21 Speeches That Shaped Our World

The People and Ideas That Changed the Way We Think

By Chris Abbott

LITERARY COLLECTIONS

322 Pages, 5.5 x 8.5

Formats: Trade Paper

Trade Paper, $23.95 (US $23.95)

Publication Date: April 2013

ISBN 9781846042720

Rights: US

Penguin Random House UK (Apr 2013)
Rider

Price:	$23.95

Overview

Ghandi and King, Bush and Thatcher, Eisenhower and Obama—a close look at 21 key speeches which have shaped the world today

Drawing upon his expertise, a leading political analyst explains how our current understanding of the world is rooted in pivotal moment of history. These moments are captured in the words of a range of influential leaders, including: Emmeline Pankhurst, Martin Luther King, Jr., Enoch Powell, Napoleon Beazley, Kevin Rudd, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Osama bin Laden, Margaret Beckett, Winston Churchill, Salvador Allende, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Tim Collins, Mohandas Gandhi, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Robin Cook, Deval Patrick, Marie Fatayi-Williams, and Barack Obama. He xamines the power of the arguments embedded in these speeches to inspire people to achieve great things, or do great harm. The speeches are arranged thematically, linked by concepts such as "might is right," "with us or against us," and "give peace a chance." Each transcript is accompanied by an insightful commentary that analyzes how the words relate to our modern society. Fresh and relevant, this is a book that will give readers new tools and contexts to think about what is really happening in the world today.

Reviews

"Chris Abbott introduces and pulls together a fascinating gallery of speakers and turning points in recent history. . . . Interesting concept, well executed." —New Internationalist

"An interesting selection of speeches. . . . Throughout, Abbott provides a thorough historical context and argues convincingly for the relevance of the ideas expressed." —Financial Times

Author Biography

Chris Abbott is a freelance writer and researcher specializing in international and security affairs. He is sustainable security consultant to the Oxford Research Group (one of Europe's leading international security think tanks, of which he was deputy director until 2009). He is the coauthor of Beyond Terror: The Truth About the Real Threats to Our World.

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