Political Book Summaries

The must-read summary of Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference". This complete summary of "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell, a renowned journalist and writer, outlines the author's notion of "tipping point", which is the moment when a idea reaches critical mass and suddenly grows dramatically, or 'goes viral'. This understanding of collective psychology and sales techniques is already changing the way people think about selling products and disseminating ideas. Added-value of this summary:  o Save time  o Understand how information and ideas are effectively disseminated in modern society o Expand your knowledge of business and politics To learn more, read "The Tipping Point" and discover which changes will make the difference in business or politics.

The must-read summary of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s book: "Crimes Against Nature: How George W. Bush and His Corporate Pals Are Plundering the Country and Hijacking our Democracy". This complete summary of "Crimes Against Nature" by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a media personality and environmental activist, outlines the writer's argument that the Bush Administration has privileged corporate greed and has neglected to respect law, public health, and even long term economic vitality. He states that national security is at risk and that corporate capitalism has trampled free-market democracy. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the implications of the decisions made by the Bush administration o Expand your knowledge of American politics To learn more, read "Crimes Against Nature" and discover how the Bush administration endangered national security and ignored economic and environmental issues.

The must-read summary of Al Gore's book: "The Assault on Reason". This complete summary of "The Assault of Reason" by Al Gore, prominent American political activist and former Vice President, presents his argument that the public and political sphere has degraded into a place that is hostile to reason. He suggests rational debate and clear thinking, instead of campaigns and discussions based on fear and secrecy. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand how the public debate sphere can lose its rationality o Expand your knowledge of American politics and society To learn more, read "The Assault on Reason" and discover Al Gore's view that reasoned debate should always be prioritised over misuses of fear and faith.

The must-read summary of Matthew R. Simmons's book: "Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy". This complete summary of "Twilight in the Desert" by Matthew R. Simmons, a prominent public figure and name in the oil industry, presents his examination of the demand of oil and reveals that Saudi oil resources have been mismanaged and that this could lead to a catastrophic oil shortage. He lays out what Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world should do to prevent this crisis. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the threat posed to the oil industry in Saudi Arabia o Expand your knowledge of international politics and industry To learn more, read "Twilight in the Desert" and discover what can be done to save the oil industry from the brink of crisis.

The must-read summary of Linda Brandi Cateura's book: "Voices of American Muslims: 23 Profiles". This complete summary of "Voices of American Muslims" by Linda Brandi Cateura presents her analysis of the situation of American Muslims following 9/11. She redeems their reputation through personal interviews that give us a clear account of their life narratives. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the place of Muslims in American society o Expand your knowledge of American politics and society To learn more, read "Voices of American Muslims" and discover the stories behind Americans' unknown Muslim neighbours.

The must-read summary of Edward M. Kennedy's book: "America Back on Track". This complete summary of "America Back on Track" by Edward M. Kennedy, a former Senator and member of the Democratic Party, shows how, throughout America's history as a nation, it has faced challenges and turned them into opportunities. In his book, the author explains how today's leaders are failing to follow the example of their predecessors and are not looking at challenges "directly, openly, and honestly". This summary demonstrates how America needs changes in leadership in order to do what is necessary in the face of new challenges and make the US a stronger and better place. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand how the American government can learn from history and turn challenges into opportunities o Expand your knowledge of American politics and government To learn more, read "America Back on Track" and find out why America needs new leaders that will turn challenges into opportunities and reinstate security and prosperity in the country.

The must-read summary of Stephen Breyer's book: "Active Liberty: Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution". This complete summary of "Active Liberty" by Stephen Breyer, a liberal-leaning Supreme Court Justice in the United States, outlines the author's argument that the American Constitution should be used as a guide for the application of American principles. He highlights the fact that the Constitution must not be rigid but adapt to the needs of society, and that American citizens should have more participation in the shaping of the country's laws, a principle which requires more deference to Congress and judicial modesty. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Gain understanding of the American Constitution and its implications o Expand your knowledge of American politics and society To learn more, read "Active Liberty" and discover Breyer's views on active liberty and the role of the Constitution in the modern age.

The must-read summary of Brzezinski and Scowcroft's book: "America and the World: Conversations on the Future of American Foreign Policy". This complete summary of "America and the World" by Zbigniew Brzezinski and Brent Scowcroft, former Democrat and Republican National Security Advisors respectively, reviews their discussion on the most significant foreign policy challenges faced by the United States. It discusses the changing nature of power due to globalisation and the need to adapt to a new international environment. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the key challenges in American foreign policy o Expand your knowledge of American politics To learn more, read "America and the World" and discover the similar views held by two former politicians with very different backgrounds on the foreign policy challenges that the United States must respond to.

The must-read summary of Jonathan Kay's book: "Among the Truthers: A Journey Through America's Growing Conspiracist Underground". This complete summary of "Among the Truthers" by Jonathan Kay, a Canadian journalist, explores the author's belief that conspiracy theorists are now at the centre of American politics. He argues that this phenomenon of deconstruction poses a significant threat, and that it must be replaced by rational and measured thinking. The book presents an examination of various conspiracy movements, from the 9/11 Truth movement to UFO obsessives and how they impact American society. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand what contributes to the development of conspiracy theories o Expand your knowledge of American society and politics To learn more, read "Among the Truthers" and discover Kay's analysis of conspiracy theorists and the threat they pose to rational society.

The must-read summary of George A. Akerlof and Robert J. Shiller's book: "Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and why it Matters for Global Capitalism".  This complete summary of "Animal Spirits" by George A. Akerlof and Robert J. Shiller, two renowned economists, presents their view that conventional economics has ignored elements such as confidence, trust, fairness and corruption. They argue that these elements must be taken into account to take better economic decisions, and that human psychology should not be underestimated when global financial markets are being considered. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand how human psychology relates to economics o Expand your knowledge of economic issues To learn more, read "Animal Spirits" and discover Akerlof and Shiller's original and effective approach to economics in terms of psychology.

The must-read summary of Judge Andrew P. Napolitano's book: "Constitutional Chaos: What Happens When the Government Breaks Its Own Laws". This complete summary of "Constitutional Chaos" by Andrew P. Napolitano outlines the judicial analyst's argument that American citizens rights are no longer guaranteed. He offers examples of instances where the government violated laws and rights to get what they wanted. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand corruption and illegal action in the US government o Expand your knowledge of American politics To learn more, read "Constitutional Chaos" and discover the secrets of corruption in American politics and the criminal justice system.

The must-read summary of Kenneth R. Timmerman's book: "Countdown to Crisis: The Coming Nuclear Showdown with Iran". This complete summary of "Countdown to Crisis" by Kenneth R. Timmerman, a renowned political writer and activist, examines the author's argument that America's greatest threat is the Iranian nuclear program and its alliance with international terrorist. He also reveals the truth of the failures of the U.S. in dealing with this threat. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand American-Iranian relations and the threat of terrorism o Expand your knowledge of American politics and international relations To learn more, read "Countdown to Crisis" and discover how Iran's nuclear programme could pose a significant threat to America.

The must-read summary of Robert Draper's book: "Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush". This complete summary of "Dead Certain" by Robert Draper, a renowned American writer, gives an overview of the author's insight into the Bush administration, that focuses mainly on the impacts the President's personality had on his decisions. It presents a balanced view of the controversial president's time in office, and how his beliefs formed and stayed with him. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand Bush's presidency and how his personality influenced his decisions o Expand your knowledge of American politics and modern history To learn more, read "Dead Certain" and discover the secrets of one of America's most divisive presidents to date.

The must-read summary of Chris Hedges's book: "Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle". This complete summary of "Empire of Illusion" by Chris Hedges, a prominent American activist and minister, presents his account of the rise of a "post-literate society" that has created a world of false certainty and magic. He argues that political discourse has been taken over by nonsensical, over-simplistic rhetoric while serious film, literature and journalism is relegated to the intellectual minority. Added-value of this summary: o Save timeo Understand the truth behind post-literate and post-factual democracyo Expand your knowledge of international politics and American society To learn more, read "Empire of Illusion" and discover how democracy is struggling to work in a post-literate society.

The must-read summary of Peter Fingar's book: "Extreme Competition: Innovation and the Greatest 21st Century Business Reformation". This complete summary of "Extreme Competition" by Peter Fingar, presents the author's argument that technology and Internet have freed information. He analyses how business will survive in this new global economy. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand how businesses will adapt to the new global economy o Expand your knowledge of globalization and competition To learn more, read "Extreme Competition" and discover how globalization affects competition and business innovation.

The must-read summary of Senator John Danforth's book: "Faith and Politics: How the "Moral Values" Debate Divides America and How to Move Forward Together". This complete summary of "Faith and Politics" by John Danforth, a former three-term Republican US senator, presents the author's examination of the drift of the Republican Party towards the Christian far-right and his argument that it was a wrong choice. He states that Christian moderates are the ones that will bring the country together, towards a more secular approach to ethical issues. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand far-right Christianity in America and its influence on politics o Expand your knowledge of American politics and religion To learn more, read "Faith and Politics" and discover Danforth's view that the Republican Party should stop moving towards far-right Christianity and take a more secular and moderate approach.

The must-read summary of Ann Coulter's book: "How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must): The World According to Ann Coulter". This complete summary of "How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)" by Ann Coulter, a controversial conservative social and political commentator, provides the reader with Coulter's beliefs as to how liberals have "got it all wrong". Her scathing and blatant observations on subjects ranging from the Democratic Party to 9/11 and foreign policy make for an interesting and entertaining read. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the war of ideas between liberalism and conservatism o Expand your knowledge of American politics and society To learn more, read "How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)" and discover why so many conservatives believe that the liberals are getting it wrong.

The must-read summary of Chris Hedges's book: "I Don't Believe in Atheists". This complete summary of "I Don't Believe in Atheists" by Chris Hedges, an American activist and minister, outlines the writer's argument that contemporary atheism proposes a dangerous utopian vision. He believes that whether or not religion is right is irrelevant, as it has brought many respectable values to society, and should therefore not be ignored in the struggle to perfect human nature. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the role of religion in American culture o Expand your knowledge of American politics and society To learn more, read "I Don't Believe in Atheists" and discover how religion should not be overlooked in our society in favour of the values of contemporary atheism.

The must-read summary of Brian S. Wesbury's book: "It's Not as Bad as You Think: Why Capitalism Trumps Fear and the Economy Will Thrive". This complete summary of "It's Not as Bad as You Think" by Brian S. Wesbury, a renowned American economist, outlines his argument that the financial future may be hard to predict, but it will in the end be profitable as entrepreneurs don't give up, He illustrates how everyone will be able to benefit from great possibilities in the future. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand financial forecasting and its implications o Expand your knowledge of economics and finance To learn more, read "It's Not as Bad as You Think" and discover why capitalism always overcomes fear and leads to economic rebound.

The must-read summary of Ron Paul's book: "Liberty Defined, 50 Essential Issues that Affect our Freedom". This complete summary of "Liberty Defined" by Ron Paul, bestselling author and former politician, presents his argument that the liberty mentioned in the Declaration of Independence is not truly respected by any party hence that there is a need to embrace an agenda that does free the American citizens. He suggests ways of recognising tyranny even when it is presented to us disguised as a form of liberty. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand issues surrounding personal freedom and state control o Expand your knowledge of American politics and society To learn more, read "Liberty Defined" and discover how government control can endanger citizens' personal freedoms.

The must-read summary of Bill Minutaglio and W. Michael Smith's book: "Molly Ivins: A Rebel Life". This complete summary of "Molly Ivins" by Bill Minutaglio and W. Michael Smith presents the account of the life of one of America's most courageous and influential journalists, written by two people who worked closely alongside her during her lifetime. It celebrates the contributions that Ivins made to journalism and feminism, and outlines how her conservative Texas upbringing did not stop her from pursuing her own values and being motivated by her own political standpoint. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the life of Molly Ivins and her contributions to journalism o Expand your knowledge of American politics and society To learn more, read "Molly Ivins" and discover the fascinating life of one of America's most provocative and daring journalists.

The must-read summary of Jimmy Carter's book: "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid". This complete summary of "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" by Jimmy Carter, former US president, outlines his assessment of the steps to be taken for Israel to make peace with its neighbours and particularly how Israeli sovereignty and security can coexist peacefully with Palestinian nationhood. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the steps to be taken towards its resolution o Expand your knowledge of peace, conflict and diplomacy To learn more, read "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" and discover how Israel and Palestine might go about reconciling their differences and finally reaching a peaceful compromise.

The must-read summary of David Cay Johnston's book: "Perfectly Legal: The Secret Campaign to Rig Our Tax System to Benefit the Super Rich - and Cheat Everybody Else". This complete summary of "Perfectly Legal" by David Cay Johnston, an American investigative journalist and economics specialist, outlines his argument that under-taxing the wealthy is only making them wealthier to the detriment of everybody else in the country. He maintains that progressive taxes, based upon the ability to pay would help to level the playing field between the rich and the poor and allow the creation of a middle class. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the American federal income tax and its implications o Expand your knowledge of American politics, economics and society To learn more, read "Perfectly Legal" and discover how current taxation in America benefits the super-rich and nobody else, and how Johnston proposes to remedy this.

The must-read summary of Michael Beschloss's book: "Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989". This complete summary of "Presidential Courage" by Michael Beschloss, a renowned American historian and specialist in presidency, presents his description of the particularities, weaknesses and complexities that characterize the presidents that changed the future of America, particularly in times of difficulty or faced with complex dilemmas to resolve. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand American presidency and those who stepped up to the mark in difficult times o Expand your knowledge of American politics and history To learn more, read "Presidential Courage" and discover what motivated some of American history's bravest leaders.

The must-read summary of Cass R. Sunstein's book: "Radicals in Robes: Why Extreme Right-wing Courts are Wrong for America". This complete summary of "Radicals in Robes" by Cass R. Sunstein, a renowned American legal scholar, presents his definition of the predominant theories of constitutional interpretation and analysis of the Supreme Court's current stance on various matters. He argues that Supreme Court politics is far too skewed to the right, and that with this rise of conservatism it is a myth that judicial activism is solely a liberal movement. Sunstein issues a warning that is of compelling concern to American society as a whole. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the role of the Supreme Court and the extent to which it is influenced by politics o Expand your knowledge of American politics and the judicial system To learn more, read "Radicals in Robes" and discover how the Supreme Court is influenced by activism and its own political leanings.

The must-read summary of Andrew Cockburn's book: "Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy". This complete summary of "Rumsfeld" by Andrew Cockburn, a prominent journalist, provides an assessment of the life of Rumsfeld, the man who is partly responsible for the state of the US military in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In his book, the author presents the argument that Rumsfeld was driven by a need to dominate human encounters and was unable to accept responsibility for the errors in his judgment. This scathing piece of investigative journalism casts light on some of the damning mistakes made by this influential public figure. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand Rumsfeld's role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan o Expand your knowledge of American politics and foreign policy To learn more, read "Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy" exposes the decisions made by Rumsfeld between 2001 and 2006 and the disaster he left behind as a result.

The must-read summary of Charles Willis Pickering's book: "Supreme Chaos: The Politics of Judicial Confirmation and the Culture of War". This complete summary of "Supreme Chaos" by Charles Willis Pickering, a retired judge and judiciary expert, presents the author's examination of  how special interest groups have manipulated the legislative process and undermined America's constitutional ideals. He also shows how integrity and ability are no longer the qualifications for judges and he believes that the judicial system is changing for the worse and degrading the civility of our society in general. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the American judicial system and corruption in the Supreme Court o Expand your knowledge of the American judiciary and politics To learn more, read "Supreme Chaos" and discover how the Supreme Court no longer favours integrity and ability, and how this is damaging to American politics and constitutional principles.

The must-read summary of Geoffrey Nunberg's book "Talking Right: How Conservatives Turned Liberalism into a Tax-Raising, Latte-Drinking, Sushi-Eating, Volvo-Driving, New York Times-Reading, Body-Piercing, Hollywood-Loving, Left-Wing Freak Show". This complete summary of "Talking Right" by Geoffrey Nunberg, a renowned linguist, researcher and professor, presents the author's discussion of how language plays an important role in political conversation, and how Republicans have harnessed it by changing the meaning of words such as "liberal", "values" and "freedom". He argues that we cannot help but use language that embodies conservatism when we discuss politics, and that the Democratic Party could win back favour by redefining these words with new meanings and stereotypes. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand how the political language we use is skewed by external factors o Expand your knowledge of American politics and society To learn more, read "Talking Right" and discover how the Democratic Party might be able to win back favour by shifting the political language we use from the right back towards their own ideas.

The must-read summary of Ayaan Hirsi Ali's book: "The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam".  This complete summary of "The Caged Virgin" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a renowned politician and activist, reveals the author's resentment towards her religion's oppression of women. She uses her own experience to question the image of women, individual rights, fanaticism and Western policies with regards to Islam. The book is a revealing insight into Islam's hostility towards women and what measures could be taken to protect them.  Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the role of women in Islam  o Expand your knowledge of religion and politics To learn more, read "The Caged Virgin" and find out what needs to be done today to protect women who are endangered by their religion.

The must-read summary of Michael Mandelbaum's book: "The Case for Goliath: How America Acts as the World's Government in the 21st Century". This complete summary of "The Case for Goliath" by Michael Mandelbaum, an American foreign policy expert, presents his explanation that the US uses its power to provide the world with the services of a government. In this book he analyses the ways in which the other countries have come to accept, recent and exert America's influence on the world governance. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand American foreign policy and the country's relationship with the rest of the world o Expand your knowledge of American politics and international relations To learn more, read "The Case for Goliath" and discover the shortcomings of American foreign policy and America's contributions to global security and prosperity.

The must-read summary of Anne-Marie Slaughter's book: "The Idea that Is America: Keeping Faith with Our Values in a Dangerous World". This complete summary of "The Idea that Is America" by Anne-Marie Slaughter, an international lawyer, analyst and political commentator, outlines her examination of how America can stand again for its values - liberty, democracy, equality, justice, tolerance, humility, and faith - in today's world without hypocrisy. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand American values in the context of the modern world o Expand your knowledge of American culture and politics To learn more, read "The Idea that Is America" and discover how America should set about preserving its values in a modern context without engaging in hypocrisy.

The must-read summary of Lewis L. Gould's book: "The Most Exclusive Club: A Modern History of the United States Senate". This complete summary of "The Most Exclusive Club" by Lewis L. Gould presents an inside look at the future of the United States Senate, and the author highlights the major players, issues and debates that have shaped this institution over the years. Added-value of this summary: o Save time o Understand the role and origins of the United States Senate o Expand your knowledge of American politics and history To learn more, read "The Most Exclusive Club" and discover the events that have shaped the modern US Senate.