50 Books like Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse

Forgotten Continent

by Michael Reid • 2007

The underachieving region that may decide the future of democratic capitalism worldwide.

3.89

767

🌎 Latin American History 🏛️ Latin America Politics 🗳️ Democratization 💰 Economic Reforms 📉 Inequality

Forgotten Continent 93%

The underachieving region that may decide the future of democratic capitalism worldwide.

by Michael Reid 2007

3.89

767 ratings

🌎 Latin American History 🏛️ Latin America Politics 🗳️ Democratization 💰 Economic Reforms 📉 Inequality

The Oil Curse

by Michael L. Ross • 2012

How petroleum creates autocrats, fuels rebellions, and shrinks women's economic power.

3.96

210

🛢️ Resource Curse 🏛️ Petro-States 💸 Dutch Disease 👩‍💼 Women And Development ⚔️ Civil War And Conflict

The Oil Curse 92%

How petroleum creates autocrats, fuels rebellions, and shrinks women's economic power.

by Michael L. Ross 2012

3.96

210 ratings

🛢️ Resource Curse 🏛️ Petro-States 💸 Dutch Disease 👩‍💼 Women And Development ⚔️ Civil War And Conflict

Blowout

by Rachel Maddow • 2019

Fracking, oligarchs, and a 50-kiloton bomb in Colorado: how the oil industry broke global democracy.

4.34

16k+

🛢️ Oil And Gas Industry 🌏 Energy Geopolitics 💎 Resource Curse 🇷🇺 Russian Oligarchs 🏛️ Political Corruption

Blowout 92%

Fracking, oligarchs, and a 50-kiloton bomb in Colorado: how the oil industry broke global democracy.

by Rachel Maddow 2019

4.34

16k+ ratings

🛢️ Oil And Gas Industry 🌏 Energy Geopolitics 💎 Resource Curse 🇷🇺 Russian Oligarchs 🏛️ Political Corruption

Central America's Forgotten History

by Aviva Chomsky • 2021

Central American migration isn't about poverty. It's the legacy of a century of US intervention.

4.06

518

🌎 Latin American History 🇺🇸 Us Foreign Policy 🕵️ Cold War Interventions 🏃 Forced Migration ✊ Revolutionary Movements

Central America's Forgotten History Summary

Central America's Forgotten History 92%

Central American migration isn't about poverty. It's the legacy of a century of US intervention.

by Aviva Chomsky 2021

4.06

518 ratings

🌎 Latin American History 🇺🇸 Us Foreign Policy 🕵️ Cold War Interventions 🏃 Forced Migration ✊ Revolutionary Movements

An Economy and a State for Lebanon

by Charbel Nahas • 2020

Behind Lebanon's crisis: a currency illusion, a sectarian spoils system, and a generation that fled.

4.33

🏛️ Political Economy 🌍 Middle Eastern Politics 💥 Financial Crises 🏗️ State Building 🛢️ Rentier States

An Economy and a State for Lebanon Summary

An Economy and a State for Lebanon 92%

Behind Lebanon's crisis: a currency illusion, a sectarian spoils system, and a generation that fled.

by Charbel Nahas 2020

4.33

15 ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 🌍 Middle Eastern Politics 💥 Financial Crises 🏗️ State Building 🛢️ Rentier States

Kleptopia

by Tom Burgis • 2020

Soviet collapse privatized a theft machine stretching from Kazakh mines to the White House.

3.80

4k+

🕵️ Investigative Journalism 🏝️ Offshore Finance 🪆 Post-Soviet Oligarchs 💎 Resource Curse 🎭 Disinformation

Kleptopia 92%

Soviet collapse privatized a theft machine stretching from Kazakh mines to the White House.

by Tom Burgis 2020

3.80

4k+ ratings

🕵️ Investigative Journalism 🏝️ Offshore Finance 🪆 Post-Soviet Oligarchs 💎 Resource Curse 🎭 Disinformation

Private Empire

by Steve Coll • 2012

How ExxonMobil became a nation-like force, with its own intelligence, foreign policy, and security.

4.00

4k+

🛢️ Oil Industry 🏢 Corporate History 🔍 Investigative Journalism ⚡ Energy Politics 💼 Corporate Power

Private Empire 92%

How ExxonMobil became a nation-like force, with its own intelligence, foreign policy, and security.

by Steve Coll 2012

4.00

4k+ ratings

🛢️ Oil Industry 🏢 Corporate History 🔍 Investigative Journalism ⚡ Energy Politics 💼 Corporate Power

Los señores del narco

by Anabel Hernández • 2010

Mexico's drug war is a staged conflict, waged by the government on behalf of its preferred cartel.

4.04

2k+

📦 Drug Cartels 🇲🇽 Mexican Politics 🏛️ State Complicity ⚔️ Failed Drug War 💰 Money Laundering

Los señores del narco 92%

Mexico's drug war is a staged conflict, waged by the government on behalf of its preferred cartel.

by Anabel Hernández 2010

4.04

2k+ ratings

📦 Drug Cartels 🇲🇽 Mexican Politics 🏛️ State Complicity ⚔️ Failed Drug War 💰 Money Laundering

La Guerra De Los Zetas

by Diego Enrique Osorno • 2012

A president's personal war made military deserters the deadliest cartel and normalized mass killing.

3.88

145

🚬 Drug War 🇲🇽 Mexican Politics 🦹 Organized Crime 💀 Necropolitics 💸 State-Crime Nexus

La Guerra De Los Zetas 91%

A president's personal war made military deserters the deadliest cartel and normalized mass killing.

by Diego Enrique Osorno 2012

3.88

145 ratings

🚬 Drug War 🇲🇽 Mexican Politics 🦹 Organized Crime 💀 Necropolitics 💸 State-Crime Nexus

China's Gilded Age

by Yuen Yuen Ang • 2021

Why did China boom for 40 years amid vast corruption? Because not all graft kills growth.

4.17

309

🏛️ Political Economy 🌏 Comparative Politics 💼 Crony Capitalism 📊 Institutional Economics 🗿 Developmental State

China's Gilded Age 91%

Why did China boom for 40 years amid vast corruption? Because not all graft kills growth.

by Yuen Yuen Ang 2021

4.17

309 ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 🌏 Comparative Politics 💼 Crony Capitalism 📊 Institutional Economics 🗿 Developmental State

House of Bush, House of Saud

by Craig Unger • 2004

Oil, covert wars, and a revolving door: the Bush-Saudi alliance that 9/11 nearly destroyed.

3.91

2k+

🛢️ Oil Politics 🇸🇦 Us-Saudi Relations 🔍 Investigative Journalism 💥 Blowback 🔄 Revolving Door

House of Bush, House of Saud 91%

Oil, covert wars, and a revolving door: the Bush-Saudi alliance that 9/11 nearly destroyed.

by Craig Unger 2004

3.91

2k+ ratings

🛢️ Oil Politics 🇸🇦 Us-Saudi Relations 🔍 Investigative Journalism 💥 Blowback 🔄 Revolving Door

Autocracy, Inc.

by Anne Applebaum • 2024

A global network of dictators runs autocracies like for-profit firms. Democracies bankroll them.

4.16

19k+

🌐 Global Autocracy 💰 Kleptocracy 🚫 Authoritarianism 📉 Democratic Backsliding 📡 Information Warfare

Autocracy, Inc. 91%

A global network of dictators runs autocracies like for-profit firms. Democracies bankroll them.

by Anne Applebaum 2024

4.16

19k+ ratings

🌐 Global Autocracy 💰 Kleptocracy 🚫 Authoritarianism 📉 Democratic Backsliding 📡 Information Warfare

Back on the Road (Otra Vez)

by Ernesto Che Guevara • 2000

Guatemala fell while he watched. In Mexico, Castro asked him to join a revolution.

3.72

861

🗺️ Latin American History 🧳 Political Travelogues 🌎 Cold War Latin America 💡 Political Awakening ⚔️ Anti-Imperialism

Back on the Road (Otra Vez) 91%

Guatemala fell while he watched. In Mexico, Castro asked him to join a revolution.

by Ernesto Che Guevara 2000

3.72

861 ratings

🗺️ Latin American History 🧳 Political Travelogues 🌎 Cold War Latin America 💡 Political Awakening ⚔️ Anti-Imperialism

Military Inc.

by Ayesha Siddiqa • 2007

Pakistan's military built a business empire off the books. Leaving power would bankrupt it.

3.77

562

🪖 Military Economy 🏛️ State Capture 💰 Institutional Corruption 🏞️ Land Appropriation ⚔️ Civil-Military Relations

Military Inc. 91%

Pakistan's military built a business empire off the books. Leaving power would bankrupt it.

by Ayesha Siddiqa 2007

3.77

562 ratings

🪖 Military Economy 🏛️ State Capture 💰 Institutional Corruption 🏞️ Land Appropriation ⚔️ Civil-Military Relations

Amexica

by Ed Vulliamy • 2010

Drugs north, guns south: the border is its own nation, and the cartels are its government.

3.86

649

🕴️ Organized Crime ⚔️ Drug War 💀 Narco Culture 💰 Cartel Economics 🏜️ Migrant Journeys

Amexica 91%

Drugs north, guns south: the border is its own nation, and the cartels are its government.

by Ed Vulliamy 2010

3.86

649 ratings

🕴️ Organized Crime ⚔️ Drug War 💀 Narco Culture 💰 Cartel Economics 🏜️ Migrant Journeys

Winter Is Coming

by Garry Kasparov • 2015

Western money and misplaced goodwill built Putin's war machine: a warning from the front lines.

4.04

4k+

🪆 Russian Politics 🗺️ Post-Soviet Studies 🤦 Foreign Policy Failures ⛽ Energy Geopolitics ✍️ Dissident Literature

Winter Is Coming 91%

Western money and misplaced goodwill built Putin's war machine: a warning from the front lines.

by Garry Kasparov 2015

4.04

4k+ ratings

🪆 Russian Politics 🗺️ Post-Soviet Studies 🤦 Foreign Policy Failures ⛽ Energy Geopolitics ✍️ Dissident Literature

A Fish in the Water

by Mario Vargas Llosa • 1993

Peru, 1990. A novelist campaigns for president while the boy who discovered books haunts his memory.

4.02

1k+

🖋️ Literary Memoir 🗳️ Political Memoir ✍️ Writers And Politics 🌎 Latin American Politics 🔄 Political Conversion

A Fish in the Water 91%

Peru, 1990. A novelist campaigns for president while the boy who discovered books haunts his memory.

by Mario Vargas Llosa 1993

4.02

1k+ ratings

🖋️ Literary Memoir 🗳️ Political Memoir ✍️ Writers And Politics 🌎 Latin American Politics 🔄 Political Conversion

Predator Nation

by Charles Ferguson • 2012

The 2008 crash was no accident; it was a crime, and the perpetrators run the country.

4.11

491

🏦 Financial Crises 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 📉 Income Inequality 🗳️ Political Corruption 📜 Deregulation

Predator Nation 91%

The 2008 crash was no accident; it was a crime, and the perpetrators run the country.

by Charles Ferguson 2012

4.11

491 ratings

🏦 Financial Crises 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 📉 Income Inequality 🗳️ Political Corruption 📜 Deregulation

Davos Man

by Peter S. Goodman • 2022

A global elite rewrote economic rules to enrich themselves. The pandemic was their biggest payday.

3.93

1k+

🔻 Economic Inequality 🏢 Corporate Power 💰 Tax Evasion 🌪️ Disaster Capitalism 📉 Neoliberalism Critique

Davos Man 91%

A global elite rewrote economic rules to enrich themselves. The pandemic was their biggest payday.

by Peter S. Goodman 2022

3.93

1k+ ratings

🔻 Economic Inequality 🏢 Corporate Power 💰 Tax Evasion 🌪️ Disaster Capitalism 📉 Neoliberalism Critique

Griftopia

by Matt Taibbi • 2010

From the ballot box to the commodities pit, one unified hustle is picking every American pocket.

4.16

10k+

📰 Financial Journalism 🫧 Bubble Economics 🏛️ Systemic Corruption 🎛️ Regulatory Capture 💸 Predatory Finance

Griftopia 91%

From the ballot box to the commodities pit, one unified hustle is picking every American pocket.

by Matt Taibbi 2010

4.16

10k+ ratings

📰 Financial Journalism 🫧 Bubble Economics 🏛️ Systemic Corruption 🎛️ Regulatory Capture 💸 Predatory Finance

Moneyland

by Oliver Bullough • 2018

Stolen wealth has a home: a borderless financial nation built by Western lawyers and accountants.

4.18

7k+

🏝️ Offshore Finance 🔒 Financial Secrecy 💰 Kleptocracy 🧺 Money Laundering 🌐 Global Corruption

Moneyland 91%

Stolen wealth has a home: a borderless financial nation built by Western lawyers and accountants.

by Oliver Bullough 2018

4.18

7k+ ratings

🏝️ Offshore Finance 🔒 Financial Secrecy 💰 Kleptocracy 🧺 Money Laundering 🌐 Global Corruption

Treasure Islands

by Nicholas Shaxson • 2011

For every dollar in foreign aid, ten flee into tax havens. London's hidden City runs the system.

4.18

2k+

🏝️ Offshore Finance ⚖️ Global Inequality 🏢 Corporate Crime 🏦 Financial Regulation 📜 Economic History

Treasure Islands 91%

For every dollar in foreign aid, ten flee into tax havens. London's hidden City runs the system.

by Nicholas Shaxson 2011

4.18

2k+ ratings

🏝️ Offshore Finance ⚖️ Global Inequality 🏢 Corporate Crime 🏦 Financial Regulation 📜 Economic History

The Panama Papers

by Frederik Obermaier • 2016

11.5 million documents arrived at a German newspaper, exposing the secret world of offshore wealth.

4.08

5k+

🏝️ Offshore Finance 🏛️ Political Corruption 🔍 Investigative Journalism 📢 Whistleblowing 💰 Money Laundering

The Panama Papers 91%

11.5 million documents arrived at a German newspaper, exposing the secret world of offshore wealth.

by Frederik Obermaier 2016

4.08

5k+ ratings

🏝️ Offshore Finance 🏛️ Political Corruption 🔍 Investigative Journalism 📢 Whistleblowing 💰 Money Laundering

Consequences of Capitalism

by Noam Chomsky • 2020

The system that breeds inequality also engineers the discontent that threatens to bring it down.

4.33

2k+

🏛️ Political Economy 📺 Media Criticism ✊ Anti-Capitalism 🏦 Neoliberalism 🗳️ Democratic Decline

Consequences of Capitalism 91%

The system that breeds inequality also engineers the discontent that threatens to bring it down.

by Noam Chomsky 2020

4.33

2k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 📺 Media Criticism ✊ Anti-Capitalism 🏦 Neoliberalism 🗳️ Democratic Decline

Invisible Doctrine

by George Monbiot • 2024

Most people can't name the ideology governing our world. That's exactly how it stays powerful.

4.37

4k+

🏛️ Neoliberalism 📊 Political Economy 💰 Rentier Capitalism 📉 Wealth Inequality 🏢 Corporate Power

Invisible Doctrine 91%

Most people can't name the ideology governing our world. That's exactly how it stays powerful.

by George Monbiot 2024

4.37

4k+ ratings

🏛️ Neoliberalism 📊 Political Economy 💰 Rentier Capitalism 📉 Wealth Inequality 🏢 Corporate Power

The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

by John Perkins • 2016

Empire runs on rigged loans and broken countries. One of its architects tells all.

3.93

8k+

🏴 Neocolonialism 🌐 Global Finance 📣 Whistleblower Accounts 🏢 Corporate Power 💸 Debt And Power

The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man Summary

The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man 91%

Empire runs on rigged loans and broken countries. One of its architects tells all.

by John Perkins 2016

3.93

8k+ ratings

🏴 Neocolonialism 🌐 Global Finance 📣 Whistleblower Accounts 🏢 Corporate Power 💸 Debt And Power

Silent Coup

by Claire Provost • 2023

Companies sue nations in secret tribunals, run private cities, command armies. Voters never agreed.

4.31

277

🏛️ Corporate Capture ⚖️ Trade Tribunals 🛡️ Privatized Security 🌍 Development Critique 🏴 Colonial Legacies

Silent Coup 91%

Companies sue nations in secret tribunals, run private cities, command armies. Voters never agreed.

by Claire Provost 2023

4.31

277 ratings

🏛️ Corporate Capture ⚖️ Trade Tribunals 🛡️ Privatized Security 🌍 Development Critique 🏴 Colonial Legacies

End Times

by Peter Turchin • 2023

Ten millennia of data point to two conditions for state collapse. America now meets both.

4.06

3k+

📊 Quantitative History 💥 Political Instability 👑 Elite Theory ✊ Revolution Theory 🏚️ State Collapse

End Times 91%

Ten millennia of data point to two conditions for state collapse. America now meets both.

by Peter Turchin 2023

4.06

3k+ ratings

📊 Quantitative History 💥 Political Instability 👑 Elite Theory ✊ Revolution Theory 🏚️ State Collapse

Gambling on Development

by Stefan Dercon • 2022

Elite bets on growth, not aid or policy, explain why some nations prosper and others stall.

4.02

275

🏗️ Development Economics ⚖️ Political Economy 🏛️ State Capacity 👥 Political Elites 💸 Foreign Aid

Gambling on Development 91%

Elite bets on growth, not aid or policy, explain why some nations prosper and others stall.

by Stefan Dercon 2022

4.02

275 ratings

🏗️ Development Economics ⚖️ Political Economy 🏛️ State Capacity 👥 Political Elites 💸 Foreign Aid

Putinism

by Walter Laqueur • 2015

Oil wealth, Orthodox faith, and a KGB veteran filled the vacuum the Soviet Union left behind.

3.32

260

🏛️ Post-Soviet Politics 🌍 Russian Foreign Policy 🛢️ Petrostates ⛓️ Authoritarian Governance 🪪 National Identity

Putinism 91%

Oil wealth, Orthodox faith, and a KGB veteran filled the vacuum the Soviet Union left behind.

by Walter Laqueur 2015

3.32

260 ratings

🏛️ Post-Soviet Politics 🌍 Russian Foreign Policy 🛢️ Petrostates ⛓️ Authoritarian Governance 🪪 National Identity

The ANC Billionaires

by Pieter Du Toit • 2022

South Africa's peace made ANC insiders rich. 30 years later, the economic revolution hasn't begun.

3.91

142

🏛️ Post-Apartheid Transition 🎯 Elite Capture 🤝 Black Economic Empowerment 🔒 State Capture 📰 Investigative Journalism

The ANC Billionaires 91%

South Africa's peace made ANC insiders rich. 30 years later, the economic revolution hasn't begun.

by Pieter Du Toit 2022

3.91

142 ratings

🏛️ Post-Apartheid Transition 🎯 Elite Capture 🤝 Black Economic Empowerment 🔒 State Capture 📰 Investigative Journalism

The Shock Doctrine

by Naomi Klein • 2007

Chile 1973, Iraq 2003, New Orleans 2005: each crisis was followed by the same economic playbook.

4.30

55k+

🏛️ Political Economy 🏢 Corporate Power 🏗️ Privatization 🌪️ Disaster Politics 💣 War Profiteering

The Shock Doctrine 90%

Chile 1973, Iraq 2003, New Orleans 2005: each crisis was followed by the same economic playbook.

by Naomi Klein 2007

4.30

55k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 🏢 Corporate Power 🏗️ Privatization 🌪️ Disaster Politics 💣 War Profiteering

Notes on Resistance

by Noam Chomsky • 2022

Four crises are converging. The institutions that caused them are now blocking every fix.

4.30

405

🌍 Us Foreign Policy 🏛️ American Politics ✊ Political Resistance 🌱 Grassroots Organizing 📰 Media Criticism

Notes on Resistance 90%

Four crises are converging. The institutions that caused them are now blocking every fix.

by Noam Chomsky 2022

4.30

405 ratings

🌍 Us Foreign Policy 🏛️ American Politics ✊ Political Resistance 🌱 Grassroots Organizing 📰 Media Criticism

Republic, Lost

by Lawrence Lessig • 2011

America's government answers to funders, not voters. The corruption is legal, and it's by design.

4.18

3k+

💰 Money In Politics 🗳️ Election Reform 🔗 Systemic Corruption 🏛️ Democratic Reform 🏢 Dysfunctional Congress

Republic, Lost 90%

America's government answers to funders, not voters. The corruption is legal, and it's by design.

by Lawrence Lessig 2011

4.18

3k+ ratings

💰 Money In Politics 🗳️ Election Reform 🔗 Systemic Corruption 🏛️ Democratic Reform 🏢 Dysfunctional Congress

Spin Dictators

by Sergei Guriev • 2022

Modern autocrats rule by deception, not terror. How they fake democracy and hide the violence.

3.94

1k+

🏛️ Authoritarian Regimes 🌐 Comparative Politics 🎭 Disinformation Tactics 📺 Media Manipulation 🔇 Soft Repression

Spin Dictators 90%

Modern autocrats rule by deception, not terror. How they fake democracy and hide the violence.

by Sergei Guriev 2022

3.94

1k+ ratings

🏛️ Authoritarian Regimes 🌐 Comparative Politics 🎭 Disinformation Tactics 📺 Media Manipulation 🔇 Soft Repression

Uncommon Wealth

by Kojo Koram • 2022

Offshore finance and debt traps: empire's playbook, tested abroad, now returned to reshape Britain.

4.29

508

🏛️ British Empire 🌍 Global Inequality 🏦 Offshore Finance 🏢 Corporate Power 🔗 Neocolonialism

Uncommon Wealth 90%

Offshore finance and debt traps: empire's playbook, tested abroad, now returned to reshape Britain.

by Kojo Koram 2022

4.29

508 ratings

🏛️ British Empire 🌍 Global Inequality 🏦 Offshore Finance 🏢 Corporate Power 🔗 Neocolonialism

The Price of Civilization

by Jeffrey D. Sachs • 2010

What broke the American economy wasn't policy. It was a moral collapse at the top.

3.84

2k+

🏛️ Political Economy 📉 American Decline 🗽 Civic Decline 🏢 Corporate Influence ⚖️ Economic Inequality

The Price of Civilization 90%

What broke the American economy wasn't policy. It was a moral collapse at the top.

by Jeffrey D. Sachs 2010

3.84

2k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 📉 American Decline 🗽 Civic Decline 🏢 Corporate Influence ⚖️ Economic Inequality

The Accidental President of Brazil

by Fernando Henrique Cardoso • 2006

Exiled by a military regime, he returned to kill Brazil's 2,500% inflation with a new currency.

4.15

493

📝 Political Memoirs 🇧🇷 Brazilian History 📊 Economic Policymaking 💸 Hyperinflation 🗳️ Democratic Transition

The Accidental President of Brazil Summary

The Accidental President of Brazil 90%

Exiled by a military regime, he returned to kill Brazil's 2,500% inflation with a new currency.

by Fernando Henrique Cardoso 2006

4.15

493 ratings

📝 Political Memoirs 🇧🇷 Brazilian History 📊 Economic Policymaking 💸 Hyperinflation 🗳️ Democratic Transition

After the Fall

by Ben Rhodes • 2022

America's post-Cold War mistakes taught the world's authoritarians how to dismantle democracy.

4.15

157

🧭 Post-Cold War Order 🌍 Global Authoritarianism 🚧 Democratic Erosion 📡 Information Warfare 🗳️ Nationalist Populism

After the Fall 90%

America's post-Cold War mistakes taught the world's authoritarians how to dismantle democracy.

by Ben Rhodes 2022

4.15

157 ratings

🧭 Post-Cold War Order 🌍 Global Authoritarianism 🚧 Democratic Erosion 📡 Information Warfare 🗳️ Nationalist Populism

The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism

by Martin Wolf • 2023

The system that delivered freedom and prosperity is devouring itself from the inside.

3.91

1k+

🏛️ Political Economy 🗳️ Liberal Democracy 💰 Rent-Seeking 📉 Inequality 🗣️ Populism

The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism Summary

The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism 90%

The system that delivered freedom and prosperity is devouring itself from the inside.

by Martin Wolf 2023

3.91

1k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 🗳️ Liberal Democracy 💰 Rent-Seeking 📉 Inequality 🗣️ Populism

What Is Populism?

by Jan-Werner Müller • 2014

Forget anti-elite anger. Populism's core is the claim that opponents are not the real people.

3.82

3k+

🗳️ Populism Studies 🏛️ Democratic Theory 🚫 Anti-Pluralism 👥 Political Identity 🏗️ State Capture

What Is Populism? 90%

Forget anti-elite anger. Populism's core is the claim that opponents are not the real people.

by Jan-Werner Müller 2014

3.82

3k+ ratings

🗳️ Populism Studies 🏛️ Democratic Theory 🚫 Anti-Pluralism 👥 Political Identity 🏗️ State Capture

The Jakarta Method

by Vincent Bevins • 2020

Washington's greatest Cold War win killed a million Indonesians. Then the method went global.

4.61

18k+

📚 Cold War History 🇺🇸 Us Foreign Policy 🔴 Anticommunism ⚡ State Violence 🕵️ Covert Operations

The Jakarta Method 90%

Washington's greatest Cold War win killed a million Indonesians. Then the method went global.

by Vincent Bevins 2020

4.61

18k+ ratings

📚 Cold War History 🇺🇸 Us Foreign Policy 🔴 Anticommunism ⚡ State Violence 🕵️ Covert Operations

Butler to the World

by Oliver Bullough • 2022

How post-imperial Britain became a concierge service for oligarchs, criminals, and tax dodgers.

3.98

3k+

🏝️ Offshore Finance 💸 Money Laundering 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 🔍 Investigative Journalism 💰 Financial Crime

Butler to the World 90%

How post-imperial Britain became a concierge service for oligarchs, criminals, and tax dodgers.

by Oliver Bullough 2022

3.98

3k+ ratings

🏝️ Offshore Finance 💸 Money Laundering 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 🔍 Investigative Journalism 💰 Financial Crime

The Case for Colonialism

by Bruce Gilley • 2023

Start new colonies from scratch. The controversial solution to a century of post-colonial disaster.

4.32

191

📚 Revisionist History 🏗️ State Building 👑 Imperial History 🌍 Post-Colonial States ⏳ Modernization Theory

The Case for Colonialism 90%

Start new colonies from scratch. The controversial solution to a century of post-colonial disaster.

by Bruce Gilley 2023

4.32

191 ratings

📚 Revisionist History 🏗️ State Building 👑 Imperial History 🌍 Post-Colonial States ⏳ Modernization Theory

The Prize

by Daniel Yergin • 1991

How a dark liquid wrote the rules of power, decided wars, and built the greatest fortunes.

4.44

13k+

🛢️ Commodity History ⛽ Petroleum Industry 🌍 Energy Geopolitics 📖 Narrative History 🏭 Industrial Capitalism

The Prize 90%

How a dark liquid wrote the rules of power, decided wars, and built the greatest fortunes.

by Daniel Yergin 1991

4.44

13k+ ratings

🛢️ Commodity History ⛽ Petroleum Industry 🌍 Energy Geopolitics 📖 Narrative History 🏭 Industrial Capitalism

The Tyranny of Experts

by William Easterly • 2014

Poverty isn't a knowledge gap; it's a power gap. A century of development got it backward.

3.87

1k+

📈 Development Economics 🌐 International Aid ⚙️ Technocratic Critique ✊ Rights-Based Development 🏛️ Colonial Legacies

The Tyranny of Experts 90%

Poverty isn't a knowledge gap; it's a power gap. A century of development got it backward.

by William Easterly 2014

3.87

1k+ ratings

📈 Development Economics 🌐 International Aid ⚙️ Technocratic Critique ✊ Rights-Based Development 🏛️ Colonial Legacies

Requiem for the American Dream

by Noam Chomsky • 2017

Inequality isn't a bug. It's a feature, engineered through media, regulation, and economic policy.

4.21

4k+

⚖️ Wealth Inequality 🇺🇸 American Politics 📊 Neoliberalism 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 📺 Media And Power

Requiem for the American Dream 90%

Inequality isn't a bug. It's a feature, engineered through media, regulation, and economic policy.

by Noam Chomsky 2017

4.21

4k+ ratings

⚖️ Wealth Inequality 🇺🇸 American Politics 📊 Neoliberalism 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 📺 Media And Power

America

by Chris Hedges • 2018

Addiction, casinos, and the death of work: the symptoms of late capitalism's terminal stage.

4.23

3k+

🛒 Late Capitalism 🇺🇸 American Decline 💊 Opioid Crisis ⚙️ Working Class Erosion 📕 Marxist Critique

America 90%

Addiction, casinos, and the death of work: the symptoms of late capitalism's terminal stage.

by Chris Hedges 2018

4.23

3k+ ratings

🛒 Late Capitalism 🇺🇸 American Decline 💊 Opioid Crisis ⚙️ Working Class Erosion 📕 Marxist Critique

The Key Man

by Simon Clark • 2021

Davos loved him. Bill Gates trusted him. He promised profit from poverty, then stole a billion.

4.18

3k+

🏢 Private Equity 🌍 Emerging Markets 💸 Financial Fraud 🌱 Impact Investing 🤝 Elite Networks

The Key Man 90%

Davos loved him. Bill Gates trusted him. He promised profit from poverty, then stole a billion.

by Simon Clark 2021

4.18

3k+ ratings

🏢 Private Equity 🌍 Emerging Markets 💸 Financial Fraud 🌱 Impact Investing 🤝 Elite Networks

Dark Alliance

by Gary Webb • 1998

The CIA's Contra army needed money. The cocaine they smuggled to get it fueled LA's crack epidemic.

4.30

2k+

🕵️ Investigative Journalism 💥 Crack Epidemic 🕶️ Covert Operations 💊 Drug War Origins 🌎 Cold War Interventions

Dark Alliance 90%

The CIA's Contra army needed money. The cocaine they smuggled to get it fueled LA's crack epidemic.

by Gary Webb 1998

4.30

2k+ ratings

🕵️ Investigative Journalism 💥 Crack Epidemic 🕶️ Covert Operations 💊 Drug War Origins 🌎 Cold War Interventions

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