©Jonathan Worth
Books by Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist. He is the author of many books, most recently Red Team Blues, a noir crime thriller; Chokepoint Capitalism, nonfiction about monopoly and creative labor markets; the Little Brother series for young adults; In Real Life, a graphic novel; and the picture book Poesy the Monster Slayer. In 2020, he was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
“It is very near-future – around the 2040s or 50s – and it’s engaging with the politics of today. The premise is that a Green New Deal has been struck, and we are moving toward renewable energies and climate change mitigation, but there is still a contingent of people who are clinging to the MAGA ideals. They’re still in climate denial, and they’re actively trying to sabotage the Green New Deal as it’s happening. It’s a very political book. It presents lots of climate solutions of many stripes, but it’s focused on the political division that has led to our lack of climate action. It’s also very personal. The story is about a kid and his grandfather, who have completely opposite political ideas. It’s a very relatable situation these days, where often many of the people that we care about are just living in a completely different reality, and actively working against the things that we value.” Read more...
Sarena Ulibarri, Novelist
Red Team Blues
by Cory Doctorow
This is where we're at with global capitalism at the moment: if you want to catch criminals, it's time to become a forensic accountant. Marty Hench is the hero of Canadian blogger and activist Cory Doctorow's new novel (book one of a series), with the action revolving around cryptocurrency and Silicon Valley. A great way to combine reading a thriller and learning how the world works.
Read about the audiobook of Red Team Blues and why it's not available on Audible.com
“I read the novel for background, but I really grew to admire it. It is for young adults – it’s an adventure-action story, it’s not that complicated. But it’s very well done and conveys a lot of really interesting economic ideas very well. For instance, there’s the impact of globalisation, the possibility of bubbles occurring in economic systems, the idea of the race to the bottom, of sweatshops and the role of unionisation. Really key economic ideas.” Read more...
Tim Harford, Economist
Interviews with Cory Doctorow
The Best Noir Crime Thrillers, recommended by Cory Doctorow
If you like your crime novels with a good dose of black humor, Canadian activist and author Cory Doctorow has some recommendations for you. He picks out five of his favorite noir thrillers, from urban fantasy to Jewish alt-history by way of ‘Vantablack’ noir.
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1
A Hacker's Mind: How the Powerful Bend Society's Rules, and How to Bend them Back
by Bruce Schneier -
2
Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires
by Douglas Rushkoff -
3
Responding to the Right: Brief Replies to 25 Conservative Arguments
by Nathan Robinson -
4
Monopolized: Life in the Age of Corporate Power
by David Dayen -
5
Break 'Em Up: Recovering Our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money
by Zephyr Teachout
The best books on Chokepoint Capitalism, recommended by Cory Doctorow
The best books on Chokepoint Capitalism, recommended by Cory Doctorow
Modern market economies face a growing malaise, says activist and science fiction author Cory Doctorow: powerful actors creating ‘chokepoints’ between producers and consumers, causing untenable conditions for both. Here he picks out the best books he’s reviewed over the last two years and explains why they’re important.
Interviews where books by Cory Doctorow were recommended
Unexpected Economics Books, recommended by Tim Harford
You can find economics lessons in the most unlikely places, including the virtual world of computer games, says Tim Harford, author of a number of economics books aimed at the general public. He recommends five books that you wouldn’t necessarily expect on a list of popular economics books, but nonetheless contain important lessons.
The Best Solarpunk Books, recommended by Sarena Ulibarri
Solarpunk fiction is a form of climate fiction, but by focusing on the changes we could make, it can move us past climate anxiety, says author and editor Sarena Ulibarri. She introduces us to five favourites: ranging from near-future to far-future, they present a collection of thought experiments in the ways humanity might yet choose to live.
