What I’ve been reading

1. Andrew Hussey, The French Intifada: The Long War Between France and its Arabs.  Probably you should read a book on this topic, and this book is it.

2. Dan Fagin, Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation.  An excellent study of one episode in the history of environmental catastrophe.  Overall, the environment remains understudied in economic history or for that matter public choice.

3. Elliot A. Rosen, Roosevelt, the Great Depression, and the Economics of Recovery.  Chapter twelve is a fascinating look at the debates over Alvin Hansen’s “secular stagnation” thesis.  It is uncanny how much the exact same debates are being replayed today.

4. Dominic Couzens and Mark Sisson, The Secret Lives of Puffins.  Unlike many sea birds, puffins are quiet, and their divorce rate is in the range of seven to nine percent.  Excellent photos in this one.

5. John Keay, Midnight’s Descendants: A History of South Asia since Partition.  A very good treatment of how much work remains to be done in the “nation building” enterprise in South Asia.  Recommended.