The powerful and their abuses, the corrupt and those they corrupt, the insane that commit crimes in name of all sorts of causes–some of the villains against which Jose Marias rallies in this anthology of his bests social and political pieces. The 84 articles show that Marias will not be quiet against the injustices of governments and politicians under any banner. Written in different tones and registers, but always with an exuberant energy, these essays demonstrate one of the world’s best critics.