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50 Facts That Should Change The World 2.0
Jessica Williams revisits her classic series of snapshots of life in the twenty-first century. Revised and updated with lots of new material, this book is every bit as vital as the first edition. From the inequalities and absurdities of the so-called developed world to the vast scale of suffering wreaked by war, famine, and AIDS in developing countries, it paints a picture of incredible contrasts.
This 2.0 edition again contains an eclectic selection of facts addressing a broad range of global issues, now with added emphasis on climate change, the decline in human rights and democratic freedoms around the world, the unexpected global impact of corporate growth, sports and media madness and inequality, and lots of updated facts and figures. Each is followed by a short essay explaining the story behind the fact, fleshing out the bigger problem lurking behind the numbers. Real-life stories, anecdotes, and case studies help to humanize the figures and make clear the human impact of the bald statistics.
All of the facts remind us that whether we like to think of it or not, the world is interconnected and civilization is a fragile concept. Williams makes us think about some of the hard facts about our civilization, and what we can do about them.
Jessica Williams is a journalist and producer of the BBC's flagship international interview program, HARDTalk with Tim Sebastian, where she has researched and produced interviews with such disparate figures as the political philosopher Noam Chomsky, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Sir David Attenborough, and the academic Edward Said.
This 2.0 edition again contains an eclectic selection of facts addressing a broad range of global issues, now with added emphasis on climate change, the decline in human rights and democratic freedoms around the world, the unexpected global impact of corporate growth, sports and media madness and inequality, and lots of updated facts and figures. Each is followed by a short essay explaining the story behind the fact, fleshing out the bigger problem lurking behind the numbers. Real-life stories, anecdotes, and case studies help to humanize the figures and make clear the human impact of the bald statistics.
All of the facts remind us that whether we like to think of it or not, the world is interconnected and civilization is a fragile concept. Williams makes us think about some of the hard facts about our civilization, and what we can do about them.
Jessica Williams is a journalist and producer of the BBC's flagship international interview program, HARDTalk with Tim Sebastian, where she has researched and produced interviews with such disparate figures as the political philosopher Noam Chomsky, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Sir David Attenborough, and the academic Edward Said.
307 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 6, 2007
Did you know:
That there are 27 million slaves in the world today?
That 94% of the world's executions in 2005 took place in only four countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the USA?
That landmines kill or maim at least one person every hour?
That the world's trade in illegal drugs is estimated to be worth around $400 billion - about the same as the world's legal pharmaceutical industry?
That global warming already kills 150,000 people every year?
These facts, and 45 more are what await the dear reader in this useful and fascinating book by Jessica Thomas and published by the DisInformation Society. Surprises abound, and the facts are backed up with tireless research and many sources, which are also printed. Sometimes (especially with the missing Chinese women), the book can be hard to read, but the truth is out there, and it can be very, very ugly. But Ms. Thomas never gets hysterical, and the writing is clear-eyed, informative, and to the point.
A valuable book to add to any library, I would whole-heartedly give this book as a gift to anybody, especially that stubborn relative who insists that we are "the greatest."
A wonderful book. My hat's off to Jessica Thomas and DisInfo!
That there are 27 million slaves in the world today?
That 94% of the world's executions in 2005 took place in only four countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the USA?
That landmines kill or maim at least one person every hour?
That the world's trade in illegal drugs is estimated to be worth around $400 billion - about the same as the world's legal pharmaceutical industry?
That global warming already kills 150,000 people every year?
These facts, and 45 more are what await the dear reader in this useful and fascinating book by Jessica Thomas and published by the DisInformation Society. Surprises abound, and the facts are backed up with tireless research and many sources, which are also printed. Sometimes (especially with the missing Chinese women), the book can be hard to read, but the truth is out there, and it can be very, very ugly. But Ms. Thomas never gets hysterical, and the writing is clear-eyed, informative, and to the point.
A valuable book to add to any library, I would whole-heartedly give this book as a gift to anybody, especially that stubborn relative who insists that we are "the greatest."
A wonderful book. My hat's off to Jessica Thomas and DisInfo!
November 4, 2018
So first, let me acknowledge the obvious - this book is totally outdated. I still found it useful for providing background information about a bunch of chronic issues that are still around today. Just don't start quoting the actual stats in reference to the present day.
I did find that the section about food travel felt incomplete. Williams talks about food being exported while the exact same type of food will be imported - a process she says is wasteful and certainly sounds it. My question is, why is that happening? It shouldn't, according to standard economic theory, which would lead me to suspect some interesting incentives at play for individual companies - incentives that if fixed might solve the problem. However, Williams never gets into this at all, even though the setup seemed to be begging the question. Similarly, the suggestion of a ban on long travel for animals and animal products seemed to be missing the point to me. If the regulations that were put in place were fully addressing the animal cruelty concerns (big if), then banning the travel seems beside the point. If the regulations weren't, then it seems more appropriate to regulate more thoroughly than to ban travel outright. If the animal cruelty concerns can be handled in a cost-effective manner where companies can still profit, then let it continue. If it can't, then let it become uneconomical so businesses pick alternative means out of their own self-interest. That seems the better approach to me.
I did find that the section about food travel felt incomplete. Williams talks about food being exported while the exact same type of food will be imported - a process she says is wasteful and certainly sounds it. My question is, why is that happening? It shouldn't, according to standard economic theory, which would lead me to suspect some interesting incentives at play for individual companies - incentives that if fixed might solve the problem. However, Williams never gets into this at all, even though the setup seemed to be begging the question. Similarly, the suggestion of a ban on long travel for animals and animal products seemed to be missing the point to me. If the regulations that were put in place were fully addressing the animal cruelty concerns (big if), then banning the travel seems beside the point. If the regulations weren't, then it seems more appropriate to regulate more thoroughly than to ban travel outright. If the animal cruelty concerns can be handled in a cost-effective manner where companies can still profit, then let it continue. If it can't, then let it become uneconomical so businesses pick alternative means out of their own self-interest. That seems the better approach to me.
May 15, 2025
Good book of essays, the updated list is going to be a lot worse than this one
December 8, 2007
Knowledge is power. In order to solve the World's problems you have to know about them. Some of the most troubling ones covered in this book :
China has 44 million missing woman
More than 12,000 woman are killed each year in Russia as a result of domestic violence.
Cars kill 2 people every minute.
Global warming already kills 150,000 people every year.
Black men born in the US today stand a one in three chance of going to jail.
More people die each year from suicide than in all the word'd armed conflicts.
In 2005 the US spent $554 bilion on its military. This is 29 times the combined military spending of the six "rogue states".
There are 27 million slaves in the world today.
China has 44 million missing woman
More than 12,000 woman are killed each year in Russia as a result of domestic violence.
Cars kill 2 people every minute.
Global warming already kills 150,000 people every year.
Black men born in the US today stand a one in three chance of going to jail.
More people die each year from suicide than in all the word'd armed conflicts.
In 2005 the US spent $554 bilion on its military. This is 29 times the combined military spending of the six "rogue states".
There are 27 million slaves in the world today.
January 3, 2009
Williams addresses 50 pressing social concern all over the world that paint a concerned and concerning picture of our current predicament. She does not take a tone of moral superiority nor town crier hysteria nor distraught futility. Instead she fleshes each Fact in terms the general public can appreciate. For example: there a 27 million slaves in the world today, more than at any other time in history; Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour; the average Londoner is caught on film 350 times every days; more people die each year from suicide than in all of the world's armed conflicts.
The book is 320 pages long, so most entries are 5-6 pages long. It's a good conversation starter and just good information to be aware of.
The book is 320 pages long, so most entries are 5-6 pages long. It's a good conversation starter and just good information to be aware of.
March 10, 2008
Pretty good stuff here. But wacky too. I found this a mishmash of facts that truly should change the world and facts that are 'interesting' but have no real bearing on anything. Good concept, a bit 'agenda driven', and slightly eye opening. Worth a cursory glance while standing in the library/bookstore.
May 30, 2008
A better title: 50 things I learned from a Google search.
Or maybe: Jessica Williams doesn't know a whole lot.
This is the book you would write if you did even less research than John Stossel does.
Or maybe: Jessica Williams doesn't know a whole lot.
This is the book you would write if you did even less research than John Stossel does.
January 24, 2012
Pick this up randomly from a library book sale. Very interesting in its context. I was surprised that I already new most of the facts in the book. The whole point of this book is to raise awareness to the fact that there are lots of more important things that are happening around the world that should have attention and be alarming
August 11, 2008
"Should" is the operative word here; Jessica Williams clearly realizes that in most cases that ain't gonna happen, because people can't be bothered to care enough, for long enough, to make those changes happen. We'll be our own death yet.
October 8, 2008
Calling all activists... Author Jessica Williams has done a stellar job in researching and describing a myriad of current facts and why you might care (e.g. "supermarkets know more about their customers than the government does").
January 6, 2009
I'm pretty sure J. Williams is British. She sounded all cocky and pompous like a lot of those Brits do. There are a few facts that are pretty amazing. Stuff about slavery and genocide. One about how Brazilian women really like Avon. If you do read it, do so with a British accent.
March 23, 2009
If you haven't read a newspaper in 10 years or have not graduated high-school this might be new information. Also, I think it may have been more effective if this had some journalistic credibility instead of written as though it was someone's opinions.
July 14, 2009
A series of well-constructed but very short essays (3-5 pages in a small paperback) that highlight an interesting array of challenges facing the world (and doesn't even bother with that fad on global climate change)
May 5, 2010
I really enjoyed this one. It has so much information, that you don't usually think about. Jessica Williams is an english author, and it's interesting to learn about some of the British hidden facts. The most pressing matter in the book, I found was the Abortion chapter.
November 15, 2012
I found a lot of the facts very interesting, but the essays that followed them were, in my opinion, too bias. I would have preferred a more balanced discussion with each fact, there is always two sides to an argument.
January 24, 2008
Quite motivating, in almost an overwhelming fashion.
July 25, 2008
Interesting facts, and typically backed up with good evidence, but the author takes those facts and runs with them, coming to her own conclusions that are not based on evidence.
February 16, 2010
This was in the resort library - SHOULD is a big hope
facts were interesting but not all unknown
facts were interesting but not all unknown
December 26, 2010
It was good knowing some of the facts.
September 30, 2011
وجدت هذا الكتاب اليوم في مكتبتي ، ويبدو انني سأقضي أمسيتي الليلة في جنابته
May 18, 2011
Should be required reading for all.
June 13, 2011
It isn't going to challenge you. Really silly shit.
May 15, 2012
2007 info so out of date but interesting and thought provocing non the less, if you can manover around someone elses views and pick out the info only.
April 20, 2015
Full of very interesting facts - and many of these facts makes you think about our world and how it is run...
February 22, 2016
great book about facts that can change the world if you pay attention!
December 14, 2016
Very interesting book
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews