Politics & Government

As far as topics go, politics may be as divisive as they come. Still, there's no escaping the role that it plays in our lives. The texts in this collection explore the gamut of how politics shapes and reshapes societies throughout history.

Publication year 2006

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Crime / Legal, Sociology, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, History: European, War On Terrorism / Iraq War, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality

Murder in Amsterdam: Liberal Europe, Islam, and the Limits of Tolerance is a 2006 nonfiction book written by Dutch professor and social scientist Ian Buruma. The book investigates both the murder of Theo van Gogh, a prominent Dutch filmmaker, social critic, and opponent of political Islam in Europe. Additionally, it explores feelings of historical guilt, liberal mores, and the changing social fabric that has created tension between the native Dutch and the large, mostly Muslim... Read Murder in Amsterdam Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Tags Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Politics / Government, Biography

Sonia Sotomayor (b. June 25, 1954) is an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Born and raised in the Bronx, NY to Puerto Rican parents, she graduated from Princeton University summa cum laude in 1976 and Yale University’s law school in 1979. After four and a half years working as an assistant district attorney in New York City, she joined Pavia & Harcourt, a small Manhattan law firm, eventually becoming a partner. In... Read My Beloved World Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags History: U.S., History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, American Revolution, Politics / Government


Publication year 2016

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, History: U.S., History: World, Biography


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags History: Middle Eastern, Jewish Literature, History: World, Travel Literature, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality

My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel is a 2013 work of historical nonfiction by Israeli author and journalist Ari Shavit. It was a New York Times Bestseller in 2013. Shavit’s book explains the history of Zionism in Palestine: its triumphs and tragedies, the creation of the Israeli state, Palestinian and Middle Eastern conflicts, and assessments of both Israeli and Jewish futures. Shavit combines Zionist history with first-hand reflections on pivotal moments. He... Read My Promised Land Summary


Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Education, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Business / Economics, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Social Science, Psychology, Psychology, Finance / Money / Wealth, Politics / Government

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science is a nonfiction book by Charles Wheelan published in 2002. The author holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and is a senior lecturer and policy fellow at Dartmouth College. Previously, he was a correspondent for the magazine The Economist. He has written a number of other books, including Naked Statistics and Naked Money. This study guide refers to the 2019 third edition of Naked Economics.SummaryNaked Economics is... Read Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science Summary


Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government

Tags The Beat Generation, Classic Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Addiction / Substance Abuse, American Literature, Satire, Politics / Government, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

Naked Lunch is a 1959 novel by American author William. S. Burroughs. In it, Lee, a heroin user, looks to escape New York to avoid arrest by the police. He thus embarks on a journey through Philadelphia and Mexico before arriving in the fictional state of Freeland, where all life is well-ordered and hygienic. Following a riot in a Freeland psychological reconditioning center, however, Lee flees to the strange and fantastical city of Interzone. There... Read Naked Lunch Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Education, Society: Nation

Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, Post-War Era, Southern Literature, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Biography


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Philosophy, Social Science, Politics / Government, Sociology


Publication year 1965

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Colonialism, Identity: Race, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Politics / Government, History: African , Philosophy, African Literature


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: War

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Military / War, Politics / Government, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1627

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation

Tags Classic Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, British Literature, Renaissance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Education, Education, History: World, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government

New Atlantis is an unfinished novel published posthumously in 1626 by the English philosopher Francis Bacon. It details the customs and culture of a utopian island society known as Bensalem, at the center of which lies a science and research institution called Salomon’s House. The work expresses many of Bacon’s scientific, philosophical, political, and religious ideas, though its unfinished status has made it the subject of intense scholarly debate over the novel’s meaning and themes... Read New Atlantis Summary


Publication year 1890

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government, Victorian Period, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Victorian Literature / Period

News From Nowhere by William Morris (1834-1896) is a work of speculative science fiction and socialist utopian imagination. The narrator, William Guest, is mysteriously transported from 1890 to the 21st century. As he travels through a version of London that is both familiar and strange, he records his impressions of the socialist society that has come to replace the industrialized, capitalist one of his own time. Through conversations with a number of 21st-century Londoners, Guest... Read News from Nowhere Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism, Society: Globalization

Tags History: U.S., Anthropology, Politics / Government, History: World, Colonial America, Education, Education


Publication year 2001

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community

Tags Sociology, Poverty, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Education, Education, Business / Economics

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America is a 2001 nonfiction book written by Barbara Ehrenreich. This book is considered a classic of investigative journalism and was ranked #13 in The Guardian’s list of the 100 best books of the 21st century. Ehrenreich takes a series of low-paying, entry-level jobs in three cities (Key West, Florida; Portland, Maine; Minneapolis, Minnesota) to answer the question of whether one can survive on these wages and... Read Nickel and Dimed Summary


Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Community

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Gender / Feminism, Politics / Government, Sociology, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Travel Literature


Publication year 1517

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Christian literature, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government


Publication year 1961

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Nation, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Social Justice, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2008

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Crime / Legal, Incarceration, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Grief / Death, Politics / Government, Biography

No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row is a nonfiction young adult book published by Susan Kuklin in 2009. The book recounts Kuklin’s interviews with teenagers sentenced to death row or life without the possibility of parole. In addition to allowing her subjects to share their experiences in their own words, the book also delves into the US criminal justice system and the issue of capital punishment. No Choirboy is a 2009 Bank... Read No Choirboy Summary


Publication year 1973

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Teams, Society: Colonialism

Tags Politics / Government, Social Justice, Race / Racism, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography