American Gods by Neil Gaiman, first published 2002, 624 pages, ISBN 978-0380789030 America inspires both awe and loathing. The scale of the place; its open spaces, wealth, ambition and ability to turn […]
Gavin Chait
Economist, data scientist, entrepreneur, author. Fascinated by the frontiers of human progress: innovation vs ignorance; wealth vs poverty. Oh, and coffee. @GavinChait and https://gavinchait.com
Russia’s sabre rattling exposes the rust on the blade
One should never forget that dictatorships are inherently inefficient. Russia, now one of the world’s largest oil and gas suppliers, has made a great deal of cash out of the energy run. […]
Zimbabwe: the Hollow State
Three weeks ago Tama Muru from the BBC asked me if I thought Zimbabwe would explode. At the time I said, “No.” Was I wrong? The situation three weeks ago was this: […]
Scroguely Works: Atlas Shrugged
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, first published 1957, 1 200 pages, ISBN 978-0452011878 “For twelve years, you have been asking: Who is John Galt? This is John Galt speaking. I am the […]
Science gone wrong: when self-delusion leads to death
It’s popular to loathe mainstream pharmaceutical companies. Big Pharma has been accused of profiteering at the expense of the poor. Of not doing enough to find solutions to the diseases of the […]
Harry Potter and the Pile of Drivel
Once upon a time there were great children’s books If you’ve never read Neverending Story, or the Narnia series, or the Tripods series by John Christopher, or anything by Terry Pratchett (most […]
Scroguely Works: Cry, the beloved country
Cry, the beloved country by Alan Paton, first published 1948, 320 pages, ISBN 978-0743262170 (Schroguely Works is our new feature on books of interest to thinking-minded folk.) “There is a lovely road […]
Zimbabwe disintegration continues
It is early evening in South Africa. Cold this time of year. For those of you, like passers-by at a highway pile-up, still watching Zimbabwe … Bob has made some new rules. […]
Everything is coming up Capitalism
At the tail-end of the Cold War, as the Berlin Wall fell, as Glasnost gave way to the crumbling of the USSR, Capitalists celebrated. As the wall fell, as the unhealthy, drably […]
Zimbabwe: Recovering the irrecoverable
Anti-capitalist demonstrators around the world should be celebrating. Robert Mugabe’s government has taken those against free-markets at their word. Over 1 300 business owners have been arrested across Zimbabwe. Their crime? Raising […]
Progressive Culture | Scholars & Rogues 