We asked members of Staff and Students to volunteer some suggestions for holiday reading. They didn’t have to be subject specific, many are. We’re featuring them on our social media channels over the holidays. Hopefully there is something here that grabs you, ro read yourself or as an idea for a gift. Here is the full list.
Dr Andrew Wroe, Senior Lecturer in American Politics
‘Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man’ by Mary L. Trump.
“This is the best book on President Donald Trump”.
Jess Hudson and Dr Harmonie Toros.
‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’ by Charlie Macksey
This is a beautiful illustrated, heartfelt book filled with characters each of us can relate to in some fashion – it brings the simplicity and complexity of self-care, love and friendship to life.
“This book lives on my bedside table & whenever I feel the need I flick through it, and it always makes me smile – I couldn’t recommend it enough.” – Jess
“It makes me happy and because, just like moles, I love cake.” – Harmonie
Dr Iain Mackenzie
“The Pornography of Meat” by Carol J. Adams to Blow your Mind.
“Looking forward to reading about the intricate weave of patriarchy, capitalism and environmental degradation with my holiday feasts!”
Head of School, Professor Adrian Pabst
Is it Tomorrow Yet? Paradoxes of the Pandemic – Ivan Krastev
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. The fight for a human future at the new frontier of power – Shoshana Zuboff,
The Lonely Century: Coming Together in a World that’s Pulling Apart – Noreena Hertz,
Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism – Anne Case and Angus Deaton,
The New Class War. Saving Democracy from the Metropolitan Elite – Michael Lind,
Greed is Dead: Politics After Individualism – Paul Collier and John Kay,
The False Promise of Liberal Order: Nostalgia, Delusion and the Rise of Trump – Patrick Porter,
The Third Pillar. The Revival of Community in a Polarised World – Raghuram Rajan,
Giulia Grillo’s
‘Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life’ by Marshall B. Rosenberg.
“It is a very easy and equally interesting reading on an alternative way to handle and solve conflicts of any kind. The Templeman library has an e-book version of this book. Below, I also copy the details of the book.”
Dr Frank Grunding, Lecturer in International Relations
‘The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms’ by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Dilara Banu Ozbek’s
‘Would You Kill the Fat Man?’ – David Edmonds’s,
“It is not a subject specific book but a philosophical book, arguing our society’s moral and ethical actions, and sacrifices in the name of greater good.”
Dr Jane O’Mahony
‘The Prime Ministers: Reflections on Leadership from Wilson to Johnson’ by Steve Richards
“It’s a great read, very reasonably priced and he also does a great podcast on Spotify, iTunes called Rock n Roll politics that’s great to listen to”
Ben Turner, Lecturer in Political Theory
Automation and the Future of Work by Aaron Benanav and Cloud Ethics by Louise Amoore.
‘Two of my favourite books published this year, and which students will study on my specialist topics module ‘The Politics of Technology’ next term.’
Dr Raluca Popp, Lecturer in Quantitative Politics
“It is statistics, but in a ‘digestible’ form, ‘More or Less: Behind the Stats’ hosted by Tim Harford.”
Rubrick Bigeon
‘The Plague’ by Albert Camus
“Its not very Christmas-y, more of an ‘in-these-unprecedented-times’ style selection, but one of my faves.”
“I’d like to recommend a board game which helped to pass the time during lockdown.
The game is Risk which was a big hit in the 1960s/1970s and the subtitle gives the hint at the objective (‘the game of global domination’). So an opportunity to pursue great power politics on the kitchen table.