The World's Best Book Summaries
What was Title 42? Without Title 42, what will the US-Mexico border look like? Will the border be overrun with migrants? Title 42 was a controversial, pandemic-era public health order that banned migrants from claiming asylum at the US-Mexico border. It also allowed US agents to rapidly expel them from the country, claiming a risk to public health. Continue reading to learn how effective Title 42 was and what its expiration means for the future.
How did the Opium Wars impact the US? What opened up China to foreign trade and missionaries? Has the relationship between the US and China ever been good? Hostility between the US and China has been growing for over a decade, eroding the wary but pragmatic relationship of years past. In The Avoidable War, Kevin Rudd explains that today’s situation is best understood in its historical context. Continue reading for an illuminating history of US-China relations.
How did China’s policies change when Xi Jinping came to power? What’s Xi’s vision for China? According to Australian diplomat Kevin Rudd, Xi Jinping has serious goals in mind for China. They include maintaining the power of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), unifying what they perceive as their territory, and increasing their global influence. Keep reading to learn about each of these priorities and the strategies that Xi is using to achieve them.
How is the decline of religion in America affecting the political parties? How do some members of Congress exploit religion? Churches are closing across America and each generation is becoming less religious than the last. Shockingly, the trend isn’t having the effect on politics that most would expect. In this article, we’ll examine what this could mean for the political future of America.
Should AI be regulated? What are experts’ concerns about AI? Is AI regulation even possible? A growing number of experts are calling for regulation of advanced AI models, saying the technology poses an existential threat to humanity if left to develop unchecked. However, there’s no clear consensus on who should regulate AI or exactly what the process should look like. Here are some possible approaches in which the US government is involved fully, in part, or not at all.
What’s behind the latest FIFA controversy? What are the specific issues with women’s soccer teams? As the FIFA Women’s World Cup approaches, players are embroiled in battles and controversies with officials around equal rights and equal treatment. From clashes over LGBTQ+ rights to the pursuit of equal pay, women’s soccer has been shaken by conflict. Read on to discover some of the recent issues and how they might affect the upcoming World Cup.
How does society change? What’s the biggest factor? Is societal change predictable? Writing in the 1990s, James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg made major predictions about society’s future. They base them on what they call “megapolitics,” the theory that forms of government and economies are dictated mostly by circumstances, such as climate and the resources that are available. Keep reading to understand Davidson and Rees-Mogg’s theory of how society changes.
If nations ceased to exist, what would take their place? How could such a societal change happen? James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg believe that technological developments will profoundly impact social structures in the 21st century. Circumstances will favor small, efficient organizations over large ones. Ultimately, we’ll see the end of nation-states as they’re replaced by city-states and individuals. Read more to understand why Davidson and Rees-Mogg expect nation-states and national governments to decline and ultimately disappear.
What’s the future of civilization? How will society be structured? James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg contend that, as nation-states decline in the 21st century, millions of micro-sovereignties will rise to take their place. These could be city-states or even individual estates where a wealthy person gets to decide what laws apply to her own property. Keep reading to learn Davidson and Rees-Mogg’s predictions for the future of civilization and the road they believe we’ll take to get there.
What is Rachel Maddow’s book Blowout about? What shocking revelations does she share? In Blowout, journalist and MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow aims to expose the corruption and exploitation underlying the oil and gas industry. Ultimately, she argues that only full transparency and strict environmental regulation can protect the planet from devastating accidents and corporate greed. Here’s an overview of the book Blowout, including Maddow’s advice for the world.