Behind Neil Armstrong and John Glenn — behind the many white faces that peppered NASA’s public presence — were a handful of unlikely heroes whose talents in mathematics, engineering, and computing helped secure America’s victory in the epic space race against Russia. In this book review of Hidden Figures, you’ll learn about the black women …
The earth is hot, flat, and crowded — and getting more so with each passing year. We have passed over the edge of global crisis; all that remains now is what to do about it. The only way forward is to embrace environmental technology, and America can either lead the way or be dependent on …
Nelson Mandela was more than a political prisoner and beloved president. He was also a conflicted activist, a barrier-breaking lawyer, and a grieving father. In this book review, you’ll learn how a boy born into an illiterate village grew up to be a galvanizing leader and national hero. You’ll also explore South African history through …
Writer Mary Roach has traveled the world in search of strange and interesting things to write about, and now she explores a topic we often cover with a mental sheet: the experiences of dead bodies. In this book review of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, you’ll learn about the all-important contributions cadavers have …
When the world is in flux and uncertainty reigns, it makes sense to understand exactly what is going awry and what the solution could be. When you’re confronted with the potential downfall of the present day world order and its globalized economic system, there’s not a more beneficial guide than Dambisa Moyo, an internationally renowned …
Karl Marx once remarked that, in history, events happen “first as tragedy, then as farce.” Although he was writing in the nineteenth century, we can still see this observation playing out if we look at more recent events. First, we have a tragic event such as 9/11, followed by a farcical one like the financial …
Did you know that the land you stand on has shaped the society you’re living in? If this sounds a tad abstract, think of it this way: the geographic features and resources around you have strongly influenced your country’s economy, as well as how it has fared in the many wars that have been fought …
In 1978, a black detective at the Colorado Springs Police Department responded to an ad in the local paper for information on the KKK. The investigation that followed was one the most unique and informative intelligence operations in American history. In this book review, hear Detective Ron Stallworth’s extensive work to infiltrate the Ku Klux …
“Feminist” has become an insult, and the idea of feminism is associated with a specific mold. But the real definition is simpler than most people think. Roxane Gay is committed to equality for women, but she doesn’t always fit in with the traditional idea of feminism. She calls herself a bad feminist. In this book …
People often compare the technology-driven disruption of today’s global economy to the Industrial Revolution, but really, the Industrial Revolution pales in comparison to what is happening today. Today’s far-reaching disruption is driven by four forces that are moving quickly to transform markets on a massive scale. In No Ordinary Disruption, three directors of the McKinsey …