Politics Books
Examine the complexities of democracy, policy, and international relations here in our Politics section at Thryft. Whether you’re interested in political theory, governance, or recent political events, we’ve got the titles to quench your curiosity. Engage with works by political scientists, renowned authors, and essential essays that shape today’s political discourse.
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Shana Knizhnik, Irin Carmon |
Dey
Street
Books
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
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Goodreads rating: 4.18
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This is a lively, affectionate portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg that feels both smart and wonderfully human. It goes beyond the meme to show the discipline, courage, and quiet steel that made her such a lasting force. If you like biographies with political bite and a real sense of personality, this is the kind of book that leaves you inspired and fired up.
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Thomas E. Ricks
|
The
Penguin
Press
Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq
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Goodreads rating: 4.09
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If you want sharp, unsparing nonfiction, this feels like the book people press into your hands after saying you need to understand what really happened. Ricks turns military misjudgment and political blindness into a gripping narrative, showing how small failures hardened into disaster. It is especially compelling for readers who like history that does not just recount events, but exposes the human arrogance and institutional confusion behind them.
Michael Wolff
|
Little,
Brown
Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House
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Goodreads rating: 3.44
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Recommended for: A political enthusiast or news junkie looking for an insider's perspective on the controversial Trump presidency. With unprecedented access to the Trump White House, Michael Wolff provides a captivating and eye-opening account of the first nine months of Trump's term. From juicy details about the president's staff dynamics to revealing the motivations behind major decisions, Fire and Fury offers a fresh and thought-provoking look at one of the most turbulent times in American politics. Get ready to dive into the chaos and drama that unfolded in the Oval Office.
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If you love history that reads like a high-stakes novel, this is a gripping choice. Pamela Harriman comes across as far more than a scandalous socialite, and the book’s real thrill is seeing how charm, intelligence, and access quietly shaped world events. Readers who enjoy powerful women, political intrigue, and beautifully researched biography will likely find this hard to put down.
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Annie Jacobsen
|
Little,
Brown
Paperbacks
Surprise, Kill, Vanish: The Secret History of CIA Paramilitary Armies, Operators, and Assassins
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Goodreads rating: 4.31
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From Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen, the untold USA Today bestselling story of the CIA's secret paramilitary units. Surprise, Kill, Vanish: The Secret History of CIA Paramilitary Armies, Operators, and Assassins. When diplomacy fails, and war is unwise, the president calls on the CIA's Special Activities Division, a highly classified branch of the CIA and the most effective, black operations force in the world. Originally known as the president's guerrilla warfare corps, SAD conducts risky and ruthless operations that have evolved over time to defend America from its enemies. Almost every American president since World War II has asked the CIA to conduct sabotage, subversion and, yes, assassination. With unprecedented access to forty-two men and women who proudly and secretly worked on CIA covert operations from the dawn of the Cold War to the present day, along with declassified documents and deep historical research, Jacobsen unveils -- like never before -- a complex world of individuals working in treacherous environments populated with killers, connivers, and saboteurs. Despite Hollywood notions of off-book operations and external secret hires, covert action is actually one piece in a colossal foreign policy machine. Written with the pacing of a thriller, Surprise, Kill, Vanish brings to vivid life the sheer pandemonium and chaos, as well as the unforgettable human will to survive and the intellectual challenge of not giving up hope that define paramilitary and intelligence work. Jacobsen's exclusive interviews -- with members of the CIA's Senior Intelligence Service (equivalent to the Pentagon's generals), its counterterrorism chiefs, targeting officers, and Special Activities Division's Ground Branch operators who conduct today's close-quarters killing operations around the world -- reveal, for the first time, the enormity of this shocking, controversial, and morally complex terrain. Is the CIA's paramilitary army America's weaponized strength, or a liability to its principled standing in the world? Every operation reported in this book, however unsettling, is legal.
David Enrich
|
Custom
House
Dark Towers: Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and an Epic Trail of Destruction
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Goodreads rating: 3.97
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If you're into gripping tales that blend finance with scandal, "Dark Towers" is a book you might not want to miss. This isn't just another bank story; it's a deep dive into a world where money intersects with global politics and historical atrocities. The connection to high-profile figures like Donald Trump adds a layer of contemporary relevance that could keep you turning the pages well past bedtime.
Amy Finkelstein, Liran Einav |
Portfolio
We've Got You Covered: Rebooting American Health Care
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Goodreads rating: 4.11
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If you're concerned or simply curious about the complexities of the American health insurance system and its potential overhaul, "We've Got You Covered" presents a deep dive from authoritative voices in economics. Einav and Finkelstein not only dissect the issues in the current setup but also offer a bold, systemic reform proposal, which could resonate if you're interested in policy, economics, or just want to understand what a transformed future of healthcare might look like.
John Grafton, Abraham Lincoln, Roy P. Basler |
Dover
Publications
Great Speeches
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If you're intrigued by the art of oratory or the timeless impact of powerful words, "Great Speeches" by Abraham Lincoln might just resonate deeply with you. It's more than a history lesson; it's a journey through the heart and mind of one of America's most revered leaders, whose skill with words shaped the nation profoundly. Reading his speeches offers a personal encounter with Lincoln's convictions and his exceptional ability to express complex ideas with clarity and moral force.
Joseph E. Stiglitz
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W.
W.
Norton
Company
People, Power, and Profits: Progressive Capitalism for an Age of Discontent
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If you're feeling lost in today's tumultuous economic landscape, Stiglitz's 'People, Power, and Profits' is like a compass to guide you through. His insightful analysis doesn't just diagnose the ailments of modern capitalism; it prescribes a hopeful course towards a more fair and inclusive economy. This book might be the intellectual stimulus you need to understand and perhaps even join the movements shaping the future of our economy.
Chase Madar
|
Verso
The Passion of Bradley Manning: The Story Behind the WikiLeaks Whistleblower
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Goodreads rating: 4.1
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If you're intrigued by the thin line between treason and heroism, "The Passion of Bradley Manning" could enlighten you. It's a deep dive into the motivations and implications of Manning's actions, questioning not just one man's decisions but the broader ethics of government secrecy. It provokes thought on where the public's right to know stands against national security, making it an essential read in an era where such debates are more relevant than ever.
Steve Vogel
|
Random
House
Trade
Paperbacks
The Pentagon: A History
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Goodreads rating: 4.27
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If you like history that feels urgent and cinematic, this turns a famous building into a gripping human drama. It’s not just about concrete and blueprints, but ambition, politics, wartime pressure, and the personalities who forced the impossible into existence. Readers who enjoy narrative history often love how it connects one structure to the whole sweep of modern America.
Martin Gilbert
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Mcclelland
&
Stewart
Churchill and America
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Goodreads rating: 4.05
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If you’re drawn to big personalities shaping world history, this feels especially rewarding because it shows Churchill through one of his most defining relationships. Martin Gilbert brings rare authority, so the book has the confidence and depth of someone who truly knows the archives inside out. It’s the kind of history that makes diplomacy feel personal, revealing how friendship, instinct, and political vision helped shape the modern Anglo-American alliance.
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Jesse Eisinger
|
Simon
&
Schuster
The Chickenshit Club: Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives
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If you’ve ever wondered why powerful executives seem untouchable, this is the kind of book that turns that frustration into a gripping, deeply reported story. It reads with the urgency of a thriller but gives you the institutional detail that makes the outrage land harder. You come away feeling like you’ve finally seen the machinery behind corporate impunity laid bare.
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"Reporter is just wonderful. Truly a great life, and what shines out of the book, amid the low cunning and tireless legwork, is Hersh's warmth and humanity. Essential reading for every journalist and aspiring journalist the world over." — John le Carré
In the early 1950s, teenage Seymour Hersh was finishing high school and university — while running the family's struggling dry cleaning store in a South Side Chicago ghetto. Today, he is one of America's premier investigative journalists, whose fearless reporting has earned him fame, front-page bylines in virtually every newspaper in the world, a staggering collection of awards, and no small amount of controversy. Reporter is the story of how he did it. It is a story of slog, ingenuity and defiance, following Hersh from his first job as a crime reporter for the Chicago City News Bureau, through his Pulitzer Prize-winning freelance investigative exposes, to the heights of his reporting for The New York Times and The New Yorker. It is a tale of night-time encounters with great Civil Rights leaders, unauthorised meetings with Pentagon officials, raucous dinners with Canadian soldiers in Hanoi, tense phone calls with Secretaries of State, desperate to save face; of exposing myriad military and political wrongdoing, from My Lai to Watergate to Abu Ghraib, and the cynical cover-ups that followed in Washington and New York. Here too are unforgettable encounters with some of the most formidable figures from recent decades, from Saul Bellow to Martin Luther King Jr., from Henry Kissinger to Bashar al-Assad. Ultimately, in unfurling Seymour Hersh's life and career, Reporter tells a story of twentieth-century America, in all its excitement and darkness.
Noam Chomsky, David Barsamian |
Hamish
Hamilton
Imperial Ambitions: Conversations With Noam Chomsky On The Post-9/11 World
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If you're interested in understanding complex global issues and the post-9/11 geopolitical landscape through the sharp lens of Noam Chomsky, "Imperial Ambitions" is a compelling read. These interviews delve into topics with an immediacy and critical perspective that could change or reinforce your views on U.S. foreign policy and global threats. The book's conversational format makes Chomsky's formidable intellect accessible, offering a thought-provoking analysis that's as educational as it is engaging.
Daniel Hannan
|
Broadside
Books
Inventing Freedom: How the English-Speaking Peoples Made the Modern World
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This will likely appeal if you enjoy big-idea history with a strong political argument and don’t mind a clearly opinionated voice. Hannan makes the story of freedom feel contingent rather than inevitable, which gives the book urgency and bite. Readers who like provocative takes on democracy, law, and national identity may find it energising, even when they disagree.
Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
|
First
Mariner
Books
A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House
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Goodreads rating: 4.16
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If you love political history that feels alive rather than distant, this is a gripping place to land. Schlesinger writes with the access of an insider and the eye of a gifted storyteller, so JFK comes across as vivid, witty, and human. It is long, but readers who enjoy big, immersive biographies often find that depth exactly what makes it so rewarding.
Ages 7-9
Kitson Jazynka | National Geographic Kids
Kitson Jazynka | National Geographic Kids
Rosa Parks - Readers Bios
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Goodreads rating: 4.26
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"Rosa Parks" by Kitson Jazynka is more than just a history lesson; it's an empowering read that showcases the impact one individual can have on changing the world. It will particularly resonate with those who value social justice and enjoy seeing how personal courage can lead to societal transformation. The vibrant photographs and engaging text are bonus treats that make Rosa Parks's journey accessible and inspiring for readers of all ages.
Richard Bradley
|
Harper
Perennial
Harvard Rules: Lawrence Summers and the Battle for the World's Most Powerful University — Sex, Ambition, and Elite Power at America's Institution
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Goodreads rating: 3.37
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If you’re drawn to real-life institutional drama, this is a sharp, gossipy, surprisingly gripping look at Harvard at a moment of identity crisis. It reads like a backstage account of power clashing with idealism, with Lawrence Summers at the center of the storm. You come away feeling like elite universities are not just places of learning, but arenas where ambition, politics, and personality shape the future.
Mark E. Neely Jr.
|
University
Of
North
Carolina
Press
Lincoln and the Triumph of the Nation: Constitutional Conflict in the American Civil War
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Goodreads rating: 3.73
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If you like Civil War books that go beyond battlefield stories, this one feels especially rewarding. It shows how the Union and Confederacy fought not only with armies but with competing ideas of law, power, and nationhood. Readers who enjoy sharp historical analysis will appreciate how Lincoln emerges here not just as a wartime leader, but as a constitutional strategist.
Dan Beeton, Alexander Main, Wikileaks |
Verso
(london/ny)
The WikiLeaks Files: The World According to US Empire
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Goodreads rating: 3.84
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If you've ever been curious about the behind-the-scenes of US foreign policy, "The WikiLeaks Files" could be the eye-opener you need. It's not just a compilation; it's a critical analysis of how America's power plays out on the global stage, laid bare by experts who digest the significance of the revelations. For anyone keen to understand the gritty realities that shape our world, this book offers a rare, uncensored glimpse.
Matt Apuzzo, Adam Goldman |
Atria
Books
Enemies Within: Inside the NYPD's Secret Spying Unit and Bin Laden's Final Plot Against America
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Goodreads rating: 3.89
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If the interplay of espionage and real-world events draws you in, "Enemies Within" could be a compelling read for you. Apuzzo and Goldman, with their expert journalistic chops, shed light on post-9/11 internal security tactics. It's the kind of book that not only informs but also immerses you in the high-stakes tension of thwarting terrorism.
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Egil “Bud” Krogh
|
Swift
Press
The White House Plumbers: The Seven Weeks That Led to Watergate and Doomed Nixon's Presidency
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Goodreads rating: 3.33
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SOON TO BE A FIVE-PART HBO SERIES, STARRING WOODY HARRELSON AND JUSTIN THEROUX. The true story of the White House Plumbers, a secret unit inside Nixon's White House, their ill-conceived plans to stop the leaks of the Pentagon Papers, and how they led to Watergate and the president's demise. On July 17, 1971, Egil "Bud" Krogh was summoned to a closed-door meeting by his mentor—and a key confidant of the president—John Ehrlichman. Expecting to discuss the most recent drug-control program launched in Vietnam, Krogh was shocked when Ehrlichman handed him a file and the responsibility for the Special Investigations Unit, or SIU, later to be notoriously known as "The Plumbers." The Plumbers' work, according to Nixon, was critical to national security; they were to investigate the leaks of top-secret government documents, including the Pentagon Papers, to the press. The White House Plumbers is Krogh's account of what really happened behind the closed doors of the Nixon White House, how a good man can make bad decisions, and the redemptive power of integrity. Including the story of how Krogh served time and later rebuilt his life, The White House Plumbers is gripping, thoughtful, and a cautionary tale of placing loyalty over principle.
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David Ritz, Tavis Smiley |
Little,
Brown
Paperbacks
Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Final Year
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Goodreads rating: 4.03
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This is a powerful pick if you want Martin Luther King Jr. in full, not flattened into a symbol. Tavis Smiley brings his final year into sharp focus, showing the pressure, loneliness, and criticism King faced even as he pushed forward. It reads like a corrective to the version of history that sands down his complexity, and that honesty is what makes it hit so hard.
Omarosa Manigault Newman
|
Gallery
Books
Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House
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Goodreads rating: 3.34
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If you're drawn to political drama and are curious about the inner workings of recent American leadership, "Unhinged" may just satisfy that curiosity. Omarosa's firsthand account promises to peel back the curtain on the Trump administration with personal anecdotes that could redefine your understanding of the presidency and the corridors of power in Washington. It's a candid and potentially controversial perspective that assures a compelling read for those intrigued by the political spectacle.
Arlie Russell Hochschild
|
The
New
Press
Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right
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"Strangers in Their Own Land" might just shift the way you see political discourse in the U.S. Arlie Hochschild's journey is one of genuine curiosity and empathy, providing a nuanced window into the lives and feelings of the conservative right. This is not just a book about politics; it's an invitation to understand the emotional undercurrents that shape our views and relationships in society. It could be a comforting read if you're looking to find humanity in places where you least expect it.
David Dyment, Bob Rae |
Dundurn
Press
Doing the Continental: A New Canadian-American Relationship
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This is a smart pick if you like current affairs with real-world relevance and a distinctly Canadian lens. Dyment makes a complex, often overlooked relationship feel lively, showing how two close neighbours can be deeply connected and still misunderstand each other. It feels like the kind of concise policy book that leaves you seeing headlines, borders, and diplomacy a little more clearly.
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Noam Chomsky, Gilbert Achcar |
Hamish
Hamilton
Perilous Power: The Middle East and U.S. Foreign Policy: Dialogues on Terror, Democracy, War, and Justice
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Goodreads rating: 3.97
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If you want to make sense of the Middle East beyond headlines and talking points, this is a thoughtful place to start. The dialogue format makes big, difficult issues feel alive and approachable, while still giving you serious political depth. Readers who like being challenged by strong, critical perspectives on U.S. power and regional conflict will find it especially rewarding.
Michael Wolff
|
Little,
Brown
Siege: Trump Under Fire
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If you're intrigued by the whirlwind that was Trump's administration, Michael Wolff's "Siege" is a must-read. Wolff presents a narrative that feels like you're inside the White House witnessing the chaos first-hand. His account begins in Trump's second year and culminates with the Mueller report, offering insights into an administration under constant scrutiny and a president who's both unpredictable and exposed.
Stephen Colbert
|
Grand
Central
Publishing
I Am America (And So Can You!)
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Recommendation: "I Am America (And So Can You!)" is a must-read for fans of Stephen Colbert and anyone who enjoys biting political satire. Colbert's unique brand of humor offers insightful commentary on current events, religion, and the state of the nation. His clever quips and razor-sharp wit will leave you laughing out loud while also making you think. This book is a perfect pick-me-up for anyone in need of a good chuckle and a dose of reality.
Charles R. Morris
|
Publicaffairs
The Trillion Dollar Meltdown: Easy Money, High Rollers, and the Great Credit Crash
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Goodreads rating: 3.72
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If you're fascinated by the intricacies of economic crises and enjoy a deep dive into the causes behind financial turmoil, "The Trillion Dollar Meltdown" is a compelling read. Morris brings a critical eye to pre-2008 excesses, making complex concepts accessible. You'll come away with a richer understanding of the factors that led to a financial system on the brink.
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Annie Jacobsen
|
Back
Bay
Books
The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America's Top Secret Military Research Agency
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Goodreads rating: 4.0
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National Bestseller. A Pulitzer Prize Finalist, and the definitive history of DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, from the author of the New York Times bestseller Area 51. No one has ever written the history of the Defense Department's most secret, most powerful, and most controversial military science R&D agency. In the first-ever history of the organization, New York Times bestselling author Annie Jacobsen draws on inside sources, exclusive interviews, private documents, and declassified memos to paint a picture of DARPA, or "the Pentagon's brain," from its Cold War inception in 1958 to the present. This is the book on DARPA—a compelling narrative about this clandestine intersection of science and the American military—and the often frightening results.
James B. Stewart
|
Penguin
Press
Tangled Webs: How False Statements Are Undermining America From Martha Stewart to Bernie Madoff
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Goodreads rating: 3.68
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If you're intrigued by the intersection of law and ethics, "Tangled Webs" could offer you an incisive look into how perjury is not just a legal transgression but a mirror reflecting deeper societal issues. James B. Stewart weaves a compelling narrative that may change how you view truth and justice in high-profile cases.
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This is the kind of true story that stays with you because it begins with everyday decency and turns into something shocking and deeply unsettling. Zeitoun feels vivid and human, especially in the portrait of a family trying to do right while systems around them collapse. If you’re drawn to narrative nonfiction that reads with urgency but carries real emotional weight, this is a powerful and memorable read.
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Annie Jacobsen
|
Little,
Brown
Paperbacks
Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations Into Extrasensory Perception
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Goodreads rating: 3.94
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The definitive history of the military's decades-long investigation into mental powers and phenomena, from the author of Pulitzer Prize finalist The Pentagon's Brain and international bestseller Area 51. This is a book about a team of scientists and psychics with top-secret clearances. For more than forty years, the U.S. government has researched extrasensory perception, using it in attempts to locate hostages, fugitives, secret bases, and downed fighter jets, to divine other nations' secrets, and even to predict future threats to national security. The intelligence agencies and military services involved include CIA, DIA, NSA, DEA, the Navy, Air Force, and Army—and even the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Now, for the first time, New York Times bestselling author Annie Jacobsen tells the story of these radical, controversial programs, using never-before-seen declassified documents as well as exclusive interviews with, and unprecedented access to, more than fifty of the individuals involved. Speaking on the record, many for the first time, are former CIA and Defense Department scientists, analysts, and program managers, as well as the government psychics themselves. Who did the U.S. government hire for these top-secret programs, and how do they explain their military and intelligence work? How do scientists approach such enigmatic subject matter? What interested the government in these supposed powers and does the research continue? Phenomena is a riveting investigation into how far governments will go in the name of national security.
Steve Coll
|
The
Penguin
Press
Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power
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If you're intrigued by the inner workings of a business giant, "Private Empire" will be a compelling read. Steve Coll takes you on a deep dive, exposing how ExxonMobil's tendrils stretch far into the political and economic fabric of the nation. Perfect for those fascinated by corporate power dynamics and their impact on society.
Mark Kurlansky
|
Ballantine
Books
(ny)
1968: The Year That Rocked the World
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Goodreads rating: 3.82
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If you're intrigued by history with a pulse, "1968: The Year That Rocked the World" might just be your next favorite read. Mark Kurlansky has a knack for bringing the vibrancy of historical events to life, and this book is no exception. It's a vivid time capsule that puts you right in the heart of a year where every corner of the globe seemed to be on the edge of monumental change.
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Paul Johnson
|
Harper
Perennial
Civil War America 1850-1870
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Goodreads rating: 3.8
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If you want Civil War history that feels both authoritative and alive, this is a rewarding pick. Paul Johnson gives you the political fracture, the battlefield stakes, and the uneasy aftermath in a way that feels brisk but never shallow. It’s the kind of history readers often praise for making a huge, familiar subject feel sharply focused and deeply human.
Rabia Chaudry
|
St.
Martin's
Press
Adnan's Story - The Search For Truth And Justice After Serial
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Goodreads rating: 4.12
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This book could be a good read for true crime enthusiasts who were captivated by the Serial podcast. Adnan's Story goes beyond what was covered in the podcast, providing intimate details and newly-uncovered evidence that unveils a gripping search for truth and justice. Delving into the complexities of Adnan Syed's case, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat, questioning and unraveling the mystery surrounding a highly-publicized murder trial.
Just Arrived
Mark Bowden
|
Grove
Press
The Finish: The Killing of Osama bin Laden
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Goodreads rating: 3.86
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From Mark Bowden, the preeminent chronicler of our military and special forces, comes The Finish: The Killing of Osama bin Laden, a gripping account of the hunt for Osama bin Laden. With access to key sources, Bowden takes us inside the rooms where decisions were made and on the ground where the action unfolded. After masterminding the attacks of September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden managed to vanish. Over the next ten years, as Bowden shows, America found that its war with al Qaeda—a scattered group of individuals who were almost impossible to track—demanded an innovative approach. Step by step, Bowden describes the development of a new tactical strategy to fight this war—the fusion of intel from various agencies and on-the-ground special ops. After thousands of special forces missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, the right weapon to go after bin Laden had finally evolved. By Spring 2011, intelligence pointed to a compound in Abbottabad; it was estimated that there was a 50/50 chance that Osama bin Laden was there. Bowden shows how three strategies were a drone strike, a precision bombing, or an assault by Navy SEALs. In the end, the President had to make the final decision. It was time for the finish.
Jonathan Cohn
|
St.
Martin's
Press
The Ten-Year War: Obamacare and the Unfinished Crusade for Universal Coverage
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Goodreads rating: 4.17
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If healthcare reform conversations stir your intellect, "The Ten Year War" will provide a deep dive into the political trenches of the Obamacare era. Jonathan Cohn's boots-on-the-ground reporting paints the legislative battle in vivid detail, making it an enlightening read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of healthcare, politics, and the tug-of-war for universal coverage. It's a narrative that's as informative as it is gripping.
William M. Arkin, E.D. Cauchi |
Simon
&
Schuster
The Generals Have No Clothes: The Untold Story of Our Endless Wars
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Goodreads rating: 3.54
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If the cycle of America's military interventions puzzles or troubles you, "The Generals Have No Clothes" offers a profound exploration that is bound to resonate. Authors William M. Arkin and E.D. Cauchi leverage their expertise to dissect why the United States remains entangled in endless wars and, importantly, propose actionable solutions for a future of more accountable and judicious use of military force. If you're keen on understanding the intricacies of defense policy and civilian-military relations, this book could provide eye-opening perspectives.
James Blanchard
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Mcclelland
&
Stewart
Behind the Embassy Door: Canada, Clinton, and Quebec
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Goodreads rating: 3.78
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If you enjoy politics that feels immediate and human, this offers a rare seat inside the U.S.-Canada relationship when NAFTA and Quebec sovereignty made every gesture matter. It has the appeal of a memoir, but with real historical stakes and behind-the-scenes access to Clinton-era power. Readers who like smart political storytelling will appreciate how it makes diplomacy feel personal, fragile, and surprisingly vivid.
Nell Irvin Painter
|
W.
W.
Norton
&
Company
The History of White People
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Goodreads rating: 4.07
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Dive into "The History of White People" for a profound exploration beyond the often-frontlined stories of racial minorities. Nell Irvin Painter's work challenges readers to confront the socio-historical constructs of race and whiteness, making it a crucial read for anyone interested in understanding the deep-seated roots and impacts of racial concepts on Western civilization. It's a history buff's treasure and a thought-provoker for the socially conscious.
Robert Frank
|
Crown
Business
The High-Beta Rich: How the Manic Wealthy Will Take Us to the Next Boom, Bubble, and Bust
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Goodreads rating: 3.83
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If you've ever wondered how the super-rich impact our economy, "The High-Beta Rich" is an intriguing exploration. Robert Frank delves into the roller-coaster fortunes of America's wealthiest and how their high-stakes financial gambles can ripple through our own fiscal reality. It's an eye-opening look at wealth's instability and its broader effects – a must-read for anyone interested in the nexus of affluence and economic trends.
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This is the kind of nonfiction that makes huge systems feel gripping and personal. If you like investigative books that show how business decisions quietly shape politics, labor, and climate, this one really lands. Readers often come away feeling stunned by how invisible Koch’s influence was—and how clearly Leonard connects it to modern America.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
|
Simon
&
Schuster
What Happened
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Goodreads rating: 3.92
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If you're intrigued by American politics, "What Happened" is not just another election post-mortem. It's a candid account from the perspective of the first female major-party presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton herself. Reading it feels like having a personal conversation with Clinton about the factors, both public and private, that played into the 2016 election. This book offers a unique opportunity to experience her journey, thoughts, and reflections, and is especially resonant for anyone interested in women's role in politics.
Just Arrived
Seymour Chwast, Victor S. Navasky |
Seven
Stories
Press
At War With War: 5,000 Years of Conquests, Invasions, and Terrorist Attacks — An Illustrated Timeline
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Goodreads rating: 3.06
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At War with War visualizes humanity’s 5,000-year-long state of conflict on a continuous timeline. Seventy pages of stark black-and-white pen-and-ink drawings and woodcuts illustrate history’s most notorious battles—from 3300 BCE to the present day. Interspersed are contemplations on war from thinkers including excerpts from The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The Complaint of Peace by Desiderius Erasmus, and The State by Randolph Bourne. Searing and sardonic, balancing anger and despair with wit and humanity, these illustrations recall the work of social satirists such as Honoré Daumier, Frans Masereel, Felix Vallotton, and Otto Dix. Seymour Chwast, a design legend and co-founder of Push Pin Studios, turns his pen to a subject that has long preoccupied him—the fight against war, humankind’s enduring scourge.
Jon Stewart, The Writers of The Daily Show |
Grand
Central
Publishing
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America : A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
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Goodreads rating: 4.0
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Recommended for those who want a humorous take on American democracy. The book offers unique insights on topics like the republican qualities of ancient Rome, and the absurdity of today's media. Users will find themselves chuckling at Jon Stewart's satirical commentary on American politics.
Stephen Colbert
|
Grand
Central
Publishing
America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't
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Goodreads rating: 3.84
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America Again is a satirical take on various aspects of American society, from healthcare to the economy. Stephen Colbert uses humor to critique the issues facing the country and offers a dose of truth to get America back on track. This book is recommended for those who enjoy a comedic perspective on current events and are interested in American politics and societal issues.
Navigate the World of Politics
Our Politics section at Thryft features titles on global and regional politics, commentaries, and detailed analyses of current affairs. Whether you’re looking into political theory or getting up to date with recent global events, our collection is here to enlighten and provoke thought.
Most definitely! Our Politics section includes titles on Singaporean politics, offering perspectives on and insights into local governance and political history that are crucial for understanding our country’s unique political landscape.
Yes, we've got in store insightful biographies and memoirs of famous, important political figures, such as Lee Kuan Yew, Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
You can find books on both politics and history here. It's also possible to browse our Politics section by specific areas of history, such as American History and Asian History.