Political Science / Political Process Books

The distinguished investigative reporter goes behind the scenes at the White House to report on how the President and his advisors shaped a response to the events of 9/11. Interviews with key players reveal the story of the war on terror and the homeland security initiative.

This investigative report on the secret CIA operations during the 1980s Russia-Afghanistan war tells of the billion-dollar-a-year effort to arm, supply, and train the Afghan resistance, and to maintain relations in the region--all centered on an American Congressman, Charlie Wilson from Texas. This true story reads like a thriller as Crile describes the larger-than-life Wilson, who was head of the House Appropriations Committee, and the many CIA operatives, ex-CIA operatives, gun runners, and freedom fighters who were involved in carrying out the operation. The story has added significance because these same weapons later fell into the hands of the Taliban and were used against us. A New York Times Notable Book for 2003.

THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO (1848) examines the rise of the working class and its inevitable revolution. It eloquently describes capitalism's widespread influence and eventual demise, and sets forth the basis of Marxism. One of the most influential writings in history, it remains highly relevant to contemporary economic and political systems.

In this second volume of Thompson's Gonzo Papers, the legendary writer and raconteur unloads both barrels squarely between the eyes of the "me" generation of the 1980s, attacking stupidity and weakness in all their guises.

Archconservative high priestess Anne Coulter collects her many syndicated columns--as well as a few rejected ones that would have been published, she tells readers, "if you lived in a free country." Coulter can zing and sting with the best, as she points out those aspects of liberal behavior that really aggravate her, such as when she writes: "Historically the best way to convert liberals is to get them to move out of their parents' home, get a job, and start paying taxes." Coulter attacks liberal smugness, elitism, and what she sees as a tendency to make unrealistic movies. Somewhere in the territory between Rodney Dangerfield and Jonathan Swift (somewhere in there) this former lawyer gives her conservative fans exactly what they want--and the ammunition they need to get the liberals as annoyed as they make her.

Legal affairs expert Ann Coulter attacks what she sees as a liberal bias in government and the media, and the resulting debasement of political discourse. She says liberals engage in vicious personal attacks on conservatives, trash their ideas, and refuse to acknowledge their accomplishments. Coulter names names, and offers her view on how to realign the terms of the debate--and why it is important to do so.

Written in 1974 as a response to John Rawls THEORY OF JUSTICE, Nozick's exploration of social and political freedoms champions individual rights and reveals a libertarian bent.

As former president of the Ford Motor Company and later of Chrysler (whose fortunes he turned around dramatically), Lee Iacocca is an American legend, and an undisputed leader in his field. In WHERE HAVE ALL THE LEADERS GONE?, Iacocca is severely critical of the quality of leaders in business and government, saying they lack a sense of responsibility. Poor leaders harm their companies and the industry, and their bad decisions impact on the nation's economy and on America's standing worldwide. He presents a test, based on qualities he looks for in leaders, all which begin with the letter C: curiosity, character, courage, conviction, etc. , and he evaluates the announced or expected presidential candidates for 2008 accordingly. He also speaks out about America's trade deficit, fair trade, China and India, and America's place in the world; and he addresses domestic issues such as how greed and corruption undermine the public's trust in business. Iacocca tells many fascinating stories (including one about the biggest mistake he ever made--which ultimately led to the fall of Chrysler). He brings the voice of experience to what he clearly sees is a current leadership crisis, and he urges Americans to take action.

These observations on politics and American life--from the popular television commentator--are terse, acerbic, and sometimes witty. Considered by some to be right-of-center, O'Reilly calls them the way he sees them, and he is no defender of the status quo.

Kurt Vonnegut's first new book in nearly 10 years is a collection of the essays he has published during that time, illustrated with his inimitable--and often hilarious--line drawings. Vonnegut writes on such topics as death, literature, the state of the American soul, the necessity for making art, and, of course, the administration of George W. Bush. The book's title comes from his often professed sense of shame at the American presence in Iraq. Many of these pieces were published in the magazine In These Times.

In this collection of essays, the first of the Gonzo Papers, the legendary Thompson hold forth on a variety of topics from the corruption of the Nixon government to the corruption of society in the early 1980s.

In this study of globalization, two political philosophers apply the old term of empire to describe the transforming power relationships caused by the new world order. Concepts such as nations, borders, migrations, identities, etc. take on new meanings as the old imperialism of Europe gives way to the new imperialism, which draws some of its ideas--expansionism, multiple geopolitical identities--from American constitutionalism and history.

Lawyer Bugliosi presents a resounding indictment of the Supreme Court's controversial 5-4 decision on the Florida recount issue of the 2000 presidential election.

A conservative Republican takes both major political parties to the woodshed for what he sees as wildly irresponsible economic policies and Washington business-as-usual politics. He raises a warning flag on policies that he says will leave future generations with enormous debt. He faults the Republicans for simultaneously cutting taxes and raising spending to alarming levels, resulting in ever-growing deficits. He says the Democrats are so enamored of entitlements that both Medicare and Social Security are ballooning way out of proportion. Peterson, who served as commerce secretary in the Nixon administration, is chairman of the Blackstone Group, and also serves as chairman of the influential Council on Foreign Relations.

A theologian and ethicist looks at the events of 9/11 in light of America's inexplicable failure to prevent the attacks. Examining the Bush administration's explanations, he concludes that a massive and far-reaching investigation is called for, and that the American people have the right to know the answers to questions that have become increasingly insistent. How did four jets manage to continue flying after they broke off radio contact? Why were FAA procedures for military interception not followed? Why do photographs contradict the government's official version of events? David Ray Griffin puts forth the questions, the discrepancies, and the contradictions so that the reader may decide where the truth lies.

Historian John Ferling recounts the tempestuous election of 1800 between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, and the way it tested the electoral process. The heated campaign between two parties, the Federalists and the Republicans, included hardball tactics and smear campaigns. When both Republicans, Jefferson and Burr, tied in the electoral Congress, the decision went to the House of Representatives, who gave it to Jefferson. While some say it proved that the electoral process and peaceful transition of power worked, this election is seen as a model of the best and worst in American politics.

In the battle for the hearts and minds of the American voter, says political psychologist Drew Westen, the Democratic Party is losing the battle because it is focusing too much on the latter, and not enough on the former. Politics is passions, according to Weston, who draws on recent research in brain science to support his argument that people make choices based on their emotions, and that it is possible to monitor their neural circuits to find out what "fires" them. With specific references to mistakes made in previous elections, Weston explains how the Democrats can modify the way they discuss, or do not discuss, hot-button issues in order to bring rationality and emotions into synch, and get their points across without surrendering ethics.