<p>I want to buy a book for a mid-20’s person who loves current events and politics - and may actually pursue a political career in the future. He is still searching for his political identity (although he leans a bit left so far). Hence, I am trying to find a book that is even in its treatment - if such a book exists, since it seems these days everything is written for one extreme or the other. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>How about The World is Flat? Not really political perhaps, but certainly pertinent.</p>
<p>I suggest ( these authors are also recommended for their other books)
The World is Flat by Thomas L Freidman
Collaspse by Jared Diamond
The end of Poverty by Jeffery Sachs</p>
<p>Last year we bought my son two books, one from each end of the Spectrum. One was Lies and the Liars who tell them-Al Franken and
You are Being Lied to-<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Being-Lied-Disinformation/dp/0966410076/sr=8-1/qid=1164663976/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-3011373-2414220?ie=UTF8&s=books”>http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Being-Lied-Disinformation/dp/0966410076/sr=8-1/qid=1164663976/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-3011373-2414220?ie=UTF8&s=books</a>
Neither is even handed…but each has one extreme</p>
<p>Everyone seems to find the Friedman interesting. (I didn’t, so much, but it wasn’t bad.) Sachs is a good choice, too.</p>
<p>Don’t bother with The World is Flat. </p>
<p>This doesn’t mean that I don’t agree with Friedman. I do. I just think that you can condense all 70,000 pages of the tome into about three paragraphs without a huge loss of basic ideas. </p>
<p>I actually think that From Beirut to Jerusalem is the “quintessential,” though slightly outdated, Friedman.</p>
<p>For a good read, check out The Clash of Civilizations. Even if you disagree with its arguments, it’s a very very important line of thinking today.</p>
<p>“Scandal: How “Gotcha” Politics Is Destroying America (Hardcover)
by Lanny Davis” </p>
<p>“To many conservatives, Lanny Davis is a cherished anomaly: a thoughtful liberal, a decent guy, and a fair-minded Democratic operative who loves his country even more than he loves his party. This challenging book offers a road map for helping America climb out of the current mosh pit of ugly, partisan mud wrestling and to substitute constructive competition for today’s mutually assured destruction.”
– Michael Medved, nationally syndicated conservative talk show host and author of Right Turns</p>
<p>Here are two: “The Road to Serfdom” by Friedrich Hayek and “Free to Choose” by Milton Freedman.</p>
<p>A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. It’s a fun and interesting read. Definitely not your typical perspective on American History.</p>
<p>wharfrat, ff asked for a book that was even in its treatment! Zinn’s is uber-lefty.</p>
<p>Not a recent book at all, but my husband says its insights into the current political situation in the Middle East are amazing: “Seven Pillars of Wisdom”, by T.E. Lawrence. Yes, that Lawrence.</p>
<p>I would highly suggest “Guns Germs and Steel” the same author who wrote “Collapse” which was just suggested, however it would be better to read guns/germs before collapse.</p>
<p>I am also planning on reading Clash of Civilizations too. </p>
<p>Depending on whether you are interested in middle eastern subjects, Bernard Lewis’ books are good too.</p>
<p>I haven’t read Barack Obama’s new book yet, but most reviewers have described it as interesting and scrupulously even-handed.</p>
<p>blowback is the best book for americans to read</p>
<p>Not recent books…but certainly ones that led to a history binge for me… to me, these books tell stories about politics, which make them easy reading? My choices are very different than the ones everyone else is recommending…</p>
<p>John Adams by David McCullough…to me, that book describes the sense of urgency our founding fathers had about getting our government right…they were sending home boxes of books in French from Paris on politics for their own study and scholarship work…at one point, Adams was trying to get back to Paris to raise money…the ship landed in Spain due to bad weather, he rode to Paris on a donkey, rather than wait out the winter…he was in such a rush to make a difference…I also loved his need to write to his wife 3 times a day… I think McCullough really captures the essence of those pivotal times and that might be of interest? </p>
<p>I also really enjoyed his Mornings on Horseback about the early Teddy Roosevelt years. For someone at an age where this book ENDS, they might find it to be really insightful of the energy level it takes, the curiosity it takes to truly lead? I have his Truman, but have not yet had the time to take that one on yet…my good friend gave me this book, and claims it is his best. </p>
<p>Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Franklin and Eleanor is also a wonderful read, specifically about the friendship and differing styles between Roosevelt and Churchill. I also found it informative about how Eleanor stepped up to the plate when Franklin could not get out to take the pulse of America. She served as his legs, if you will…which is also an important example of how one can be thrust into a role they never anticipated? I have given her book on Abraham Lincoln to about 8 people…have it on CD (loaned out to friends still) and haven’t read it yet…but, certainly anything on Abe has to be useful if considering politics? </p>
<p>There is also American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson which is an in-depth look at another significant founding father. A bit more tedious to read, but certainly helpful in my understanding of our party system. </p>
<p>My hubby gave me Oracle Bones, which is about China…I have not yet finished it…but, it certainly does provide an intriguing look into a country that will continue to loom in everyone’s horizon…</p>
<p>I am going to suggest some books that are more historical, but oh so relevant to anyone who is interested in politics, law, and current events (which are often based on the past)</p>
<p>Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond- this book talks about civilzations that collapsed and why…important to understand civilizations now</p>
<p>The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene-how leaders get and lose their power- fascinating history</p>
<p>The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene- not about sex, but about power, control, and influence</p>
<p>THe 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene</p>
<p>Books about Jefferson, Adams, Churchill, the suffregettes</p>
<p>Reading about historical figures, and times helps one understand what is happening now so much better, as opposed to just reading today’s pundits (from both sides)</p>
<p>So, I HIGHLY recommend the Robert Greene books, they are well researched, he talks about how people gain and lose power, do politics, become leaders etc…the gift of all three…very nice present- they are laid out in such a way, you can skip around…for anyone interested in politics - to the left or the right - these will be very balanced and exciting reads</p>
<p>“Can America Survive” by Ben Stein, is not a middle-of-the road kind of book, but I think you’d have a hard time finding anything that is not slanted to one point of view or another. It is, however, a fair look at how some more conservative types view the problems we are facing.</p>
<p>I’d recommend “Crashing the Gates” by Jerome Armstrong and Markos Moulitsas. Although the authors are considered by many to be left-wing (they operate mydd.com and dailykos.com), they are really against establishment (in the pockets of special interests) politics of either flavor. Reviews:</p>
<p>Bill McKibben, NY Review of Books: “The site [dailykos.com], which draws more than half a million visits each day, has emerged as a meeting place for a great many ordinary people (i.e., not only politicians, journalists, academic experts, issue advocates, or big donors) who want to revive the Democratic Party. Obsessed with developing strategies for defeating Republicans, the site was much involved with the campaign of Howard Dean for the presidential nomination and carrying on his forthright opposition to the Iraq war. Its sophisticated technological structure, assembled by Moulitsas, has allowed its viewers to raise money for favored politicians, rethink and debate issue positions, harass lazy or ideologically biased journalists and commentators, and even help break stories that the mainstream press managed to overlook. In doing so, it has explicitly tried to chart a new future for the Democrats—the subject of the book under review—and implicitly suggested new possibilities for the American political system that might help it break free of the grip of big money. It also raises large questions about the future of journalism. In my view, nothing more interesting has happened in American politics for many years.”</p>
<p>Charlie Cook, National Journal: “*t is one of the two best books I’ve read in years about the Democratic Party, its myriad problems and challenges.”</p>
<p>Thanks to those who contributed ideas. Now I will research them a bit.</p>
<p>I probably should start a new thread for this, but let me try just extending this one. What about magazine subscriptions? Are there any truly centrist magazines on news/politics? I know that there are the conservative and liberal ones. I also know that there are those who “claim” to be down the middle, but the ones that I have sampled (Time, Newsweek, US News) seem to be anything but centrist. The ideal magazine would have articles written by those openly conservative, those openly liberal and (if they exist) those who swing both ways.</p>
<p>I enjoy the British news weekly, The Economist. I think they tend to be somewhat conservative, but it’s a different viewpoint than you get in US magazine, and has excellent international coverage. Plus, very witty headlines and captions sometimes.</p>