Author Jonathan M Metzl, a psychiatrist and sociologist, delves into the health implications of certain political ideologies and policies on white working-class Americans. In particular, he examines the impact of conservative politics on their health outcomes. “Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America’s Heartland” is an in-depth exploration of race…
Adrian Tchaikovsky’s sci-fi novel Children of Time crafts a stunning narrative about the bounds of human nature and evolution’s power across cosmic timescales. In a desperate attempt to preserve life on a dying Earth, humans seed potential planets with monkeys to rebuild civilization across the galaxy. On one planet, things evolve in unexpected ways as…
In How the Word Is Passed, Clint Smith embarks on a tour of sites pivotal to the history of slavery and racial injustice in the United States. This timely book provides a compelling confrontation about how America fails to properly memorialize the enslaved people who built the country. The book in three sentences Clint Smith…
In Trust the Plan, Daily Beast reporter Will Sommer delves into the origins and evolution of the QAnon conspiracy theory movement. His book provides important context for how QAnon gained traction and influenced American politics. The book in three sentences The book examines the rise of the QAnon conspiracy theory, which baselessly claimed Donald Trump…
In his grand-scale book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, historian Yuval Noah Harari provides a sweeping history of humankind that delves into our evolution, impact, and potential future. This uniquely broad perspective makes it a fascinating read for anyone interested in who we are and how we got here. The book in three sentences…
In Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest, sociologist Zeynep Tufekci examines the intricate relationship between social media and social movements. This timely book provides important insights into how modern protest unfolds with the rise of networked technologies. The book in three sentences: The book examines how social media has changed…
Quick Summary Noah Hawley’s latest novel Anthem offers a disturbing yet captivating vision of a near-future America plagued by political strife, climate disaster, and teenage suicide. Published in January 2022, the book has garnered attention for its timely themes and fast-paced, cinematic storytelling. In this review, I will give a quick plot overview, an extended…
Quick Summary In White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo explains that white people are insulated from racial stress because we live in a society that caters to white people as the norm. This builds our expectations for racial comfort, causing defensiveness and hostility when we are confronted with the reality of racism. DiAngelo examines topics like white…
Quick Summary In his latest book “A Hacker’s Mind: How the Powerful Bend Society’s Rules, and How to Bend Them Back”, security expert Bruce Schneier explores how people with power, influence, and technical skills can exploit systems for their own gain. He provides insight into the hacker mindset and how regular people can fight back…
Quick Summary Radical Technologies: The Design of Everyday Life provides a nuanced examination of how emerging technologies like AI, cryptocurrencies, and self-driving cars are impacting society. Author Adam Greenfield analyzes the complex ethics, economics, and psychology involved. Extended Summary The proliferation of new technologies is fundamentally changing how we live, work, and interact. In his…