David Boyle Boeken

Exploring the struggles of liberal democracy in Europe, the authors advocate for a revitalized form of Liberalism that embraces its radical roots. They envision a decisive approach that fosters an open society, moving away from bureaucratic governance to one that encourages grassroots challenges. By intertwining historical context with contemporary cultural shifts, the book presents a compelling case for a stronger, more assertive Liberalism. It appeals to readers across the political spectrum who are invested in the future of European liberal democracy amidst rising extremism.

The book, first published in 2009, offers insights into its subject matter through a scholarly lens. As part of the Routledge imprint, it reflects a commitment to academic rigor and is designed for readers seeking in-depth analysis and understanding. The content is likely to engage those interested in the themes and discussions presented, making it a valuable addition to the field it addresses.

Not long ago, economic theories were generally based on a narrow set of principles. Then the continuing boom-bust cycle combined with the failure of the best economic minds to ensure that prosperity spreads down through the economy has left a series of very obvious question marks.

The Communist Manifesto is one of the world's most influential political documents. Written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, it presented the Communist League's program and purposes. It explained the goals of communism and the theory underlying the movement. Among other topics, this volume discusses and brings to life the reasons why the document was written, how it was received by the people for whom it was written, the effect it had on society at the time, the global effects and repercussions it had, and whether it has any relevancy in the 21st century. The entire document is reproduced in the book.

For the first time ever, today's middle classes will struggle to enjoy the same privileges of security and comfort that their grandparents did. How did this situation come about? What can be done about it? In this inquiry, David Boyle questions why the middle classes are diminishing and how their status, independence and values are being eroded.

English culture is confused, muddled and often borrowed. We examine the brutality of Punch and Judy and our historic love of fairies, once so much a part of the English psyche that they were described as `the British religion'.

Great Inventions in 30 Seconds looks at fifty groundbreaking innovations - together with the individuals behind the ideas - that really have changed the world.

David Boyle guides us through the next big thing in Western living – the determined rejection of the fake, the virtual, the spun and the mass-produced, in the search for authenticity. The charms of the global and virtual future we were all brought up to expect, where meals would be eaten in the form of pills and machines would do all our work, have worn rather thin. It's not that we don't want all the advantages of progress, we just want a future that manages to be local and real too. Tracking the struggle for reality from Japanese theme parks to mock-Tudor villas and from Byron to Big Brother, ‘Authenticity’ explains where our reactions against spin and fakeness come from – and where they are going. The current revival of real food, real business, real culture flies in the face of expert opinion from politicians, economists, advertisers and big business – and they're having to run to keep up as our hype attention-span gets ever shorter. Optimistic, witty, highly thought-provoking and packed with fascinating stories, Boyle’s search asks whether coolness is dead, how real reality is and whether realpolitik can ever change into real politics. He puts authenticity firmly on the map, lifting the lid on all the other symptoms of this powerful new phenomenon – revealing the unexpected force that looks set to change all our lives.