Mike Davis Books

A magisterial, kaleidoscopic, riveting movement history of Los Angeles in the sixties.

Exploring the paradox of the absence of a mass working-class party in the United States, the essays delve into the historical trajectory of American democracy, starting from the Jacksonian era to the emergence of the New Right and Reagan's re-election. Mike Davis critically analyzes key events and movements, offering insights into the complexities of class struggle and the challenges faced by progressive politics in America. The work serves as a thought-provoking examination of the interplay between capitalism and democracy in shaping political landscapes.

More than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, and a billion of these urban dwellers reside in neighborhoods of entrenched disadvantage—neighborhoods that are characterized as slums. Slums are often seen as a debilitating and even subversive presence within society. In reality, though, it is public policies that are often at fault, not the people who live in these neighborhoods. In this comprehensive global history, Alan Mayne explores the evolution and meaning of the word “slum,” from its origins in London in the early nineteenth century to its use as a slur against the favela communities in the lead-up to the Rio Olympics in 2016. Mayne shows how the word slum has been extensively used for two hundred years to condemn and disparage poor communities, with the result that these agendas are now indivisible from the word’s essence. He probes beyond the stereotypes of deviance, social disorganization, inertia, and degraded environments to explore the spatial coherence, collective sense of community, and effective social organization of poor and marginalized neighborhoods over the last two centuries. In mounting a case for the word’s elimination from the language of progressive urban social reform, Slums is a must-read book for all those interested in social history and the importance of the world’s vibrant and vital neighborhoods.

"When the Light Goes On helps us dig through the discord and fragmentation of school politics and policy to reclaim the mind and heart of education. Through various students' stories and his own, Rose provides an urgent reminder of the core purpose of education: to learn about ourselves and the world around us, to spark new interests, and to experience with guidance both the fulfillment and the uncertainty of exploring our limits-all in the service of creating a meaningful life"-- Provided by publisher

Examining a series of El Niño-induced droughts and the famines that they spawned around the globe in the last third of the nineteenth century, Mike Davis discloses the intimate, baleful relationship between imperial arrogance and natural incident that combined to produce some of the worst tragedies in human history and to sow the seeds of underdevelopment in what later became known as the Third World.

Earthquakes. Wildfires. Floods. Drought. Tornadoes. Snakes in the sea, mountain lions, and a plague of bees.

Focusing on the intersection of climate change and capitalism, the book delves into Mike Davis's insightful analysis of urban geography. It explores how economic systems exacerbate environmental degradation and the ensuing crises faced by society. Davis's work highlights the urgent need to address these issues, making it a critical examination of the impact of capital on our climate and urban landscapes.

A new edition of a classic book on viral catastrophes--the Spanish flu, the Avian flu, and now, Covid-19

Old Gods, New Enigmas is the highly anticipated book by the best-selling author of City of Quartz and Planet of Slums.

According to the United Nations, more than one billion people now live in the slums of the cities of the South. In this brilliant and ambitious book, Mike Davis explores the future of a radically unequal and explosively unstable urban world.From the sprawling barricadas of Lima to the garbage hills of Manila, urbanization has been disconnected from industrialization, even economic growth. Davis portrays a vast humanity warehoused in shantytowns and exiled from the formal world economy. He argues that the rise of this informal urban proletariat is a wholly original development unforeseen by either classical Marxism or neoliberal theory.Are the great slums, as a terrified Victorian middle class once imagined, volcanoes waiting to erupt? Davis provides the first global overview of the diverse religious, ethnic, and political movements competing for the souls of the new urban poor. He surveys Hindu fundamentalism in Bombay, the Islamist resistance in Casablanca and Cairo, street gangs in Cape Town and San Salvador, Pentecostalism in Kinshasa and Rio de Janeiro, and revolutionary populism in Caracas and La Paz. Planet of Slums ends with a provocative meditation on the “war on terrorism” as an incipient world war between the American empire and the new slum poor.

Absolutely fascinating. -William Gibson A history as fascinating as it is instructive. -Peter Ackroyd, Times Few books shed as much light on their subjects as this opinionated and original excavation of Los Angeles from the mythical debris of its past and future. -San Francisco Examiner

In 1920, Mario Buda exploded a horse-drawn wagon filled with dynamite and iron scrap, killing 40 people. Since Buda's prototype, the car bomb has evolved into a poor man's air force, a weapon of mass destruction. This work traces its development, in the process exposing the role of intelligence agencies in globalizing urban terrorist techniques.

The Pocket Guide to Teaching for Clinical Instructors, 3rd edition, provides a concise introduction to teaching. Written by experienced medical educators from the Advanced Life Support Group and Resuscitation Council (UK), this best-selling guide gives comprehensive and practical advice on the most effective teaching methods.

"From a chorus of bestselling historical fiction writers, a breathtaking book inspired by the day tens of thousands of women marched for the right to vote on October, 23, 1915. Includes an introduction by Kristin Hannah and stories by Lisa Wingate, M. J. Rose, Steve Berry, Paula McLain, Katherine J. Chen, Christina Baker Kline, Jamie Ford, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Megan Chance, Alyson Richman, Chris Bohjalian, and Fiona Davis."--‡cProvided by publisher.

A groundbreaking study of Latinization in the urban US landscape, a demographic and cultural revolution with extraordinary implications

"On the occasion of the show's fortieth anniversary, Michael Davis's Street gang unfolds the never-before-told saga behind Sesame street"--Jacket

The book critically examines the evolution of religion, positing that beliefs and practices are human constructs influenced by psychological, social, and environmental factors rather than divine origins. It delves into the cognitive aspects of religion, suggesting that humans are inherently wired to seek patterns and assign meaning, which leads to the development of supernatural beliefs as ways to cope with uncertainty and fear.

Exploring the works of prominent nineteenth-century novelists, Mike Davis delves into the theme of conspiracies and conspiratorial fantasies, revealing how these elements traverse various narrative contexts. His analysis uncovers the intricate connections between different stories, highlighting the pervasive influence of conspiracy in shaping literary discourse during that era.

Exploring the intersection of faith and finance, this book addresses common questions Christians have about wealth and generosity. It challenges traditional views on prosperity, offering insights into how to balance financial success with spiritual values. Readers will find practical guidance on giving, managing wealth, and understanding the role of money in their lives, encouraging a thoughtful approach to financial stewardship within a Christian framework.

Exploring the intersection of mythology and modernity, this book delves into the complexities of contemporary society through the lens of ancient beliefs. The author, renowned for his insightful narratives, examines how old deities and cultural symbols influence current social dynamics and challenges. With a critical eye, he unravels the enigmas of our time, making connections that resonate with both historical and present-day themes. This thought-provoking work promises to engage readers with its rich analysis and compelling insights.

Mike Davis untersucht in seiner politischen Ökologie des Hungers die Zusammenhänge von Weltklima und Weltökonomie im imperialistischen Zeitalter, die zur Entstehung der Dritten Welt führten und bis heute Einfluss haben.

Los Angeles, einst der Garten Eden im Land ewigen Sonnenscheins, wird seit Jahrzehnten von einer alttestamentarisch anmutenden Abfolge von Katastrophen heimgesucht: Sturmfluten, Tornados, Erdbeben, Dürre, Großfeuer und bürgerkriegsähnliche Unruhen. Gleichzeitig wird in Filmen und Romanen lustvoll der Untergang der Stadt inszeniert. Was heißt das für unsere Vorstellung von Stadt, was steht hinter den Endzeitvisionen? Lebendig erzählt Mike Davis die geheime politische Geschichte der realen und imaginären Katastrophen und enthüllt dabei den engen Zusammenhang zwischen ökologischen Todsünden, sozialer Ungerechtigkeit und einer nur den "Marktgesetzen" verpflichteten Urbanisation.

Das Verschwinden öffentlicher Räume, ausufernde Siedlungssysteme, Segregation, soziale Verelendung, Migration und Rassismus, die Glücksspielindustrie in Las Vegas sowie das Gefängnissystem in den USA sind die Themen, die im Mittelpunkt des Sammelbandes stehen. Migrantlnnen, Niedriglohnarbeiterlnnen und Umweltgruppen sind die neuen Hoffnungsträger einer sozialen Bewegung, die sich gegen den sozialen und ökologischen Bankrott des neon-westlichen Systems zu formieren beginnt.

Mike Davis geht in seiner Untersuchung der Frage nach, welche Gefahren im globalen Maßstab durch die Entwicklung und Verbreitung neuer Grippeviren, insbesondere der Vogelgrippe, drohen.

"Boli sme v opus... veď viete... rozprávali sme sa o Juddovi a o chlapíkovi, ktorý ho sledoval. Ja som stála pri dverách, vlastne za nimi, keď sa odrazu otvorili. Všetci sme stuhli. Bol to on..." z prepisu vyšetrovania podozrivej Amandy Telefonát, zvuky krokov, úder a zvuk tela, ktoré dopadlo na dlážku. Skupina vydesených tínedžerov v panike uteká z miesta činu. Na druhý deň, v skorých ranných hodinách policajt objaví telo a rozbieha sa vyšetrovanie. Nemožno strácať čas – staň sa detektívom a zatkni vraha, ešte kým sú stopy horúce. Zbieraj dôkazy, poskladaj z nich obraz zločinu a odhaľ pravdu. Iba ty dokážeš chytiť vraha!