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Daniel W. Drezner

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Daniel W. Drezner is an American professor of international politics at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, an author, a blogger, and a commentator. He is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Project on International Order and Strategy at the Brookings Institution.
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Pale Rider book cover
Pale Rider
The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World
Laura Spinney - 2017-08-22
Goodreads Rating
Explore the forgotten tragedy of the Spanish flu pandemic in Pale Rider. With up to one hundred million deaths globally, it was one of the greatest disasters of all time - yet it remains only a footnote to World War I. Laura Spinney recounts the evolution of the virus through firsthand accounts, revealing how it both tested humanity's vulnerability and showed off its ingenuity. Drawing on research in multiple disciplines, Pale Rider paints a vivid picture of how this catastrophe transformed the decades to come.
Daniel W. Drezner
2022-09-12T16:30:06.000Z
@AndrewMLeber @profmusgrave @BeijingPalmer That’s a great book (I’m pretty sure it’s cited in the IO piece).      source
The Monster at the End of this Book book cover
The Monster at the End of this Book
Jon Stone - 2004-05-11 (first published in 1971)
Goodreads Rating
Young readers will love this classic tale of furry old Grover as he begs them not to turn the page, all to avoid the monster at the end of the book. But, what if the monster is Grover himself? A favorite among generations, this interactive Little Golden Book is now available in a larger format for even more lap-time fun.
Daniel W. Drezner
2021-01-30T13:54:53.000Z
@Perrid13 There is no such thing as reading this book too many times. I remember my parents reading it to me and I loved reading it to my kids (it helps that I could do a passable Grover voice).      source
Station Eleven book cover
Station Eleven
Emily St. John Mandel - 2014-09-09
Goodreads Rating
Experience a post-apocalyptic world where a devastating flu pandemic has destroyed civilization as we know it. Follow Kirsten Raymonde, a member of The Traveling Symphony - a small troupe of actors and musicians dedicated to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they come across a violent prophet threatening their existence, they must fight for survival. With a unique timeline that jumps between life before and after the pandemic, uncover the twist of fate that connects them all in this National Book Award and PEN/Faulkner Award finalist.
Daniel W. Drezner
2020-03-07T14:32:07.000Z
Also, if you’re looking for a post-apocalyptic book that is weirdly optimistic about humanity and don’t love science fiction, I suggest Emily St. John Mandel’s “Station Eleven.”      source
Presidential Misconduct book cover
Presidential Misconduct
From George Washington to Today
James M. Banner - 2019-07-02
Goodreads Rating
A team of presidential historians, led by James M. Banner Jr., compiled the 1974 report commissioned by the House Judiciary Committee in the midst of Nixon's impeachment. This new edition goes beyond Watergate, covering misconduct charges against every US president from George Washington to Barack Obama. From rigging elections to scandals involving advisors, learn how past presidents have responded to charges of wrongdoing and judge for yourself how the actions of today's administration stack up against historical context.
Daniel W. Drezner
2019-06-20T11:24:20.000Z
Some book recommendations before I go on vacation next week. cc: @KevinMKruse, @MicahZenko, @speechboy71.      source
Cari Mora book cover
Cari Mora
A Novel
Thomas Harris - 2019-05-21
Goodreads Rating
Discover an American masterpiece of evil, greed, and dark obsession in this suspenseful novel from the creator of Hannibal Lecter and The Silence of the Lambs. Ruthless men have long sought 25 million dollars in cartel gold hidden beneath a Miami Beach mansion, and they are closing in. Cari Mora, a beautiful and skilled caretaker, is caught in the middle of their dangerous hunt. But with surprising talent and an unwavering will to survive, Cari is more than just a vulnerable victim. Prepare to be terrified by the monsters that lurk between male desire and female survival.
Daniel W. Drezner
2019-06-20T11:24:20.000Z
Some book recommendations before I go on vacation next week. cc: @KevinMKruse, @MicahZenko, @speechboy71.      source
Recommended by
Stephen King
Clear and Present Safety book cover
Clear and Present Safety
The World Has Never Been Better and Why That Matters to Americans
Michael A. Cohen - 2019-03-26
Goodreads Rating
Discover how national security fear-mongering has been used to distract Americans from real issues affecting their lives. In this eye-opening account, the authors challenge commonly-held beliefs about terrorism and the world's greatest threats. Instead, they argue for more focus on serious national security challenges at home such as gun violence, income inequality, inadequate healthcare and schooling. Learn why policymakers and journalists have misrepresented global threats and why we should focus on promoting cooperation and development.
Daniel W. Drezner
2019-06-20T11:24:20.000Z
Some book recommendations before I go on vacation next week. cc: @KevinMKruse, @MicahZenko, @speechboy71.      source
The Fifth Risk book cover
The Fifth Risk
Undoing Democracy
Michael Lewis - 2019-12-03 (first published in 2018)
Goodreads Rating
This book uncovers the chaos that ensues when the transition team for President Trump fails to show up at the US Department of Energy to learn about their new roles. Michael Lewis' gripping narrative exposes the dangerous consequences of a government under attack by uninformed leaders who show disregard for the critical services that keep our society safe. From ensuring food and medication safety to tracking down black-market uranium, Lewis masterfully paints a vivid picture of the fallout when those in control lack understanding of the government's inner workings.
Daniel W. Drezner
2018-12-13T00:00:00.000Z
There is no better author to make the federal bureaucracy an exciting read.      source
These Truths book cover
These Truths
A History of the United States
Jill Lepore - 2019-10-01 (first published in 2018)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the American past through a new lens with this groundbreaking history book. Renowned author Jill Lepore places truth itself at the heart of the nation's story, examining its three founding ideas of political equality, natural rights, and sovereignty of the people. But has America lived up to these truths? Lepore takes a deep dive into the state of politics, slavery, inequality, and technology. Engaging and thought-provoking, this book will forever alter your understanding of American history.
Daniel W. Drezner
2018-12-13T00:00:00.000Z
If a genie granted me some wishes, one of them would be to write as cleanly and carefully as Jill Lepore. This is the general history of the United States that you both want and need. Lepore is your dream tour guide to navigate the shining moments and the worst warts of this country’s past. Buy and read this book.      source
Taxing Wars book cover
Taxing Wars
The American Way of War Finance and the Decline of Democracy
Sarah Kreps - 2018-06-01
Goodreads Rating
This book asks a crucial question: why have the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq lasted longer than any other in US history? The answer lies in two key factors that have allowed these conflicts to continue almost unnoticed for years. Firstly, advancements in military technology have lessened the apparent burden of war on American citizens. Secondly, the ways in which the US pays for its wars have changed, eroding accountability and contributing to the phenomenon of perpetual war. This book traces the history of how America has paid for its wars, from war taxes to contemporary borrowing, and argues that the latter undermines the basis for democratic restraint in wartime.
Daniel W. Drezner
2018-12-13T00:00:00.000Z
One can argue that the shift from conscripted to volunteer militaries has reduced the reluctance among the citizens who know they will never have to fight. Kreps tackles the treasure part of this equation, and reaches some sobering conclusions.      source
Maxwell's Demon and the Golden Apple by Randall L. Schweller
Choose Your Own Disaster by Dana Schwartz
Wars of Law by Tanisha M. Fazal
The Happiness Curve by Jonathan Rauch
War on Peace by Ronan Farrow