Isabella of France married Edward II in January 1308; and afterwards became one of the most notorious women in English history. In 1325; she was sent to her homeland to negotiate a peace settlement between her husband and her brother Charles IV; king of France. She refused to return. Instead; she began a relationship with her husband’s deadliest enemy; the English baron Roger Mortimer. With the king’s son and heir; the future Edward III; under their control; the pair led an invasion of England which ultimately resulted in Edward II’s forced abdication in January 1327. Isabella and Mortimer ruled England during Edward III’s minority until he overthrew them in October 1330. A rebel against her own husband and king; and regent for her son; Isabella was a powerful; capable and intelligent woman. She forced the first ever abdication of a king in England; and thus changed the course of English history. Examining Isabella’s life with particular focus on her revolutionary actions in the 1320s; this book corrects the many myths surrounding her and provides a vivid account of this most fascinating and influential of women.
#642194 in Books Alden Edward 2016-10-20Original language:English 9.24 x 1.01 x 6.40l; .0 #File Name: 1442272600258 pagesFailure to Adjust How Americans Got Left Behind in the Global Economy
Review
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful. A Must-Read BookBy Michael A. HoltThe author; Edward Alden; was the co-project director of a 2011 Independent Task Force Report on US Trade and Investment Policy sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations. He points out that this report served as one of the foundations for his excellent new book; "Failure to Adust;" so some familiarity with that report should also be helpful.The report contains a number of excellent recommendations that the Task Force made to the Obama administration in 2011; but is also worth reading because it captures the Zeitgeist that Donald Trump was able to identify and harness some four years later; which propelled him to a victorious election as our next President of the United States.For example; the Report concluded that "unless the US government can devise and implement trade and investment policies that benefit more Americans by sparking greater investment and jobs in the US linked to the global economy; it will be impossible to rebuild public support for trade policy. In other words; it was not enough to say that globalization would lead to a larger pie; a growing number of Americans were asking "Where is my slice?"It also concluded that the primary reason for the stalling of US trade policy is the serious employment and income pressures so many Americans face. Many have dismissed the extent to which globalization has contributed to these employment and income pressures; pointing to the fact that technology--including; for example; automation--has also led to job losses and downward pressures.But; in "Failure to Adjust" Edward Alden; citing a 2013 NBER working paper titled "Untangling Trade and Technology;" points out that "import competition and technology have quite different impacts on the US workforce; while technology and trade are both disruptive; import competition has a much bigger impact on labor markets. Those who lose their jobs to computers are likely to find new ones; while those who lose their jobs to imports are much less likely to do so." He explains that "if companies invested in machinery that required fewer workers; or if new technologies made some jobs obsolete; then those workers would not likely find jobs doing the same type of work they had done previously. But if the companies reinvested their profits domestically; other sorts of jobs would be created that would at least partly compensate. ...In a more global market; however; the circle could be less virtuous."This is just the tip of the iceberg; but building upon insights such as this is what make the analysis and recommendations that follow to be so compelling. (It should be noted that while Donald Trump was able to tap into the right wing populist sentiment that emanated largely from globalization; President-elect Trump's policy prescriptions may not bear any resemblance to the domestic and international trade investment policies found in this book.)4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Spot on analysis and discussion of the right issues.By Z ReviewerAnother fantastic book by Edward Alden. As with his previous works; he focuses in on the right question and issue: not whether trade is good or bad for the American economy (the wrong/politicized question that dominated this year's presidential campaign) -- but how the overall forces of globalization overall have impacted it. More importantly; he charts a pragmatic -- and attractive -- path forward. A must read for anyone who cares about American competitiveness.6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A Timely BookBy SoniaFailure to Adjust is particularly timely in light of the recent election and the rise of populist anti-trade movements that have been overtaking the United States and Western Europe. The book provides great background on the post-World War II conditions that made American manufacturing conditions so favorable; and creates a compelling framework on how to move forward through redesigning the corporate tax system; fostering innovation; and promoting education to reinvigorate labor. Alden’s recommendations are particularly insightful when it comes to considering how the United States can set the rules for international trade; balancing its role as a bastion of free-market capitalism with keeping its own economy competitive without resorting to highly ineffective protectionist measures that only provide short-term solutions to American job losses. Great read!
