Bertrand Russell
An early warning of the threats posed by future technology.
Icarus
Author: Jelte
Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action
Elinor Ostrom
A classic formal foundation to understanding the reasons for the success or failure of institutions.
Bowling Alone
Robert Putnam
An essential read for anyone concerned about social transformations impacting western society.
Theory of the Leisure Class
Thorsten Veblen
The Scramble for Africa
Thomas Pakenham
A comprehensive treatment of the European colonization of Africa.
The Revolution Betrayed
Leon Trotsky
A depressing account of the social, political and economic evolution of the post-Lenin Soviet Union. A convincing case is made that true Communism was never achieved in the U.S.S.R., and judgement of its’ validity as a political and economic system should be sought elsewhere.
Orientalism
Edward Said
A classic and humbling dissection of European attitudes towards the
Middle East.
The Justice of Roosting Chickens
Ward Churchill
An astoundingly courageous look at U.S. exploitation on both the domestic and foreign fronts.
Guns, Germs and Steel
Jared Diamond
A relatively comprehensive, but ultimately incomplete, look at the roots of European technological, military and political dominance.
The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia
Peter Hopkirk
Important background material for anyone wanting to understand the historical context of today’s conflicts in high Central Asia.