Summer is on the horizon, and youll probably want some stimulating books to enjoy on sunny weekends or take with you on holiday.
Two new publications caught my eye this week, and one is an antidote to the other.
First up, the Labour MP Angela Eagle has written a riposte to the great Friedrich Hayek, called The New Serfdom. Hayeks Road to Serfdom is a sweeping work of philosophy and economic analysis, in which he warns of the “tyranny that inevitably results from government control of economic decision-making”. Eagle, however, thinks his theories amount to nothing more than a series of “extraordinary lies”.
She and her co-author, Imran Ahmed, take aim at the “veneration of markets” and the “infiltration of marketisation” in public services. They brand Hayek an extremist, whose philosophy unleashed Thatcherism on an unsuspecting nation. The authors call for “an empowered state”.
If this doesnt sound like your cup of tea, help is at hand in the form of a collection of columns from this newspapers very own Paul Ormerod. Published by the Institute of Economic Affairs, Against The Grain brings together a selection of Pauls most original, thought-provoking, contrarian and refreshing columns.
Hes been writing a weekly column for us since 2012 (making him our longest-standing regular contributor) and his success lies in the application of behavioural economics to areas of life that arent normally subject to such analysis. In the introduction to his book, he writes: “The key task of political economy is to provide a scientific understanding of how capitalism – by far the most successful social and economic system which humans have invented – actually works.”
If you enjoy his weekly pieces for us, then contact the IEA to get hold of his collected works. Youll learn a great deal more about Hayek from Pauls writing that you likely will from Eagle and Ahmed.
Robert Webb gets nasty
Regulars at the City A.M. Awards will know the broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer, who has hosted the night for the last few years. Last week she joined a Twitter debate on whether journalists all come from the same privileged background. Twitter isnt known for nuance but things took a turn for the ugly when lefty comedian Robert Webb piled in and called Hartley-Brewer a “thick tw*t”. I guess its OK to sling vile abuse at women – just as long as youre on the left and shes on the right.
Martin Lewis' campaign wages on
Facebook has a lot on its plate these days. From privacy concerns to fake news and hate speech, the social media giant now has to defend itself against a defamation charge after the consumer champion Martin Lewis complained the site is failing to take down dodgy adverts that use his image. Awkwardly, coverage of the case on the Sky News and Guardian websites was accompanied by the very same online ads Lewis was complaining about. Pesky algorithms.
Read more: Consumer finance expert Martin Lewis to sue Facebook over scam adverts
The Magazine
Exciting news for fans of City A.M.s magazines. Our team has produced Living, Bespoke, Money and Travel – all of which will now be rolled into one beautiful, bumper edition simply called The Magazine. Our team of award-winning writers will be giving you fantastic features over 96 pages covering luxury goods, fashion, personal finance, glamourous destinations, property, design, high-end cars, lifestyle and food. The debut edition will be the 70th magazine weve produced and you can look out for it across the City from 3 May.
From Bangkok to Tblisi
Fresh from running the London marathon, Nex Exchange CEO Patrick Birley is heading off for a two month journey with what he describes as a group of “mid-life crisis sufferers” – biking from Bangkok to Tbilisi, Georgia. The team will travel through 12 countries and take on the notorious Karakoram Highway between Pakistan and China. Birleys day job may be raising capital, but on this trip hes fundraising for ActionAid. Chaps, I recommend Tbilisis Funicular Bar.
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