“One of the most profound and illuminating studies of this century to have been published in recent decades.”—John Gray, New York Times Book ReviewHailed as “a magisterial critique of top-down social planning” by the New York Times, this essential work analyzes disasters from Russia to Tanzania to uncover why states so often fail—sometimes catastrophically—in grand efforts to engineer their society or their environment, and uncovers the conditions common t...

An account of all the new and surprising evidence now available for the beginnings of the earliest civilizations that contradict the standard narrativeWhy did humans abandon hunting and gathering for sedentary communities dependent on livestock and cereal grains, and governed by precursors of today’s states? Most people believe that plant and animal domestication allowed humans, finally, to settle down and form agricultural villages, towns, and states, which made p...

Compulsory ujamaa villages in Tanzania, collectivization in Russia, Le Corbusier’s urban planning theory realized in Brasilia, the Great Leap Forward in China, agricultural "modernization" in the Tropics-the twentieth century has been racked by grand utopian schemes that have inadvertently brought death and disruption to millions. Why do well-intentioned plans for improving the human condition go tragically awry?In this wide-ranging and original book, James C. Scott analyz...

“A splendid study, surely one of the most important that has appeared on the whole matter of power and resistance.”—Natalie Zemon DavisConfrontations between the powerless and powerful are laden with deception—the powerless feign deference and the powerful subtly assert their mastery. Peasants, serfs, untouchables, slaves, laborers, and prisoners are not free to speak their minds in the presence of power. These subordinate groups instead create a secret discourse that represents a ...

For two thousand years the disparate groups that now reside in Zomia (a mountainous region the size of Europe that consists of portions of seven Asian countries) have fled the projects of the organized state societies that surround them—slavery, conscription, taxes, corvée labor, epidemics, and warfare. This book, essentially an “anarchist history,” is the first-ever examination of the huge literature on state-making whose author evaluates why people would deliberately and reactively remai...

“A splendid study, surely one of the most important that has appeared on the whole matter of power and resistance.”—Natalie Zemon DavisConfrontations between the powerless and powerful are laden with deception—the powerless feign deference and the powerful subtly assert their mastery. Peasants, serfs, untouchables, slaves, laborers, and prisoners are not free to speak their minds in the presence of power. These subordinate groups instead create a secret discourse t...

“One of the world’s most widely read social scientists” (New York Times) offers his most personal and accessible book—a celebration of how ordinary people can resist oppression and injusticeJames Scott taught us what's wrong with seeing like a state. Now, in his most accessible and personal book to date, the acclaimed social scientist makes the case for seeing like an anarchist. Inspired by the core anarchist faith in the possibilities of voluntary coopera...

A #1 INDIE BESTSELLER! SIX STARRED REVIEWS!A humorous and touching tale of the unexpected friendship that blossoms between a peaceful skeleton and a persistent cat. Told in five short and charming stories that will remind you of Frog and Toad.Skeleton lives alone in lonesome bliss. She reads books, drinks tea, and tends to her garden. It's simple and peaceful. Until, one day, a cat knocks on the Skeleton's door..."Can I ...

A spirited defense of the anarchist approach to lifeJames Scott taught us what's wrong with seeing like a state. Now, in his most accessible and personal book to date, the acclaimed social scientist makes the case for seeing like an anarchist. Inspired by the core anarchist faith in the possibilities of voluntary cooperation without hierarchy, Two Cheers for Anarchism is an engaging, high-spirited, and often very funny defense of an anarchist way of seeing...

James C. Scott reframes rivers as alive and dynamic, revealing the consequences of treating them as resources for our profitRivers, on a long view, are alive. They are born; they change; they shift their channels; they forge new routes to the sea; they move both gradually and violently; they can teem (usually) with life; they may die a quasi-natural death; they are frequently maimed and even murdered.It is the annual flood pulse—the brief time when the rive...

“One of the most profound and illuminating studies of this century to have been published in recent decades.”—John Gray, New York Times Book ReviewHailed as “a magisterial critique of top-down social planning” by the New York Times, this essential work analyzes disasters from Russia to Tanzania to uncover why states so often fail—sometimes catastrophically—in grand efforts to engineer their society or their environment, and uncovers the conditions common t...

This meticulously curated anthology, 'Native American Studies (22 Book Collection)', offers an expansive exploration into the rich tapestry of Native American history, culture, and lore through a diverse range of literary styles. From ethnographic accounts and historical narratives to insightful anthropological studies, the collection stands as a testament to the multifaceted nature of Native American experiences and scholarly endeavours surrounding them. Each contribution offers a unique ...