Barack Obama

Disinformation Nation by a #1 New York Times bestselling author offers a guide on how to combat political truth decay and the Right Wing propaganda machine. The book exposes the tactics used by the Right Wing to amass power and prevent a shared understanding of reality. With step-by-step guides on spotting fake news and becoming your own fact checker, readers are equipped to fight back against disinformation. A compelling read for those interested in the truth behind the immense polarization and division in America.

This book tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr.'s imprisonment in the days leading up to the 1960 presidential election, and the efforts of three of John F. Kennedy's civil rights staffers who went rogue to free him. This move changed the face of the Democratic Party and propelled Kennedy to the White House. The book covers the nine extraordinary days that followed King's arrest, which were integral in changing the course of one of the closest elections in American history. It's a gripping tale filled with electoral machinations, moral courage, and important lessons for our own time.

This near-future novel explores the impacts of climate change, technology, politics, and human behavior. The Ministry for the Future was established to advocate for future generations and protect all living creatures. Through fictional eyewitness accounts, Kim Stanley Robinson weaves a visionary and powerful story of a future that is almost upon us. This impactful and original book presents both hope and despair in equal measure, making it one of the most powerful novels on climate change ever written.

"Missionaries" by Phil Klay is a gripping novel that delves into the aftermath of America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Set in Colombia, the book follows four lives that become entangled as they navigate the violence and power struggles of the region. Mason, a U.S. Army Special Forces medic, and Lisette, a foreign correspondent, are drawn to Colombia and the adrenaline of war despite their past traumas. Meanwhile, Juan Pablo, Mason's counterpart in the Colombian military, and Abel, a lieutenant in a local militia, grapple with their own perspectives and loyalties in the midst of chaos. As they navigate a landscape where drug cartels, militias, and the state are blurred, a power vacuum emerges, leaving all the characters vulnerable to forces they cannot control. With geopolitical sophistication and powerful insights into the human heart, "Missionaries" is an electrifying artistic reckoning with the unpredictable and devastating consequences of America's global projection of power.

"Jack" by a Pulitzer and National Humanities Medal-winning author Marilynne Robinson is a masterpiece of American contemporary fiction, exploring the themes of love, race, and religion. Set in segregated St. Louis after World War II, Jack's heart-wrenching love story with an African American teacher, the daughter of a preacher, is one of the author's greatest accomplishments. The novel delves into the dilemmas and promises of American history, the impact of racial inequality, and the deep-rooted religious belief that continues to resonate in our national character.

"Homeland Elegies" is a thought-provoking exploration of hope and identity in a nation that is falling apart, blending fact and fiction to tell an epic story of belonging and dispossession in the aftermath of 9/11. This gripping book is part family drama, part social essay, and part adventure, following a father and son as they navigate a changing world. Author Ayad Akhtar has created a powerful new narrative voice that captures a country where debt and finance have taken over, a TV star is president, and immigrants live in fear. Through the lens of a gripping family story, Akhtar makes sense of this chaotic new reality, sparing no one in the process.

Explore the hidden caste system that has shaped America through this immersive and deeply researched narrative by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Warmth of Other Suns. In Caste, Isabel Wilkerson examines the power hierarchy that defines our lives today, beyond race, class, or other factors. Through real stories about people like Martin Luther King Jr. and baseball's Satchel Paige, she uncovers the eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations. Wilkerson also links the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, showcasing how the cruel logic of caste requires a bottom rung to measure against. This eye-opening read offers hope in moving beyond these artificial and destructive separations in pursuit of our common humanity.

A young black woman navigates contemporary sexual and racial politics while stumbling her way through her twenties and trying to make it as an artist. When she meets Eric, who is in an open marriage, Edie becomes embroiled in his family life and becomes a friend to his wife and a role model to his adopted daughter. This sharp, darkly comic, sexually charged, and socially disruptive debut novel is a haunting and aching portrayal of the challenges of self-discovery in a tumultuous era.

"Memorial Drive" is a memoir that delves into how the author's teenage years were upended when her former stepfather killed her mother. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey shares her journey through grief and explores how this traumatic event shaped her as an artist. She reflects on her own upbringing as a "child of miscegenation" in Mississippi and her mother's history in the deeply segregated South. This book is an intimate portrayal of pain, loss, and resilience.

Explore the resurgence of authoritarianism in the 21st century with Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Anne Applebaum's Twilight of Democracy. As liberal democracy wanes and populism and nationalism gain traction across the globe, Applebaum offers insight into the appeal of the strongman leader and political systems that prioritize loyalty above all else. Through historical examples and investigative reporting in several countries, she sheds light on the practical motivations that drive individuals toward authoritarianism and highlights the dangers of a one-party state. Discover the seductive power of totalitarian thinking in this thought-provoking and timely book.