determined to do something about the suffering surrounding him, he lent money to forty-two women in order for them to buy bamboo to make and sell stools, thus beginning his experimental micro-credit enterprise in 1977. This led to the official forming of the Grameen Bank in 1983. Based on a simple idea to extend credit to the poor so that they can help themselves, most of the Grameen Bank’s loans are to women, with an astonishing loan repayment rate of over 98 %. This autobiography of the visionary economist, Yunus, has since become the classic text for a growing movement!
Price: EUR 15.90
With a breathtaking command of history and contemporary politics at his fingertips, Zakaria argues that democracy by itself is not always the answer to peace and prosperity or the preservation of liberty. He looks at the growth of illiberal democracies such as Russia which propound the freedom to vote but do little to ensure constitutional liberalism. His thought provoking questions are particularly pertinent in the current climate, for example, when looking at the advocacy for democracy in Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq and the complex structure it requires to ensure a benevolent influence.
Allen Lane The Internet is now so ubiquitous that we take it for granted, but Jonathan Zittrain maintains that it is under threat as a victim of its own success. Beginning with a fascinating history of the rise of the pc and World Wide Web, he shows how their capacity to welcome unfiltered contributions from anyone was intrinsic to their creation. However, the same ‘generative’ qualities which primed the Internet for extraordinary success could now make it fail. The Internet’s trade-off of more flexibility for less security worked, but ever-increasing threats in the form of viruses and spyware as well as an increasing volume of information already challenge the system. This remarkably researched book eloquently argues that the generative Internet must be preserved for everybody, and suggests how it can be done - the best way being to turn off your laptop until you have read this book!
