Hayek was a clear-minded thinker who was pre-occupied with departures from liberalism (with a small ‘l’, that is sensu 19th Century). He famously debunked the notion that fascism is a natural end-point of capitalism, holding rather than fascism is a form of socialism.

Thinking about institutional responses to anthropogenic climate change, I was struck today by the following paragraph in one of Hayek’s most famous contributions:

“Nor can certain harmful effects of deforestation, or of some methods of farming, or of the smoke and noise of factories, be confined to the owner of the property in question or to those who are willing to submit to the damage for an agreed compensation. In such instances we must find some substitute for the regulation by the price mechanism.” – F. A. von Hayek (1944) ‘The Road to Serfdom’

James Rebanks (2015)

I don’t know what it is about Brits and nature writing … but they punch above their weight. Instant classic.

Sarah Kendzior (2020)

There are surprisingly few rigorous summaries of Trump’s rise to Powah. This is one of them.

Mark & Dalia Owens (1984)

Brim full of nostalgia.

Sante Poromaa (2019)

I liked the beginning.

Grayson Perry (2016)

Love it.

Nicholas Shaxson (2011)

I know I write this about a lot of books … but this too is a must-read. For anyone interested in the global flows of finance, not to mention questions around what processes & dynamics keep poor countries poor.

Michiko Kakutani (2018)

There’s a lot of choice out there when it comes to books dealing with the ‘post-Truth’ era (which is to say, the present one). This particular one ranks right up there, along with Snyder, Holmes and Krastev.

Ian Urbina (2019)

Great book. Everyone should read it!

Stephen Holmes & Ivan Krastev (2020)

One the most rigorous and coherent cases for why & how the current anti-liberal backlash started and endures.  Quite repetitive but worth it.