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Literary liturgy

10:36am Monday, 29th September 2003

People will no doubt be caught up with reading the entire Demos library, soon to be available free online but that's not the only literary entertainment in town.

We've also decided to set up a Demos book club to recommend books to the Demos network.

We'd like to start off with some hidden gems that aren't being reviewed in the New Statesman or Prospect but should be because they are breaking new ground or putting forward interesting and convincing arguments.

Any recommendations would be most welcome.

To get the ball rolling - I've recently read small world: uncovering nature's hidden networks by Mark Buchanan which explores the similarities between networks from the internet to disease outbreaks to rivers to families. Very relevant to my work as Knowledge Manager.

Anyone else?

Comments

1
We talked about having recent books to discuss. There's "Authenticity: Brands, Fakes, Spin and the Lust for Real Life" by David Boyle which was published in August. I haven't read it yet, but it's on order. Seems to hit a chord with me anyway, but that might just be my allotment..
Posted by gillian gillian  at 4:02pm on Tuesday, 30th September 2003
2
Hi Two thoughts: 1 - Social Capital; a theory of social structure and action (2001) Nan Lin, Cambridge. A bit theory-heavy in places but generally readable... 2 - Does a policy report even count as a book? Not sure ? certainly it?s not a hidden gem ? but here?s something from Canada that pulls together a lot of public policy thinking on social capital & networks. It may be of interest to those in Demos who fancy a ?leaner definition? of social capital, and an intense take on measuring it. Can?t say I liked it all, but it?s a window on how policy makers are increasingly seeing the thing, I suppose... pdf. Website. Jack Dalton
Posted by jackdalton jackdalton  at 11:17pm on Tuesday, 30th September 2003
3
Andrei Cherney's "The Next Deal" - best book on politics i've read this year. Zymunt Bauman's "In search of politics" - best take on cultural dilmna of modern society Martin Amis's "Yellow Dog" - surprisingly ace retutrn to form, and everyone needs a little light relief from the endless tomes on ants and stuff. But it does mention text messaging, e-mail, and some prisoners blogging from the top of a prison roof during a riot. so treat it as work and you'll be fine.
Posted by crabtree crabtree  at 2:31pm on Wednesday, 1st October 2003

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