The Browser | FiveBooks

Francis Fukuyama on the Financial Crisis

FiveBooks — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:11:36 +0000

The author of "The End of History" says the financial crisis revealed a great deal about the nature of America’s political and economic system. The shame, he says, is that opportunities to change it are now being ignored

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Simon Winchester on American Stories

FiveBooks — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:04:48 +0000

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Modern America is a story of expanding frontiers, says the bestselling author. He tells us about five novels that shed light on the social history of his adopted homeland, from the late 19th century to the Great Depression

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Timothy Snyder on Dissent

FiveBooks — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:10:27 +0000

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The history professor tells us what today’s dissidents can learn from the experience of Eastern Europe and explains how Václav Havel leaves a lasting legacy of how to challenge the over-mighty

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Mark Kurlansky on Favourite Science Books

FiveBooks — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:31:52 +0000

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The bestselling author of Cod and Salt tells us about five science books he loves – from whales and snails to evolution and string theory – all of which make difficult subjects accessible

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Emrys Westacott on Philosophy and Everyday Living

FiveBooks — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:23:32 +0000

Philosophy is sometimes assumed to be a dry, academic subject but, in reality, is anything but. A philosophy professor tells us how his subject is at least as much about how we live, love and relate to each other

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Will Hutton on Fairness and Inequality

FiveBooks — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:41:56 +0000

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In contemporary capitalist societies, some inequality is inevitable and desirable. But the rewards for the few at the top have soared while the rest have been squeezed. We need a new social contract, says the author and columnist

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Rick Telander on American Football (and its Dark Side)

FiveBooks — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:34:37 +0000

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It’s America’s favourite sport – at its best, a wonderful, thrilling spectacle; at its worst, legitimised violence exacting a terrible price on players. The Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter takes us inside the game's dark heart

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Charles Foster on Living Prudently

FiveBooks — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:27:38 +0000

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Our culture tells us to follow our hearts, but self-deception can wreck lives. The therapist advocates a new model of prudence when it comes to major life choices, and recommends reading that illustrates his advice

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Matthew O’Brien on Las Vegas

FiveBooks — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:03:25 +0000

Vegas tugs on the imagination like few other places. A sin city journalist tells us about innocent beginnings, muckraking and mobsters, and how Vegas has changed through boom and bust

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Amanda Smith on Newspaper Dynasties

FiveBooks — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:32:51 +0000

From the Hearsts to the Murdochs, powerful families have often controlled the newspapers we read. The author, and Kennedy family member, tells us why they do it and where it leads

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