What We Are Reading Today: Extraterrestrial by Avi Loeb

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Updated 07 February 2021
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What We Are Reading Today: Extraterrestrial by Avi Loeb

Extraterrestrial is a provocative and fascinating book written by American theoretical physicist and Harvard University astronomer Avi Loeb. 

In Extraterrestrial, Loeb takes readers inside the thrilling story of the first interstellar visitor to be spotted in our solar system. 

“He outlines his controversial theory and its profound implications: For science and for the future of our species and our planet,” said a review in goodreads.com.

A mind-bending journey through the furthest reaches of science, space-time, and the human imagination,  extra-terrestrial challenges readers to aim for the stars— and to think critically about what’s out there, no matter how strange it seems. 

The book examines the case for finding extraterrestrials and looks in detail at Oumuamua, the strange object that passed through our solar system in 2017. Loeb details how the shape and behavior of Oumuamua was incredibly irregular. 

“The evidence that the author presents for the intelligent design of Oumuamua is compelling, and provokes a lot of interesting thoughts,” said the review,

“The central idea presented in this book is well thought out and carefully presented.”


What We Are Reading Today: The Political Economy of Security by Stephen G. Brooks

Updated 04 March 2026
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What We Are Reading Today: The Political Economy of Security by Stephen G. Brooks

In this book, Stephen Brooks provides a systematic empirical and theoretical examination of how economic factors influence security affairs. Empirically, he analyzes how economic variables of all kinds affect interstate war, terrorism, and civil war; in total, 16 pathways are examined.

Brooks shows that the relationship between economic factors and conflict is complex and multifaceted; discrete economic factors—such as international trade, economic development, and globalized manufacturing, to name a few—are sometimes helpful for promoting peace and stability, but at other times are detrimental.

Brooks also develops a stronger theoretical foundation for guiding future research on the economics-security interaction. 

Drawing on Adam Smith, he provides a more complete range of answers to the three key conceptual questions analysts must consider: how economic goals relate to security goals; what economic factors to focus on; and how economic actors influence security policies.

Combining an innovative theoretical understanding with empirical rigor, Brooks’s account will reshape our understanding of the political economy of security.