Even as liberal democracy is broadly accepted as the best form of political order in this era, the threat of fascism looms large. Recent events in US, India, Myanmar etc show how vulnerable we are. Using the lessons from the past and viewing it through a contemporary lens, this book lays out the playbook that fascism uses to thrive.
Melinda French Gates gets a lot of things right with the book. Starting with the acknowledgement that she shares from a position of privilege, she approaches the subjects with intellectual honesty. The book covers a lot of ground – maternal and newborn health, the importance of contraceptives and family planning, education for girls, the unpaid work that women do, and gender inequity in the workplace. It’s an excellent read that is full of anecdotes and insights without being prescriptive.
A very interesting set of perspectives about living and being, referencing the thoughts of everyone from Nietzsche and Dostoevsky to Milton and Jung. I might not agree with a bunch of perspectives, but it did give me an opportunity to question my own value system and beliefs.
Goffman uses the metaphor of a theatrical performance to explore the nuances and interplay that occur in practically every interaction we have. Stages, props, audiences, and all of us actors, working on “impression management”. Not an easy read, but well worth the time.
An amazing book that I recommend to everyone. While the title has “exposing data bias in a world designed for men”, the book does way more than that. In addition to using data and case studies to illustrate that point, it shows how correcting this could lead to better results not just for women, but humanity itself.