19 Best Books On American Politics (2023 Update)

Whether you understand politics or not, it still affects your life in very real ways. but american politics can be confusing. what’s a caucus? how do primaries work? how can you sift through all the babble to get to the truth? politics for dummies offers all these answers and more. and it’s not just for political novices; even those with a firm understanding of politics can use this book to fill out their knowledge of the little complexities – from how the electoral college works to campaign contribution limits. if you have little or no knowledge of politics, don’t worry. most people need answers just like you do, that’s why this book helps you: pick the candidate who best represents your views donate time or money to a campaign let your representatives know how you feel run for office yourself this simple, friendly guide offers the kind of straight talk on politics you won’t get from a politician. it covers the nuts and bolts of the political process so you’ll have a working knowledge of the system. it shows you how to get involved at the grass-roots level and explains the rationale behind the two-party system. it helps you parse the propaganda to get at the truth and offers a complete explanation of presidential politics. democracy won’t work for if you don’t participate in it. so pick up politics for dummies, get informed, and get involved.

A “quintessentially american” (policy magazine) memoir of politics and history from chris matthews, new york times bestselling author and long-time host of msnbc’s hardball with chris matthews.in this country, chris matthews “has written a love letter to his country” (joy reid, host of the reidout and author of the man who sold america), offering a panoramic portrait of post-world war ii america through the story of his remarkable life and career. it is a story of risk and adventure, of self-reliance and service, of loyalty and friendship. it is a story driven by an abiding faith in our country. raised in a large irish-catholic family in philadelphia at a time when kids hid under their desks in atomic war drills, chris’s life etched a pattern: take a leap, live an adventure, then learn what it means. as a young peace corps graduate, chris moved to dc and began knocking on doors on capitol hill. with dreams of becoming what ted sorensen had been for jack kennedy, chris landed as a staffer to utah senator frank moss, where his eyes were opened to the game of big-league politics. in the 1970s, matthews mounted a campaign for congress as a democratic maverick running against philadelphia’s old political machine. he didn’t win the most votes, but his grit put him on the path to a top job in the white house. as a speechwriter for president carter, matthews witnessed the triumphs and tragedies of that administration; from the diplomatic brilliance of the israeli-egyptian peace treaty to the disaster of the iran hostage crisis. after carter’s defeat, chris became chief of staff to legendary speaker of the house tip o’neill, a perch that gave him an on-the-job phd in american politics during the reagan years. chris than leapt to the other side of the political matrix as a columnist and reporter. for the san francisco examiner, he covered the fall of the berlin wall, the first all-races election in south africa, the good friday agreement in northern ireland, and every american presidency from reagan to george w. bush. chris would go on to pioneer cable news with a fast-paced, no-nonsense television program. his show, hardball with chris matthews, would become a political institution for twenty years. as chris charts his political odyssey, he paints an animated picture of a nation searching for its soul. he reflects with grace and wisdom, showcasing the grand arc of the american story through one life dedicated to its politics.

From the founding of the american government to the present-day challenges, this clearly explained text is a perfect guide for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable about the democratic system and the laws that affect the lives of americans. it elucidates the complexity of the u.s. political system and provides readers with the information necessary to make them more engaged and competent participants in the american system of government.this book was designed for those who want to develop a better understanding of american political culture, structures, and governmental functions, as well as the relationships between the branches of government and associated institutions. the content is focused on an essential review of all the important facts, concepts, and theories of u.s. government and politics. you will learn about historical figures and important events that established the foundations of american government, the meaning and significance of the constitution and the bill of rights, how each branch of government functions and how they interact with each other, as well as the influence of special interest groups on policy and politics. created by highly qualified political science teachers, scholars, and researchers, this book educates and empowers both the average and the highly informed american, helping them develop and increase their understanding of american democracy.

Winner of the lillian smith book award – winner of the los angeles times book prize – finalist for the national book award – the nation's "most valuable book"“[a] vibrant intellectual history of the radical right.”—the atlantic “this sixty-year campaign to make libertarianism mainstream and eventually take the government itself is at the heart of democracy in chains. . . . if you're worried about what all this means for america's future, you should be.”—npr an explosive exposé of the right’s relentless campaign to eliminate unions, suppress voting, privatize public education, stop action on climate change, and alter the constitution. – behind today’s headlines of billionaires taking over our government is a secretive political establishment with long, deep, and troubling roots. the capitalist radical right has been working not simply to change who rules, but to fundamentally alter the rules of democratic governance. but billionaires did not launch this movement; a white intellectual in the embattled jim crow south did. democracy in chains names its true architect—the nobel prize-winning political economist james mc – gill buchanan—and dissects the operation he and his colleagues designed over six decades to alter every branch of government to disempower the majority. in a brilliant and engrossing narrative, nancy maclean shows how buchanan forged his ideas about government in a last gasp attempt to preserve the white elite’s power in the wake of brown v. board of education. in response to the widening of american democracy, he developed a brilliant, if diabolical, plan to undermine the ability of the majority to use its numbers to level the playing field between the rich and powerful and the rest of us. corporate donors and their right-wing foundations were only too eager to support buchanan’s work in teaching others how to divide america into “makers” and “takers.” and when a multibillionaire on a messianic mission to rewrite the social contract of the modern world, charles koch, discovered buchanan, he created a vast, relentless, and multi-armed machine to carry out buchanan’s strategy. now, with mike pence as vice president, the cause has a longtime loyalist in the white house, not to mention a phalanx of republicans in the house, the senate, a majority of state governments, and the courts, all carrying out the plan. that plan includes harsher laws to undermine unions, privatizing everything from schools to health care and social security, and keeping as many of us as possible from voting. based on ten years of unique research, democracy in chains tells a chilling story of right-wing academics and big money run amok. this revelatory work of scholarship is also a call to arms to protect the achievements of twentieth-century american self-government.

New york times bestseller the new york times bestselling author of george washington's secret six and thomas jefferson and the tripoli pirates turns to two other heroes of the nation: abraham lincoln and frederick douglass.in the president and the freedom fighter, brian kilmeade tells the little-known story of how two american heroes moved from strong disagreement to friendship, and in the process changed the entire course of history. abraham lincoln was white, born impoverished on a frontier farm. frederick douglass was black, a child of slavery who had risked his life escaping to freedom in the north. neither man had a formal education, and neither had had an easy path to influence. no one would have expected them to become friends—or to transform the country. but lincoln and douglass believed in their nation’s greatness. they were determined to make the grand democratic experiment live up to its ideals. lincoln’s problem: he knew it was time for slavery to go, but how fast could the country change without being torn apart? and would it be possible to get rid of slavery while keeping america’s constitution intact? douglass said no, that the constitution was irredeemably corrupted by slavery—and he wanted lincoln to move quickly. sharing little more than the conviction that slavery was wrong, the two men’s paths eventually converged. over the course of the civil war, they’d endure bloodthirsty mobs, feverish conspiracies, devastating losses on the battlefield, and a growing firestorm of unrest that would culminate on the fields of gettysburg. as he did in george washington's secret six, kilmeade has transformed this nearly forgotten slice of history into a dramatic story that will keep you turning the pages to find out how these two heroes, through their principles and patience, not only changed each other, but made america truly free for all.

“engaging and inspiring . . . reading this book should make you want to vote.”—barack obama in a world of sound bites, deliberate misinformation, and a political scene colored by the blue versus red partisan divide, how does the average educated american find a reliable source that’s free of political spin? but don’t breaks it all down, issue by issue, explaining who stands for what, and why—whether it’s the economy, income inequality, obamacare, foreign policy, education, immigration, or climate change. if you’re a democrat, a republican, or somewhere in between, it’s the perfect book to brush up on a single topic or read through to get a deeper understanding of the often murky world of american politics. this is an essential volume for understanding the background to the 2020 presidential election. but it is also a book that transcends the season. it’s truly for anyone who wants to know more about the perennial issues that will continue to affect our everyday lives. the fourth edition includes an introduction by martin garbus discussing the themes and issues that have come to the fore during the present presidential cycle.

#1 new york times bestseller – an intimate and revealing portrait of civil rights icon and longtime u.s. congressman john lewis, linking his life to the painful quest for justice in america from the 1950s to the present—from the pulitzer prize–winning author of the soul of america named one of the best books of the year by the washington post and cosmopolitan john lewis, who at age twenty-five marched in selma, alabama, and was beaten on the edmund pettus bridge, was a visionary and a man of faith. drawing on decades of wide-ranging interviews with lewis, jon meacham writes of how this great-grandson of a slave and son of an alabama tenant farmer was inspired by the bible and his teachers in nonviolence, reverend james lawson and martin luther king, jr., to put his life on the line in the service of what abraham lincoln called “the better angels of our nature.” from an early age, lewis learned that nonviolence was not only a tactic but a philosophy, a biblical imperative, and a transforming reality. at the age of four, lewis, ambitious to become a minister, practiced by preaching to his family’s chickens. when his mother cooked one of the chickens, the boy refused to eat it—his first act, he wryly recalled, of nonviolent protest. integral to lewis’s commitment to bettering the nation was his faith in humanity and in god—and an unshakable belief in the power of hope. meacham calls lewis “as important to the founding of a modern and multiethnic twentieth- and twenty-first-century america as thomas jefferson and james madison and samuel adams were to the initial creation of the republic itself in the eighteenth century.” a believer in the injunction that one should love one's neighbor as oneself, lewis was arguably a saint in our time, risking limb and life to bear witness for the powerless in the face of the powerful. in many ways he brought a still-evolving nation closer to realizing its ideals, and his story offers inspiration and illumination for americans today who are working for social and political change.

Understand everything you need to know about our democratic system—from the constitution to present-day elections—with the everything american government book.if the confusion following the last presidential election is any indication, the average citizen knows precious little about the democratic system and the laws that affect their daily lives. the everything american government book unravels the complexities of our democracy and provides you with the knowledge necessary to make the right decisions and take an active role in the management of our country. from the roots of american government and the challenges that have helped shape it over the years to its current structure and systems, this thoroughly researched work is ideal for anyone brushing up on civics, as well as students of all ages.

In this magisterial work, sean wilentz traces a historical arc from the earliest days of the republic to the opening shots of the civil war. one of our finest writers of history, wilentz brings to life the era after the american revolution, when the idea of democracy remained contentious, and jeffersonians and federalists clashed over the role of ordinary citizens in government of, by, and for the people. the triumph of andrew jackson soon defined this role on the national level, while city democrats, anti-masons, fugitive slaves, and a host of others hewed their own local definitions. in these definitions wilentz recovers the beginnings of a discontenttwo starkly opposed democracies, one in the north and another in the southand the wary balance that lasted until the election of abraham lincoln sparked its bloody resolution. 75 illustrations.

Including a new introduction by eminent civil libertarian and new york times bestselling author alan dershowitz, this edition of the us constitution is a must-have for all americans and anyone interested in american history. – this quick, easy reference for our federal government’s structure, powers, and limitations includes:introduction by alan dershowitz (author of the new york times bestseller the case against impeaching trump)the constitution of the united states – the bill of rights – all amendments to the constitution – the constitution of the united states and the declaration of independence are two of the most important documents in american history. conveying the principles on which the country was founded and providing the ideals that still guide american politics today, these are the seminal works from which the foundation of america was built. – signed by the members of the constitutional convention in philadelphia on september 17, 1787, the constitution outlines the powers and responsibilities of the three chief branches of the federal government, as well as the basic rights of the citizens of the united states. the declaration of independence was crafted by thomas jefferson in june of 1776 and it provides the basis of all american political philosophy and civil liberties. – collected here in one affordable, pocket-sized volume are some of the most valued pieces of writing in american history. every american, regardless of political affiliation, should own a copy.

New york times bestseller the strength and prestige of the american presidency has waxed and waned since george washington. accidental presidents looks at eight men who came to the office without being elected to it. it demonstrates how the character of the man in that powerful seat affects the nation and world.eight men have succeeded to the presidency when the incumbent died in office. in one way or another they vastly changed our history. only theodore roosevelt would have been elected in his own right. only tr, truman, coolidge, and lbj were re-elected. john tyler succeeded william henry harrison who died 30 days into his term. he was kicked out of his party and became the first president threatened with impeachment. millard fillmore succeeded esteemed general zachary taylor. he immediately sacked the entire cabinet and delayed an inevitable civil war by standing with henry clay’s compromise of 1850. andrew johnson, who succeeded our greatest president, sided with remnants of the confederacy in reconstruction. chester arthur, the embodiment of the spoils system, was so reviled as james garfield’s successor that he had to defend himself against plotting garfield’s assassination; but he reformed the civil service. theodore roosevelt broke up the trusts. calvin coolidge silently cooled down the harding scandals and preserved the white house for the republican herbert hoover and the great depression. truman surprised everybody when he succeeded the great fdr and proved an able and accomplished president. lyndon b. johnson was named to deliver texas electorally. he led the nation forward on civil rights but failed on vietnam. accidental presidents adds immeasurably to our understanding of the power and limits of the american presidency in critical times.

Told with urgency and sharp political insight, nixonland recaptures america's turbulent 1960s and early 1970s and reveals how richard nixon rose from the political grave to seize and hold the presidency. perlstein's epic account begins in the blood and fire of the 1965 watts riots, nine months after lyndon johnson's historic landslide victory over barry goldwater appeared to herald a permanent liberal consensus in the united states. yet the next year, scores of liberals were tossed out of congress, america was more divided than ever, and a disgraced politician was on his way to a shocking comeback: richard nixon. between 1965 and 1972, america experienced no less than a second civil war. it was the era not only of nixon, johnson, spiro agnew, hubert h. humphrey, george mcgovern, richard j. daley, and george wallace but abbie hoffman, ronald reagan, angela davis, ted kennedy, charles manson, john lindsay, and jane fonda. there are tantalizing glimpses of jimmy carter, george h. w. bush, jesse jackson, john kerry, and even of two ambitious young men named karl rove and william clinton — and a not so ambitious young man named george w. bush. cataclysms tell the story of nixonland: angry blacks burning down their neighborhoods in cities across the land as white suburbanites defend home and hearth with shotguns the student insurgency over the vietnam war, the assassinations of robert f. kennedy and martin luther king, and the riots at the 1968 democratic national convention the fissuring of the democratic party into warring factions manipulated by the "dirty tricks" of nixon and his committee to re-elect the president richard nixon pledging a new dawn of national unity, governing more divisively than any president before him, then directing a criminal conspiracy, the watergate cover-up, from the oval office then, in november 1972, nixon, harvesting the bitterness and resentment born of america's turmoil, was reelected in a landslide even bigger than johnson's 1964 victory, not only setting the stage for his dramatic 1974 resignation but defining the terms of the ideological divide that characterizes america today. filled with prodigious research and driven by a powerful narrative, rick perlstein's magisterial account of how america divided confirms his place as one of our country's most celebrated historians.

"the creation of the united states of america is the greatest of all human adventures," begins paul johnson's remarkable new american history. "no other national story holds such tremendous lessons, for the american people themselves and for the rest of mankind." johnson's history is a reinterpretation of american history from the first settlements to the clinton administration. it covers every aspect of u.s. history–politics; business and economics; art, literature and science; society and customs; complex traditions and religious beliefs. the story is told in terms of the men and women who shaped and led the nation and the ordinary people who collectively created its unique character. wherever possible, letters, diaries, and recorded conversations are used to ensure a sense of actuality. "the book has new and often trenchant things to say about every aspect and period of america's past," says johnson, "and i do not seek, as some historians do, to conceal my opinions." johnson's history presents john winthrop, roger williams, anne hutchinson, cotton mather, franklin, tom paine, washington, adams, jefferson, hamilton, and madison from a fresh perspective. it emphasizes the role of religion in american history and how early america was linked to england's history and culture and includes incisive portraits of andrew jackson, chief justice marshall, clay, lincoln, and jefferson davis. johnson shows how grover cleveland and teddy roosevelt ushered in the age of big business and industry and how woodrow wilson revolutionized the government's role. he offers new views of harding, coolidge, and hoover and of franklin roosevelt's new deal and his role as commander in chief during world war ii. an examination of the unforeseen greatness of harry truman and reassessments of eisenhower, kennedy, johnson, nixon, reagan, and bush follow. "compulsively readable," said foreign affairs of johnson's unique narrative skills and sharp profiles of people. this is an in-depth portrait of a great people, from their fragile origins through their struggles for independence and nationhood, their heroic efforts and sacrifices to deal with the `organic sin' of slavery and the preservation of the union to its explosive economic growth and emergence as a world power and its sole superpower. johnson discusses such contemporary topics as the politics of racism, education, vietnam, the power of the press, political correctness, the growth of litigation, and the rising influence of women. he sees americans as a problem-solving people and the story of america as "essentially one of difficulties being overcome by intelligence and skill, by faith and strength of purpose, by courage and persistence… looking back on its past, and forward to its future, the auguries are that it will not disappoint humanity." this challenging narrative and interpretation of american history by the author of many distinguished historical works is sometimes controversial and always provocative. johnson's views of individuals, events, themes, and issues are original, critical, and admiring, for he is, above all, a strong believer in the history and the destiny of the american people.

An authoritative, accessible guide to the figures who shaped a nationhow did upstart colonists solidify the ideas celebrated in the declaration of independence and defeat the powerful british army? how did thinkers from disparate backgrounds shape a government that transformed modern politics? the founding fathers explains how, putting valuable information on this historic period at your fingertips–straight from one of the most trusted sources of information around the globe.this comprehensive guide takes a compelling look at prominent statesmen such as benjamin franklin, thomas jefferson, thomas paine, and george washington and lesser-known but influential leaders such as samuel chase, charles pinckney, and others. alphabetized for easy reference, it also offers discussions of key issues, including slavery, the separation of powers, the presidency, and deism and christianity; events, such as the american revolution, the whiskey rebellion, and the louisiana purchase; and documents, including the constitution and the bill of rights. every special essay and concise entry–from "abigail adams" to "george wythe"–promotes the deeper understanding of the personalities, issues, and events that only encyclopdia britannica can provide.the book's balanced, fact-based coverage of the founding fathers is especially relevant today, when differing interpretations of their intent are used in debates over current policies. the founding fathers is the ideal resource for anyone looking to hone his or her knowledge of the fascinating figures who wrote the first chapter of u.s. history.

“engaging and inspiring . . . reading this book should make you want to vote.”—barack obama – jobs, health care, energy, civil literties, and more more are on the ballot again. in a world of sound bites, deliberate misinformation, and a political scene colored by the blue versus red partisan divide, how does the average educated american find a reliable source that’s free of political spin? but don’t breaks it all down, issue by issue, explaining who stands for what, and why—whether it’s the economy, income inequality, obamacare, foreign policy, education, immigration, or climate change. if you’re a democrat, a republican, or somewhere in between, it’s the perfect book to brush up on a single topic or read through to get a deeper understanding of the often mucky world of american politics. table of contents:introduction to the third edition, by naomi wolfprefacean introduction to political affiliationselectionsthe economy – foreign policy – the military – health careenergythe environment – civil liberties – culture wars – socioeconomic policy – homeland securityeducationtradethis is an essential volume for understanding the background to the 2016 presidential election. but it is also a book that transcends the season. it’s truly for anyone who wants to know more about the perennial issues that will continue to affect our everyday lives. the third edition includes an introduction by naomi wolf discussing the themes and issues that have come to the fore during the present presidential cycle.

This dynamic beginner's guide covers everything you need to know about american politics today. exploring the principles enshrined in the declaration of independence and constitution, jon roper asks whether the politics of personality have become too pervasive in the usa. tackling the nature of the presidency, american foreign policy, and president obama's administration, this is a sharp analysis of how history has shaped the way america governs itself today. including a section on how religion impacts american politics, this is the perfect introduction for anyone interested in the politics of the world's oldest democratic republic. jon roper is a professor of american studies who has taught at the university of tennessee, the university of wisconsin, and ohio state university. he is the author of the complete illustrated guide to the presidents of america: an authoritative history of the american presidency.

A new york times bestseller! ann coulter is back, more fearless than ever. in adios, america she touches the third rail in american politics, attacking the immigration issue head-on and flying in the face of la raza, the democrats, a media determined to cover up immigrants' crimes, churches that get paid by the government for their "charity," and greedy republican businessmen and campaign consultants—all of whom are profiting handsomely from mass immigration that’s tearing the country apart. applying her trademark biting humor to the disaster that is u.s. immigration policy, coulter proves that immigration is the most important issue facing america today.

For more than thirty years, kevin phillips' insight into american politics and economics has helped to make history as well as record it. his bestselling books, including the emerging republican majority (1969) and the politics of rich and poor (1990), have influenced presidential campaigns and changed the way america sees itself. widely acknowledging phillips as one of the nation's most perceptive thinkers, reviewers have called him a latter-day nostradamus and our "modern thomas paine." now, in the first major book of its kind since the 1930s, he turns his attention to the united states' history of great wealth and power, a sweeping cavalcade from the american revolution to what he calls "the second gilded age" at the turn of the twenty-first century.the second gilded age has been staggering enough in its concentration of wealth to dwarf the original gilded age a hundred years earlier. however, the tech crash and then the horrible events of september 11, 2001, pointed out that great riches are as vulnerable as they have ever been. in wealth and democracy, kevin phillips charts the ongoing american saga of great wealth–how it has been accumulated, its shifting sources, and its ups and downs over more than two centuries. he explores how the rich and politically powerful have frequently worked together to create or perpetuate privilege, often at the expense of the national interest and usually at the expense of the middle and lower classes.with intriguing chapters on history and bold analysis of present-day america, phillips illuminates the dangerous politics that go with excessive concentration of wealth. profiling wealthy americans–from astor to carnegie and rockefeller to contemporary wealth holders–phillips provides fascinating details about the peculiarly american ways of becoming and staying a multimillionaire. in a time of national crisis, phillips worries that the growing parallels suggest the tide may already be turning for us all.

For more than thirty years, kevin phillips' insight into american politics and economics has helped to make history as well as record it. his bestselling books, including the emerging republican majority (1969) and the politics of rich and poor (1990), have influenced presidential campaigns and changed the way america sees itself. widely acknowledging phillips as one of the nation's most perceptive thinkers, reviewers have called him a latter-day nostradamus and our "modern thomas paine." now, in the first major book of its kind since the 1930s, he turns his attention to the united states' history of great wealth and power, a sweeping cavalcade from the american revolution to what he calls "the second gilded age" at the turn of the twenty-first century.the second gilded age has been staggering enough in its concentration of wealth to dwarf the original gilded age a hundred years earlier. however, the tech crash and then the horrible events of september 11, 2001, pointed out that great riches are as vulnerable as they have ever been. in wealth and democracy, kevin phillips charts the ongoing american saga of great wealth–how it has been accumulated, its shifting sources, and its ups and downs over more than two centuries. he explores how the rich and politically powerful have frequently worked together to create or perpetuate privilege, often at the expense of the national interest and usually at the expense of the middle and lower classes.with intriguing chapters on history and bold analysis of present-day america, phillips illuminates the dangerous politics that go with excessive concentration of wealth. profiling wealthy americans–from astor to carnegie and rockefeller to contemporary wealth holders–phillips provides fascinating details about the peculiarly american ways of becoming and staying a multimillionaire. in a time of national crisis, phillips worries that the growing parallels suggest the tide may already be turning for us all.