Some very quick August book recommendations

So, um, I’m a little late on the August book recommentations. Look, I’ve been busy. It’s not easy defending a nation with ever-expanding borders. Plus, the rash of celebrity scandals have been keeping me occupied. And, of course, guilting Laura McKenna is a time consuming task. So, this month’s book recommendations are designed to be ...

By , a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast.

So, um, I'm a little late on the August book recommentations. Look, I've been busy. It's not easy defending a nation with ever-expanding borders. Plus, the rash of celebrity scandals have been keeping me occupied. And, of course, guilting Laura McKenna is a time consuming task. So, this month's book recommendations are designed to be short -- i.e., you can finish them before September 1st. In the interest of wasting no more time, the recommendations will be short as well. The international relations book is Gregory Clark's
A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World
. An enlightening and provocative guide to the growth of global economic inequality over the past two centuries. I'm not completely persuaded by it -- the data in the first part of the book seems a bit dodgy at times. But it's arguments cannot be easily dismissed, either. [How brief is it?--ed.] The first fifteen pages provide the most concise summary of global economic history you will ever read. The general interest book is Ian McEwan's
On Chesil Beach
. I can't really describe this novel, except to say that it describes the wedding night of a very repressed English couple circa 1962. And the ending surprised me -- and, I suspect, will surprise readers familiar with McEwan's past work. [How brief is it?--ed. This book can be read, languidly, in an afternoon.] Go check them out! Quickly!

So, um, I’m a little late on the August book recommentations. Look, I’ve been busy. It’s not easy defending a nation with ever-expanding borders. Plus, the rash of celebrity scandals have been keeping me occupied. And, of course, guilting Laura McKenna is a time consuming task. So, this month’s book recommendations are designed to be short — i.e., you can finish them before September 1st. In the interest of wasting no more time, the recommendations will be short as well. The international relations book is Gregory Clark’s
A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World

. An enlightening and provocative guide to the growth of global economic inequality over the past two centuries. I’m not completely persuaded by it — the data in the first part of the book seems a bit dodgy at times. But it’s arguments cannot be easily dismissed, either. [How brief is it?–ed.] The first fifteen pages provide the most concise summary of global economic history you will ever read. The general interest book is Ian McEwan’s
On Chesil Beach
. I can’t really describe this novel, except to say that it describes the wedding night of a very repressed English couple circa 1962. And the ending surprised me — and, I suspect, will surprise readers familiar with McEwan’s past work. [How brief is it?–ed. This book can be read, languidly, in an afternoon.] Go check them out! Quickly!

Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner

More from Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.

Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.
Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing

The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.