I would recommend this book to my father. It leaves the reader thinking and provides several interesting lessons about how humans shape the environment, politics, and economics. Economics and politics are extremely linked. If one wishes to be an informed and politically active citizen, an understanding of economics is essential. On the other hand, economists must have knowledge of politics to understand business regulations, foreign actions, and international trade. Just as America uses economic access as a reward to its allies, revoking economic access can be used as a “punishment.” For example, in recent months, Russia has annexed Crimea and threatened Ukraine. Members of the United Nations, including the United States, have imposed sanctions on Russia to show they do not tolerate Putin's actions. The aim of these sanctions is not to harm the economy, but rather to put pressure on Russia, in the hope of influencing Putin's next action. Sanctions, boycotts and blockades have a long history across the world as protest strategies and political statements, just as economics and politics have been intertwined since the early modern era.