Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs

Ray Kurzweil, a leading futurist and AI visionary at Google, engages in a captivating dialogue about the accelerating technological landscape and its implications for humanity. He discusses his updated predictions on AI, including the prospect that machines will rival human intelligence by 2029. They explore the transformative power of nanotechnology, the promise of radical life extension, and the ethical challenges surrounding machine consciousness. The conversation highlights both the awe-inspiring potential and the cautionary tales of merging humanity with technology.

Send us a textJoin Professor Jeffrey Sachs and American historian Lauren Benton for a discussion on the hidden histories of empires and the lasting impact of imperial violence. In her book, They Called It Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence Benton uncovers how European powers built and maintained their empires through relentless cycles of raiding, slaving, and plunder—while portraying their conquests as missions of order and peace.Together, they explore the brutal mechanics of colonial expansion, the blurred lines between war and peace, and how fragile truces paved the way for endless conflict. Was imperial violence an aberration, or did it set the stage for the perpetual wars that define our world today? With insights spanning centuries and continents, this episode confronts the uncomfortable truths about power, violence, and the myths that continue to shape global order.The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.Footnotes:ImperialismInternational LawEmpiresHistory of WarsLaw of WarLong 19th CenturyState of Exception Perpetual WarReconquistaExterminatory Violence1492: Conquest of ParadiseWar TruecesInformal EmpireNeocolonialismBritish Merchants Policing The Dividing of Africa by EuropeWar Against Tasmanian Aborigines Drone Warfare⭐️ Thank you for listening!➡️ Sign up for the newsletter: https://bit.ly/subscribeBCJS➡️ Website: bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org 🎉 Don't forget to subscribe and share your favorite episode with your friends! 📣 Leave a rating and tell us what you thought about this episode!

Send us a textJoin Professor Jeffrey Sachs and historian, Professor Richard Overy for an insightful conversation on one of humanity’s most unsettling questions: Why do we wage war? In his book, Why War? Overy takes us on a journey across time, from the ancient battlefields of the Roman Empire to the devastation of the World Wars and the conflicts shaping our present.Together, they examine what drives organized violence? Is it hardwired into human nature, or does it stem from competition for resources, power, and security? Drawing on psychology, history, and political strategy, Overy dissects the deep-rooted forces behind war— confronting the stark realities of conflict and examining whether war is an inescapable part of our past—or an unavoidable part of our future. This episode doesn’t shy away from the hard truths—there are no easy answers, and Overy delivers no false hope.The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.Footnotes:Why Do Humans Make War?StatecraftYugoslav WarsAristotelianismBarbarian Proxy WarPeloponnesian WarsThucydidesJihad Israeli - Palestinian ConflictNuremberg TrialsHermann GoeringDemagogue of AthensBritain Mercantile StateNew ImperialismHobbes Social ContractMunich AgreementOperation PaperclipStalin’s Rise to Power⭐️ Thank you for listening!➡️ Sign up for the newsletter: https://bit.ly/subscribeBCJS➡️ Website: bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org 🎉 Don't forget to subscribe and share your favorite episode with your friends! 📣 Leave a rating and tell us what you thought about this episode!

Send us a textJoin Professor Jeffrey Sachs and global security expert Jon Wolfsthal to unravel the stark reality behind the Doomsday Clock - now set at a perilous 89 seconds to midnight. What does this ominous timepiece truly measure, and why has humanity never been closer to catastrophe? Wolfsthal offers a behind-the-scenes look at the decision-making process that determines the clock’s position and insights into how and if we can move the clock further away from midnight. Together, they dive deep into the rising threats of nuclear war, climate change, AI-driven warfare, and biological risks, exposing the fragile state of global security. The conversation traces the history of the clock—from moments of de-escalation, like the Cold War’s end, to the unraveling of arms control agreements and the resurgence of dangerous geopolitical tensions. But it’s not all doom and gloom—this episode also lays out real, actionable solutions to push back from the brink and build a safer future. Can world leaders act in time, or are we sleepwalking into disaster? Tune in for a crucial discussion on humanity’s future—before it’s too late.Footnotes:Doomsday ClockBulletin of Atomic Scientists Einstein and the Nuclear Arms RaceTreaty on the Prohibition Nuclear WeaponsIvana Nikolić HughesNuclear WeaponOppenheimer Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty JFK Peace SpeechCuban Missile CrisisBiowarfareAlpha Fold Nobel Prize Dual-use TechnologyBiosafety Level Genetic EngineeringDisruptive TechnologiesTruman and OppenheimerAegis Ballistic Missile Defense System⭐️ Thank you for listening!➡️ Sign up for the newsletter: https://bit.ly/subscribeBCJS➡️ Website: bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org 🎉 Don't forget to subscribe and share your favorite episode with your friends! 📣 Leave a rating and tell us what you thought about this episode!

Eugene Rogan, a Modern Middle Eastern History professor at Oxford and author of 'The Arabs: A History,' joins the discussion on the intricate history of the Arab world. They explore the lasting impacts of Ottoman rule and European colonialism, including the Balfour Declaration and its relevance to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With insights on the evolution of Arab identity and external influences, Rogan provides a masterclass in understanding current geopolitical crises, emphasizing the need for historical context to tackle today’s challenges.

Annie Jacobsen, an award-winning journalist and bestselling author, dives deep into the chilling realities of nuclear war in her latest work. She unpacks a gripping scenario that exposes the razor-thin line between safety and catastrophe. Their conversation reveals urgent insights on the immediate dangers of missile launches, the grim realities of U.S. nuclear preparedness, and the risks of communication breakdowns that could lead to escalation. Jacobsen advocates for nuclear disarmament while reflecting on historical missteps, urging a reevaluation of our approach to nuclear threats.

Glenn Diesen, a political scientist and professor at the University of Southeastern Norway, dives into the complexities surrounding the Ukraine war and its implications for the Eurasian world order. He discusses Europe's fractured security and the dire consequences of NATO-Russia tensions. The conversation weaves through historical frameworks, the legacy of the Cold War, and the evolving geopolitical alliances, particularly between China and Russia. Diesen emphasizes the urgent need to navigate these tensions to avoid catastrophic outcomes.

Send us a textJoin Professor Jeffrey Sachs and retired Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant Dennis Fritz, a former Pentagon insider, as they explore the extremely important insights in Fritz’s new book, Deadly Betrayal, which uncovers the ugly truths behind the Iraq War in 2003. Drawing from dramatic evidence, Fritz explains how a group of high-level Pentagon officials (a “cabal” in Fritz’s description) in the Bush Jr. Administration manipulated intelligence, pressured other nations, and swayed Congress and public to support a disastrous war. Together, they delve into the astounding evidence that Fritz uncovered during his work at the Pentagon while examining the documentary record of the war.  Fritz discovered three reasons for the utterly misguided Iraq War: to restore American “credibility” in the Middle East, to go to war on Israel’s behalf, and to deliver “democracy” at gunpoint. The results were a massive failure on all counts. The lessons of the Iraq War remain crucial for our own time, as various lobbies continue to try to manipulate the US into still more unnecessary and reckless wars.The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.⭐️ Thank you for listening!➡️ Sign up for the newsletter: https://bit.ly/subscribeBCJS➡️ Website: bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org 🎉 Don't forget to subscribe and share your favorite episode with your friends! 📣 Leave a rating and tell us what you thought about this episode!

In this engaging conversation, political scientist Aaron Good reflects on his book, examining the troubling relationship between U.S. foreign policy and American exceptionalism. He discusses how the deep state has shaped major political events and the erosion of democracy. Good critiques the increasing concentration of power among elites and the historical ties of U.S. intelligence to controversial figures. The dialogue raises critical questions about restoring true democratic governance in a world driven by covert interests.

Send us a textJoin Professors Jeffrey Sachs, Christina Gerhardt and UN Senior Advisor on Small Island Developing States, Simona Marinescu as they discuss human induced global warming, the implications of rising sea levels, and Gerhardt’s book, Sea Change: An Atlas of Islands in a Rising Ocean. This discussion shifts our focus to the frontlines of climate change—low-lying islands and despite contributing the least to global warming, these islands bear the brunt of its impacts. Together, they explore the local stories of various islands and coastlines through immersive storytelling, scientific insight, and research from each of their own personal experiences. Join us to learn about the impacts of climate change, tourism, military bases and more on these island economies and their indigenous inhabitants. While the implications for these communities are dire, leave hopeful that there are solutions and approaches being used to protect the cultural heritage and identity of these islands.The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.Footnotes:SIDSUS and China Climate StandoffUS Climate NegotiationsSea Levels Rising Colonialism in SIDS Climatologists Nature based SolutionsLow Lying Islands Migration with Dignity Policy IPPCJames Hansen Ice sheets melting Manhattan Fate to Sea Level Rising Internal Displacement on SIDSPact for the FutureMarshall Plan for SIDS⭐️ Thank you for listening!➡️ Sign up for the newsletter: https://bit.ly/subscribeBCJS➡️ Website: bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org 🎉 Don't forget to subscribe and share your favorite episode with your friends! 📣 Leave a rating and tell us what you thought about this episode!