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Books
The Divorce of Nations
João Vale de Almeida
Today, we find ourselves in arguably the most dangerous geopolitical situations of modern time. Outlining key moments over the 25 years, this vital book represents the personal testimony of one of the world’s foremost diplomats, João Vale de Almeida, who has met every consequential leader in the world during the time since the turn of the new millennium. His insightful account features the issues and personal observances of figures such as Barack Obama, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Donald Trump. As the first ever EU Ambassador to the UK, João details a unique account of the first 1,000 days of Brexit, the ultimate act of divorce so far. His experiences enable us to trace how countries – and indeed the world – have been sleepwalking towards ‘The Divorce of Nations’ and the steps we can take to fix it.
Neither an academic essay nor a complete set of career memoirs, The Divorce of Nations presents a personal view of global events, projecting them into the current international context, and of the main actors involved.
Moreish
Matt Buttrick
It is said we make around 200 food decisions every day, and most of them are completely out of our control.
So what really happens when it’s time to eat?
Moreish digs into the unseen triggers, secret influences and mysterious motivations hovering above the table every time we get peckish.
Explore the impact of words in menu construction alongside the power of comfort food; why the first bite is not always with the eyes; and how the worlds of sex, symbolism and animal instinct are simmering just beneath the surface in all of us.
Continually eye opening and perceptive, often witty and entertaining, Moreish sets a place for persuasive packaging, in your face pop songs, underhand menu writing and over the top advertising. It demonstrates that while we often feel fully in control of our food choices the opposite is almost definitely true.
If you've ever eaten food, this book is for you.
Chemically Imbalanced
Joanna Moncrieff
For decades now the public has been told that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance and that antidepressants work by targeting this mechanism. Millions of people have decided to take antidepressants based on this information.
Chemically Imbalanced tells the story of a scientific myth and its consequences. It traces the history of the serotonin theory of depression from its development in the 1960s, through its inculcation into popular culture in the 1990s, to the recent revelations that it is not supported by evidence.
The story illustrates the power of human interests to shape what passes as scientific knowledge, and provides people with essential information about depression and antidepressants they will not readily find elsewhere. Above all else, Chemically Imbalanced is an invitation to better understand and advocate for our mental health.
You Must Stand Up
Amanda Becker
When the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion care by way of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the country was thrown into chaos.
In You Must Stand Up, Nieman Fellow Amanda Becker provides a real-time portrait of the creative resistance that unfolded in America's first year without the protections of Roe v. Wade. Becker traces the story of the people rising to meet these new challenges – doctors and staffers turning to new financial and medical models to remain open and provide abortions, volunteers campaigning against anti-abortion ballot initiatives, and medical students fighting to learn to provide what can be life-saving care.
In depicting the splintered reality of post-Dobbs America, Becker ultimately shows how outrage can beget hope, and give rise to a new movement.
Cypto Confidential
Jake Donoghue
An uncompromising account of the exorbitant greed and systemic corruption that typifies the cultish world of cryptocurrency, Crypto Confidential tells the salacious story of the industry everyone is talking about right now. In doing so, it sheds light on some of the most scandalous financial crimes of the twenty-first century. From billion-dollar fraud cases to international money laundering cartels, political bribery and even faked deaths, it lifts the lid on the intricate and immense web of malpractice that crypto founders spin to trap ordinary investors.
Written by a prominent and well-connected insider, Crypto Confidential provides a first-hand account of how the industry truly operates, and how every aspect is engineered for one purpose: to make vast amounts of fast money for those on the inside, by any means necessary.
Friday is the New Saturday: How a Four-Day Working Week Will Save the Economy
Pedro Gomes
Friday is the New Saturday makes a compelling, provocative and timely case for societal change. Drawing on an eclectic range of economic theory, history and data, Pedro Gomes argues that a four-day working week will bring about a powerful economic renewal for the benefit of all society. It will stimulate demand, productivity, innovation and wages, whilst reducing unemployment and crushing populist movements. The arguments come from both the left and right of the political spectrum to show that a polarised society can still find common ground.
In the 2000s, Friday will become the new Saturday, and we will never look back.
Milk Without Honey
Hanna Harms; translated by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp
We could live in a paradise where insects, especially bees, pollinate fragrant oceans of flowers whose fruits we harvest. Instead flower gardens are being displaced, and agriculture is dominated by monocultures. Pesticides and climate change are also causing insect mortality, with dramatic consequences for the global ecosystem. If this carries on unchecked, honey will be just one of the many foodstuffs no longer available to us – unless we learn to honour our innate connection with nature before it’s too late.
A poignant and provocative graphic novel about the plight of the bees in which illustrator Hanna Harms inspires not only reflection but also action.
Faking It: Artificial Intelligence in a Human World
Toby Walsh
Artificial intelligence is, as the name suggests, artificial and fundamentally different to human intelligence. Yet often the goal of AI is to fake human intelligence. This deceit has been there from the very beginning. We’ve been trying to fake it since Alan Turing answered the question ‘Can machines think?’ by proposing that machines pretend to be humans.
Can AI systems ever be creative? Can they be moral? What can we do to ensure they are not harmful?
In this fun and fascinating book, Professor Toby Walsh explores all the ways AI fakes it, and what this means for humanity – now and in the future.
Eliminating Poverty in Britain
Helen Rowe
In this groundbreaking book, Helen Rowe brings together the latest research with stories from across Britain, to show us that ending poverty in the 21st Century is possible. She describes the effects of deprivation on British society, our institutions, communities, families and individuals - down to their very DNA.
By using a combination of compassion, focus and a plan, Rowe describes how we can end poverty in five years, without raising taxes. Her radical ideas are grounded in practical realities, as she reveals how ordinary processes can yield extraordinary results. After Covid-19, Brexit, war, austerity and the global financial crash, Britain deserves a more positive future. How do we create it? Eliminating Poverty in Britain has the answers.
Rigged
Andy Verity
Rigged exposes a cover-up at the highest level on both sides of the Atlantic, upending the official story of the biggest scandal since the global financial crisis. It picks up where The Big Short leaves off, as the dark clouds of the financial crisis gather. Banks’ health is judged by an interest rate called Libor (the London Interbank Offered Rate). The higher the Libor, the worse off the bank; too high and it’s goodnight Vienna. Libor is heading skywards. To save themselves from collapse, nationalisation and loss of bonuses, banks instruct traders to manipulate Libor down – a criminal practice known as lowballing. Outraged, traders turn whistleblowers, alerting the authorities. Turns out, it’s not just the market that’s rigged. It’s the entire system.
More
Future Hackers: The Indispensable Guide for Curious Minds
Matt O'Neill
From technological advancements to cultural shifts, the coming years will bring unprecedented transformations that will shape our lives in ways we can't even imagine. This book is your essential guide to understanding these changes and adapting to them with optimism and confidence.
With expert insights into the latest trends in work, leadership and technology, Future Hackers is your indispensable tool for thriving in a rapidly changing world. Whether you're a business leader, a student, or just someone who wants to stay ahead of the curve, this book will help you navigate the road to 2030 and beyond.
Flaws of Nature
Andy Dobson
Species evolve over time to become perfectly adapted to their environments, right? Well, sometimes.
This book is about evolution, but not its greatest hits. Instead, it explores everything in the animal kingdom that is self-defeating, ill-made, uneconomical, or downright weird – and explains how natural selection has favoured it. In the grand struggle for survival, some surprising patterns emerge: animals are always slightly out-of-date; inefficiency tends to increase over time; predators usually lose, and parasites usually win. With equal parts humour and scientific insight, Andy Dobson is here to explain the how and why of evolution’s limits and liabilities.
‘Eliminating Poverty in Britain’ chosen as a finalist for the 2024 Page Turner Awards
Eliminating Poverty in Britain has been chosen as a finalist for the 2024 Page Turner Awards 'Book of the Year' and...
Crypto Confidential Q&A
Crypto Confidential tells the salacious story of the industry everyone is talking about right now. Written by a...
Eliminating Poverty in Britain Q&A
We have been talking to Helen Rowe, author of Eliminating Poverty in Britain to find out what motivated her to take on...