Why Nations Fail is an interesting examination of the reasons why countries fail to build functioning democracies and economies. It’s ultimate argument is that it comes down to whether or not a state can build and maintain inclusive institutions – such as political representation and property rights Continue reading
The story is pretty straight forward: a rather blob like alien race had decided the best way to introduce themselves to humanity was through a film agent. Continue reading
So I picked this novella up for the Read Harder challenge, which was a book of romance by an author of colour. Romance is really not my bag, so it was dreading this category a little bit. I searched the Good Reads Read Harder recommendations and decided on The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho Continue reading
So this is another one of the Read Harder challenge, this time reading a book about mythology or folklore. As A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes is a retelling of the fall of Troy but from a women’s perspective, I felt it fit the bill Continue reading
It’s at some distant point in the future, where ‘The Reckoning’ happened (which vaguely sounds like some catastrophic climate change and something else. It was a bit like Trail of Lightening in that it used (presumably) mythology from the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Continue reading
I remember first reading Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang and being utterly amazed and blown away by it. I must have told lots of people about it and leant it out….and bought it again because I forgot who now had it Continue reading
For the uninitiated, Usagi is a ronin and travels throughout the land, often helping out those in need or just generally getting into trouble. It’s based on the Edo Period in Japan but all the characters are different animals (with most natives of Japan itself). Continue reading
This month we speak to author of The Book of M, Peng Shepherd and Professor Michael Anderson from the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at Cambridge University. Continue reading
Phyllis reminded me of Reggie from The Rewind Files, though if anything more fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pantsness. But delightful, flawed, tough, sarcastic and with a deep sense of fairness and faith in her friends. Sarcastic lead characters win my heart every time. Continue reading
This month we speak to author of The Rewind Files, Claire Willett and professor at Columbia Journalism School, Michael Schudson. Continue reading
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