Current Affairs Books: How To Save Yourself Time & Money....

[Conchis]

Don't bother with 'em.

Any book on the following subjects:

Brexit
The (ongoing) world financial crisis, 2007-
Cover-ups on highly placed criminals/paedophiles
Donald Trump and his presidency

can safely be left on the shelf. Why? Because they represent purely speculative enquiries into current events and, as such, are filled with opinion, gossip and conjecture. Crucially, they can't tell you how the story ends and, consequently, cannot offer analysis of any value - not that any of them attempt that.

This also applies to the middle-aged Greek male model who wrote a book about explaining economics to his daughter (or something).

Keep your wallet cool and use your time wisely.

That's my wisdom for 2019! :)

[Joseph K]

This also applies to the middle-aged Greek male model who wrote a book about explaining economics to his daughter (or something).

Have you read it? I highly recommend it, along with David Harvey's The Enigma of Capital.

[Padraig]

Don't bother with any book on:
Donald Trump and his presidency.

They are filled with opinion, gossip and conjecture.

I've bought several this year - Wolf, Crum, Comey, Clinton, Harding, Woodward - generally better than most thrillers - relentless and convincing. And I've just added Seth Abramson and Bernie Sanders. I like to read all sides!

[Conchis]

I've bought several this year - Wolf, Crum, Comey, Clinton, Harding, Woodward - generally better than most thrillers - relentless and convincing. And I've just added Seth Abramson and Bernie Sanders. I like to read all sides!

But it's no different from reading a gossip column. These are not books about politics - a lot of them are just politics 'fan fiction'.

There does seem to be a Trump dividend, though - all the mediocrities whom Trump has either fired or publicly gored now look 'good'. And the biggest 'Trump dividender' is surely his mediocre predecessor in office.

[jayne lee wilson]

Don't bother with 'em.

Any book on the following subjects:

Brexit
The (ongoing) world financial crisis, 2007-
Cover-ups on highly placed criminals/paedophiles
Donald Trump and his presidency

can safely be left on the shelf. Why? Because they represent purely speculative enquiries into current events and, as such, are filled with opinion, gossip and conjecture. Crucially, they can't tell you how the story ends and, consequently, cannot offer analysis of any value - not that any of them attempt that.

This also applies to the middle-aged Greek male model who wrote a book about explaining economics to his daughter (or something).

Keep your wallet cool and use your time wisely.

That's my wisdom for 2019! :)

Nothing speculative about this.....

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/23/opinion/trumps-lies.html

Or this...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44856992

[Conchis]

Nothing speculative about this.....

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/23/opinion/trumps-lies.html

Or this...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44856992

I know, but that stuff is freely available online - why buy a book when you can have all that for free?

For the same reason, I don't tend to bother with the memoirs of current politicians: they are basically worthless self-justification tomes.

[jayne lee wilson]

I know, but that stuff is freely available online - why buy a book when you can have all that for free?

For the same reason, I don't tend to bother with the memoirs of current politicians: they are basically worthless self-justification tomes.

BTW.... no male model (do I detect a certain jealousy there...?) - a former Greek Finance minister of acute articulate intelligence, who needs to be listened to, by whatever tribe to which you pledge allegiance...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Talking-Daughter-About-Economy-Capitalism/dp/1847924441/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546016165&sr=8-1&keywords=yannis+varoufakis

[Serial_Apologist]

BTW.... no male model (do I detect a certain jealousy there...?) - a former Greek Finance minister of acute articulate intelligence, who needs to be listened to, by whatever tribe to which you pledge allegiance...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Talking-Dau...nis+varoufakis

Indeed - if only there were British political commentators of equal perspicacity, articulacy in the English language, and not least, charm, at this present much-needed time.

[Pianorak]

Worthwhile reading: Yanis Varoufakis: Adults In The Room: My Battle With Europe’s Deep Establishment

[Joseph K]

Indeed - if only there were British political commentators of equal perspicacity, articulacy in the English language, and not least, charm, at this present much-needed time.

BTW.... no male model (do I detect a certain jealousy there...?) - a former Greek Finance minister of acute articulate intelligence, who needs to be listened to, by whatever tribe to which you pledge allegiance...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Talking-Dau...nis+varoufakis

[Conchis]

Indeed - if only there were British political commentators of equal perspicacity, articulacy in the English language, and not least, charm, at this present much-needed time.

But Mr. Varoufakis did have a considerable presence in Britain, and it made no difference - the trousered apes that comprise the vast part of the British electorate still voted for Brexit.


If there was a 'British Varoufakis', he'd be ignored, or ridiculed. But that's Britain for you!