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If you're intrigued by the intersections of art and politics, Barry Seldes's biography of Leonard Bernstein presents a compelling portrait that goes beyond his musical achievements. Seldes peels back the layers of Bernstein's public persona to reveal how his compositions and career were inextricably linked with his social and political values. It's an enlightening read that might deepen your appreciation for the man's work and his commitment to social change through music.

No single book has encompassed the vast scope of Edward Said's erudition quite like Power, Politics and Culture - a collection of his interviews from the last three decades. In these twenty-nine interviews, Said addresses everything from Palestine to Pavarotti, from his nomadic upbringing under colonial rule to his politica

The Organic Globalizer is a collection of critical essays which takes the position that hip-hop holds political significance through an understanding of its ability to at once raise cultural awareness, expand civil society's focus on social and economic justice through institution building, and engage in political activism and participation. Collectively, the essays assert hip hop's importance as an “organic globalizer:” no matter its pervasiveness or reach around the world, hip-hop ultimately remains a grassroots phenomenon that is born of the community from which it permeates. Hip hop, then, holds promise through three separate but related avenues: (1) through cultural awareness and identification/recognition of voices of marginalized communities through music and art; (2) through social creation and the institutionalization of independent alternative institutions and non-profit organizations in civil society geared toward social and economic justice; and (3) through political activism and participation in which demands are articulated and made on the state.With editorial bridges between chapters and an emphasis on interdisciplinary and diverse perspectives, The Organic Globalizer is the natural scholarly evolution in the conversation about hip-hop and politics.

"Professional Correctness" is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of literary criticism and political activism. Stanley Fish provides a thought-provoking analysis of the debate between those who believe that literature should be used to effect social change and those who think it should remain apolitical. This book is particularly relevant in today's society, where social justice and advocacy are increasingly important topics in all fields.