{"title":"Tom Nichols","description":"\u003cp\u003eTom Nichols offers insightful explorations at the intersection of \u003cem\u003eArts \u0026amp; Culture\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ePolitics \u0026amp; Current Affairs\u003c\/em\u003e. His works, such as \u003cstrong\u003eGiorgione’s Ambiguity\u003c\/strong\u003e, delve into the complexities of artistic expression, inviting readers to consider the deeper meanings behind cultural phenomena.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn titles like \u003cstrong\u003eOur Own Worst Enemy\u003c\/strong\u003e, Nichols thoughtfully analyses the challenges faced by contemporary society, blending sharp political commentary with an engaging narrative style. His books provoke reflection on the forces shaping our world today.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"giorgiones-ambiguity-by-tom-nichols-9781789142976","title":"Giorgione’s Ambiguity","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Venetian painter known as Giorgione, or 'big George', died at a young age in the dreadful plague of 1510, possibly having painted fewer than twenty-five works. Many of these are among the most mysterious and alluring in the history of art. Paintings such as \u003cem\u003eThe Three Philosophers\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Tempest\u003c\/em\u003e remain compellingly elusive, seeming to deny the viewer the possibility of interpreting their meaning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTom Nichols argues that this visual elusiveness was essential to Giorgione's sensual approach and that ambiguity is the defining quality of his art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough detailed discussions of all Giorgione's works, Nichols shows that by abandoning the more intellectual tendencies of much Renaissance art, Giorgione made the world and its meanings appear always more inscrutable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"NewSouth Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47463058735340,"sku":"9781789142976","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781789142976-giorgione-s-ambiguity.jpg?v=1775027748"},{"product_id":"our-own-worst-enemy-by-tom-nichols-9780197518878","title":"Our Own Worst Enemy","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA contrarian yet highly engaging account of the spread of illiberal and anti-democratic sentiment throughout our culture that places responsibility on the citizens themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver the past three decades, citizens of democracies who claim to value freedom, tolerance, and the rule of law have increasingly embraced illiberal politicians and platforms. Democracy is in trouble—but who is really to blame?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eOur Own Worst Enemy\u003c\/em\u003e, Tom Nichols challenges the current depictions of the rise of illiberal and anti-democratic movements in the United States and elsewhere as the result of the deprivations of globalisation or the malign decisions of elites. Rather, he places the blame for the rise of illiberalism on the people themselves. Nichols traces the illiberalism of the 21st century to the growth of unchecked narcissism, rising standards of living, global peace, and a resistance to change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOrdinary citizens, laden with grievances, have joined forces with political entrepreneurs who thrive on the creation of rage rather than on the encouragement of civic virtue and democratic cooperation. While it will be difficult, Nichols argues that we need to defend democracy by resurrecting the virtues of altruism, compromise, stoicism, and cooperation—and by recognising how good we've actually had it in the modern world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTrenchant, contrarian, and highly engaging, \u003cem\u003eOur Own Worst Enemy\u003c\/em\u003e reframes the debate about how democracies have ended up in this dire state of affairs and what to do about it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47934175346924,"sku":"9780197518878","price":71.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780197518878-our-own-worst-enemy.jpg?v=1783901545"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/tom-nichols.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}