Jonathan Benson – författare

Whether due to Donald Trump, Brexit, or the rise of populism, many are increasingly questioning the value of democracy. Complaints of ignorant voters, irrational public debate, and disconnected politicians have led some to suggest that democracies are destined to make bad decisions, and to propose alternatives. In Intelligent Democracy, political theorist Jonathan Benson rejects this new democratic scepticism. He argues that democracies can make effective use of knowledge, engage in experimentation, utilise diversity, and motivate decisions towards the common good-and that they can do all these things better than their rivals. Benson pleads that we value democracy, not only because it treats us all equally, but because it is intelligent. At the core of the book is the first systemic account of democracy's epistemic value. While it is common to focus on the faults of any one democratic body, Benson argues that democracy represents a much broader network of institutions which work together to produce a system which is more intelligent than any of its parts. The book examines how elections, deliberative assemblies, random sortition, and the open public sphere can be best connected, and offers innovative new proposals for improving our democratic systems. Through this approach, Benson shows that democracy is superior to regimes of epistocracy and political meritocracy which aim to empower the knowledgeable and exclude the ignorant, as well as proposals for granting greater powers to free markets or private companies. Drawing on work from political science, philosophy, and economics, Intelligent Democracy produces a unique epistemic justification of democratic politics and a robust answer to its critics.

With this complete resource from professional furniture-maker and veneer specialist Jonathan Benson, you'll learn how to re-create the beauty of exotic wood with veneer and in-lays. A series of step-by-step exercises will take you through all the techniques and culminate in four beautiful finished pieces: a dining room table, a wall mirror with shelf, a marquetry picture and a parquetry design. Also included is a complete troubleshooting section for repairs and problems.

Learning to bend wood can take a woodworker in a whole new direction. Canoes, guitars, whimsical furniture and many other projects are within reach with an understanding of this age-old technique. Now, with the help of professional furniture maker, Jonathan Benson, woodworkers can learn the four basic wood bending methods: bending green wood, using heat or steam, bending panels and bending laminations. Seven step-by-step projects clearly illustrate how each technique is achieved and are presented with an eye for budget and practicality, making this book ideal for woodworkers of all skill levels.