Here are 100 books that Nexus fans have personally recommended if you like
Nexus.
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I'm a Professor in Geography at Trinity College Dublin and a Senior Research Associate in the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Johannesburg. My research and teaching focus on the political economy of globalisation in Africa, and I'm interested in the ways in which current, massive global changes are impacting Africa and the prospects for its development based on constructed or available policy space. Sometimes there seems to be so much change in the world that it is hard to pick out what the most important trends are and their inter-relationships. I picked this book list based on what I see as some of the biggest changes in the world right now.
I loved this book because it explains how to understand our current politics, particularly in the United States and Europe.
Far-right parties have gained ground globally and have often come to power. Sometimes the political changes and events happen so quickly that they are bewildering, but there is a logic to them that has roots back to the rise of the ideology of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
The book traces this lineage and shows how the rise of the populist right reflects a fracture within this global movement, which now brings together libertarians, market liberals, racists, and nationalists in a new fusion. It reads easily and compellingly and helped me make sense of the current moment.Ā
A revelatory exploration of how today's right-wing authoritarianism emerged not in opposition to neoliberalism, but from within it
Bracingly original... Hayek's Bastards demonstrates how a history of ideas can be riveting. Slobodian grounds intellectual abstractions in the lives of the people who espoused them... His book offers an illuminating history to our current bewildering moment, as right-wing populists join forces with billionaire oligarchs to take a chain saw to the foundations of public life, until there's nothing left to stand on' - Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times
After the end of the Cold War, neoliberalism, with its belief inā¦
Every previous wave of automation had a next rung. Factory workers moved into services. Service workers moved into knowledge work. There was always somewhere to go.
This time the next rung is being automated at the same time as the current one, and the people most exposed are the onesā¦
I'm a Professor in Geography at Trinity College Dublin and a Senior Research Associate in the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Johannesburg. My research and teaching focus on the political economy of globalisation in Africa, and I'm interested in the ways in which current, massive global changes are impacting Africa and the prospects for its development based on constructed or available policy space. Sometimes there seems to be so much change in the world that it is hard to pick out what the most important trends are and their inter-relationships. I picked this book list based on what I see as some of the biggest changes in the world right now.
I loved this book because it discusses the rise of China and its relations with the developing world or Global South in the context of the current polycrisis, which is increasingly affecting the globe.
It explores the seeming paradox that even as we enter an era of climate and many other disruptions, the power of some actors from historically disadvantaged or exploited regions is increasing.
Gu adeptly and expertly explores what the implications of this are. She explains why Chinaās strategy is so adaptive and consequently successful.Ā
China and the Global South in a Contested World Order is a timely and thought-provoking exploration of China's growing influence across the Global South. From the Belt and Road Initiative to China's rising power in Africa and Southeast Asia, this book explores China's vision of a new world order and its unique approach to "true multilateralism". Through compelling case studies and fresh insights such as China's underexplored provincial diplomacy, it reveals the shared challenges, opportunities, competition, cooperation and untapped potential between China and the Global South. The author calls for deeper collaboration between China and the Global South to harnessā¦
I'm a Professor in Geography at Trinity College Dublin and a Senior Research Associate in the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Johannesburg. My research and teaching focus on the political economy of globalisation in Africa, and I'm interested in the ways in which current, massive global changes are impacting Africa and the prospects for its development based on constructed or available policy space. Sometimes there seems to be so much change in the world that it is hard to pick out what the most important trends are and their inter-relationships. I picked this book list based on what I see as some of the biggest changes in the world right now.
I love this book because it got me to think differently about the relationship between new technologies, particularly digital platforms and the state.
In the context of the New Cold War between China and the US in particular, states try to secure an advantage by using platforms based in their territories and also to undermine rivals.
There is a mutually symbiotic relationship between states and platforms, as the latter also seek out state protection and support. This all has important impacts on how geopolitics and economics are conducted.Ā
Global capitalism is being reshaped by two major trends. States have become increasingly interventionist, reshaping their economies in response to crises and geopolitical tensions. Secondly, digital platform giants have emerged from the US and China that concentrate political economic power in private hands. This Element argues that these trends are increasingly symbiotic. Digital platforms are being folded into the spiralling rivalry between the US and China. As states tap into their extraterritorial governance capacities by exerting control over platforms, platform firms leverage state support to pursue and expand their internationalization strategies. Therefore, the US-China rivalry is increasingly being fought atā¦
People Are People: Signals from the Human Side of Systems explores what remains constant in a world defined by accelerating technology. Drawing on personal experience, recovery, family, illness, and years of conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and builders, Jamil Hasan examines the relationship between systems and the people who create, inherit,ā¦
I'm a Professor in Geography at Trinity College Dublin and a Senior Research Associate in the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Johannesburg. My research and teaching focus on the political economy of globalisation in Africa, and I'm interested in the ways in which current, massive global changes are impacting Africa and the prospects for its development based on constructed or available policy space. Sometimes there seems to be so much change in the world that it is hard to pick out what the most important trends are and their inter-relationships. I picked this book list based on what I see as some of the biggest changes in the world right now.
This is a great book because it takes a deep dive into the reasons behind the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It shows how Russia has often presented itself as an anti-imperial power, while engaging in imperialism. It provides a balanced and historically and theoretically informed view of Russian imperialism and debunks many commonly circulating myths and explains problems with the European Unionās decision-making processes.
While there are now many books on the Ukraine war, this is one of the most deeply informed and consequently best.Ā
For centuries, Russian imperialism has shaped the fate of its neighbours, from the tsarist conquests to Soviet domination and today's relentless aggression. This book exposes the Kremlin's enduring ambition to control its periphery, dismantling the myths used to justify its actions - from claims of shared history to the weaponization of security and culture. It reveals how Russia has sought to subordinate neighbouring states, and how these nations have resisted, asserting their sovereignty in defiance of Moscow's pressure.
In this incisive and compelling analysis of Russia's enduring imperial mindset, Donnacha O Beachain sheds critical light on how history, politics andā¦
Iām a philosopher, writer, and illustrator from Wales, UK. I grew up on ā70s sci-fiāStar Wars (the original trilogy!), Battlestar Galactica (the original series!), The Black Hole (Remember that?! No? Oh wellā¦). Space travel, flying cars, sassy computers you could banter with, cute robots who would be your best friendāit was a time when the future seemed just around the corner. But now, as these things finally start to arrive, I feel Iāve been mis-sold. Data theft? Mass surveillance? Killer drones? Election manipulation? Social media bot farms? This isnāt the future I signed up for! Or maybe I should have read the terms and conditionsā¦
Technology is always moving on. And so it should be forgiven the author that many of the concrete examples in this book are now somewhat dated. They provide some interesting insight into the history of computing and media technology, but the real value of Roszakās argument lies in his analysis of howāthanks to computer technologyāsociety has become obsessed with āinformationā. Itās almost a cult. But information is not knowledge, data does not in itself provide understanding. In fact, in a peculiarly paradoxical way, the more information we have, the less we actually know. Thirty years later, as we swim daily in the disinformationof the murky waters of social media and disappear down Youtube rabbit holes, Roszakās point seems more pertinent than ever.
As we devote ever-increasing resources to providing, or prohibiting, access to information via computer, Theodore Roszak reminds us that voluminous information does not necessarily lead to sound thinking. "Data glut" obscures basic questions of justice and purpose and may even hinder rather than enhance our productivity. In this revised and updated edition of "The Cult of Information", Roszak reviews the disruptive role the computer has come to play in international finance and the way in which "edutainment" software and computer games degrade the literacy of children. At the same time, he finds hopeful new ways in which the library andā¦
In 2012, a publisher asked me if I wanted to write a book about Joseph Smith's assassination. I leapt at the chance, in part because I was fascinated by Smith and the Latter-day Saints, and in part because I appreciated how many of the important contributions to Mormon history --- including Fawn Brodieās famous biography of Joseph Smith, or the first honest and comprehensive account of the Mountain Meadows Massacre -- sprang from the pens of women and men with no formal academic training. By contrast, many āscholarsā have disgraced themselves with prevaricating or pusillanimous accounts of the religionās raucous and fascinating 190-year history. So jump in! Never a dull moment with the Latter-day Saints!
You hear a lot about John C. Fremont and Kit Carson, but square mile for square mile, Brigham Young is the man who built the American West. He dispatched Latter-day Saints to settle the following states, either wholly or in part: Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, and Oregon.
Brigham Young was a rough-hewn craftsman from New York whose impoverished and obscure life was electrified by the Mormon faith. He trudged around the United States and England to gain converts for Mormonism, spoke in spiritual tongues, married more than fifty women, and eventually transformed a barren desert into his vision of the Kingdom of God. While previous accounts of his life have been distorted by hagiography or polemical expose, John Turner provides a fully realized portrait of a colossal figure in American religion, politics, and westward expansion.
After the 1844 murder of Mormon founder Joseph Smith, Young gathered thoseā¦
This is not an insect book--it is a history book, but one that tells the history you didn't learn in school, or it tells the history in a way you never imagined.Ā Five insects had a significant impact on human history. Silkworm moth, Oriental rat flea, human body louse, yellowā¦
I am a scientist and technologist, trained in theoretical quantum physics, who became an Emeritus Professor of Network Technology from Osloās metropolitan university. Iāve strenuously tried to communicate the wonder of science to students and industry throughout my career. Iām also a long-standing fan of science fiction who grew up with heroes in both fact and fiction. The idea of future society has haunted me my whole life. Iām an optimist, who looks to the darker tales as warnings of futures we hope to avoid. Read these tales with a determination for us all to do better.
This book is not fiction, but rather a popular book about the direction of technology.
It was part of the original source inspiration for my own book. Written in 2003, it looked into the research about how mobile devices were beginning to change society, and redraw the lines to lead to modern tribalism. The book is now dated, as we have lived through twenty years of experience and much has changed.
Nevertheless, as a portrait of a moment in history, eminently readable, this book is an eye-opener.
How the convergence of mobile communications and computing is driving the next social revolution-transforming the ways in which people meet, mate, work, buy, sell, govern, and create. When Howard Rheingold sneaks off down an untrodden trail, everyone else follows. He is always onto something marvelous no one has seen before. An ever-considerate guide, he navigates this new world with ease, compassion, and grace, and gives you the inside story, with no punches pulled. Tech talk? Howard could get your mother to understand. }From Tokyo to Helsinki, Manhattan to Manila, Howard Rheingold takes us on a journey around the world forā¦
I'm an author, advisor, speaker, podcaster, and citizen concerned about humanityās relationship with advanced artificial intelligence. After following developments in AI for many years, I noticed a disconnect between the rapid rate of progress in AI and the publicās understanding of what was happening. The AI issue affects everyone, so I want everyone to be empowered to learn more about how AI will have a large impact on their lives. As a senior policy advisor and a member of the Board of Advisors for Canada's leading safety and governance network, books such as these help me stay informed about the latest developments in advanced artificial intelligence. I hope my recommendations will help you to critically consider how humans should co-exist with this revolutionary technology.
AI algorithms are increasingly used to decide what you see, if youāre hired, and who you match with socially or romantically.
There is much cause for concern because many of these algorithms are biased and return responses that indicate some degree of sexism or racism.
The main value of this book is that all those issues are recognized, but so is the notion that when an algorithm is biased, it is much easier to discover that and correct it than with a person.
Consequently, reforming algorithms likely presents a better option to reduce bias when people or things are sorted or assessed.
Much has been written about the challenges tech presents to equality and democracy. But we can either criticize big data and automation or steer it to do better. Lobel makes a compelling argument that while we cannot stop technological development, we can direct its course according to our most fundamental values.
With provocative insights in every chapter, Lobel masterfully shows that digital technology frequently has a comparative advantage over humans in detecting discrimination, correcting historical exclusions, subverting long-standing stereotypes, and addressing the world's thorniest problems: climate, poverty, injustice, literacy, accessibility, speech, health, and safety.
My life is divided into two parts: before I left the cult I was involved in during my 20s, and after. Leaving the cult created a reckoning in my life unlike anything Iāve experienced before or since. It was both the worst thing that had ever happened to me, and the best. As a result, I connect deeply with othersā stories of grief, loss, and the challenging times in life that make us. As an author, I have carried these themes into my mystery novels. I hope you experience as much resonance from the books on this list as I have.
This book parallels my own journey of leaving a spiritual group, which is no doubt why this memoir is so precious to me. Iāve probably read this book six times. The author writes with confidence, humility, and humor that I find both deeply touching and inspirational.
Beck grew up in a family where her father was an apologist for the Latter Day Saints (Mormons). Her personal reckoning with that religion and her journey to finding her own version of faith is one that everyone with an interest in the human experience will be able to relate to.
As āMormon royaltyā within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Martha Beck was raised in a home frequented by the Churchās high elders in an existence framed by the strictest code of conduct. As an adult, she moved to the east coast, outside of her Mormon enclave for the first time in her life. When her son was born with Down syndrome, Martha and her husband left their graduate programs at Harvard to return to Utah, where they knew the supportive Mormon community would embrace them.
But when she was hired to teach at Brigham Young University, Marthaā¦
The Animal in the Mirror is a wake-up call to your higher self. Why do we keep reacting, fearing, and repeating the same patternsāno matter how much we know better? Because beneath our thoughts and emotions still lives the animal within: the ancient survival instinct that once kept us aliveā¦
In 2012, a publisher asked me if I wanted to write a book about Joseph Smith's assassination. I leapt at the chance, in part because I was fascinated by Smith and the Latter-day Saints, and in part because I appreciated how many of the important contributions to Mormon history --- including Fawn Brodieās famous biography of Joseph Smith, or the first honest and comprehensive account of the Mountain Meadows Massacre -- sprang from the pens of women and men with no formal academic training. By contrast, many āscholarsā have disgraced themselves with prevaricating or pusillanimous accounts of the religionās raucous and fascinating 190-year history. So jump in! Never a dull moment with the Latter-day Saints!
Not only is this book fascinating, but it is also utterly honest, and honesty is in short supply in Mormon history-telling. Oaks is a politically conservative and culturally controversial member of the Mormon churchās ruling triumvirate, which in no way detracts from this masterpiece.
Carthage Conspiracy deals with the general problem of Mormon/non-Mormon conflict, as well as with the dramatic story of Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum, and their alleged assassins. It places the infamous event at the Carthage jail (1846) and the subsequent murder-conspiracy trial in the context of Mormon and American legal history, and deals with the question of achieving justice when crimes are politically motivated and popularly supported.
