The Reading Corner

Noah Yuval Harari – Sapiens

My favorite non-fiction book? Well, at least one of them. After reading Sapiens, you won’t look at humanity in quite the same way again. How did we evolve to become the most dominant—and arguably most ruthless—species on the planet? Harari takes the reader on a journey from the earliest human societies to the modern world.

Bertrand Russell – The History of Western Philosophy

Okay, admittedly this is a heavy one. Not exactly beach reading. But if you want a (somewhat) accessible overview of the ideas and thinkers that have shaped the Western world since the ancient Greeks, this is a pretty good place to start. Russell is remarkably clear, often witty, and never afraid to share his own opinions. His personality shines through on almost every page, which is what makes this history lesson so enjoyable.

Hans Rosling – Factfulness

An awful lot of people (not least online) seem convinced that the world is becoming increasingly dangerous and that everything is heading in the wrong direction. The facts tell a different story. In Factfulness, Rosling separates fact from fiction, challenging many common misconceptions about global development. Allow yourself to be surprised—and perhaps regain a little hope for the future.