Adrian Wooldridge

A fascinating and important history of meritocracy, and a Times book of the year. Meritocracy—the idea that people should be advanced according to their talents rather than their status at birth. For much of history, this was a revolutionary thought, but by the end of the twentieth century it had become the world's ruling ideology. How did this happen, and...

The history, enduring genius and vital importance today of liberalism. We live in an age of extremes—populist leaders are setting the agenda, autocracies are on the march, and the liberal establishment is a bewildered blob, devoid of new ideas or fresh solutions. Having once powered progress in the form of democracy, mass welfare and defeating totalitarianism, liberals have the power...