Book Reviews

Individualism, associated with Western culture, is a powerful force spreading around the globe that is often resisted by traditional communities. Respect for the role of community is essential for modern societies, argues George Rupp in Beyond Individualism: The Challenge of Inclusive Communities. Rupp has served as president of Columbia University, Rice University and the International Rescue Committee. Globalization may favor individualism over inclusion, Rupp notes, yet inclusion – engaging with others rather than rejecting their convictions – is essential for resolving major challenges like climate change or inequality.

In transitioning away from communism to independence since 1991, Ukraine struggled more than its neighbors, including Poland or Hungary. For more than two decades, Ukraine wavered between loyalty to Russia and stronger ties with the European Union.  Discontent and protests, Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and intervention in the country’s east have exacerbated struggles with inequality, high debt and corruption. Anders Åslund, an economist with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, served as an economic advisor to Ukraine’s President Leonid Kuchma from 1994 to 1997. He urges immediate reforms and austerity measures. In her review, Julia Sinitsky praises Åslund’s analysis, but questions the wisdom of austerity during a sensitive period. She also expresses doubt on his optimistic outlook but expresses hope that the book may inspire agents of change for Ukraine.

Exploring extreme and dangerous environments – the ocean depths, space, caves or disaster zones – requires courage, resilience, focus, self-discipline in addition to meticulous planning. Extreme: Why Some People Thrive at the Limits by Emma Barrett and Paul Martin examines the characteristics required to embrace and manage the risks. The authors argue that such skills and attitudes can be developed, taught and practiced. In her review, Susan Froetschel suggests that the skill set will come in handy as the globe experiences more extreme weather patterns, a result of climate change, and she concludes, “The world has a need for people willing to step into harm’s way, and how they manage risks should be understood and appreciated.” 

Robert M. Gates has vast national security experience as lieutenant in the US Air Force, analyst and later director of the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Council staffer, university president as well as secretary of defense who served two presidents from different parties while wars as wars were waged in Afghanistan and Iraq. So military analysts around the globe anticipated Gates’ book – Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War – published 30 months after he left his post as secretary of defense. In his review, Marc A. Sorel expresses some skepticism about Gates’ rhetorical comparisons of actual war with the bitter partisanship that divides Washington, though in the end, looks forward to more analysis from Gates in the years to come.