In 'One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger', Matthew Yglesias makes a compelling case for why the United States needs to significantly increase its population to remain a global leader. He argues that supporting parents and children, welcoming immigrants, and implementing policies such as more housing, better transportation, improved education, revitalized welfare, and climate change mitigation are crucial for national prosperity. Drawing on examples and solutions from around the world, Yglesias presents a radical but well-reasoned challenge to traditional thinking on population growth and national greatness.
In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.
In 'Justice, Gender, and the Family', Susan Moller Okin critiques major philosophical theories of justice, arguing that they overlook the role of gender and family structures. She contends that traditional family dynamics perpetuate gender inequalities, affecting women's opportunities in both public and private spheres. Okin advocates for a more inclusive theory of justice that addresses these familial injustices.
In this book, Francis Fukuyama continues his exploration of the formation and decay of political societies, begun in 'The Origins of Political Order'. He examines the development of modern political institutions from the French Revolution to contemporary times, including the impact of industrialization, colonialism, and the rise of global democracy. Fukuyama argues that a well-functioning modern state requires a balance between a strong, efficient state, the rule of law, and democratic accountability. He critiques the current state of American politics, highlighting issues such as 'vetocracy' and the judicialization of political processes, which he believes contribute to political decay. The book also explores case studies from various regions, including Europe, Asia, and Latin America, to illustrate different paths of political development and decay.
In this book, Gregory Clark addresses profound questions about global economic disparities. He argues that the Industrial Revolution and subsequent economic growth in eighteenth-century England were driven by cultural changes, such as the adoption of middle-class values like hard work, rationality, and education. Clark challenges prevailing theories by suggesting that these cultural shifts, rather than institutional or geographical factors, explain the wealth and poverty of nations. The book also discusses the Malthusian trap and how Britain's unique demographic and social dynamics allowed it to break out of this cycle and achieve significant economic growth.
Matt Yglesias is a co-founder and senior correspondent at Vox, my co-host on The Weeds podcast, and my oldest friend in journalism. Matt’s college blog was an inspiration for my own, and since then we’ve worked together, podcasted together, and even started Vox together. I've learned an enormous amount from him, both when we agree and when we disagree.
A lot has changed since Matt and I started blogging in the early 2000s — and we’ve changed, too. So we start this conversation by discussing how social media has altered American politics, why Matt went from a war hawk to near-pacifist on US foreign policy, what it’s like to go from attacking the establishment to being seen as part of the establishment, and the way the Obama administration disillusioned him.
But Matt has also recently written a new book, One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger. In it, he argues that the path to ensure American greatness and preeminence on the world stage is a combination of mass immigration, pro-family policy, and overhauling America’s housing and transportation systems. We discuss how to reconcile that vision with the reality of climate change, what a genuinely progressive pro-family agenda would look like, Donald Trump’s housing policy dog-whistling, why we should be allowing a lot more legal immigration, and much more.
Book recommendations:
Justice, Gender and the Family by Susan M. Okin
Political Order and Political Decay by Francis Fukuyama
A Farewell to Alms by Gregory Clark
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The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
