Title search results
Showing 1 - 20 of 24918 items
Plutocrats: The rise of the new global super-rich and the fall of everyone else
By Chrystia Freeland. 2012
There has always been some gap between rich and poor in this country, but in the last few decades what…
it means to be rich has changed dramatically. Alarmingly, the greatest income gap is not between the 1 percent and the 99 percent, but within the wealthiest 1 percent of our nation-as the merely wealthy are left behind by the rapidly expanding fortunes of the new global super-rich. Forget the 1 percent; Plutocrats proves that it is the wealthiest 0.1 percent who are outpacing the rest of us at break-neck speed.What's changed is more than numbers. Today, most colossal fortunes are new, not inherited-amassed by perceptive businessmen who see themselves as deserving victors in a cut-throat international competition. As a transglobal class of successful professionals, today's self-made oligarchs often feel they have more in common with one another than with their countrymen back home. Bringing together the economics and psychology of these new super-rich, Plutocrats puts us inside a league very much of its own, with its own rules.The closest mirror to our own time is the late nineteenth century Gilded Age-the era of powerful 'robber barons' like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. Then as now, emerging markets and innovative technologies collided to produce unprecedented wealth for more people than ever in human history. Yet those at the very top benefited far more than others-and from this pinnacle they exercised immense and unchecked power in their countries. Today's closest analogue to these robber barons can be found in the turbulent economies of India, Brazil, and China, all home to ferocious market competition and political turmoil. But wealth, corruption, and populism are no longer constrained by national borders, so this new Gilded Age is already transforming the economics of the West as well. Plutocrats demonstrates how social upheavals generated by the first Gilded Age may pale in comparison to what is in store for us, as the wealth of the entire globalized world is concentrated in fewer and fewer hands.Cracking open the tight-knit world of the new global super-rich is Chrystia Freeland, an acclaimed business journalist who has spent nearly two decades reporting on the new transglobal elite. She parses an internal Citigroup memo that urges clients to design portfolios around the international "Plutonomy" and not the national "rest"; follows Russian, Mexican, and Indian oligarchs during the privatization boom as they manipulate the levers of power to commandeer their local economies; breaks down the gender divide between the vast female-managed 'middle class' and the world's one thousand billionaires; shows how, by controlling both the economic and political institutions of their nation, the richest members of China's National People's Congress have amassed more wealth than every branch of American government combined-the president, his cabinet, the justices of the Supreme Court, and both houses of Congress.Though the results can be shocking, Freeland dissects the lives of the world's wealthiest individuals with empathy, intelligence, and deep insight. Intelligently written, powerfully researched, and propelled by fascinating original interviews with the plutocrats themselves, Plutocrats is a tour-de-force of social and economic history, and the definitive examination of inequality in our time
From legendary investor Ray Dalio, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Principles , who has spent half a…
century studying global economies and markets, Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order examines history's most turbulent economic and political periods to reveal why the times ahead will likely be radically different from those we've experienced in our lifetimes—but similar to those that have happened many times before. A few years ago, Ray Dalio noticed a confluence of political and economic conditions he hadn't encountered before. They included huge debts and zero or near-zero interest rates that led to massive printing of money in the world's three major reserve currencies; big political and social conflicts within countries, especially the US, due to the largest wealth, political, and values disparities in more than 100 years; and the rising of a world power (China) to challenge the existing world power (US) and the existing world order. The last time that this confluence occurred was between 1930 and 1945. This realization sent Dalio on a search for the repeating patterns and cause/effect relationships underlying all major changes in wealth and power over the last 500 years. In this remarkable and timely addition to his Principles series, Dalio brings readers along for his study of the major empires—including the Dutch, the British, and the American—putting into perspective the "Big Cycle" that has driven the successes and failures of all the world's major countries throughout history. He reveals the timeless and universal forces behind these shifts and uses them to look into the future, offering practical principles for positioning oneself for what's ahead
Justice is: A guide for young truth seekers
By Preet Bharara. 2022
Introduce the concept of justice to young people with this picture book by New York Times bestselling author of Doing…
Justice, Preet Bharara. In clear and simple language, Preet Bharara, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, explains what justice is and what it takes to achieve it for even the youngest readers. Drawing on examples of historic justice seekers whose deeds best demonstrate those attributes by asking hard questions, keeping an open mind, defending the truth, and using their voices and their bodies to fight injustice—such as Ida B. Wells, John Lewis, Malala Yousafzai, and many others, this timely book is perfect for exploring the concept of justice. Inspire young readers to fight for justice in their world and to remain hopeful that by standing together, it can triumph
The quest: energy, security and the remaking of the modern world
By Daniel Yergin. 2011
The author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power (DB 32424) examines…
the worldwide energy crisis. Investigates increasing energy demands, environmental concerns, and the development of alternative and renewable resources. Bestseller. 2011
God is not one: the eight rival religions that run the world--and why their differences matter
By Stephen R. Prothero. 2010
Author of Religious Literacy (DB 64243) posits that religion is more than a private matter and affects the world socially,…
economically, politically, and militarily--as a force for both good and evil. Discusses the major religions, their traditions, and the importance of the differences among them. 2010
The ultimate dinopedia: the most complete dinosaur reference ever (National geographic kids)
By Franco Tempesta, Don Lessem. 2010
Guide provides information on nearly a hundred dinosaurs--what they ate (plants or meat), where they lived (from the Arctic to…
the jungle), ways they behaved (some climbed trees) and evolved, and even what color some of them were. Includes quick facts on hundreds of others. For grades 3-6. 2010
Volcano: the eruption and healing of Mount St. Helens
By Patricia Lauber. 1993
Recounts the transformation of Mount St. Helens from a forested mountain to a desolate blast zone after its explosion on…
March 27, 1980. Discusses the earthquakes and mud flows that occurred and the gradual return of plants, insects, and animals. For grades 4-7. Newbery Honor Book. 1986
Back to work: why we need smart government for a strong economy
By Bill Clinton. 2011
In the wake of the 2010 elections, former U.S. president Clinton explains his views of what has happened to America…
in the past thirty years and why our political system has not met the challenges facing our nation. Provides forty-six specific proposals to restore economic growth. Bestseller. 2011
Clark Howard's living large in lean times: 250+ ways to buy smarter, spend smarter, and save money
By Clark Howard, Mark Meltzer, Theo Thimou. 2011
Television and radio consumer advocate's guide to saving money offers advice on range of topics from cars to homes to…
travel. The first chapter covers changes that could have immediate effects on personal finances. Other chapters include tips for buying utilities, insurance, mortgages, health care, and education. Bestseller. 2011
The wealth cure: putting money in its place
By Hill Harper. 2011
Actor and author of Letters to a Young Brother (DB 62749) and Letters to a Young Sister (DB 70387) describes…
his cancer diagnosis, which led him to examine the meaning of happiness. Uses anecdotes to illustrate advice on building a financial foundation while resisting materialism. 2011
Confidence men: Wall Street, Washington, and the education of a president
By Ron Suskind. 2011
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist explores President Obama's handling of the country's economic crisis. Covers Obama's 2008 election, his choice of advisers,…
the fight over a health-care plan, and the financial reforms his administration instituted. Portrays the Obama White House as often dysfunctional and in disarray. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2011
The 10 best of everything national parks: 800 top picks from coast to coast
By National Geographic. 2011
For this guide to exploring America's National Parks, National Geographic Society editors consulted nature writers and outdoor enthusiasts to identify…
eighty areas of interest--such as natural wonders, wildlife, history, day hikes, and campgrounds, cuisine--and recommend the ten best parks in each category. 2011
The best advice I ever got: lessons from extraordinary lives
By Katie Couric. 2011
News anchor shares advice and anecdotes she has collected from nearly one hundred notable personalities, including Maya Angelou, Beyoncé, Michael…
Bloomberg, Drew Brees, Bill Clinton, and Suze Orman. Contributors and Couric herself discuss courage, hard work, tenacity, and other components of success. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2011
Reckles$ endangerment: how outsized ambition, greed, and corruption led to economic armageddon
By Gretchen Morgenson, Joshua Rosner. 2011
Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times business journalist Morgenson and financial analyst Rosner investigate the 2008 financial meltdown. They assert that…
government regulators and public agencies were complicit in creating the circumstances for the economic crisis and name individuals they consider to be the key players. Bestseller. 2011
Mother of invention: How good ideas get ignored in an economy built for men
By Katrine Marçal. 2021
An illuminating and maddening examination of how gender bias has skewed innovation, technology, history and work.It all starts with a…
rolling suitcase. The wheel was invented some 5,000 years ago, and the modern suitcase in the mid-nineteenth century, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that someone successfully married the two. What was the hold up? For writer and journalist Katrine Marçal, the answer is both shocking and simple: because "real men" carried their bags, no matter how heavy. There were rolling suitcases before the '70s, but they were marketed as a niche product for (the presumably few) women travelling alone, and the wheeled suitcase wasn't "invented" until it was no longer threatening to masculinity. Mother of Invention draws on this example and many others, from electric cars to tech billionaires, to show how gender bias stifles the economy and holds us back. Our traditional notions about men and women have delayed innovations, sometimes by hundreds of years, and have distorted our understanding of our history. While we talk about the Iron Age and the Bronze Age, we might as well talk about the Ceramic Age or the Flax Age, since these technologies were just as important. But inventions associated with women are not considered to be technology in the same way. Katrine Marçal’s Mother of Invention is a fascinating examination of business, technology, and innovation through a feminist lens. Marçal takes us on a tour of the global economy, arguing that gendered assumptions dictate which businesses get funding, how we value work, and how we trace human progress. And it carries a powerful message: If we upend our biases, we can unleash our full potential, tackling climate change and wielding technology to become more human, rather than less.
How to age in place: planning for a happy, independent, and financially secure retirement
By Mary A. Languirand, Robert F. Bornstein. 2013
Clinical psychologists' guide to postretirement living emphasizes staying in one's home. They offer advice on financial planning, universal home design,…
transportation issues, health care, and accessibility of services, and provide checklists and worksheets. 2013
Turning the tables: restaurants and the rise of the American middle class, 1880-1920
By Andrew P. Haley. 2011
Cultural historian examines connections between the development of American restaurants in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and the…
evolution of the middle class. Discusses menus, service to women, and the gradual acceptance of various ethnic foods. 2011
Federal benefits for veterans, dependents and survivors: 2012 edition
By United States, Department of Veteran Affairs. 2011
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 2012 summary of benefits provided to eligible individuals. Covers health care, service-related disabilities, pensions, education…
and training, home loans, life insurance, burial and memorial benefits, transition assistance, and dependents and survivors. 2012
American tapestry: the story of the black, white, and multiracial ancestors of Michelle Obama
By Rachel L. Swarns. 2012
New York Times reporter presents research on First Lady Michelle Obama's roots, beginning in 1850s Georgia with enslaved teenager Melvinia--Obama's…
great-great-great-grandmother--and her owner, Henry Wells Shields. Traces the family tree through five generations to the White House. 2012
Jeopardy champion Jennings pens a compendium of conventional wisdom--old wives' tales--passed down and imparted to children. He researches the science…
behind each myth and rates its accuracy. Examples include "bundle up or you'll catch cold," and "don't feed the dog chocolate." 2012