Climate and Capitalism editor Ian Angus presents seven new books for reds and greens about slavery, anti-science, extraction, disruption, oil power, language and planning.
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Slavery and Capitalism: A New Marxist History
By David McNally
University of California Press
Combining history, political economy and radical abolitionism, McNally argues that plantation slaves formed a modern working class. He highlights their fights for freedom and reframes their resistance as labour struggles over production and reproduction. Essential reading for understanding the roots of racial capitalism.
Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World
By Michael E Mann and Peter J Hotez
Public Affairs / Hachette
Two leading climate scientists take on the “highly organised, well-funded campaign of antiscience that … makes it nearly impossible to combat future pandemics or the climate crisis”. They identify five p’s — plutocrats, pros, petrostates, phonies and the press — as the enemies of science, and propose ways to counter their lies.
Or Something Worse: Why We Need to Disrupt the Climate Transition
By Nicholas Beurat
Verso
The push for net zero has become a new arena for class conflict, where the powerful profit and the rest suffer. Existing policies won’t limit global heating to anything close to a safe level. Beuret argues that we need to seize control of the transition and reshape it, not only to stop climate change but to build a fairer future.
Extractive Capitalism: How Commodities and Cronyism Drive the Global Economy
By Laleh Khalili
Verso
Whether it is pumping oil, mining resources, or shipping commodities across oceans, the global economy runs on extraction. In this wry and revealing account, Khalili exposes the dark truths behind the world’s most voracious industries.
On Oil
By Don Gillmor
Biblioasis
A short and compelling book by a journalist who formerly worked as a roughneck on oil rigs in Alberta. Gilmour examines how the industry dominates politics in Canada and elsewhere, and contributes to armed conflict and war across the world — as well as misdirecting conversations about environmentalism and frustrating efforts for change.
The Language Of Climate Politics: Fossil Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It
By Genevieve Guenther
Oxford University Press
Yet another in the large genre of books that claim we can win the climate fight by changing the way we talk about it. This one is better than most at exposing our opponents’ propaganda tools.
Reclaiming The Future: A Beginner’s Guide to Planning the Economy
By Simon Hannah
Pluto Press
Economic planning is out of favour with mainstream economists, but in this time of devastating environmental crises, it might be the only thing that can save us. In this myth-busting and accessible guide, British-based ecosocialist Simon Hannah makes the case for ending a system based on plunder and exploitation, and proposes steps towards aligning our economy with human needs and environmental limits
[Reprinted from Climate and Capitalism. Inclusion of a book does not imply endorsement.]