Over the past 5 decades, the neoliberal consensus has hollowed America's economic capabilities and it is dangerously close to being overtaken in key sectors by allies and adversaries

In this episode of Books in 5, the co-author of "Industrial Policy for the United States: Winning the Competition for Good Jobs and High-Value Industries" joins us to highlight the harsh reality that the United States finds itself in and what policymakers should do to ensure that nation and it's people remain prosperous in an increasingly volatile world.

By using the lens of economic history and judicious case studies to better understand the opportunities and challenges of the past, present and future, the book showcases just how critical industrial policy is

Ian Fletcher is on the Coalition for a Prosperous America’s Advisory Board. He is the author of Free Trade Doesn’t Work and coauthor of The Conservative Case against Free Trade. He has been senior economist at the Coalition, a research fellow at the US Business and Industry Council, an economist in private practice, and an IT consultant. He was educated at Columbia University and the University of Chicago. He lives in San Francisco.

https://www.industrialpolicy.us/

https://prosperousamerica.org/

Shamans have held a deep appeal to humans for millennia as they fulfill a critical psychological need by taming & guiding the aspects of human life that are uncontrollable.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Shamanism: The Timeless Religion" joins us to highlight the development of Shamans throughout human history, their impact on modern society and the reality & fictions of their practices.

Through the use of rituals and simulation, Shamans have played an important role throughout humanity's evolution and this ancient practice still continues into the present day in a myriad of interesting ways.

Manvir Singh is an Assistant Professor of anthropology at the University of California, Davis. He holds a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Brown University and a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He is a regular contributor to The New Yorker, and his writings have also appeared in Wired, Vice, Aeon, and The Guardian, as well as leading academic journals, including Science, Nature Human Behaviour, and Behavioral and Brain Sciences. He has studied Indigenous psychedelics use in the Orinoco river basin of Colombia and, since 2014, has conducted ethnographic fieldwork with Mentawai communities on Siberut Island, Indonesia, focusing on shamanism and justice. He lives with his wife and baby daughter in Davis, CA.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730339/shamanism-by-manvir-singh/

https://www.manvir.org/

https://x.com/mnvrsngh

Humanity has always been interested in ranking the world around them and the invention of the like button is most recent & powerful way that people are displaying their preferences, for good and for ill.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Like: The Button That Changed the World" joins us to showcase just how this unassuming icon has come to dominate social media metrics, the messy process of innovation and what the future potentially holds as the giant technology platform companies are motivated to hold the attention of the masses in order to boost revenues.

The story of the like button reveals a great deal about modern life as it's spread to dominate human interactions online factors in the decision-making of consumers, corporations and the world at large.

Martin Reeves is a managing director and senior partner in BCG’s San Francisco office, and Chair of the BCG Henderson Institute, BCG’s think tank.

His consulting career has focused on strategy – with equal emphasis on idea origination and development, and application by consulting with clients on their strategy challenges. He is the co-author of Your Strategy Needs a Strategy (HBR Press, 2015) and The Imagination Machine (HBR Press, 2021) Martin holds a triple first-class MA in natural sciences from Cambridge University and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management.

https://www.likebook.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-reeves/

https://x.com/MartinKReeves

https://bcghendersoninstitute.com/contributors/martin-reeves/

Canadians might believe they have choices with regard to which financial institution they choose to bank with but all members of the Big 6 operate in ways that harm consumers.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Fleeced: Canadians Versus Their Banks" joins us to highlight how RBC, TD, Scotia, CIBC, BMO and NBC are able to charge high fees to their depositors, mutual fund holders and credit card users while also keeping out new startups who are using financial technology to provide better services at lower cost.

It is imperative that policymakers listen to the majority of people in Canada as they are calling for greater transparency, more competition and a more fair playing field for all.

Andrew Spence is an independent financial consultant and economist. He has extensive experience in banking from time spent in Canadian and global banks. He was also an investment executive at two of Canada’s largest pension plans and was Special Adviser to the Governor of the Bank of Canada.He advises pension plans, independent asset managers, insurance companies, risk managers and global industry networking groups.

https://www.fleeced.ca

https://spencestrategic.com

https://spencea.substack.com/

The lobster industry has undergone tremendous change in the 21st century with fortunes made as demand has skyrocketed but there has been equally concerning challenges as the population of this luxury food is on the brink.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "The Lobster Trap: The Global Fight for a Seafood on the Brink" joins us to detail the development of this crucial ocean product that provides so much to so many producers and consumers, the impact of the Chinese market's voracious appetite and how climate change, overfishing & the fight for territorial rights is causing a potential crisis in the years ahead.

The economy for lobsters is transforming and it is essential that those who catch, eat and tax it should understand the history of how this industry has created wealth & heartache.

Greg Mercer is an investigative reporter for The Globe and Mail, where he writes in-depth stories about issues of international interest, from the drone-spying scandal at the Paris Olympics to the deadly legacy of the coal mining industry. He was previously the Globe’s Atlantic Canada reporter, where he covered the worst mass shooting in Canadian history, and wrote about violent protests over a growing First Nations–run commercial lobster fishery. He has also reported for the BBC, The Guardian, and The Toronto Star. His reporting has earned him multiple National Newspaper Awards and the Michener–Deacon Fellowship for Investigative Reporting. This is his first book.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/729061/the-lobster-trap-by-greg-mercer/9780771006326

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/greg-mercer/

https://x.com/gregmercerglobe?lang=en

Individuals and governments are necessarily biased towards their interests in the short-term but they must also balance the need to make decisions that will provide benefits into the future

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the Long Term joins us to reveal the importance of understanding what makes people & institutions tick, measuring the right data to provide accurate information, locking-in policy with commitments and a whole host of recommendations so that humanity can truly flourish in the coming decades.

The challenges ahead are daunting but public policy can be brought to bear to mitigate the risks ahead only if government leaders understand the need to better regard the future.

Nicholas Chesterley is a behavioural economist and public servant. He completed his PhD in behavioural economics at the University of Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar and SSHRC Doctoral Fellow and has held a range of leadership roles in government. He lives in Ottawa.

  mqup.ca/future-generation-government-produ...  

  nchesterley.com  

Canada has fallen off in so many important economic metrics compared to it's wealthy peers but it has the opportunity to right the ship if executives, policymakers and people all pull in the same direction.

In this episode of Books in 5, one of the author's of "Everybody's Business: How to Ensure Canadian Prosperity in the 21st Century" joins us to highlight how Canada's population can flourish in the coming decades by taking advantage of it's educated labour force, new technologies and natural endowments in combination with a dedicated desire to grow the economic pie through trade and investment.

Productivity and innovation in the economy must be prioritized for Canada to succeed

DANY ASSAF is a competition lawyer and partner at Torys, and the author of "Say Please, Thank You, and Stand In Line".

  everybodysbusinesscanada.ca  

  danyassaf.com  

Extremist attacks in the United States have a long history but there are concerns that the threat level is rising in the 21st century.

In this episode of Books in 5, the authors of "God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America" join us to detail how social media is changing the landscape, why the military & police are dependable recruiting grounds, the dangers of lone wolves and what policymakers can do the discourage political polarization & truly prevent people from killing their fellow citizens.

The threat to America from domestic extremism must be addressed before more people are hurt and institutions crumble.

Bruce Hoffman is the Shelby Cullom and Kathryn W. Davis Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a professor at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and professor emeritus of terrorism studies at the University of St Andrews.. His Columbia University Press books include Inside Terrorism (third edition, 2017).

Jacob Ware is a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and at DeSales University. He serves on the editorial boards for the academic journal Studies in Conflict & Terrorism and the Irregular Warfare Initiative at the Modern War Institute at West Point.

  cup.columbia.edu/book/god-guns-and-seditio...  

  x.com/hoffman_bruce  

  x.com/jacob_a_ware  

The popular narrative surrounding the mindset of Iran's leaders as motivated by faith or exporting the revolution is dangerously misplaced as it does not take into account what has primarily driven events in the country and the region.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History" joins us to reveal his work in breaking the myths that American policymakers have towards Iran, how the war with Iraq in the 1980's is the foundation of Iran's outlook, the importance of the IRGC as a formidable actor and what the nuclear program is really about.

With the nation and the broader Middle East undergoing tremendous change, it is critical to have an accurate understanding of Iran's history and it's worldview.

Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. His books include The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat, The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future, and (with Ali Gheissari) Democracy in Iran: History and the Quest for Liberty. His writing has appeared in leading publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Foreign Affairs.

  press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/978069...  

https://sais.jhu.edu/users/vnasr1

  x.com/vali_nasr  

In times of market uncertainty, executives and decision-makers must have a clear understanding of their priorities, their tools and their risks in order take advantage of the opportunities ahead.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Outside In, Inside Out: Unleashing the Power of Business Strategy in Times of Market Uncertainty" joins us to reveal his framework that can help businesses create & execute strategic plans that brings together a thorough understanding of both the internal & external factors that leads to future success.

Combining impressive research with clear prose, the book demonstrates that importance of strategy in the modern economy.

Dr. Lance Mortlock is a managing partner with global professional services firm Ernst & Young and an adjunct associate professor at the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. He is a columnist and external advisory board member for CEOWORLD and a writer for Chief Executive magazine. Lance is the author of Disaster Proof: Scenario Planning for a Post-Pandemic Future. He resides in Calgary, AB.

https://www.lancemortlock.com/outside-in-inside-out

https://truepatriotlove.com/

Pop culture have a such a large effect on the world but can their impact be quantified?

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect Everything" joins us to reveal how television and film changes our physical bodies, the changing dynamics of people's taste & preferences in society as reflected on the screen, the billion-dollar decisions made by executives as they try to court consumers and the ways that entertainment is utilized by nations as soft power.

Combining impressive research with a wide range of appealing graphics & visuals, the book showcases just how important media is in the modern era.

Walt Hickey writes Numlock News, a daily stat-based newsletter full of fascinating stories about everything from art heists to lost cities to MoviePass. He is a deputy editor at Insider for data and analysis. Formerly, he was chief culture writer at FiveThirtyEight. He won a 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Reporting.

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/walter-hickey/you-are-what-you-watch/9781523515899/?lens=workman-publishing-company

https://walthickey.com/

https://www.numlock.com/

https://x.com/walthickey

The entrepreneurial spirit in America has become more prominent since the 19th century as people are increasingly believing that the way to make it is not as a worker but as a business owner

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America" joins us to detail how positive values of work ethic and loyalty were overtaken in the early 20th century by the desire to show initiative and try to succeed on one's own, the success of self-help authors who pushed a narrative of believing in oneself, the power of family-businesses such as Koch Industries who pushed the line of entrepreneurism and why this ethos is again rearing it's head in the modern era as gig work becomes ever-present.

When the American economy slows and workers struggle in precarious positions, the push for people to make their own way in the world is a seductive message.

Erik Baker is Lecturer on the History of Science at Harvard University. His writing has appeared in Harper’s, n+1, The Baffler, Jewish Currents, and The Drift, where he is Associate Editor.

https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978...

https://x.com/erikmbaker

https://www.thedriftmag.com/

Inflation as both a concept and a real-world phenomenon is talked about and debated by experts and everyday people but the true causes and effects are shrouded in myths & misinformation.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers" joins us to highlight the four genres of how prices and wages rise, the importance of understanding the 1970's experience and why episodes of hyper-inflation are rare.

The stories that are told about inflation matter is it causes policymakers, executives and consumers to act in certain ways and it is critical that everyone learns the right lessons for the future.

Nicolò Fraccaroli is an Economist at the World Bank and a Visiting Scholar at the W.R. Rhodes Center for International Economics and Finance at Brown University. Before, he was an Adjunct Professor in Economics for Public Policy and a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Watson Institute of Brown University, and worked at the European Central Bank and at the Bank of England.

The views and opinions expressed by Nicolò Fraccaroli in this interview are those of the authors of the book and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the World Bank.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/aut...

https://sites.google.com/view/nfracca...

https://x.com/nicfraccaroli?lang=en

There has been a mythology surrounding guns in the United States that allegedly involves the Founding Fathers and the 2nd Amendment but the reality of Americans increasingly arming themselves can be traced to the middle decades of the 20th century.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture, and Control in Cold War America" joins us to detail the first half of the Cold War as the genesis of modern gun culture as it combined the supply of surplus guns in Europe, enterprising young marketers and policymakers not recognizing the harms of so many firearms.

With millions of people getting their hands on a commensurate amount of guns in an atmosphere of geopolitical uncertainty & racial biases which continues into the present, those who want to curb the violence won't succeed unless they recognize the true history of how this lifestyle became embedded in American life.

Andrew C. McKevitt is John D. Winters Endowed Professor of History at Louisiana Tech University. He is the author of Consuming Japan: Popular Culture and the Globalizing of 1980s America.

https://uncpress.org/9781469677248/gu...

https://x.com/drewmckevitt

https://andrewcmckevitt.com/

The development of the global economy to become increasingly interconnected has benefited and harmed people in different ways with supply chains stretch now stretching across nations.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain" joins us to detail the rise of Chinese manufacturing prowess to become the dominant producer of so many goods, how American consultants & executives have enriched themselves at the expense of everyone else and why the seemingly disorganized nature of the economy, as evidenced by the pandemic disruptions, is actually purposefully designed to be that way by those in positions of power.

The system of international trade that operates in the 21st century has been built on rickety foundations and it is imperative that it be transformed if humanity is going to adequately contend with the myriad challenges ahead.

Peter S. Goodman is the Global Economics Correspondent for the New York Times. He was previously the NYT’s European economics correspondent, based in London, and the national economics correspondent, based in New York, where he played a leading role in the paper’s award-winning coverage of the Great Recession, including a series that was a Pulitzer finalist. Previously, he covered the Internet bubble and bust as the Washington Post’s telecommunications reporter, and served as WashPo’s China-based Asian economics correspondent. He is the author of Davos Man and Past Due: The End of Easy Money and the Renewal of the American Economy. He graduated from Reed College and completed a master’s in Vietnamese history from the University of California, Berkeley.

https://www.harpercollins.com/product...

https://x.com/petersgoodman

https://www.petersgoodman.com/

Henry Wallace was one of the most consequential American figures of the 20th century as the world looks entirely different if he was Vice President when FDR died in 1945.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "The World That Wasn't: Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century" joins us to highlight Henry's early career before he entered politics, how he was guided by a progressive worldview that was out of step with the majority of the establishment in Washington DC and the events of his life as he navigated the halls of power in pursuit of his own agenda.

Henry Wallace believed in his mission to transform his country and the world around him and the book showcases just how he operated as a political figure during the decades he was in the limelight.

Benn Steil is senior fellow and director of international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is the author of The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War, winner of the New York Historical Society’s Barbara and David Zalaznick Book Prize in American History and the American Academy of Diplomacy’s Douglas Dillon Award. His previous book, the prizewinning Battle of Bretton Woods: John Maynard Keynes, Harry Dexter White, and the Making of a New World Order, was called “a triumph of economic and diplomatic history” by the Financial Times, “a superb history” by The Wall Street Journal, and “the gold standard on its subject” by The New York Times. He lives in New York with his two boys.

https://www.cfr.org/book/world-wasnt

https://x.com/BennSteil

https://www.cfr.org/expert/benn-steil

The mental health and wellness industry has grown tremendously over the past few decades but is it truly helping people improve their lives?

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Mind the Science: Saving Your Mental Health from the Wellness Industry" joins us to showcase why so many are falling prey to pseudoscience, who is peddling these bullshit cures, the warning signs that should caution those in need from proceeding with a treatment and the critical importance of improving science literacy.

So many people are being hurt because they are not receiving the proper care and the book demonstrates the necessity of debunking the myths surrounding mental health

Dr. Jonathan N. Stea is a full-time practicing clinical psychologist and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. He's a two-time winner of the University of Calgary's Award for Excellence in Clinical Supervision and co-editor of the book Investigating Clinical Psychology: Pseudoscience, Fringe Science, and Controversies . Dr. Stea has published extensively, with regular contributions to Scientific American and Psychology Today , among other outlets, and has appeared on numerous mainstream television and radio shows, as well as podcasts. He was the 2022 recipient of the John G. Paterson Award from the Psychologists' Association of Alberta, an annual award presented for the exceptional contribution to portraying psychological knowledge to the public.

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/mind-the-science-9780197748817?cc=ca&lang=en&

https://www.jonathanstea.com/

https://x.com/jonathanstea

Government's in Ottawa & in provincial capitals have been very generous to the private sector going back to Confederation but has this largesse benefited the average Canadian?

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of At The Trough: The Rise and Rise of Canada's Corporate Welfare Bums joins us to to detail the long history of corporate welfare in the nation, why politicians cannot resist the pull of subsidizing the private sector, how this practice has going into overdrive in the past decade and what policymakers should be focusing their efforts on instead of giving handouts to businesses.

The only way that inequality will be addressed is if Canada moves away from massively supporting corporations and instead focus on policies that ensure fair competition, anti-corruption and broad-based prosperity.

Laurent Carbonneau is a policy professional working primarily on innovation, science and technology issues, with previous experience on Parliament Hill and national campaigns working for the NDP Leader's Office and a senior member of caucus. He has master’s degrees from Carleton University (political management) and the University of St Andrews (history) and a BA from Mount Allison University. He lives in Ottawa with his family.

https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/at-the-trough/

https://www.canadianinnovators.org/

While technology has allowed American society to experience tremendous prosperity and progress, the electoral system is still stuck in the past and it is causing democratic institutions to become tilted towards a small minority of special interests.

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Vote With Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting Is Our Final Shot At Saving Democracy" joins us to highlight the benefits of mobile voting, the coalition of partners who see the potential to increase voter participation as a result of implementing this reform and the importance of including younger generations in the policy-making process.

The United States must move into the 21st century and utilize the technology available to transform the voting system to allow people the option to vote with their phones as this will help to ensure that the decisions made in the halls of power reflect the desires of Americans.

Bradley Tusk is the CEO and co-founder of Tusk Venture Partners, the world’s first venture capital fund that invests solely in early stage startups in highly regulated industries, the founder of political consulting firm Tusk Strategies, and the co-founder and Chairman of the Ivory Gaming Acquisition Corp, a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ. Bradley’s family foundation is funding and leading the national campaign to bring mobile voting to all U.S. elections. Tusk Philanthropies also runs and funds anti-hunger campaigns that have led to the creation of anti-hunger policies and programs (including universal school breakfast programs) in 17 different states, helping to feed over 12 million people. He is the author of The Fixer: My Adventures Saving Startups From Death by Politics, writes a column for Fast Company, hosts a podcast called Firewall about the intersection of tech and politics, and is the co-founder of the Gotham Book Prize. He recently opened a bookstore, podcast studio, event space and cafe called P&T Knitwear on Manhattan’s lower east side. He is also an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School.

https://www.mobilevoting.org/

https://www.sourcebooks.com/978146422...

https://tuskstrategies.com/people/bra...

https://www.ted.com/talks/bradley_tus...

The only way for humanity to contend with the climate crisis is with changing the entire system but what does that really look like?

In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis" joins us to showcase how the status quo is unsustainable, the different strategies that must be considered for political transformation and why the right way forward is to include a wide variety of viewpoints rather than bickering over ideology.

Coordinated political action is required for individuals and society as a whole to survive and thrive in the coming decades with the book highlighting the opportunities and challenges that progressive, socialist and revolutionary approaches can provide.

Malcolm Harris is the author of the national bestseller Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; Kids These Days: The Making of Millennials; and Shit is Fucked Up and Bullshit: History Since the End of History. He was born in Santa Cruz, CA and graduated from the University of Maryland.

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/tit...

https://x.com/BigMeanInternet