United States
Last updated: May 11, 2024
The best books on Drone Warfare, recommended by Hugh Gusterson
The introduction of drones “makes possible perpetual war without costs”, warns the anthropology professor and security expert Hugh Gusterson. Here he selects the best books that examine their ethical, psychological and political impact upon 21st century warfare.
The Best Contemporary American Poetry, recommended by Stephanie Burt
As distinctions between traditional and avant-garde, central and marginal dissolve, poet and critic Stephanie Burt discusses some of America’s most exciting contemporary poets, who are speaking to and from diverse experiences and backgrounds – sometimes with a disco beat
The best books on Race and American Policing, recommended by Joe Domanick
The author and journalist describes how racism, violence, and corruption became entrenched in police departments across America. He picks five books describing a stark reality, and suggests a blueprint for change
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1
Drug Addicts are Human Beings
by Henry Smith Williams -
2
The Murderers: The Shocking Story of the Narcotic Gangs
by Henry Anslinger and Will Oursler -
3
Murder City
by Charles Bowden -
4
The Globalization of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit
by Bruce Alexander -
5
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction
by Gabor Maté
The best books on The War on Drugs, recommended by Johann Hari
The best books on The War on Drugs, recommended by Johann Hari
Everything we have been told about drugs and drug addiction and how society should deal with them is wrong, says the British author and journalist Johann Hari. He chooses the best books on ‘the war on drugs.’
The best books on The Roots of Radicalism, recommended by Michael Kazin
History professor and co-editor of Dissent magazine, Michael Kazin, looks back at US leftist movements from abolitionism to Vietnam to see where OWS came from and what it can learn from the past.
The best books on The Reagan Era, recommended by Doug Rossinow
Americans remember Reagan fondly, but what did the Gipper really stand for? The historian chooses the best books on Ronald Reagan and his time.
The best books on US Militarism, recommended by Stephen Glain
American presidents may not want to send troops into battle or militarise foreign policy but, in the end, most of them do. The author and journalist explains how this happens, and why it’s not even the military that’s to blame. He picks the best books on American militarism.
The best books on American Food, recommended by Ruth Reichl
The Puritans got modern American cuisine off to a bad start. But the food writer and critic says subsequent immigrants have helped create a culture where food is appreciated.
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1
The Almanac of American Politics
by Michael Barone and Chuck McCutcheon -
2
The 480
by Eugene Burdick -
3
The Rational Public
by Benjamin I Page and Robert Y Shapiro -
4
Fire on the Prairie: Harold Washington, Chicago Politics, and the Roots of the Obama Presidency
by Gary Rivlin -
5
The Emerging Republican Majority
by Kevin P Phillips
The best books on How Americans Vote, recommended by Andrew Gelman
The best books on How Americans Vote, recommended by Andrew Gelman
American statistician Andrew Gelman, professor of statistics and political science at Columbia University and author of Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State explains the (often surprising) realities of how Americans vote.
The best books on Prison Abolition, recommended by Tommie Shelby
With almost two million people in prison in the US on any given day, it’s clear that something is going badly wrong. The question is what to do about it. Harvard philosopher Tommie Shelby talks us through five books by thinkers of the past 150 years who have argued that abolishing prisons is the only solution.