The No Nonsense Guide to the UN
By Maggie Black

Released from the New Internationalist’s stable of publications in 2008 is this extremely useful and accessible pocket-sized guidebook. It is a great introduction to the complex world of the UN. Beyond the basic factual content of the book, the author makes the point that the perpetually discussed topic of reform should not be an exercise in centralisation and tidying for the sake of neatness. As an organisation that works for a better world rather than a perfect one this point sits comfortably with those of the Influx Project.

Chasing the Flame
By Samantha Power

If you have a spare week to read this huge biography of the uber-chaismatic UN diplomat Sergio Viera di Mello it would be a week well spent. Following this James Bond like character leads us through thirty years at the UN in general as well as his personal story up until he is unceremoniously killed in Iraq in 2003. For anyone who has ever dreamt of becoming a UN martyr and multi-lingual womaniser, this is the act to follow
The Parliament of Man
By Paul Kennedy

This is a body of work aimed at serious UN enthusiasts. It takes a comprehensive look at the UN’s successes and failures since its conception in 1945. The content encircles the core question of whether the UN is fit to achieve its high ideals in the future, based on lessons of the past. It also focuses on old debates that refuse to die- the issues of legitimacy and sovereignty in an ever more interconnected world.