A review of What Happens Next: A History of American Screenwriting by Marc Norman. A review of Comedy at the Edge: How Stand-Up in the 1970s Changed America by Richard Zoglin. Did globalisation cause the "Great Divergence" between rich and poor economies? (and a special section on National Geographic). A review of Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power (and more). From Red Pepper, an article on the need for a plural politics to confront the conservative left. Hey, GOP, that's quite a Noise Machine you've constructed — now good luck trying to dismantle it. Late-night comedians won't be laughing if John McCain and Barack Obama are the nominees. Pundits say the campaigns could go "Swift Boat" at any time (for example)— but forget Swift Boat Veterans

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