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  • Right Here, Right Now

  • Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption
  • Written by: Stephen J. Harper
  • Narrated by: Stephen J. Harper
  • Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (439 ratings)

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Right Here, Right Now

Written by: Stephen J. Harper
Narrated by: Stephen J. Harper
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Publisher's Summary

In this timely and insightful new book, Stephen J. Harper, Canada's 22nd Prime Minister, draws on a decade of experience as a G-7 leader to help leaders in business and government understand, adapt, and thrive in an age of unprecedented disruption.

The world is in flux. Disruptive technologies, ideas, and politicians are challenging business models, norms, and political conventions everywhere. How we, as leaders in business and politics, choose to respond matters greatly. Some voices refuse to concede the need for any change, while others advocate for radical realignment. But neither of these positions can sustainably address the legitimate concerns of disaffected citizens.

Right Here, Right Now sets out a pragmatic, forward-looking vision for leaders in business and politics by analyzing how economic, social, and public policy trends - including globalized movements of capital, goods, and services, and labor - have affected our economies, communities, and governments.

Harper contends that Donald Trump's surprise election and governing agenda clearly signal that political, economic, and social institutions must be more responsive to legitimate concerns about public policy, market regulation, immigration, and technology.

Urging listeners to look past questions of style and gravitas, Harper thoughtfully examines the substantive underpinnings of how and why Donald Trump was able to succeed Barack Obama as President of the United States, and how these forces are manifesting themselves in other western democracies.

Analyzing international trade, market regulation, immigration, technology, and the role of government in the digital economy, Harper lays out the case for pragmatic leadership as a proven solution to the uncertainty and risk that businesses and governments face today.

©2018 Stephen J. Harper (P)2018 McClelland & Stewart

What listeners say about Right Here, Right Now

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Clear and measured

When I saw that Stephen Harper was reading his own book, I cringed. I was wrong. He does a great job of narrating this book. It the most clear view of the political environment I have read in a long time. This should be mandatory reading for all political workers and students.

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11 people found this helpful

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  • DCH
  • 2019-07-08

Great book!

I really enjoyed this book by Stephen Harper covering the issues of media, immigration, politics and business.

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1 person found this helpful

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Great insight from a long running former PM

We get to hear thoughts and opinions on current events that we simply couldn't hear from him while in office. Highly recommended no matter where you personally stand.

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1 person found this helpful

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An Interesting Perspective

Even though I disagree with the author on many things, I liked this book.

Stephen Harper offers an interesting perspective on the rise of populism on the right and the left, while highlighting some systemic problems that we face today which a lot of people don't seem to talk about.

I found it insightful even though I don't consider myself a conservative.

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Excellent analysis

Harper is surprisingly calm, thoughtful. He obviously has a conservative take on current issues, but I think his claims can be helpful to a more left leaning audience as well.

Most of the book covers the underlying causes behind the rise of right wing populism in the West. Roughly speaking, Harper is making the case that working and middle class citizens have genuine grievances that are largely ignored regarding immigration and trade. It is hard to deny him this point. Some right leaning politicians have been almost dogmatically wedded to solving all ills with more decentralization, more high end tax cuts, more deregulation and freer trade. On the left, a growing habit of trying to paint the opposition as mentally ill or reckless to avoid arguing over substance is also part of the problem. The right turned a deaf hear to middle class people and the left insulted them -- enters Trump who says he'll do something in the least politically correct prose he could muster.

Harper's insights echo comments made by Jonathan Haidt and Jordan Peterson regarding the backlash against political correctness and the dangers of identity politics. The same could be drawn from Pinker's not-so-subtle stabs at the left on college campuses: all of these people agree you get in trouble when you don't listen.

This short book by Harper covers in details several aspects of the problems in the US. Given Harper worked extensively on immigration and trade as Prime Minister of Canada, it is no surprise he has a lot to say about US immigration policy, trade policy and foreign policy.

If you lean more to the left, his comments could bother you, but he is extremely thoughtful and pragmatic. It is a great read, filled with intricate details about how to manage competing goals and bring about beneficial cooperation in this world today.

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7 people found this helpful

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Love Harper

I wish the book was longer and more detailed. What a voice of political knowledge.

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4 people found this helpful

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Practical

Overall, I thought the book was well written and provided really good insights on practical and realistic vs. ideologically driven solutions for some of the most contentious political issues of the day including immigration, trade and globalization. Although I did not agree with some of his stances on policy, I thought Harper's arguments were well laid out and allowed me to gain some new knowledge and perspective.

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2 people found this helpful

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A refreshing voice of reason.

I enjoyed the book. Stephen makes a good case for a level headed, logical and uniquely conservative approach to dealing with the problems in the West. With Maxime moving further to the right and Andrew further to the left, it feels like Stephen has found a sweet spot between them. Sadly, with the rise of the radical left identity politics/socialist ideologies, I fear Stephens' ideas will be left untouched on the widening chasm of the political discourse.

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1 person found this helpful

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Well written

Very well written. Very much enjoyed the historical facts as well. I like the fact that it does consider both sides.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Who said economics was boring?

Stephan Harper weaves fascinating tapestry of political, social and economic practice in the world today.

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