London Reading Club Books of the month
Why Nations Fail: FROM THE WINNERS OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS: The Origins of Power, Prosperity
BY THE NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING ECONOMISTS DARON ACEMOGLU & JAMES A. ROBINSON
Why are some nations more prosperous than others? Why Nations Fail sets out to answer this question, with a compelling and elegantly argued new theory: that it is not down to climate, geography or culture, but because of institutions. Drawing on an extraordinary range of contemporary and historical examples, from ancient Rome through the Tudors to modern-day China, leading academics Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson show that to invest and prosper, people need to know that if they work hard, they can make money and actually keep it - and this means sound institutions that allow virtuous circles of innovation, expansion and peace.
Based on fifteen years of research, and answering the competing arguments of authors ranging from Max Weber to Jeffrey Sachs and Jared Diamond, Acemoglu and Robinson step boldly into the territory of Francis Fukuyama and Ian Morris. They blend economics, politics, history and current affairs to provide a new, powerful and persuasive way of understanding wealth and poverty.
世界上为何有些国家繁荣昌盛，而另一些国家却陷入贫困与衰败？这个问题横跨千年，关乎文明的兴衰，也深刻影响着当下世界的格局。本次读书会，我们将共同阅读《国家为何失败》大家探讨这本书的核心思想。
达龙·阿西莫格鲁（Daron Acemoglu）和詹姆斯·罗宾逊（James A. Robinson）在书中提出了一个重要的观点：国家的命运取决于其政治和经济制度的性质。他们通过大量的历史案例——从古代玛雅文明到现代南北韩，对比不同国家的发展轨迹，揭示了包容性制度如何促进创新与繁荣，而掠夺性制度如何导致贫困与衰落。
Some books recommended by our members
THE END OF SHANG: THE CHANGE FROM YIN TO ZHOU AND THE REBIRTH OF CHINA
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: AN OLD MAN, A YOUNG MAN, AND LIFE'S GREATEST LESSON
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: AN OLD MAN, A YOUNG MAN, AND LIFE'S GREATEST LESSON
Start reading Chinese history with this book! The opening work of "Li Shuo's Chinese History"
This book mainly talks about the emergence and transformation of Chinese civilization. From the emergence of the Xia Dynasty (Erlitou Culture) 4,000 years ago to the demise of the Shang Dynasty and the establishment of the Western Zhou Dynasty 3,000 years ago, the time span is more than 1,000 years.
Recommended by Xuefen
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: AN OLD MAN, A YOUNG MAN, AND LIFE'S GREATEST LESSON
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: AN OLD MAN, A YOUNG MAN, AND LIFE'S GREATEST LESSON
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: AN OLD MAN, A YOUNG MAN, AND LIFE'S GREATEST LESSON
THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON THAT HAS TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF OVER 9 MILLION READERS
Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague? Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, and gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it? For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.
Tuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.
Recommended by Lili
A LIFE ON OUR PLANET: MY WITNESS STATEMENT AND A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: AN OLD MAN, A YOUNG MAN, AND LIFE'S GREATEST LESSON
AMERICA'S LOST CHINESE: THE RISE AND FALL OF A MIGRANT FAMILY DREAM 逐梦彼岸:美墨华人家族百年传奇
In this scientifically informed account of the changes in nature over the last century, award-winning broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough shares a lifetime of wisdom and a hopeful vision for the future.
*Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Science & Technology Book of the Year*
(Amazon UK)
Recommended by Jessica
AMERICA'S LOST CHINESE: THE RISE AND FALL OF A MIGRANT FAMILY DREAM 逐梦彼岸:美墨华人家族百年传奇
AMERICA'S LOST CHINESE: THE RISE AND FALL OF A MIGRANT FAMILY DREAM 逐梦彼岸:美墨华人家族百年传奇
From the 1850s, as the United States pushed west, Chinese migrants met ordinary Americans for the first time. This epic 100-year drama follows the lives of the author’s ancestors, via untouched personal papers. Though no Chinese group had ever gained such influence over a Western population and territory, their home in Mexico would long be forgotten. Today, this family story is reborn: one of nationhood, state racism and a turbulent century; of exile, grit and new ways of belonging. - Hurst Publishers
Recommended by Andrea
LIFE IS LOVELY, DOESN’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT 生活可爱，不必完美
LIFE IS LOVELY, DOESN’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT 生活可爱，不必完美
If we fail to appreciate the ordinary and only value outcomes in our pursuit of lofty goals, we risk hindering our own happiness. In this book, I'll embark on a journey of "embracing imperfection" and discovering love alongside readers. I'll share practical methods to navigate life's distractions through time, energy, and emotion management, making small adjustments that lead to a better version of ourselves. By efficiently managing time, we can lead fulfilling lives, opening ourselves to new perspectives, encounters, and growth. Let's dedicate time and attention to our loved ones, for in this one life we have, these "wastes" are truly indispensable. - Zeng Yanbing (translated)
Recommended by Andrea
FRAGMENTS OF CIVILIZATION IN PORCELAIN 瓷器里的文明碎片
LIFE IS LOVELY, DOESN’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT 生活可爱，不必完美
"Fragments of Civilization in Porcelain" invites us on a journey through a ceramic epic that spans a thousand years. The author, with a language both leisurely and accessible, navigates us through more than a dozen pivotal moments in the history of porcelain development. From the ancient to the modern, from China to the world, the evolution of porcelain serves as a measure of human civilization's progress. It delves deep into the civilization fragments behind porcelain, appreciating the wisdom and talent of craftsmen through the ages, and feeling the exchange and integration of human civilizations.
Recommended by Anli
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World 丝绸之路 一部全新的世界史
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World 丝绸之路 一部全新的世界史
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World 丝绸之路 一部全新的世界史
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER by Peter Frankopan- Far more than a history of the Silk Roads, this book is truly a revelatory new history of the world, promising to destabilize notions of where we come from and where we are headed next. It is a dazzling exploration of the forces that have driven the rise and fall of empires, determined the flow of ideas and goods and are now heralding a new dawn in international affairs.
"A rare book that makes you question your assumptions about the world." --The Wall Street Journal
Recommended by Li Qian
Lessons in Chemistry
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World 丝绸之路 一部全新的世界史
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World 丝绸之路 一部全新的世界史
The most charming, life-enhancing novel I've read in ages. A perfect delight. It's about Elizabeth Zott, a scientist who accidentally becomes a TV cook in the early 1960s. Very strongly recommend * INDIA KNIGHT, SUNDAY TIMES *
Recommended by Jessica
Happier Hour
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World 丝绸之路 一部全新的世界史
Happier Hour
With our schedules overly full, Holmes shares research and easy strategies for not only how to manage, but tap into deeper meaning. Happier Hour is a joyful guide on how to spend hours to live a more satisfying life. —Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play
Recommended by Dan
Siddhartha
NEXUS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFORMATION NETWORKS FROM THE STONE AGE TO AI
Happier Hour
Hermann Hesse's short, elegant novel, echoing the life of the Buddha, has been cherished by readers for decades as an unforgettable spiritual primer. A tender and unforgettable moral allegory, it is an undeniable classic of modern literature.
Recommended by Wang Yi
Britain's Best Political Cartoons 2023
NEXUS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFORMATION NETWORKS FROM THE STONE AGE TO AI
NEXUS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFORMATION NETWORKS FROM THE STONE AGE TO AI
Bringing much-needed humour to another chaotic year in politics, Britain's Best Political Cartoons 2023 offers a tour of the most high-profile, notorious and absurd news stories of the year, as seen through the eyes of our nation's finest satirists.
Recommended by club member Shirley
NEXUS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFORMATION NETWORKS FROM THE STONE AGE TO AI
NEXUS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFORMATION NETWORKS FROM THE STONE AGE TO AI
NEXUS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFORMATION NETWORKS FROM THE STONE AGE TO AI
The story of how information networks have made, and unmade, our world from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Sapiens Stories brought us together.Books spread our ideas – and our mythologies.The internet promised infinite knowledge.The algorithm learned our secrets – and then turned us against each other.What will AI do?NEXUS is the thrilling account of how we arrived at this moment, and the urgent choices we must now make to survive – and to thrive.(Amazon UK)
Recommended by Jialu Wang
ATLAS OF THE HEART: MAPPING MEANINGFUL CONNECTION AND THE LANGUAGE OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE
ATLAS OF THE HEART: MAPPING MEANINGFUL CONNECTION AND THE LANGUAGE OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE
ATLAS OF THE HEART: MAPPING MEANINGFUL CONNECTION AND THE LANGUAGE OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE
In Atlas of the Heart, Brown takes us on a journey through 87 of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. As she maps the necessary skills and lays out an actionable framework for meaningful connection, she gives us the language and tools to access a universe of new choices and second chances - a universe where we can share and steward the stories of our bravest and most heart-breaking moments with one another in a way that builds connection.
Recommended by Lili
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY: TIMELESS LESSONS ON WEALTH, GREED, AND HAPPINESS
ATLAS OF THE HEART: MAPPING MEANINGFUL CONNECTION AND THE LANGUAGE OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE
ATLAS OF THE HEART: MAPPING MEANINGFUL CONNECTION AND THE LANGUAGE OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE
Doing well with money isn’t necessarily about what you know. It’s about how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people.
In The Psychology of Money, award-winning author Morgan Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money and teaches you how to make better sense of one of life’s most important topics.
©2020 Harriman House (P)2020 Harriman House
Recommended by Lili
The Etymologicon
ATLAS OF THE HEART: MAPPING MEANINGFUL CONNECTION AND THE LANGUAGE OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE
The Etymologicon
THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER The Etymologicon is an occasionally ribald, frequently witty and unerringly erudite guided tour of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language. What is the actual connection between disgruntled and gruntled? What links church organs to organised crime, California to the Caliphate, or brackets to codpieces? Mark Forsyth s riotous celebration of the idiosyncratic and sometimes absurd connections between words isa classic of its kind: a mine of fascinating information and a must-read for word-lovers everywhere. (Amazon UK）
Recommended by Lisa