Description
By (author) Goldin Ian
Short /annotation:
From the Silk Roads to the Berlin Wall, discover the globe-turning history of human migration. “Provides essential context to one of today’s most polarizing debates . . . engrossing and instructive—a must-read.”—Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group
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We are a species in motion—from the first steps of Homo sapiens across Africa to America’s “melting pot.” And when we move—in search of better things, or against our will—our beliefs and skills clash and combine, reshaping society time and again.In this visionary Shortest History of Migration, Ian Goldin uncovers key moments of cultural exchange while carefully examining empire, slavery, and war. Throughout, we meet famous explorers (Zheng He), exiles (Pablo Neruda), and everyday people in extraordinary circumstances: a Jewish man saved by the Kindertransport, a Japanese gardener who blossomed in Mexico City.Today, freedom of movement is being curtailed, even as climate change and conflict mobilize people everywhere around the world. Goldin reminds us that passports at every border are a modern invention (he traces the “birth of big brother” to World War I), revealing the folly of trying to halt migration—and proposing commonsense policy instead. A gripping chronicle of want and wanderlust, this is a moving portrait of humanity—in every sense of the word.The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.#1 Bestseller in Human Geography and Emigration & Immigration
Table of contents:
PrefaceTimelineIntroductionPart 1: The Shortest History of MigrationThe First MigrantsPeopled PlanetEmpire and TradeVoyages of Discovery and DestructionSlaveryCoercion and ControlAge of Mass MigrationPassports and ProblemsWars, Mass Mobilization, and ExpulsionsMigrants in the Postwar WorldPart 2: Migration Today and TomorrowWho is a Migrant?Migration and the EconomyMigration and DevelopmentThe Future of MigrationAcknowledgmentsFurther ReadingEndnotesIndexAbout the Author
Review quote:
“A Financial Times Best Book of the Year for 2024A must read for our times . . . . Provides a powerful antidote to the harmful rhetoric around immigration, placing current debates in a historical context. It shows why migrants are essential to make America great again and how migration should be better managed to restore the dynamism of societies.”
Review quote:
“Ian Goldin’s deep dive into the history of migration provides essential context to one of today’s most polarizing debates. The Shortest History of Migration is both engrossing and instructive—a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the critical, yet all too often misunderstood role migration in all its forms has played in humanity’s journey.”
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“Few books are timelier. . . Goldin argues that migration has been fundamental to human progress and economic growth, while acknowledging that there are legitimate questions about unregulated immigration policy.”
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“Excellent”
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“Compulsively readable, trenchantly argued . . . Goldin’s crisp analysis, combined with his thorough research, results in a work that draws clear connections between ancient events and the modern world. His use of an equity lens is extraordinarily effective at uncovering patterns that underly our current discourse.”
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“Offers insightful history, analysis, and prescriptions for present and future global migrations. . . . deserves attention from policy makers and publics worldwide.”
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“Highly recommended. This accessible book, which includes updated statistics, charts, and numerous black-and-white illustrations, is an excellent introduction to a complex and c
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