Asha Rangappa

Explore the potential constitutional controversies that could arise from weaknesses in the United States Constitution's provisions for selecting, replacing, and punishing presidents. In this fascinating book, discover six scenarios, including a sitting president facing criminal prosecution and a two-term president attempting to stay in power. Through these dramatic scenarios, Brian Kalt highlights the delicate balance between law and politics in American government and provides insight into the best ways to design, interpret, and repair constitutional procedures.

A thought-provoking analysis of post-Independence India from Nehru to Modi, Malevolent Republic by K.S. Komireddi charts the unsound course of Indian nationalism and its impact on the country divided by language, religion, and ethnicity. The book is an impassioned plea for India's reclamation, highlighting the dangers of Hindu-supremacist and religious majoritarianism which threaten to devour India's hard-won unity. Through an insightful and independent perspective, Malevolent Republic provides a deep understanding of the modern Indian nation and its place in global affairs.

A journalist's harrowing first-hand account of the tragic 1996 Mount Everest disaster that claimed five lives and left countless more in disarray. This epic narrative explores the dangers of mountain climbing and the consequences of reckless decisions, as well as the intense emotional toll on survivors.

Discover the shocking history of organized deception, from post-World War I to contemporary internet troll farms, in this revealing and dramatic book. Thomas Rid exposes professional lying on an unprecedented scale, detailing significant operations that are nearly beyond belief. With intelligence secrets from a variety of nations and languages and interviews with current and former operatives, the author tracks the rise of disinformation and its impact on liberal democracy. Get ready for a guided tour of a vast hall of mirrors old and new.

Bowling Alone explores the significant social change of Americans becoming increasingly disconnected from one another. In this groundbreaking work, Robert Putnam draws on vast new data to diagnose the harm of broken social structures on our physical and civic health. He suggests what we can do to create a society that is happy, healthy, and safe. A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the central crisis at the heart of our society.

Discover how America has shifted from an individualistic "I" society to a more communitarian "We" society and back again over the past century. Political scientist Robert D. Putnam draws on statistics and storytelling to analyze the trends that led us to our current disarray and offers inspiring lessons from an earlier era of reform. A timely and ambitious work that is a fitting capstone to a brilliant career.

Explore the rise of authoritarian leaders in our modern age in "Strongmen" by Ruth Ben-Ghiat. From Putin to Trump, Bolsonaro to Erdogan, this book delves into the common playbook of machismo, propaganda, violence, and corruption used by such leaders in Africa, Europe, and Latin America. Discover why these leaders have found popular support, and how they can be opposed. A must-read for anyone interested in politics and democracy.

"Rigged" by David Shimer explores the covert struggle between Russia and America to influence elections, past and present. With new insights from over 130 key players and in-depth historical research, Shimer reveals disturbing details about Russia's ongoing operation to undermine American democracy. This gripping and essential book shows that Russia's interference in the 2016 election was just one battle in a much longer war that threatens electoral sovereignty worldwide. "Rigged" is a must-read for anyone interested in protecting democracy in the future.

Let Them Eat Tweets delves into the dangerous alliance between the Republican Party's white nationalist vanguard and plutocratic old guard. Bestselling political scientists Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson analyze the GOP's forty-year story of extreme tax cutting, union busting, deregulation, race-baiting, and disinformation. The book explains how the party covertly serves its rich masters, damaging American democracy to achieve their goals. Hacker and Pierson offer insights into how we can resist and fight back against this populist plutocracy.