A young man, David, travels to America in search of success, only to discover a complex labyrinth of harsh reality and success that seem evasive. A thought-provoking novel that epitomizes the struggles of the African immigrant in America, who has fallen victim to the African brain drain and caught in two worlds, where returning is almost as tedious as realizing his dreams of success in America. In a detailed recollection, Charles Addo articulates David's struggles, as he searches for ways to success. At last, David grows to realize that corruption and economic mismanagement that permeate the African political system are largely accountable for the African brain drain problem of which he has himself fallen victim. He hooks up with a friend, in an Internet-based campaign that successfully helps topple in a first-ever transfer of political power from one elected government to another in Africa, the corrupt rule of army captain Rawlings, head of a military junta that seized political power earlier. A must-read novel that inspires with an unusual insight into the resilience of the human spirit, and offers food for thought for the future crop of African leaders regarding the adverse impact of brain drain on the African continent.
"Julien is captivated by a beautiful young woman, and his yearning for freedom from his protective mother turns into tragedy. This poetic and haunting novel won the Governor General's Award for French Fiction in 1992."
“Anatomy of Economic Inequality Second Edition” delves into the intricate and multifaceted nature of economic inequality and poverty, offering a comprehensive examination of their causes, consequences, and potential solutions. This book is designed to provide readers with a deep understanding of the various dimensions of economic inequality, from income and wealth disparities to inequality of opportunity and social mobility. It defines key terms such as economic inequality and poverty, exploring their different forms and how they are interconnected. The book also provides a historical overview of economic inequality and poverty, tracing their evolution from pre-industrial times to the present day, and compares levels of inequality and poverty across different countries and regions. The central argument of the book is that extreme inequality is a root cause of poverty, and that certain policies can address both issues simultaneously. It outlines the potential consequences of inaction and emphasizes the urgency of addressing economic inequality and poverty. The book covers various metrics of inequality, such as the Gini coefficient and the Palma ratio, and explores methods for measuring wealth inequality. It also discusses asset inequality, inequality of opportunity, and social mobility. Additionally, the book examines the impact of the Industrial Revolution, urbanization, migration, colonialism, and imperialism on economic inequality. It profiles the ultra-wealthy, analyzes the disappearing middle class, and explores the winners and losers of globalization. The book also delves into the political economy of inequality, the financialization of the economy, and the human cost of inequality, providing a compelling case for change.
"John Phillips writes with enthusiasm and clarity, . . . cutting through the confusion and heretical dangers associated with Bible interpretation." --Moody Magazine
It’s 1915. WW1 has been raging for six months. Twenty-three year old miner Joe Mathieson lives in a small community on the east coast of Fife, Scotland. His life is joyless, his future bleak. Unlike his older brother, Fred, who enlisted in the army at the beginning of the war, Joe is apathetic to the world around him and has no interest in being part of the stream of young men joining the armed forces. But when Joe uncovers a secret his fifteen-year old brother, Walter, has kept from the family, he sets off on a quest that leads him into the horrors of WW1 in France. Assigned to stretcher-bearer duties, Joe is surprised he finds the up-to-the-minute medical innovations and treatments fascinating. On hospital trains and the battlefields of the Somme, Joe uses his newfound skills to ease the extraordinary suffering of ordinary men, while being left to deal with the consequences of Walter’s secret. In the midst of this destructive chaos, even as the world around him darkens, Joe discovers sustaining friendships and love that opens him to a fresh belief in life and in himself.
The story focuses on the protagonist, Mwana Mutota, who is a descendant of an ancient bloodline of kings of the Great Stone Empire. The son is in constant conflict with his conscious and subconscious mind since, in his dreams, he finds solace and peace, and this is embodied in the f irst scene, The Castle in the Sky. This is unlike when he awakens and finds life futile and existential, as evidenced by the second scene, Return to the Earth Realm. Dreams therefore present the highest form of existence as one is in their truest form and bound by no rules, sin, or flesh and present the only peace in the protagonists life. Life therefore revolves around the conflict of the internal (the soul that is only free in dreams) and the external (the body that is trapped on earth) that drives the protagonist to the brink of insanity as the plot unfolds. The Great Stone Empire presents an empire that, through colonialism and corruption, is economically and socially depleted to the point of widespread unemployment and poverty. Mwana Mutotaor rather The Son, as he prefers to call himselfon the request of Chaminuka (the guardian spirit of Nubian empires), is crowned king under the wings of the premiere of the empire (the last defiant Nubian leader against the west). The underlying battle of the story is of the sons of light versus the sons of darkness, a story that began from the dawn of time and is still ongoing. This is embodied in Mwana Mutota (the son of light) and his battle with Adam (the son of darkness), the deadly assassin hell-bent on ending Mwanas life. Gladys is Mwana Mutotas love,and yet they have not seen in each other in years. The platonic relationship presents the struggle of pure love in a corrupted world, and the desire to once more be together is Mwanas ultimate hope in life. Gladys is the descendant of the Mojaji queen who, in a past life, was married to the Mutota king; and they were separated through conspiracy and treachery. Gladys Mojaji and Mwana Mutota, therefore, represent mediums of the greatest spirit of the empire, which is Chaminuka, and form part of his trinity and their reuniting in the Earth realm represents a return to a lost virtue in the universe of the highest form, which is love. The last scene is called Return to Eden, as it captures a pure and lost Nubian love as the bodies and souls of the Mutota and Mojaji king and queen once more reunite. A perfect harmony is restored in the universe, and the two souls reunite in the spirit world. They walk hand in hand in the full allure of a spiritual garden full of the beauty of nature, and the two embrace in the earth realm. And the story reaches an end (for now).
In 16th century India, when Nadee is swept away by the Yamuna, her life itself becomes a journey; a journey that takes her from her devastated village, Zameerpur, to the burning ghats of Kashi, to the courts of Agra and then on to the city of dreams, Fatehpur-Sikri. This book traces her journey until she finally achieves what has been predestined.
