As part of the Ragged Library, Dr Neil Robertson, at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Chemistry suggested “Sustainable energy – without the hot air” by David J. C. MacKay
Sustainable energy is set to be the defining challenge of the 21st century, hence everyone needs to read a clear and accurate book on the subject. This book systematically examines the main options for renewable energy and sets out to realistically estimate how much energy we could obtain and what steps we would have to take to get there. The key to the book is its approach of “Numbers, not adjectives” combined with its accessible, non-technical style.
This book is also available as a free ebook (in multiple formats) from the authors website at
As part of the Ragged Library, Dr Gillean McCluskey, the head of Moray House’s Institute for Education, Community and Society at University of Edinburgh suggested ‘The Spirit Level: Why Equality Is Better For Everyone, (2010) R Wilkinson, and K Pickett, published by Penguin’…
As part of the Ragged Library, David Jarman, School of Marketing, Tourism and Language, Edinburgh Napier University suggested ‘Connected: The Amazing Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives’…
I am putting a book titled Connected into the Ragged Library. Connected has the subtitle ‘the amazing power of social networks and how they shape our lives’ and it does its best to live up to that claim. Through a series of case studies the authors (Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler) draw from numerous fields of research to present their arguments: that our social networks influence our daily lives in ways we are barely aware of.
As part of the Ragged Library, Keith Smyth, Senior Lecturer in Higher Education at Edinburgh Napier University suggested ‘Molesworth, M., Scullion, R. and Nixon, E. (Eds.) (2010). The Marketisation of Higher Education and Student as Consumer. Oxon and New York: Routledge.’…
Published in 2010 (paperback 2011), The Marketisation of Higher Education and Student as Consumer presented a timely, and still invaluable, critical consideration of the state of Higher Education in the UK set against a backdrop of post-war education sector reforms and within the context of government policy being introduced as we entered the current decade. Read more…
As part of the Ragged Library, Dr Joel Lazarus, Lecturer in International Relations, University College, University of Oxford suggested ‘Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell’…
My book recommendation for the Ragged Library is George Orwell’s ‘Road to Wigan Pier’. The second half of the book, in particular, where he expounds about socialism, fascism, and class is not only hugely insightful, eloquent, and prescient, but resonates all too well with our current experiences in Europe today.
As part of the Ragged Library, Jane Quin, lecturer in Social Justice Education at University of KwaZulu-Natal, Education and Development, Pietermaritzburg Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa suggested ‘My Dream Is To Be Bold: our work to end patriarchy by Feminist Alternatives, published by Pambazuka Press, an imprint of Fahamu…
This is beautifully presented book of the work of feminist activists of long and more recent standing in the Western Cape, South Africa. The layout invites one into the text with pictures and inspiring and intriguing sound bites. Read more…
As part of the Ragged Library, Keith Smyth, Senior Lecturer in Higher Education at Edinburgh Napier University suggested ‘Philosophy of Education: An Anthology. Curren, R. (Ed.) (2007) Oxford: Blackwell.’…
Within any discipline area the published anthology is a notoriously difficult prospect. Striking the balance between breadth of coverage and depth of exploration for those who are new to a particular field of knowledge, while at the same time also offering a reference text of value to those who are more experienced scholars or practitioners, would seem an uneasy undertaking. Read more…
