The Atrium

The Late Great USA : the coming merger with Mexico and Canada
Written by Jerome R. Corsir

Salute the Red, White y Azul, eh? The growing business and political partnerships between the United States, Canada and Mexico have some people worried that our sovereignty could erode if governmental consolidation continues to shape North America into a western version of the European Union. Corsi points out several examples of this impending notion, including our government's laissez-faire attitude toward illegal immigration, as foreshadowing to a day of our dissolved national identity.

Available now: NEW 333.17 C818L

The Bottom Billion : Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can be Done About It
Written by Paul Collier

If you ever want to feel better about paying too much for cable or gas, read up on Collier's explanation of why fifty states in the world (and their combined population of over one billion) are quickly falling behind modern standards of acceptable living conditions. Whereas traditional political and economic development theories have been put to use to foster growth in many nations, these concepts such as globalization and aid programs only worsen the already corrupt regimes ruling so many countries. To combat these political and military realities, Collier pleads for new thinking from the G8 and other international policy makers as the only option to reverse this devolution of societies.

Available now: NEW 338.9009172 C69b

One Red Paperclip : or how an ordinary man achieved his dreams with the help of a simple office supply
Kyle MacDonald

I remember reading about this kid in Canada who had the wish of obtaining a free house through a series of trades stemming from a giant red paperclip. At the time, he had secured himself a snowmobile. Well, as it turned out, the kid incredulously got his wish. This story of an average guy utilizing our obsessions of publicity and online trading to gain extraordinary results is definitely worth reading and learning about.

Available now: NEW 381.142 M145oL

Mobs, Messiahs, and Markets : surviving the public spectacle in finance and politics
William Bonner & Lila Rajiva

Here, Bonner and Rajiva highlight the ignorance and misdirection of the masses ranging from naivety to absurdity. After one realizes this byproduct of human society, the authors argue that one can become more successful in making financial and political decisions by not heeding to every passing fancy. Noting that this form of human behavior is nothing new, I am reminded of Charles Mackay's Extraordinary Popular Delusion & the Madness of Crowds written back in 1841. It can be disheartening to see that some things never do change. Hopefully with some insight, one does not have to be victimized by this phenomena.

Available now: NEW 658.473 B643m