Katakam’s clear, accessible language and humanistic focus make this thoughtful work a pleasure to read.
In this treatise, former entrepreneur Katakam argues that there’s a more enlightened path between the economic poles of capitalism and communism.
The subject of Katakam’s book is inclusive economics, a system of economic thought that’s based on five principles: growth, participation, opportunity, stability, and sustainability. Rather than focusing solely on profit and competition, the author notes, inclusive economics seeks to maximize a spirit of cooperation and community; this results in a “third way” approach that starts within an individual and moves outward to improve the social, political, and physical environment in which they live. Throughout, Katakam draws on multiple disciplines, including business, philosophy, and psychology, to explain the core tenets of the inclusive economics concept and how it would address such issues as climate change and income inequality. Despite such weighty material, Katakam writes with a light, sometimes playful tone, explaining ideas clearly without getting bogged down in academic language. The author also deftly uses pop-culture references to elucidate his meaning and create connections with millennial and Gen Z readers, although he includes enough older references that Gen X readers won’t feel left out; fans of a certain 1999 SF/action film will appreciate at least one of Katakam’s extended metaphors: “Just like the human energy source in The Matrix, our mindless, desperate, or even well-intended spending makes the wealthiest even wealthier.” Ironically, his writing is so accessible and nimble that some readers may take it as a sign that the material isn’t as deserving of attention. However, the author—who credits his background in accounting and startup creation for his current interest in social economics—shows clear passion and intellectual acumen throughout.
Katakam’s clear, accessible language and humanistic focus make this thoughtful work a pleasure to read.Pub Date: Feb. 29, 2024
ISBN: 9781955671347
Page Count: 388
Publisher: Otterpine
Review Posted Online: Feb. 20, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.
Documenting perilous times.
In his most recent behind-the-scenes account of political power and how it is wielded, Woodward synthesizes several narrative strands, from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel to the 2024 presidential campaign. Woodward’s clear, gripping storytelling benefits from his legendary access to prominent figures and a structure of propulsive chapters. The run-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is tense (if occasionally repetitive), as a cast of geopolitical insiders try to divine Vladimir Putin’s intent: “Doubt among allies, the public and among Ukrainians meant valuable time and space for Putin to maneuver.” Against this backdrop, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham implores Donald Trump to run again, notwithstanding the former president’s denial of his 2020 defeat. This provides unwelcome distraction for President Biden, portrayed as a thoughtful, compassionate lifetime politico who could not outrace time, as demonstrated in the June 2024 debate. Throughout, Trump’s prevarications and his supporters’ cynicism provide an unsettling counterpoint to warnings provided by everyone from former Joint Chief of Staff Mark Milley to Vice President Kamala Harris, who calls a second Trump term a likely “death knell for American democracy.” The author’s ambitious scope shows him at the top of his capabilities. He concludes with these unsettling words: “Based on my reporting, Trump’s language and conduct has at times presented risks to national security—both during his presidency and afterward.”
An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781668052273
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
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A fierce, penetrating, and empowering call for change.
Artist and activist Vaid-Menon demonstrates how the normativity of the gender binary represses creativity and inflicts physical and emotional violence.
The author, whose parents emigrated from India, writes about how enforcement of the gender binary begins before birth and affects people in all stages of life, with people of color being especially vulnerable due to Western conceptions of gender as binary. Gender assignments create a narrative for how a person should behave, what they are allowed to like or wear, and how they express themself. Punishment of nonconformity leads to an inseparable link between gender and shame. Vaid-Menon challenges familiar arguments against gender nonconformity, breaking them down into four categories—dismissal, inconvenience, biology, and the slippery slope (fear of the consequences of acceptance). Headers in bold font create an accessible navigation experience from one analysis to the next. The prose maintains a conversational tone that feels as intimate and vulnerable as talking with a best friend. At the same time, the author's turns of phrase in moments of deep insight ring with precision and poetry. In one reflection, they write, “the most lethal part of the human body is not the fist; it is the eye. What people see and how people see it has everything to do with power.” While this short essay speaks honestly of pain and injustice, it concludes with encouragement and an invitation into a future that celebrates transformation.
A fierce, penetrating, and empowering call for change. (writing prompt) (Nonfiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: June 2, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-09465-5
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2020
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