About The Authors

The brilliant minds behind these transformative works.

Portrait of Charlie Mackesy

Charlie Mackesy

Author of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse

Charlie Mackesy is a British artist, illustrator and author. Born in Northumberland, he briefly attended university before leaving to become a cartoonist for The Spectator and a book illustrator for Oxford University Press.

His journey to creating his bestselling book began on Instagram, where he shared his simple yet profound ink drawings featuring four unlikely friends. What started as social media posts evolved into a global phenomenon that has touched millions of readers around the world.

In 2022, an animated adaptation of his book won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Mackesy continues to create art that explores themes of kindness, friendship, and emotional vulnerability.

Inspiring Quotes from The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse:

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" "Kind," said the boy.
"What is the bravest thing you've ever said? asked the boy. 'Help,' said the horse."
"Always remember you matter, you're important and you are loved, and you bring to this world things no one else can."
"One of our greatest freedoms is how we react to things."
"The greatest illusion," said the mole, "is that life should be perfect."

Interesting Facts

  • Before becoming an author, Mackesy worked as a cartoonist for The Spectator magazine.
  • He has said that the characters in his book represent different aspects of himself.
  • His illustrations have been featured in books by other authors, including Bear Grylls.
Portraits of Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson

Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson

Co-authors of Why Nations Fail

Daron Acemoglu is a Turkish-American economist who has made significant contributions to the field of political economy. He is currently the Institute Professor at MIT and is among the most cited economists in the world.

James A. Robinson is a British economist and political scientist who is currently the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago. Together with Acemoglu, he developed the theory that inclusive economic and political institutions are key determinants of a nation's prosperity.

Their groundbreaking work in Why Nations Fail challenges conventional wisdom about the causes of global inequality and offers a compelling framework for understanding why some countries prosper while others don't.

Core Insights from Why Nations Fail:

"Poor countries are poor because those who have power make choices that create poverty."
"Economic institutions shape economic incentives: the incentives to become educated, to save and invest, to innovate and adopt new technologies."
"Politics is the process by which a society chooses the rules that will govern it."
"Inclusive economic institutions require secure property rights and economic opportunities not just for the elite but for a broad cross-section of society."
"The most common reason why nations fail today is because they have extractive institutions."

Academic Achievements

  • Acemoglu received the John Bates Clark Medal in 2005, awarded to economists under 40.
  • Their papers are among the most cited in economics literature.
  • Together they have authored or co-authored over 150 academic papers and several influential books.
Portrait of George Orwell

George Orwell

Author of 1984

George Orwell, born Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950), was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. His work is characterized by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to totalitarianism, and support for democratic socialism.

Orwell's experiences fighting in the Spanish Civil War, where he witnessed the betrayal of the revolution by Stalinist forces, deeply influenced his political convictions and his two most famous works: Animal Farm and 1984.

Published in 1949, 1984 was Orwell's final novel and perhaps his most enduring legacy. Written while he was suffering from tuberculosis that would eventually take his life, the book serves as a warning about the dangers of totalitarianism that continues to resonate with readers today.

Notable Quotes from 1984:

"Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood."
"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past."
"If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself."
"Big Brother is Watching You."
"Orthodoxy means not thinking--not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness."

Literary Legacy

  • The term "Orwellian" has entered the language to describe totalitarian or authoritarian social practices.
  • He coined terms like "Big Brother," "doublethink," and "thoughtcrime" that are now part of our cultural lexicon.
  • Before writing his masterworks, he lived in poverty and worked various jobs, experiences he documented in Down and Out in Paris and London.