Image by PactoVisual from Pixabay
To understand the world in a much more informed manner, here are six books you should definitely read in 2020:
Who Rules the World? by Noam Chomsky
The USA is by far the most powerful country at this moment in time and it is likely to remain this way for at least another few decades. If you want to know how the USA maintains its domination over other countries then this book is a must read.
It outlines some of the shady and questionable techniques the U.S. and its Western allies have used to dominate vast swathes of the world. More crucially, it answers the question Who Rules the World?
National Populism: The Revolt Against Liberal Democracy by Roger Eatwell and Matthew Goodwin
For the past three years, Remainers have tried to fight back against Brexit because of the damage it is likely to cause to the country. While their arguments were strong, their approach was completely wrong. It never seemed like Remainers were ever going to defeat Brexit because most of them did not comprehend what motivated the public to vote for it in the first place. All they ever relied on were assumptions and superficial numbers.
With a super majority for Boris Johnson, Remainers should now take a brake from campaigning and read Roger Eatwell and Matthew Goodwin’s book on what is causing national populism. It will provide them with vital information and hard facts, as opposed to arrogant assumptions, about the current mood of the public.
The New Koreans by Michael Breen
South Korean music has become incredibly famous in the past few years. You can go to any country in the world and you will be sure to find avid and loyal fans of South Korean music. In fact, many of their popular bands like BTS and BLACKPINK are household names even in the furthest of places.
Therefore, we should aim to understand a bit more about the country, culture and society that has produced legendary South Korean artists and musicians.
The best place to start learning about South Korea is definitely by reading Michael Breen’s book The New Koreans. The book entails useful information about the country’s history, economics and its politics.
Inglorious Empire: What the British did to India by Shashi Tharoor
Far too many British people are ignorant about their country’s historical crimes in India and elsewhere. Ignorance about colonial history is nothing unique about the British because many other modern European nations have also forgotten the tyranny their countries bestowed on other countries in the name of salvation.
However, what remains uniquely disturbing about British colonialism in India and elsewhere is that the British public is still proud of it, as illustrated in the below tweet.
This pride is most probably based on a lack of knowledge about how horrible and tyrannical the British Empire actual was. So, if anyone in your social and professional circle boasts about how benevolent the British Empire was then just gift them Shashi Tharoor’s book because it documents countless crimes the British state committed in India.
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Continuing with the theme of ignorance, far too many people think that racism is a thing of the past and that everyone has an equal chance of success in 21st Century Britain. Nothing, and I repeat, nothing could be further from the truth.
In spite of ongoing racism, many commentators failed to accurately and concisely express how it is still continues to function in contemporary society.
But Reni Eddo-Lodge’s book takes complex ideas and translates them into everyday language and illustrates to its readers how racism still continues to perversely impact the lives of millions of people.
Benazir Bhutto: Daughter of the East – An Autobiography
The late Benazir Bhutto was the first female prime minister of Pakistan as well as the first female head of government of any Muslim country. While she was born in a privileged family, her life was filled with obstacles and difficulties. In fact, some of the calamities were so severe that you’re certainly bound to tear up while reading certain parts of Benazir Bhutto’s autobiography.
On the plus side, her autobiography also exhibits strength in the face of adversity, light amidst darkness and hope in the face of pessimism.
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Muhammed Raza Hussain is an award-winning writer: the Extra-Mile winner of the News Quest Young Reporter Scheme 2014 and the recipient of the ‘Talent for Writing’ certificate by Young Writers. Twitter @MuhammedRaza786 | Instagram: @M.Raza.H
