Created on 30 April 2025
The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is now presented in podcast, bringing you lively conversations between Professor Jeffrey Sachs and authors of inspiring books about history, social justice and challenges of building a decent world. Find ‘Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major podcast apps. Be sure to subscribe for episode updates! The episodes can also be accessed directly here.
Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and American historian Lauren Benton for a discussion on the hidden histories of empires and the lasting impact of imperial violence. In Benton’s book, ‘They Called It Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence,’ she uncovers how European powers built and maintained their empires through relentless cycles of raiding, slaving, and plunder—while portraying their conquests as missions of order and peace.
Together, they explore the brutal mechanics of colonial expansion, the blurred lines between war and peace, and how fragile truces paved the way for endless conflict. They discuss whether imperial violence was an aberration, or if it set the stage for the perpetual wars that define our world today. With insights spanning centuries and continents, this episode confronts the uncomfortable truths about power, violence, and the myths that continue to shape global order.
How to engage
- Watch
Watch the monthly author conversations. Past session recordings are in the SDG Academy Library for on demand viewing.
- Listen
Subscribe to ‘Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!!
About the Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs
The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is a free global forum to discuss outstanding, recently-published work that examines the most important topics for humanity.
Hosted by Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs, the eminent thought-leader in economics and sustainable development, the Book Club features monthly interviews with renowned authors about their ground-breaking work in sustainability, economics, history, social justice and more.
The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. All information about the Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs can be found at www.bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.
Visit SDG Academy Library at https://sdgacademy.org/sdgacademy-library/
