State of Play: Geopolitics, US Foreign Policy, and NATO Enlargement — with Jeffrey Sachs

In this book, Jeffrey Sachs argues that extreme poverty, defined as incomes of less than one dollar per day, can be eradicated globally by 2025. He proposes the use of 'clinical economics,' a methodical analysis and tailored solutions for each country's economic problems. The book emphasizes the importance of achieving the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, increasing development aid, and addressing various factors such as government corruption, lack of infrastructure, and health issues. Sachs also presents case studies from countries like Bolivia, Poland, Russia, and several African nations to illustrate his approach.

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett is a story that begins at a christening party in the 1960s where an uninvited guest, Bert Cousins, sets off a chain of events by kissing Beverly Keating, leading to the dissolution of two marriages and the blending of their families. The novel follows the lives of the six children from these families as they spend summers together in Virginia, forging strong bonds despite their parents' dysfunction. The story spans five decades, exploring themes of family, love, loss, and the ownership of stories, particularly when one of the children, Franny, shares their family history with a novelist, leading to a bestseller that exposes their personal stories to the world. Patchett's writing is characterized by its balance of humor and heartbreak, vivid character descriptions, and poignant observations on relationships and life.

In this book, Mearsheimer presents a realist perspective on international relations, arguing that great powers are driven to accumulate power and ensure their survival in an anarchic world. He contends that even security-seeking great powers are compelled to compete and conflict with one another, leading to a tragic cycle of power struggles. The book examines historical examples, such as the rise of Imperial Germany, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and the Soviet Union, to illustrate the inevitability of great power competition. Mearsheimer also discusses the potential rise of China and its implications for global politics, emphasizing that a rising China will seek to dominate Asia while the United States will strive to prevent this dominance.

In 'Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet', Jeffrey D. Sachs provides a comprehensive analysis of the global challenges posed by environmental degradation, rapid population growth, and extreme poverty. He presents a program of sustainable development and international cooperation to address these issues. The book emphasizes the need for effective management of natural resources, stabilization of the global population, and cooperation among nations to ensure global peace and prosperity.