SDG Academy: Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs

Join Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs as he interviews renowned authors about groundbreaking work that examines the most important topics for humanity.

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About this course

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The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is a free global forum to discuss outstanding, recently-published work that examines the most important topics for humanity.

Hosted by Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs, the eminent thought-leader in economics and sustainable development, the Book Club features monthly interviews with renowned authors about their groundbreaking work in sustainability, economics, history, social justice, and more.

Members of the Book Club will have access to these live conversations, as well as book excerpts, supplementary resources, and a discussion forum where they can communicate with peers from around the world.

The Book Club welcomes policy professionals, practitioners, advanced undergraduates and graduate students, and all readers interested in engaging in these thoughtful and inspiring conversations.

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is an initiative of the SDG Academy, the flagship educational initiative of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).

At a glance

Institution: SDGAcademyX
Subject: Social Sciences
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Members of the Book Club are strongly encouraged (but not required) to read each book before the live conversation. Book excerpts and links to purchase the books can be found once you enroll.

Language: English
Video Transcript: English
Associated skills: Thought Leadership, Social Justice, Economics, Sustainability, Sustainable Development

What you'll learn

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The Book Club aims to expose members to a variety of recently-published, groundbreaking works covering issues such as:

The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Cold War, including the place of nuclear weapons in a post-World War II society;
Racial segregation in America and the government policies designed to separate people based on race;
The need to reorganize our governments and our economies to solve today's "wicked problems";
And much more…

Syllabus

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January: Martin J. Sherwin, Gambling with Armageddon

February: Richard Rothstein, The Color of Law

March: Rashid Khalidi, The Hundred Years' War on Palestine

April : Mariana Mazzucato, Mission Economy: A Moonshot Guide to Changing Capitalism

May: Robert Lustig, Metabolical

June: Patricia Sullivan, Justice Rising

July: Rick Perlstein, Reaganland

August: Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Not "a Nation of Immigrants"

September: Eric Foner, The Second Founding

October: Corey Robin, The Reactionary Mind

November: Keisha N. Blain, Until I Am Free

December: Heather Cox Richardson, How the South Won the Civil War: Oligarchy, Democracy, and the Continuing Fight for the Soul of America

Additional books to be featured:

Peter H. Lindert, Making Social Spending Work

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is the Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs a course?

No. The Book Club is not a course in the traditional sense. It is being hosted on edX to make use of the platform, such as the discussion boards, but there are no lectures, assessments, or due dates.

Can I earn a certificate for being part of the Book Club?

No. The Book Club is listed as "Audit Only," and does not include any graded assessments. Therefore, there is no option to earn a certificate.

Do I have to join the Book Club on edX to access the live conversations?

No. While we strongly recommend joining the Book Club on edX to access the supplementary resources and discussion boards, you may register for the live conversations directly. (Visit bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org for each month's Zoom link.) Author conversations will also be livestreamed on the SDG Academy YouTube channel.

Will the live conversations be recorded?

Yes. Recordings of each author conversation will be uploaded to the edX platform and the SDG Academy Library, or you can watch on YouTube.

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