Fostering Financial Literacy with Kyla Scanlon

The book follows Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov, who narrowly escapes execution during the Russian Revolution due to a revolutionary poem he wrote. Instead, he is sentenced to house arrest at the Hotel Metropol in Moscow. Over the next thirty-two years, the Count adjusts to his new life, forming friendships with the hotel's staff and guests, and navigating the changing political landscape of the Soviet Union. The novel explores themes of parental duty, friendship, romance, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity[1][4][5].

In 'Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World,' Henry Grabar provides a detailed and engaging account of the role parking plays in shaping American urban environments. The book covers the history and politics of parking, from post-war development to current reform movements, and explains how parking requirements have influenced housing costs, urban design, and the overall livability of cities. Grabar's analysis is supported by vivid storytelling and meticulous research, making the book both informative and entertaining.

In 'Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now', Douglas Rushkoff explores the human response to living in a world where everything happens in real-time. He argues that this 'presentism' has led to a collapse of narrative, displacing the traditional linear continuum of past, present, and future with a succession of moments. Rushkoff discusses how this phenomenon affects various aspects of life, including biology, behavior, politics, and culture, and offers insights into how to transcend the false immediacy of the digital age by favoring quality over speed and human quirks over digital perfection[1][3][4].

In this book, Francis Fukuyama argues that the level of trust within a society is a crucial factor in its economic success. He contends that societies with high levels of trust, such as Germany, Japan, and the United States, are more likely to create flexible and large-scale business organizations necessary for competing in the global economy. Fukuyama examines various national cultures to identify the underlying principles that foster social and economic prosperity, emphasizing the importance of social capital and the interconnectedness of economic and cultural life. He challenges both neoclassical and state-centered economic theories by highlighting the role of trust and social virtues in economic development[1][2][4].

In 'Blood in the Machine', Brian Merchant intertwines a lucid examination of our current technological age with the historical story of the Luddites. The book explores how automation changed the world during the Industrial Revolution and how it continues to shape our future. Merchant draws parallels between the Luddites' class struggle against factory owners who used automated machines to replace workers and the modern conflicts between workers and tech giants. The book is based on extensive archival research and secondary historical sources, offering a gripping and detailed account of the Luddite movement and its relevance to contemporary issues of labor, technology, and human exploitation.