book reviews
Reviews for political die-hards of books about politicians, civil rights, Supreme Court rulings and the ever-changing Swamp.
Book Review: History of the Russian Revolution
Leon Trotsky's History of the Russian Revolution is, in many ways, one of the most important works of historical writing. Simply put, this book retells the story of 1917's Bolshevik Revolution, a communist uprising that ushered in a new era of human history, the effects of which are still being felt today. These three volumes collect an (almost tediously) in-depth retelling of the event, made all the more significant because it was put down in words by one of the foremost architects of the event itself.
By Calvin Hayes8 years ago in The Swamp
Stalin's American Spies
There is an old saying that truth is often stranger than fiction. Works of non-fiction can often prove that to be the case, revealing sometimes hidden or forgotten stories from our history. The Cold War, that epic conflict of ideologies fought largely in the shadows and still influencing the world we live in today, is just such an example. While so many great fictional spy stories were inspired by it ranging from Ian Fleming's James Bond novels to John le Carré's George Smiley, the real world of Cold War espionage can be just as fascinating as any thriller. The non-fiction work The Haunted Wood proves that to be the case with its exploration of the Americans who spied for the Russians in the 1930s and 1940s.
By Matthew Kresal9 years ago in The Swamp
Must Read Books About American Presidents
If you are interested in learning more history about the United States, then I recommend you get these must read books about American presidents. These books will allow you to go back in history and understand the lives of each of these presidents. You will be able to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of each of these presidents and their personal lives.
By Jessica Herring9 years ago in The Swamp
A Review of Common Sense by Thomas Paine
If anyone asks me what I’ve been doing to get in the spirit of the Fourth of July, I will respond, in the words of Angelica Schuyler, “I’ve been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine…” I read excerpts from Common Sense in my American Literature class last semester and I bought a copy of the full work in the gift shop of the Concord Bridge battlefield site and thought it would be a good idea to read it in honor of Independence Day.
By Rachel Lesch9 years ago in The Swamp
A Handbook to Ending Injustice.
A specter is haunting the world. The specter of capitalism! Today five of the richest people in the world own more than half of the world's wealth. Five people own more than three billion people.This inequality is a part of the capitalist society, some have too little whilst others live in excess. The driving force of this inequality is the notion that freedom is material accumulation and individual competition. But, can this be changed? According to Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels, yes it can.
By Phillip Woodford9 years ago in The Swamp
Speak No Evil; The Flaws of Society in Literature
Literature has shaped our society in more ways than one. Not only is it a reflection of our history and future, it is a commentary, albeit a dramatic one, of how flawed the human world can be, a wake-up call that demands people to rethink the world they live in.
By Varinder Singh9 years ago in The Swamp
Best Political Thriller Novels
Many people have different opinions as to what goes into the best political thriller novels. Some readers want to read about a mystery, a conspiracy that, upon unfolding, will leave the world forever changed. Some readers want to read about soldiers defending their country's interests by combatting foreign threats, either utilizing their wits or very large guns.
By Miranda O'Conner9 years ago in The Swamp
5 Takeaways From Noam Chomsky In this Post-Truth World
We trust you... We trust you not... Image credit : NBC News The term "post-truth" was popularised in 2016 due to its frequent use during the Brexit referendum and US Presidential election. With this term comes an assumption that there was a time where the objective truth was predominant. Although I am not asserting that such an extraordinary time has never existed, I don't believe that it has occurred within the past number of centuries.
By Kaitlyn Shi9 years ago in The Swamp
Best Presidential Books
Throughout history, there have been some fascinating people in the Oval Office. For some, the interesting parts of their journeys took place well before they were elected President; for others, life after they left Washington was worth examining. All in all, it's a very selective group of people that help the position of most powerful leader of the free world. Here is a list of the best Presidential books.
By Banji Ganchrow9 years ago in The Swamp
