Yanis Varoufakis and Brian Eno on Money, Power and a Call for Radical Change

In 'The Finance Curse', Nicholas Shaxson argues that global finance, when it becomes too large, turns from serving society to extracting wealth, leading to economic stagnation, inequality, and societal damage. The book explores the history of financial systems, tax havens, and the impact of financialization on economies.

In 'The Net Delusion', Evgeny Morozov challenges the idea that the Internet inherently promotes democracy. He argues that technologies like the Internet are ideologically neutral and can be used by both democratic and authoritarian forces. The book explores how authoritarian regimes exploit the Internet to maintain control and spread their ideologies.

Published in 1949, 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' is a cautionary tale set in a future where the world is divided into three totalitarian super-states: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. The novel follows Winston Smith, a minor functionary in the Ministry of Truth in Oceania, who begins to question the all-pervasive authority of the Party and its leader, Big Brother. Winston's rebellion, fueled by his forbidden love affair with Julia and his interest in the mysterious Brotherhood, ultimately leads to his capture and brutal reeducation by the Thought Police. The novel explores themes of mass surveillance, censorship, and the manipulation of truth, serving as a powerful warning about the dangers of unaccountable governments and the erosion of individual freedom and dignity.