Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

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  University - A Reckoning

  Lee C. Bollinger

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  The American university―one of the most successful institutions in human history―is facing an unprecedented assault from the president of the US. Experts on authoritarianism have drawn comparisons to other countries where strongmen subdued universities as part of their power grabs. Yet as former Columbia president Lee C. Bollinger points out in his account of the university's significance, in such dire times one has no choice but to state clearly and forcefully what one stands for. 
   
  Bollinger reveals how the structure of the university contributes to the success of the American system―because it provides those who study and work within it a degree of creative freedom hard to find elsewhere―and why that structure is both impossible to recreate and vulnerable to outside attack. The fundamental mission of the university is to enhance knowledge, but this is not merely a high-minded idea. It is, as Bollinger demonstrates, a notion rooted deeply in the Constitution, specifically the First Amendment, the basis of our political and social life. The university helps realize the First Amendment; the First Amendment helps make the university. Bollinger argues that, with the press diminished, the university remains the only source of truth-seeking for those who still believe in democracy. The university must be defended if the American experiment is to continue.

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  How Nations Escape Poverty -...

  Rainer Zitelmann

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  During the twentieth century, Vietnam and Poland were both victims not only of devastating wars, but also of socialist planned economies that destroyed whatever war hadn’t already. In 1990, Vietnam was still one of the poorest countries in the world, while Poland was one of the poorest in Europe. But in the three decades since then, both countries have drastically improved their citizens’ standards of living and escaped the vicious cycle of national poverty. 
   
   
   
  In this book, Rainer Zitelmann identifies the reasons behind the sensational growth of both nations' economies, drawing out the lessons that other countries can learn from these two success stories. To explain the source of their success, he returns to Adam Smith's 1776 treatise, The Wealth of Nations: the only way to overcome poverty is through economic growth, and economic freedom is the crucial prerequisite for such growth. Developments over the past 250 years have proved Smith right. 
   
   
   
  Despite these strides, almost ten percent of the world's population still lives in extreme poverty. So, what measures actually help to alleviate poverty today? Through a wealth of data and stories from the everyday lives of Polish and Vietnamese people who experienced reforms, Zitelmann demonstrates the persistent relevance of Smith's ideas to economic flourishing in the twenty-first century.

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  China and Mao Zedong - The...

  History Retold

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  Prepare to be enthralled by a tale of darkness and intrigue, of power and ambition, of the rise and fall of one of the most enigmatic and controversial figures in modern history. 
  In this ground-breaking book, you'll gain unique insights into Mao's leadership style, his impact on Chinese society and politics, and his lasting legacy on the world stage. Whether you're a history buff, a student of politics, or simply someone who loves a good story, The Rise and Fall of a Revolutionary Leader is a must-read. 
  Through the pages of this book, you will discover: 
  • A haunting and disturbing portrait of Mao's character and motivations. This book paints a picture of a man consumed by his own ambition and his desire for power. 
  • A grim and foreboding exploration of the political and social forces that shaped Mao's rise to power.  
  • A detailed analysis of the events and circumstances that led to Mao's ascent, readers gain a deeper understanding of the dark and turbulent era in which he lived. 
  Get Your Copy Today! And Enter the world of Mao Zedong, a man whose legacy continues to haunt China to this day.

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  Liberalism as a Way of Life

  Alexandre Lefebvre

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  Where do you get your values and sensibilities from? If you grew up in a Western democracy, the answer is probably liberalism. Conservatives are right about one thing: liberalism is the ideology of our times, as omnipresent as religion once was. Yet, as Alexandre Lefebvre argues in Liberalism as a Way of Life, many of us are liberal without fully realizing it—or grasping what it means. Misled into thinking that liberalism is confined to politics, we fail to recognize that it's the water we swim in, saturating every area of public and private life, shaping our psychological and spiritual outlooks, and influencing our moral and aesthetic values—our sense of what is right, wrong, good, bad, funny, worthwhile, and more. This eye-opening book shows how so many of us are liberal to the core, why liberalism provides the basis for a good life, and how we can make our lives better and happier by becoming more aware of, and more committed to, the beliefs we already hold. 
   
   
   
  A lively, engaging, and uplifting guide to living well, the liberal way, Liberalism as a Way of Life is filled with examples from television, movies, stand-up comedy, and social media—from Parks and Recreation and The Good Place to the Borat movies and Hannah Gadsby. Along the way, you'll also learn about seventeen benefits of being a liberal and practical exercises to increase these rewards.

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  The Era of Revolution - 1775-1796

  George Washington, Maximilien de...

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  Six speeches about freedom and revolution from the American, French and Irish revolutions.The first two speeches are from the American Revolutionary war (1775-1783). Patrick Henry’s “Give me Liberty or give me death” is recognized even today, two centuries since Henry spoke at the Second Virginia Convention to an audience including Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. The speech is credited with providing troops from Virginia for the revolutionary war.In the Newburgh Address, Washington and implores his army to put their faith in him. A mutiny was proposed because Congress has not paid them as promised. Washington needed to make clear to his generals that there was no option to surrender or turn away to unsettled lands, and that he was with them and on their side in the thick of both war and politics.Next is William Wilberforce’s Abolition Speech to the British parliament in 1789, the apex of a campaign that led to slavery being outlawed across the British Empire.Speeches from the French revolution then follow. First, there is the reaction from the aristocracy in England; a valediction from Edmund Burke, an MP in the British Parliament, on the beauty of Marie Antoinette and his sadness at her passing.Four speeches follow by Maximilien de Robespierre, a foundational member of the French Revolution, who laid down the political philosophy of liberty and the moral law over divinity and customary law. The speeches are filled with a passion for direct democracy and the rule of the people, not the elites.The volume ends with a more measured, but no less impassioned, address by the Irish lawyer and statesman John Curran. It was given in Curran’s defence of Archibald Rowan, who was sentenced to transportation to Australia for his treasonous activities fighting for Irish independence. While unsuccessful, this rallying cry for genuine self-determination and free speech captures the heart of the conflicts that defined the era.

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  Quiet Time with The President -...

  Peter Friedland Friedland, Jill...

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  One Sunday in 2001 ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Peter Friedland received an unexpected call from Nelson Mandela's personal physician. The former president was struggling to hear. Could Peter visit him at home?
  Friedland discovered that Mandela was using antiquated hearing aids and was struggling to maintain them. Soon he became a regular visitor to Mandela's home in Houghton where he experienced the elderly statesman, in the frailty of old age, away from the crowds. He was full of stories and always bearing a lesson.
  But outside Mandela's quiet house, Friedland's life was ricocheting from treating one victim of violent crime to another. On many days he worked as a head and neck trauma surgeon and found himself drawn into the victims' families. When his own family and friends were exposed to violent crime, he was driven to make a life-changing decision.
  In Quiet Time with the President, Friedland also examines the powerful forces that push people away from South Africa and those that pull them back. Telling his famous patient that he was planning to leave the country was insurmountably difficult for Friedland, but Mandela surprised him.
  He'd accept his leaving, but on one condition . . .

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