Books In 5

Over the past 5 decades, the neoliberal consensus has hollowed America's economic capabilities and it is dangerously close to being overtaken in key sectors by allies and adversaries In this episode of Books in 5, the co-author of "Industrial Policy for the United States: Winning the Competition for Good Jobs and High-Value Industries" joins us to highlight the harsh reality that the U...

Shamans have held a deep appeal to humans for millennia as they fulfill a critical psychological need by taming & guiding the aspects of human life that are uncontrollable. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Shamanism: The Timeless Religion" joins us to highlight the development of Shamans throughout human history, their impact on modern society and the reality & fiction...

Humanity has always been interested in ranking the world around them and the invention of the like button is most recent & powerful way that people are displaying their preferences, for good and for ill. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Like: The Button That Changed the World" joins us to showcase just how this unassuming icon has come to dominate social media metrics, the...

Canadians might believe they have choices with regard to which financial institution they choose to bank with but all members of the Big 6 operate in ways that harm consumers. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Fleeced: Canadians Versus Their Banks" joins us to highlight how RBC, TD, Scotia, CIBC, BMO and NBC are able to charge high fees to their depositors, mutual fund holders...

The lobster industry has undergone tremendous change in the 21st century with fortunes made as demand has skyrocketed but there has been equally concerning challenges as the population of this luxury food is on the brink. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "The Lobster Trap: The Global Fight for a Seafood on the Brink" joins us to detail the development of this crucial ocean prod...

Individuals and governments are necessarily biased towards their interests in the short-term but they must also balance the need to make decisions that will provide benefits into the future In this episode of Books in 5, the author of Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the Long Term joins us to reveal the importance of understanding what makes people & institutions tick, measur...

Canada has fallen off in so many important economic metrics compared to it's wealthy peers but it has the opportunity to right the ship if executives, policymakers and people all pull in the same direction. In this episode of Books in 5, one of the author's of "Everybody's Business: How to Ensure Canadian Prosperity in the 21st Century" joins us to highlight how Canada's po...

Extremist attacks in the United States have a long history but there are concerns that the threat level is rising in the 21st century. In this episode of Books in 5, the authors of "God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America" join us to detail how social media is changing the landscape, why the military & police are dependable recruiting grounds, the dangers of lone wolves...

The popular narrative surrounding the mindset of Iran's leaders as motivated by faith or exporting the revolution is dangerously misplaced as it does not take into account what has primarily driven events in the country and the region. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History" joins us to reveal his work in breaking the myths that Ame...

In times of market uncertainty, executives and decision-makers must have a clear understanding of their priorities, their tools and their risks in order take advantage of the opportunities ahead. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Outside In, Inside Out: Unleashing the Power of Business Strategy in Times of Market Uncertainty" joins us to reveal his framework that can help busin...

Pop culture have a such a large effect on the world but can their impact be quantified? In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect Everything" joins us to reveal how television and film changes our physical bodies, the changing dynamics of people's taste & preferences in society as reflected on the screen, the billion-dollar decis...

The entrepreneurial spirit in America has become more prominent since the 19th century as people are increasingly believing that the way to make it is not as a worker but as a business owner In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America" joins us to detail how positive values of work ethic and loyalty were overtaken in...

Inflation as both a concept and a real-world phenomenon is talked about and debated by experts and everyday people but the true causes and effects are shrouded in myths & misinformation. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers" joins us to highlight the four genres of how prices and wages rise, the importance of understanding the 1970's...

There has been a mythology surrounding guns in the United States that allegedly involves the Founding Fathers and the 2nd Amendment but the reality of Americans increasingly arming themselves can be traced to the middle decades of the 20th century. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture, and Control in Cold War America" joins us to detail the fir...

The development of the global economy to become increasingly interconnected has benefited and harmed people in different ways with supply chains stretch now stretching across nations. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain" joins us to detail the rise of Chinese manufacturing prowess to become the dominant producer...

Henry Wallace was one of the most consequential American figures of the 20th century as the world looks entirely different if he was Vice President when FDR died in 1945. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "The World That Wasn't: Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century" joins us to highlight Henry's early career before he entered politics, how he was guided by...

The mental health and wellness industry has grown tremendously over the past few decades but is it truly helping people improve their lives? In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Mind the Science: Saving Your Mental Health from the Wellness Industry" joins us to showcase why so many are falling prey to pseudoscience, who is peddling these bullshit cures, the warning signs that shou...

Government's in Ottawa & in provincial capitals have been very generous to the private sector going back to Confederation but has this largesse benefited the average Canadian? In this episode of Books in 5, the author of At The Trough: The Rise and Rise of Canada's Corporate Welfare Bums joins us to to detail the long history of corporate welfare in the nation, why politicians cannot r...

While technology has allowed American society to experience tremendous prosperity and progress, the electoral system is still stuck in the past and it is causing democratic institutions to become tilted towards a small minority of special interests. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Vote With Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting Is Our Final Shot At Saving Democracy" joins us to highl...

The only way for humanity to contend with the climate crisis is with changing the entire system but what does that really look like? In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis" joins us to showcase how the status quo is unsustainable, the different strategies that must be considered for political transformation and why the right...

Canada's parliamentary system of government is supposed to represent the people but it is being dominated by the party elites and the Prime Minister. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "The Crisis of Canadian Democracy" joins us to highlight why the First Past The Post structure stifles democracy, how the PM has concentrated power in his office to overpower his own caucus &am...

The United States hold the prime position in the global economy and it can utilize this power to wage economic war against it's adversaries In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare" joins us to reveal the critical history of the 1990's and 2000's as America consolidated it's grip on world finance, how sanctions...

Driving across the country with one's family is as American as one can be but the transformation the country has experienced over the past decade means that the younger generation will see places and witness events that their parents never did. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "The Last American Road Trip" joins us to describe the adventures her family went on while on the...

While people have the image of a spy as someone who conducts operations in a clandestine manner under the cover of secrecy, the reality is much more nuanced. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "I Was Never Here: My True Canadian Spy Story in the Age of Terrorism" joins us to detail his experience as a CSIS operative, the importance of connecting with the community and the challen...

The industry, culture and use of marijuana in Canada has transformed over the past decade as the substance was legalized in 2018 and billions of dollars were on the line. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Catch a Fire: The Blaze and Bust of the Canadian Cannabis Industry" joins us to detail the build-up to this major moment, the policy dynamics in the nation's capital regar...