Braver New World by John Kampfner

‘At a time when politics and government feel so broken in so many parts of the world, this is a dose of optimism amid the gloom; stunning examples of people and places where courage has led to real change for the better.’ Alastair Campbell

At a time when democracies seem paralyzed by fear and populations are turning inward, award-winning journalist John Kampfner travels to ten countries confronting our shared challenges with bravery and imagination.

In Japan, he discovers inter-generational care homes ensuring dignity in later life – while Britain ducks the social care question. He visits Vienna’s century-old housing projects where 60% of residents live in subsidised accommodation without stigma and communities thrive. Taiwan’s health system achieves 90% patient satisfaction at a fraction of the cost of the NHS. From Moroccan solar panels in the Sahara producing enough clean energy to power two million homes to Finnish classrooms preparing children for an uncertain world that Britain’s teaching-to-the-test system cannot match – Kampfner introduces us to the people making radical change happen.

These aren’t utopias. But what unites them is a refusal to accept that difficult problems are unsolvable. The countries showing true innovation are often those with their backs against the wall – not wealthy nations assuming they have all the answers. Braver New World is an urgent reminder that solutions exist. The question is whether we have the courage to learn.

A groundbreaking exploration of the countries solving the world’s most pressing problems – and what we can learn from them.

About the Author: JOHN KAMPFNER is an award-winning author, broadcaster, foreign-affairs commentator and conference speaker. He began his career reporting from East Berlin (during the fall of the Wall) and Moscow (during the collapse of communism) for the Telegraph. After covering British politics for the FT and BBC, he edited the New Statesman. He has been Chair of several organizations. He is a regular TV and radio pundit, documentary maker and author of seven previous books, including the bestselling Blair’s Wars. Why the Germans Do it Better, published in 2020 was a Top 10 bestseller and Book of the Year in the Guardian, Economist and New Statesman, and sold over 150,000 copies in all editions. His most recent book, In Search of Berlin, was longlisted for the Ondaatje Prize.

16 Apr 2026
 

Braver New World: The Countries Daring to Do Things Others Won’t by John Kampfner ISBN 9781805462514