Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4 reviews for:
Another World Is Possible: Lessons for America from Around the Globe
Natasha Hakimi Zapata
4.55 AVERAGE
4 reviews for:
Another World Is Possible: Lessons for America from Around the Globe
Natasha Hakimi Zapata
4.55 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
When Natasha Hakimi Zapata’s publishing team planned the release of Another World Is Possible for February 2025, they couldn’t have known it would come just as Trump took office for a second term and put out an avalanche of vindictive executive orders (ostensibly) dismantling any progress this country has made over the last decade or so. And yet, what perfect timing for a book that shows us that social and environmental progress is not only possible, not only well within humanity’s reach, but actively in practice elsewhere in the world as we speak.
Clearly organized, thoroughly researched, and approachably written, this book is a buoy in the storm. Zapata shows us the mechanisms of successful progressive initiatives around the world, such as universal healthcare, paid family leave, net neutrality, wildlife conservation, clean energy, addiction treatment, and more. Her skillful reportage balances the micro (real people she met who have shaped or been impacted by these policies) and the macro (the history of the policies and their resulting impacts). There were certain portions where I felt my attention wander — she’s at her strongest at the start and end of each chapter — but overall, I thought this was excellently done.
My biggest takeaway from this book is that in order for these important initiatives to succeed, they cannot be implemented in drips and drabs. It’s ALL or nothing. No single policy can succeed on its own; it is the combination of many policies working in concert toward the same end where the magic happens. And this is not only hopeful and optimistic, but also instructive and motivational in terms of what kinds of policies and proposals are worth fighting for here in the US.
I can’t remember the last time I picked up a non-fiction book—I'm usually all about fiction—but this one might just make me reconsider my approach.
The author explores successful progressive public policies from around the world, and it’s clear that a great deal of research has gone into it. Despite the abundance of facts and data, the book remains engaging, thanks in part to the personal touch added by excerpts from various interviews. I came away having learned a lot, though I’ll admit that I’m already a firm believer in the merits of these types of policies, so I wasn’t exactly in need of persuasion.
In these challenging times, we need more voices like this one, advocating for change and progress.
(Disclaimer: I received this book for free via NetGalley.)
The author explores successful progressive public policies from around the world, and it’s clear that a great deal of research has gone into it. Despite the abundance of facts and data, the book remains engaging, thanks in part to the personal touch added by excerpts from various interviews. I came away having learned a lot, though I’ll admit that I’m already a firm believer in the merits of these types of policies, so I wasn’t exactly in need of persuasion.
In these challenging times, we need more voices like this one, advocating for change and progress.
(Disclaimer: I received this book for free via NetGalley.)
challenging
informative
reflective
A fantastic book that dives into exactly how other countries are tackling the problems Americans are dealing with every day. As the book says, Another World IS Possible, we just need to follow the examples shown from this book. If you take one thing away from this, its the 6 lessons reviewed by the author again at the end of the book.