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America Unravels "America unravels," reads the cover of this week's Spectator — and now it looks as though the world economy is unravelling with it. The stock market convulsions of the past few days have come in spite of the debt deal reached earlier this week; which rather supports Christopher Caldwell's argument that the debt deal was inadequate in the first place. "It is inadequate," he writes in his article for us, "to address the US fiscal crisis; it is adequate only to delay its resolution until after 2012." Stir the eurozone crisis into the mix, and it's clear why the speculators and money men are trembling today. Elsewhere in the magazine, we have a typically incisive and informed piece by Aidan Hartley on Somalia. Think the country has a food shortage? Think again. There's plenty of food; the problem is that it's all in the hands of opportunists and war-mongers. Sending aid to Somalia will not help the people it's meant to, says Aidan. It will only worsen the situation. And then there's the usual collection of columns, book reviews, culture notes and other assorted delights. Toby Young tells of a friend who confronted a pair of burglars in the nude and with a hammer in his hand; Christopher Ward excavates some of the terrible injustices that followed the sinking of the Titanic; Laura Gascoigne takes in the magic of Monet; and — for one week only — Taki reveals his seduction techniques. Subscribers, you know the deal: your copy is in the post. The rest of you, we'd be very pleased to welcome you into the fold for only £1 an issue. Fraser Nelson Editor, The Spectator Recent website posts Fasten your seatbelts PETER HOSKIN It has, to paraphrase Margo Channing, already been a bumpy night — and it's only going to get bumpier today. Continue reading Which department could be replaced with a mathematical equation? PETER HOSKIN I answer the question in an article for the Times today, in response to Francis Maude’s announcement yesterday. Continue reading The Spectator's summer reading list THE SPECTATOR As the headline suggests, what follows is a list of summer reading recommendations from Spectator staff members and writers — with more to come shortly. Continue reading Aniston needs to learn from Doris Day SAMIRA AHMED In Jeanine Basinger's book on the old Hollywood studios' star-making system, The Star Machine there is a great little section on how Doris Day became a huge name, while the similarly talented and wholesome Rosemary Clooney did not. Continue reading Events 'How do you collect art and antiques in today's market?' Is it still possible to put together great collections of art or antiques in the 21st century? Should investment opportunities or passion alone drive today's collectors? And what sort of specialists should one turn to for advice on quality, undervalued areas in the market and when to buy and sell? Our team of experts will share their expertise by debating these questions, and many more, in an Apollo seminar. Join us at the inaugural Apollo seminar, in association with The Spectator, chaired by Oscar Humphries at the Wallace Collection on Monday 3 October 2011 between 6.30p.m. and 8.30p.m. £30 ticket includes drinks reception and seminar. RESERVE your place by visiting www.spectator.co.uk/events, calling The Spectator events team on 020 7961 0044 quoting code 06, or emailing collecting@apollomag.com quoting code 06 The Spectator invites you to join us for a very special evening of Churchillian champagne, cognac and cigars at the Cabinet War Rooms on Wednesday 14 September 2011. The evening will start at 6pm with a private view of the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms in the company of their director, Phil Reed, followed by a champagne reception at 6:45pm. Aperitifs of Pol Roger NV (well-documented as Sir Winston's favourite fizz) and a unique Hine cognac cocktail (his favourite cognac) will be followed by a three-course dinner, accompanied by red and white burgundies from the house of Drouhin. Bernard Hine will then host a tasting of Hine cognacs. Finally, guests will walk the few hundred yards from the Cabinet War Rooms to the garden of The Spectator, where there will be a short masterclass on Churchill's other great pleasure - cigars - courtesy of Hunters & Frankau, the UK's leading independent cigar importer. Call 020 7961 0044, visit our website, or emailchurchill@spectator.co.uk now to reserve your place Tickets priced £185 each or £350 a pair (inc VAT). From last week's issue Afraid of being right TIM MONTGOMERIE The coalition risks withering because Cameron won't listen to the wisdom of ordinary Conservatives It's the Mary Poppins principle of successful government: a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. A government does the necessary things to keep the nation healthy while dispensing regular sweeteners to sustain the patient's consent for the treatment. Across the country the vast majority of Conservatives are agreed about the tough remedies necessary to restore Britain's sick economy back to health. They're also united on the treats that will sugar the pill. The problem is the coalition government. Like all coalition governments, the alliance between Nick Clegg and David Cameron has badly eroded the relationship between the ordinary voter and the political class. Cameron doesn't wake up thinking about Essex Man or Worcester Woman. He wakes with Nick Clegg on his mind. He doesn't move, breathe or speak without worrying if the Liberal Democrat leader will approve. He also pays far too much attention to Westminster's chattering classes, despite their remoteness from the inflation and crime that makes life so miserable for so much of middle Britain. As we're all now only too aware, both Cameron and Osborne have been far more interested in what Fleet street thinks than in what ordinary people think — it's as if they're floating in a bubble of privilege above the common herd. Continue reading