book reviews

Reviews for political die-hards of books about politicians, civil rights, Supreme Court rulings and the ever-changing Swamp.

Japanese Internment
Farewell to Manzanar is an autobiographical memoir of Jeanne Wakatsuki-Houston, one of the thousands of Japanese-Americans who were forced into internment camps in the 20th century by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December of 1941. At the age of seven, young Jeanne and her family were evacuated to Manzanar—an internment located in Owens Valley, California.
By Sophie Jiwoo7 years ago in The Swamp
The Dream and the Nightmare of 'Red Plenty'
The Cold War has receded into history. With it went the Soviet Union, the communist superpower born out of the Russian Revolution of 1917 that collapsed in 1991. Making sense of it has been a difficult proposition at best. Going some way to fill in the gaps for a popular audience is Francis Spufford's Red Plenty with its compelling look into the era of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, that time when the dream of Red Plenty seemed within grasp.
By Matthew Kresal7 years ago in The Swamp
'Everything You Love Will Burn'
By the time this book was completed, its author, Vegas Tenold, had spent six years living among extreme white nationalist groups in America.
By MissRuth Green7 years ago in The Swamp
Book Review - 'Governing the World: The History of an Idea' by Mark Mazower
Governing the World: The History of an Idea is an illuminating and insightful history regarding the shaky yet continuous rise of internationalism that began with the Concert of Vienna in 1815. Mazower's look at the emergence of global governance continues up until the wake of the Eurozone crisis with regards to the present needs of reforming the European Union in the wake of unpopular austerity measures and burdensome bureaucratic regulations from Brussels. His book addresses 'globalization' different from previous books I've read in the past with regards to focus on 'ideas' themselves and the rise and fall of those ideas throughout the 19th and 20th centuries led by primarily politicians and philosophers such as Kant, Metternich, Mazzini, Marx, Lenin, Bentham, Wilson, the Roosevelts, etc. among many others who were driven in defining what the international system should look, act, and be like.
By Ben W7 years ago in The Swamp
'Rising Out of Hatred'
I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of a new book coming out titled: Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Eli Saslow. Now, that is a pretty loaded title. I mean white nationalism? Whoa. Not something usually on my radar.
By Rachel Kass7 years ago in The Swamp
A Country Stained Red
Red: It is the color of the revolutionary martyr’s blood that had been spilt for a cause that would stain the roots of an entire country for decades to come. The Chinese Cultural Revolution was a dramatic, and often times violent, political renaissance for China. Led by China’s hero, the now deceased Chairman Mao, the revolution lasted from 1966 until the year 1976. This sociopolitical movement altered Chinese life forever. The Cultural Revolution as seen in Ji-Li Jiang’s memoir, Red Scarf Girl, created a lasting impact on Jiang’s community, her friends and family, and the modern Chinese education system.
By P.E. Kyle7 years ago in The Swamp
Why Are You Ranking: Ideas in Steven Pinker's 'Enlightenment Now' Listed from Inhumane to Rational
Within the context of our current climate of negativity and strife, professor Steven Pinker dared to buck the trend and talk about positivity. And not just touchy-feely goodness, but hard, cold facts including diagrams and charts that illustrate that we ought to recognize just how good we have it. Though not perfect, Enlightenment Now (2018) sheds light on how we’re better fed, experience longer lives, are able to live better lives, and plan for the future. It is a tome dedicated to the human soul; it represents a spirit that we can achieve our dreams if we are reality-oriented and focused on the goodness of our own minds. Pinker brings together the ideas of how there are fewer birth deaths for child and mother, wars globally are at their lowest point in history, violent crimes have receded, and billions of people over the past thirty or so years have risen out of abject poverty. Enlightenment is a testament to the power of the human mind to solve problems, create new ways to anticipate future problems, and permit human flourishing. Now, get your happiness indices and statistics on economic inequality measures for “Why Are You Ranking: Best Ideas in ‘Enlightenment Now’ Listed from Inhumane to Rational."
By Skyler Saunders8 years ago in The Swamp
Putin, Trump & 'Russian Roulette'. Top Story - July 2018.
As of writing, we are eighteen months into the presidency of Donald Trump. That time in office has found his administration, intelligence agencies, and the news media focused on lingering questions from the 2016 election.
By Matthew Kresal8 years ago in The Swamp
10 Best Political Books Ever Written
In the political world, it's easy to get wrapped up in social commentary from both sides of the aisle on television. However, our nation still depends heavily on political books, such as James Comey's recent A Higher Loyalty or Hillary Clinton's What Happened. It's with these kinds of books that we're able to get a more personal viewpoint of our government and society as a whole.
By Chris Gennone8 years ago in The Swamp
'Invisible Man' by Ralph Ellison
"Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat." This book has been on my reading list for a long time and I was so happy to finally get around to reading it. I bought an old copy (owned by the Stiegel family—whoever they may be) at an independent bookshop in Chicago called The Dial, combining my love for classic literature, old books, and independent bookstores.
By Enobong Tommelleo8 years ago in The Swamp
Top 10 Political Books to Read in 2018
Though our president reportedly does not read books, in 2018's political era, these are the top ten best political books to read now that Donald Trump is president.
By Adrian Scott8 years ago in The Swamp
JFK, The Warren Commission, & 'A Cruel and Shocking Act'
In the more than a half-century since the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas, questions have been raised time and again about it. How many shots? Who was involved? Did alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald act alone or was he even involved at all? The Warren Commission, set up in the aftermath of the assassination and whose report was issued to the public in 1964, was meant to answer those questions once and for all. Instead, it would merely add gasoline to the fire of conspiracy claims. How and why that came to be is covered in this volume from journalist Philip Shenon who explores (as the book is sub-titled) “the secret history of the Kennedy assassination.”
By Matthew Kresal8 years ago in The Swamp