807 Islands of Portugal; Easter Island; Endangered Languages

In 'Travel as a Political Act,' Rick Steves argues that travel can be a powerful tool for understanding the world and its diverse cultures. Through his personal experiences and field reports from Europe, Central America, Asia, and the Middle East, Steves shows how thoughtful travel can help individuals gain empathy for other cultures and develop a broader perspective on global issues. The book addresses the current climate of divisiveness and fear, suggesting that travel can be an antidote to xenophobia and a way to learn more about one's own country by viewing it from afar.

In *Language City*, Ross Perlin explores the unique history of immigration that shaped New York City, focusing on six speakers of little-known languages like Seke, N'ko, Lenape, Nahuatl, Wakhi, and Yiddish. The book delves into the challenges these languages face and the efforts to maintain and revive them against the backdrop of dominant languages like English and Spanish.

In 'Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed', Jared Diamond examines the collapse of past societies, such as the Anasazi, the Maya, and the Norse colonies on Greenland, due to factors like environmental damage, climate change, hostile neighbors, loss of trading partners, and the society's response to these challenges. Diamond argues that environmental concerns are crucial to a society's success and that the way a society responds to its environmental problems is often the decisive factor in its survival or collapse. The book also draws parallels between historical collapses and current global issues, offering practical lessons and solutions to avoid similar catastrophes in the present and future.