March Reading Ladder

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“Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption” – Stephen Harper

This book by former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper is a great unbiased look at the turbulent political times in which we live. He explains how for the past few decades since the end of the Cold War the world has become more connected than ever due to the expansion of thriving Western economies and technology into developing nations. But whilst the achievements of the global economy are some of the grandest in human history they have sadly left many smaller communities within the West in crisis. From the outsourcing of jobs to the importing of cheaper foreign goods destroying the chances of smaller businesses to grow, wages and dreams have stagnated within these parts of the Western world. This is why many of the populist political movements, which the mainstream media loves to wrongfully demonize as ignorant, in the past few years have received so much praise and support from middle class Americans, Europeans, and yes Canadians as well. The leaders of these movements and their policies may be polarizing, whether one agrees with them or not, but it is important to understand the true reasons why so many have grown to support them rather than just jumping to conclusions based on a preconceived political bias. Harper conveys this point with his sharp intellectual writing and impartial look at the situation the West is currently in and offers solutions for both sides to work together for a better more balanced future, definitely worth a read.

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“The Road to Wigan Pier” – George Orwell

I have had the recent pleasure of reading this landmark analysis and critique of political society from one of my personal favourite authors George Orwell. For such a simple goal as providing a look into the life of common working families in early 20th Century England, Orwell is able to exemplify such a raw sense of depression, hardship, but also wisdom in this harsh and polarizing time in the history of Western Civilization. His admiration for the common patriots of the country really comes through with his humane and moral approach to this book. And of course what more can I say about his skills of political analysis and discussion, which I could read about and interpret for hours on end. His deep philosophical understanding of all sides of the spectrum combined with his well thought out and defended stances on the future of Mother England and her crumbling Empire is so respectable in the world of passionate readers and aspiring political minds like myself.

 

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“1984” – George Orwell

This epic dystopian world in which Orwell sets the main conflict regarding the tyranny of totalitarianism over the minds of men is quite possible the greatest novel of the 20th Century. It makes an incredible attempt to answer the questions of how societies throughout history and even today can lead to complete and utter control at the hands of an all powerful state. The concept of “newspeak”, the method politicians use to manipulate language and therefore the people listening, has become a mainstay in the political world of today not to mention the pop cultural influences this book has had on future generations since the time of its release. The ending is as powerful as it is terrifying as presents readers with the harsh lesson that once a state becomes too powerful then freedom has no chance of being revived. This chilling ending has left readers for the past over sixty years with an all too relevant warning about the power governments will exploit if left unchecked and how could lead humanity’s future down a much darker path. An absolute must reading for any interested in political theory and literature in general.

amazon.ca. Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption

amazon.ca. The Road to Wigan Pier

amazon.ca. 1984