The author, an active Labour Party member, reflects on David Lammy’s book ‘Tribes,’ which explores tribalism’s impact on society and politics. Lammy’s investigative journey into his diverse ancestry shapes a narrative of social mobility and personal struggle, culminating in political engagement as a Black MP. The writing is honest and compelling, appealing to a broad audience.
The content outlines China’s historical journey from the late Ming dynasty to the modern era under President Xi Jinping. It emphasizes key events such as the Qing dynasty, opium wars, rise of communism, and China’s transformation into a global superpower. The book serves as an accessible introduction to understanding China’s contemporary significance.
View More Review: The Oxford History of Modern China – by Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom
Zeinab Badawi’s book offers an Afrocentric perspective on African history, challenging colonial narratives and highlighting the contributions of African civilizations. It discusses figures like Mansa Musa and Shaka Zulu, emphasizing the region’s advanced cultures despite historical exploitation. The text encourages readers to explore a non-mainstream understanding of Africa’s rich heritage and contemporary issues.
View More Review: An African History of Africa – by Zeinab Badawi
Chairman Mao remains a polarizing historical figure and key communist thinker alongside Marx and Lenin. The ‘Little Red Book’ is a widely influential text that shaped leftist movements globally, emphasizing the importance of the masses in history. Despite Mao’s controversial legacy, the book’s simple yet profound ideas continue to provoke thought and discussion.
View More Review: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung “Little Red Book”
Karen Hao’s book examines the rise of artificial intelligence, focusing on OpenAI and its journey from a non-profit to a major business. It features insights into CEO Sam Altman’s character, the exploitation of AI workers, and ethical concerns in AI development. Through interviews and research, Hao sheds light on the implications of this transformative technology.
View More Review: Empire of AI – by Karen Hao
Moctezuma II was the last great Aztec king or ruler of the Mexica people in today’s modern day Mexico. His reign saw the arrival of the conquistadors from Spain and it was Hernan Cortés who most famously defeated this strange kingdom in the New World and took hold of ht…
View More Review: Moctezuma and The Aztecs – by Elisenda Vila Llonch
Tom Bingham, a distinguished British judge, explores the Rule of Law in his concise book. He discusses its principles, their application in the UK, and contrasts them with foreign interpretations. The text examines Human Rights and legal fairness, offering valuable insights for aspiring law students while highlighting the flaws in the British Justice System.
View More Review: The Rule of Law – by Tom Bingham
Artificial Intelligence or AI is a real technology buzz word. It has dominated global news stories and is seen as the great new leap forward in modern technology that will have a transformative effect on all our daily lives. Whereas the advantages to the civilian sector seem positive, good and…
View More Review: AI, Automation, And War – The Rise Of A Military-Tech Complex – by Anthony King
I discovered this book at Chatham House library. The front cover image of Arkan with his trademark white tiger gave away a lot of the subject detail of the book. It focuses on the war of the former Yugoslavia. Later in the work we touch upon the mass atrocities in…
View More Review: Architectures of Violence – The Command Structures of Modern Mass Atrocities – by Kate Ferguson
I am a new member of Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, in London. On a recent visit, I made use of the vast resources of a very well-stocked library at Chatham House and this book is the first of the loans that I have finished reading. It…
View More Review: Moscow Rules: What Drives Russia To Confront The West – by Keir Giles
I have previously read a lot of material on World War 2 codebreakers and the likes of Alan Turing and their critical work against Enigma and the invention of modern computing during that period. Of course, codebreaking and cryptography is not a new science and has been a critical part…
View More Review: Before Bletchley Park – The Codebreakers of The First World War – by Paul Gannon
I had previously read Alison Weir’s most excellent book specifically on Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine many years ago so the author was familiar to me. I chanced upon this title in my local library (Caldicot) and thought I’d give it a go. It covers the lives of several British Queens,…
View More Review: Queens of the Crusades – by Alison Weir
I randomly found this book on the shelves of Caldicot library. I read a lot of books on U.K. Intelligence services: MI5, MI6 and GCHQ. During the war…. Mt grandfather (GaGa) was in 618 Squadron RAF and 143 Coastal Command. He didn’t really speak to me much about World War…
View More Review: MI9: A History of the Secret Service for Escape and Evasion in World War Two – by Helen Fry
This is just another one of the many books I’ve read on the security services / spies / intelligence agencies in general. I guess I have a morbid fascination. Non-fiction throws up some pretty weird stuff – Life itself is a lot stranger than fiction. This tale from a turncoat…
View More Review: Defending The Realm – MI5 and The Shayler Affair – by Mark Hollingsworth and Nick Fielding
I think everyone that has ever heard of Boris Johnson associates him with lies. Oborne, who is an established veteran political journalist, in this relatively brief text, exposes the extent of the former Conservative Prime Minister’s almost total aversion to the truth. He reckons Johnson has told over thousands of…
View More Review: The Assault On Truth – Boris Johnson and the Emergence of a New Moral Barbarism – by Peter Oborne