Archive for July 27th, 2010
Vacation Reading
Just two quick notes about my vacation reading – vacation, that is when I’m not finishing manuscripts:
1. Peter Baldwin: “The Narcissism of Minor Differences”
US historian with European links goes mediaeval on tales of American exceptionalism and whatever Europeans have claimed in their favour in a frenzy of (easily accessible) statistics. If it wasn’t for the size of the country and the level of GDP (yes, the Americans are wealthier than we are), Martians would think that the Americans were sort-of-Europeans.
Read it before (or rather: instead of) your newspaper columnist.
Bonus info: The Swedes have guns. And they are not afraid to use them. The NRA would love Sweden.
2. Pranab Bardhan: “Awakening Giants. Feet of Clay”
US-Indian economist looks at emerging economies and helps you sort out facts from globalisation-babble. 160 pages. And no: You do not have to be an economist to get the picture.