Against specialisation and the dematerialisation of existence, promoted as a saving grace by the heralds of technocapitalism, this page is an invitation to discover the Book Constellation: a list of books I am currently reading and those I have already read. You will find not only books about outer space, but also works of literature: because we are besieged by artificial intelligence controlled by private actors, by every kind of manipulation designed to deprive us of ownership and turn all knowledge into a time-limited subscription, or one tied to how much money you have.

We are genuflected before mindless consumption, in which there is no community—not among the men and women who are alive around us today, nor among those of the future, and certainly not with those of the past. The book is the technology that anyone can own and from which anyone can draw benefit and wisdom. Let us return to inhabiting our minds and to sculpting our inner statue.

Christopher Wrigley | Kingship and State: The Buganda Dynasty

Despite having read the accounts of Apollo Kaggwa, the Katikkiro (Prime Minister) of the Buganda Kingdom, I have always approached his reconstruction of Buganda's royal genealogy with caution. His writings were produced in a colonial context and, in several respects, sought to present the history of Buganda in a form that would be more comprehensible (and ultimately more acceptable) to European readers. While they remain indispensable historical sources, they should be read alongside other traditions and interpretations.

For this reason, Wrigley's work is particularly valuable. Rather than presenting a single authoritative narrative, it brings together different myths, oral traditions, and historical accounts surrounding the Buganda dynasty and the institution of kingship. This comparative approach offers a richer understanding of how the Buganda state conceived of its origins, the sacred character of the Kabakaship, and the evolution of one of Africa's most remarkable pre-colonial political systems.

To me, this book is a true treasure. I firmly believe that the heritage of African civilizations deserves far greater recognition, not only for its historical significance but also for the sophistication of its political institutions and intellectual traditions. As someone whose roots lie in the Buganda Kingdom, I see immense value in works that preserve and present these traditions with scholarly care. By exploring the myths, genealogies, and historical narratives of the Buganda dynasty, Wrigley contributes to a broader appreciation of Africa's civilisations and helps ensure that this rich cultural heritage becomes better known around the world.

Martin Jacques | When China Rules The World: The Rise of the Middle Kingdom and the End of the Western World (Greatly updated and expanded)

Martin Jacques' groundbreaking book overturns conventional thinking about the ascendancy of China, showing how its impact will not just be economic, but cultural. As China's “civilisational state” reasserts itself, it will signal the end of the global dominance of the Western nation-state, and the start of a future of 'contested modernity'. Martin Jacques has done incredible research to give us so much statistical and historical information about the depth of the penetration so far and then overlaid that with well-reasoned and easy to read arguments as to how China could develop. This is by far the best analytical study on Chinese culture I have yet read, and is highly recommended.

Alex Haley | The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Haley’s work captures Malcolm X’s voice with unusual candor and narrative force. They praise its portrayal of his dramatic evolution (from hustler to autodidact, from Nation of Islam minister to orthodox Muslim after Mecca) while exposing systemic racism and challenging sanitised civil-rights narratives. This book changed my life. Indeed, a must-read.