E222 - Self-Censorship w/ Glenn Loury

The book delves into the 'unconsummated social courtship' between Jews and gentiles, focusing on the predicament of Jews caught between their traditional, intimate community (Yiddishkeit) and the formal, polite expectations of gentile society. Cuddihy argues that the fundamental cultural norm of modernity is the politeness and formality required in interactions with strangers, which posed significant challenges for Jews moving out of Eastern European shtetls into modern European societies. The book also examines how the theories of Freud, Marx, and Lévi-Strauss were influenced by their Jewish backgrounds and the struggle with assimilation.

In this influential book, Albert O. Hirschman explores how individuals and groups respond to decline in various organizations. He introduces the concepts of 'exit' (withdrawing from the organization), 'voice' (attempting to improve the organization through complaint or protest), and 'loyalty' (the factor that can influence the choice between exit and voice). Hirschman argues that these responses are interdependent and that understanding their interaction is crucial for addressing organizational decline. The book applies these concepts to a wide range of economic, social, and political phenomena, including consumer behavior, political parties, and personal relationships.

Written against the backdrop of the nuclear arms race in the late 1950s, this book sets forth Thomas Schelling's vision of game theory as a unifying framework for the social sciences. It explores areas where progress has been least satisfactory, including negotiations, war and threats of war, criminal deterrence, extortion, and tacit bargaining. Schelling's analysis highlights enlightening similarities between various conflict scenarios, such as maneuvering in limited war and in a traffic jam, and deterring adversaries versus one’s own children. His work emphasizes the importance of strategic commitments, the credibility of uncertain retaliation, and the exploitation of potential force rather than its application. The book has significantly influenced conflict resolution and the development of game theory across the social sciences.

In this autobiography, Booker T. Washington chronicles his life from his childhood as a slave to his rise as a prominent educator and civil rights leader. The book describes his struggles to obtain an education, his experiences at the Hampton Institute, and his work in establishing vocational schools, particularly the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Washington emphasizes the importance of education, hard work, and practical skills for the advancement of African Americans. He also reflects on his public speaking career and his role in shaping race relations in the post-Reconstruction South.