Seven Ways to Change the World: How To Fix The Most Pressing Problems We Face

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THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER 'His vision, ideas and passion shine through on every page' Ed Balls 'Compelling, challenging, inspiring and very timely' Piers Morgan 'Immensely powerful and persuasive...I found it exhilarating throughout' Joanna Lumley When the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the globe in 2020, it created an unprecedented impact, greater than the aftermath of 9/11 or the global financial crisis. But out of such disruption can come a new way of thinking, and in this superb new book former UK prime minister Gordon Brown offers his solutions to the challenges we face in 2021 and beyond. In the book, he states that there are seven major global problems we must address: global health; climate change and environmental damage; nuclear proliferation; global financial instability; the humanitarian crisis and global poverty; the barriers to education and opportunity; and global inequality and its biggest manifestation, global tax havens. Each one presents an immense challenge that requires an urgent global response and solution. All should be on the world's agenda today. None can be solved by one nation acting on its own, but all can be addressed if we work together as a global community. However, Brown remains optimistic that, despite the many obstacles in our way, we will find a path to regeneration via a new era of global order. Yes, there is a crisis of globalisation, but we are beginning to see the means by which it might be resolved. Crises create opportunities and having two at once shouldn't just focus the mind, it might even be seen as giving greater grounds for hope. In Seven Ways to Change the World, Brown provides an authoritative and inspirational pathway to a better future that is essential reading for policy makers and concerned citizens alike.

Gordon Brown is the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education. The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010 also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to 2007, making him the longest-serving Chancellor in modern history. As Prime Minister, his tenure coincided with the financial crisis, and he was one of the first to initiate calls for global financial action; his administration also simultaneously introduced a range of rescue measures within the country. Brown has a PhD in History from the University of Edinburgh. A Member of Parliament between 1983 and 2015, he lives in Fife, Scotland, and is married to Sarah Brown, a charity campaigner, and the couple have two sons.

'Gordon Brown is a person of action. He has a comprehensive view of the world that goes from a fair version of an open globalisation and drops down to what's needed to support individuals.' -- Mark Carney, former Governor of the bank of England and author of Value(s) - Building a Better World for All 'Gordon [Brown] has never given up trying to make the world a better, fairer place and I'm confident he never will. His vision, ideas and passion shine through on every page of this insightful and timely book.' -- Ed Balls, former Shadow Chancellor, writer and TV presenter 'This is a compelling, challenging, inspiring and very timely book. The world needs big brains with big ideas as we come out of the pandemic, and few people are better equipped to tackle the major issues facing us all right now than Gordon Brown.' -- Piers Morgan, TV presenter and journalist 'Immensely powerful and persuasive. Gordon Brown, as one of the biggest of the Big Beasts, explains, cajoles, unpicks, recommends and exhorts with wisdom won from long experience. Expect mathematical analyses: study his compassionate solutions: rise to his compelling call for action. I found it exhilarating throughout.' -- Joanna Lumley, actor and campaigner 'Particularly important and shown in the pages of this book is Gordon Brown's commitment to international cooperation and the role of international institutions.' -- Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations 'Gordon Brown is one of the last grown-up, truly committed politicians dedicated to public service, putting those he served's needs before his own - always. With this book he helps us envisage a brighter future towards which we can all make a contribution and, as ever, Brown seeks to steer us towards a better world shaped by our better selves.' -- Arabella Weir, actor and comedian 'In the face of so many assaults on the truth that all countries depend on each other, it has never been more vital to fight back and assert the imperative of finding global answers to global problems. Gordon Brown does so with passion, clarity and an invigorating combination of urgency with thoughtfulness, of alarm about the threats with confidence that we can indeed meet them. This is a book that will galvanise and give heart to the struggle for a sustainable, just and peaceful future.' -- Fintan O'Toole, author 'Gordon's Brown's wisdom, integrity and passion make him an essential voice for us all to heed, and to give us hope, in these uncharted times.' -- David Tennant, actor 'Some serious solutions to some very serious problems. Inspiring, readable and so great to feel that, in Gordon Brown, there's a proper, big-brained adult in the room.' -- David Schneider, actor and writer 'I've seen the great work Gordon Brown has done on financing education in the world's poorest countries. Now that he turns his mind to other pressing global issues to find solutions that could bring genuine change to the world, I'm going to pay attention. I'm going to read. And hope.' -- Jo Nesbo, author 'Gordon Brown draws on his unparalleled experience to show us how international cooperation is the only way to solve the challenges of our societies, economies and environment. Every chapter is brimming with ideas and insight - and will leave you feeling inspired to change the world.' -- Baroness Minouche Shafik, Director, London School of Economics and author of What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract 'Gordon Brown highlights the global challenges our generation must meet and makes the case for the global cooperation we urgently need.' -- Graca Machel, Founder, Graca Machel Trust Seven Ways to Change the World ... offers a mixture of moral arguments and policy solutions that carefully avoids political controversy. The research is undeniably impressive in its scope and detail. He clearly holds deep-seated moral views regarding the responsibilities of wealthy countries to less wealthy ones, combined with a sense that true justice is never adequately achieved, but needs constantly pushing for. Brown's ability to move between economic and moral reasoning is a potent one.' -- William Davies * Guardian * I cannot recommend it enough. Despite its hefty subject matter, Brown's book zips along... The book is peppered with quotations and statistics, but never struggles under their weight... As a call for global cooperation and a clear explanation of many of the planet's greatest challenges, Seven Ways to Change the World is certainly more convincing than the partial and inadequate moves made at the recent G7 meeting, and a more clear-sighted vision of the threats we face than anything yet managed by Keir Starmer.' -- Stephen Bush * New Statesman *