Present Shock
Douglas Rushkoff
A groundbreaking exploration of how our always-on, real-time existence has changed the way we live, learn, and interact, leaving us disoriented and struggling to cope with the present. Discover how to navigate this new reality and reclaim control of your time and attention.
Progress
Johan Norberg
Contrary to popular belief, humanity has made unprecedented progress in recent decades. This book explores ten key areas, including food, sanitation, life expectancy, and equality, revealing how global living standards have improved dramatically. It serves as a warning against complacency, urging us to remember the triumphs of human innovation and the importance of individual freedoms in driving further progress.
Project Animal Farm
Sonia Faruqi
An investment banker's journey into the world of farming reveals the hidden truths about our food system. From organic dairy farms to artificial insemination, this book uncovers the realities of modern agriculture and its impact on animals and our planet.
Purity and Danger
Mary Douglas
A groundbreaking exploration of the concepts of purity, pollution, and taboo across cultures. Mary Douglas delves into the symbolic meanings behind what societies deem clean and unclean, revealing how these classifications reflect and reinforce social structures and beliefs. A fascinating journey into the heart of cultural order and the anxieties that challenge it.
Rational Ritual
Michael Suk-Young Chwe
An exploration of how individuals coordinate their actions, focusing on the role of common knowledge and public rituals in solving coordination problems. It examines ceremonies, rallies, media events, and social networks, drawing connections between diverse social phenomena and scholarly traditions.
Reading the Comments
Joseph M. Reagle
An exploration into the world of online comments, from the informative to the hateful, and the ways they shape our interactions and perceptions on the web. Discover the hidden dynamics of manipulation, feedback, and the search for authentic connection in the digital age.
Retromania
Simon Reynolds
A fascinating exploration of pop culture's obsession with its own past. From band reunions and reissues to remakes and revivals, Simon Reynolds delves into the phenomenon of retromania, questioning whether nostalgia is hindering cultural progress or simply a reflection of a stagnant present.
Selfie: How We Became So Self-Obsessed and What It's Doing To Us
Will Storr
An exploration of the origins of our obsession with the perfect self. Award-winning journalist Will Storr takes us on a journey across continents and centuries to explore the origins of this notion of the perfect self that torments so many of us. Full of thrilling and unexpected connections among history, psychology, economics, neuroscience, and more, Selfie is an unforgettable book that makes sense of who we have become.