Other books that might interest you

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  Crusoe Castaways and Shipwrecks...

  Mike Rendell

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  “Fascinating” stories of real-life people and events that inspired the author of the classic adventure novel Robinson Crusoe (Historical Novel Society).   This book looks at some of the stories that inspired Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe—stories of bravery, determination, and good fortune, as well as human negligence, sheer stupidity, and bad luck. In addition to an overview of Defoe’s life and his monumentally successful novel, it also considers some of the reasons why people found themselves cast away—as a result of being wrecked, abandoned as a punishment, or marooned by pirates, or even out of deliberate choice.   Major hurricanes in the eighteenth century causing huge damage to shipping and loss of life are also covered, along with catastrophes when ships were lost, and astonishing tales of survival in the face of adversity—down in the Falklands, in the Caribbean, and off the coast of Australia. It looks at how being cast away brings out the best in some—and in others the very worst. And it examines perhaps the most astonishing story of them all—sixty slaves abandoned on a desolate treeless island in the Indian Ocean and left there for fifteen years, some of whom survived against all odds.

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  Equality and Efficiency: Book...

  Briefly Summaries

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  This is a concise summary and analysis of 
  Equality and Efficiency, by Arthur M. Okun.
  It is not the original book and is not affiliated with or endorsed by 
  Arthur M. Okun.
  Ideal those seeking a quick and insightful overview.
   
  "Equality and Efficiency: The Big Tradeoff" explores the delicate balance between economic equality and efficiency, a tension that shapes policy decisions and societal outcomes. Through clear, thought-provoking analysis, the book examines how efforts to achieve fairness often come at the cost of productivity and growth, and vice versa. This accessible exploration dives into key economic concepts, social trade-offs, and the challenges of designing systems that promote both justice and prosperity, making it an essential read for those interested in economics, public policy, and social justice.

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  My Soul Look Back in Wonder -...

  Geneva Napoleon Smitherman

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  This is the story of Dr. Geneva Smitherman, aka "Dr. G," the pioneering linguist often referred to as the "Queen of Black Language." In a series of narrative essays, Dr. G writes eloquently and powerfully about the role of language in social transformation and the academic, intellectual, linguistic, and societal debates that shaped her groundbreaking work as a Black Studies O.G. and a Womanist scholar-activist of African American Language. 
   
   
   
  These eleven essays narrate the development of Dr. G's race, gender, class, and linguistic consciousness as a member of the Black Power Generation of the 1960s and 70s. In My Soul Look Back In Wonder, Dr. G links the personal to the professional and the political, situating the struggles, and successes, of a Black woman in the Academy within the historical experiences and development of her people. 
   
   
   
  As Dr. G enters her eighth decade, in this Black Lives Matter historical moment, she seeks to share the meaning and purpose of a life of study and struggle and its significance for all those who seek racial and social justice today.

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  Political Philosophy - Ideas and...

  Hector Davidson

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  Political philosophy plays a central role in the development of societies, offering profound insights into the principles and ideas that shape governance and human relations. At its core, political philosophy seeks to understand the fundamental questions of power, authority, justice, and the rights of individuals within a collective. By examining these issues, political philosophy provides a framework for interpreting and evaluating the structures that govern our lives, from the most intimate social arrangements to the global political order. It is through political philosophy that we come to grips with the nature of justice, equality, freedom, and the role of the state in promoting the common good. 
  In every society, political philosophy serves as a critical lens for understanding the legitimacy of authority and the relationship between the individual and the state. Whether through the ideas of ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle or the modern theorists such as Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, the study of political philosophy allows us to explore the moral and practical foundations of governance. These thinkers sought answers to questions that remain relevant today: What is the rightful role of the government? What are the limits of state power? How can societies balance the competing interests of freedom, equality, and social order? 
  Moreover, political philosophy is essential for the functioning of a healthy democracy. By engaging with political ideas and questioning the established norms, political philosophers encourage critical thinking and the evaluation of political systems. They provide the intellectual tools for assessing the values that underlie our laws, policies, and political institutions. Political philosophy also serves as a guide for navigating complex moral dilemmas in governance, offering insights into how we can create a just society where the rights of individuals are respected while promoting the collective well-being.

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  Agents of Influence - How the...

  Mark Hollingsworth

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  There's no such thing as a former KGB man. 
   
   
   
  Agents of Influence reveals the secret history of an intelligence agency gone out of control, accountable to no one but itself and intent on subverting Western politics on a near-inconceivable scale. In 1985, 1,300 KGB officers were stationed in the USA. The FBI only had 350 counter-intelligence officers. Since the early days of the Cold War, the KGB seduced parliamentarians and diplomats, infiltrated the highest echelons of the Civil Service, and planted fake news in papers across the world. 
   
   
   
  More disturbingly, it never stopped. Putin is a KGB man through and through. Journalist Mark Hollingworth reveals how disinformation, kompromat and secret surveillance continue to play key roles in Russia's war with Ukraine. It seems frighteningly easy to destabilize Western democracy.

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  The Grunts of Wrath - A Memoir

  Ronny Bruce

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  Combat diaries from elite operators and commanding officers dominate the space. But what happens when regulars face the fire? 
   
   
   
  Ronny Bruce is a renaissance man: philosopher, drifter, Gen X rock 'n' roller, and gentleman. At thirty-two, divorced and burnt-out with the burbs, Ronny bails on his teaching career and seeks army infantry. It's no joke when boot camp is mandatory since his marine corps' service ended ten years beforehand. Assigned to Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Ronny's platoon hunts an Afghan foe who's never surrendered. Half collapse from wounds. 
   
   
   
  Ronny's decade-long postwar journey examines victory and failure. Six men expire before thirty-five as a result of four suicides, one unexplained death, and murder. Labels for the living include felon, vagrant, drunk, addict, depressed, and suicidal. Ronny checks some boxes. Graduate, businessman, engineer, teacher, accountant, and rich describes other paths. Ronny checks some of those too. 
   
   
   
  War through the eyes of this offbeat ATLien provides explosive payoffs that get smothered by each page—answering an age-old question: what drives warriors over the edge?

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