Book Reviews

Wars, whether they are slow and protracted or short and intense, seldom end without leaving a mark. Under extreme circumstances, they may be able to redefine geographical boundaries, upset demographics, or break alliances as the world order tries to preserve some facade of balance. The Russia-Ukraine War is no different. As one of the longest-ongoing European wars since World War II, with intensive use of emerging technology in modern history, it has undoubtedly etched itself into history.

The ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has brought several critical questions to the fore: What lies at the root of the grievances that triggered a protest movement in Iran earlier this year, exploited by the US and Israel? How widespread are the sentiments of resentment towards the regime among the Iranian population? How did Iranian society not collapse, and what prevented the sanctions from incapacitating the Iranian economy, thereby preserving Tehran’s ability to resist today?
How Sanctions Work: Iran and the Impact of Economic Warfare effectively answers these questions from different angles. It is written

The Return of Great Powers: Russia, China, and the Next World War is a comprehensive guide that seeks to understand the major global shifts in contemporary times. It provides an analysis of the state of international politics and acts as a guide to navigate the intricacies of the current geopolitical landscape. With an understanding of the role, motives, and aspirations of the key actors involved, the book offers a detailed, nuanced, and in-depth commentary on the current world order and where it is headed.  

The book’s author, Jim Sciutto is CNN’s Chief National Security Correspondent, who also served as Chief of Staff to US Ambassador Gary Locke in China from 2011 to 2013. The analysis in the book is drawn from interviews with the USA’s senior policymakers and military figures. The book incorporates extensive use of the primary data drawn from those interviews.

In his book, Jim Scuitto discusses the ‘flash points’, which

Danish Javeed’s book The Incredible and Shining India! Transition from Secularism to Hindutva Extremism uncovers the gruesome realities that lie beneath India’s projected image as a prosperous nation. It serves as a powerful reminder that human rights atrocities must continue to be documented even long after they have occurred, as the sooner they are forgotten, the greater the risk that they will be normalised.

Two to three decades ago, humanity committed an enormous mistake. We handed over the design of our social world to business, something we should have never done. Is it too early to rectify this mistake? Nick Couldry who is a professor of Media, Communications and Social Theory at the London School of Economics and Political Science, in his book, The Space of the World, asks the similar question.

In today’s age of technology, marked by ever-increasing digitisation and a new shift towards green energy, the topic of critical and rare earth minerals has become increasingly prevalent. From fighter jet engines and submarines to MRI machines and computer screens, critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt form the backbone of contemporary technology.

In an age where societies seem trapped in a perpetual cycle of progress and resistance, Fareed Zakaria’s Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present offers an insightful exploration of why the world feels simultaneously on the brink of breakthrough and breakdown.

Modern military conflict is dominated by sophisticated technology, where the army with the most advanced capabilities controls the battlefield.