Here’s What to Read and Watch to Understand the European Union

On Thursday, 52 percent of my British compatriots voted to leave the European Union. Politicians and pundits seemed shocked by the result, which caused markets to tumble and cost Prime Minister David Cameron his job. But the U.K.’s international ambivalence didn’t come out of the blue; it was built on decades of fears and fissures. Here are some great books, a binge-worthy political drama and some really rubbish TV to help you better understand Europe and Britain’s role within it.

The founding father of the European project, Monnet was simultaneously French, British and American. Throughout the two world wars, he led the charge for a more collaborative approach among the world’s democratic leaders. In the aftermath, he traded on his contacts, reputation and intellect to build a European community that could secure permanent peace. Duchêne’s biography of Monnet is a masterpiece as relevant to America as it is to Europe.