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 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags History: U.S., Crime / Legal, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Politics / Government
Publication year 1989
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Military / War, Play: Drama, Crime / Legal, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Arts / Culture, Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction
A Few Good Men is a play written by Aaron Sorkin and first performed in 1989. The story involves a military lawyer who defends two Marines accused of murder. The play was well-received, and Sorkin adapted it into a screenplay for the film of the same name (released in 1992), which was a popular and critical success.Plot SummaryA Few Good Men opens as two Marines, Downey and Dawson, recall the details of a nighttime incident... Read A Few Good Men Summary
Publication year 2001
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Natural World: Environment
Tags Business / Economics, Science / Nature, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government
Affluenza seeks to diagnose and treat the disease of overconsumption that its three authors, John de Graaf, David Wann and Thomas H. Naylor, believe to be a serious threat to both the human species and the rest of the planet. Accordingly, the book is divided into three main parts: a discussion of the symptoms of affluenza, an analysis of its causes, and suggestions for some possible cures.In Part 1, the authors offer a broad overview... Read Affluenza Summary
Publication year 2003
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Politics / Government, Education, Education, History: U.S., Business / Economics, History: World
Michael McGerr’s 2003 nonfiction book, A Fierce Discontent: The Rise and Fall of the Progressive Movement in America, 1870-1920, is titled after a phenomenon President Theodore Roosevelt observed in the early 20th century. The book’s epigraph quotes President Roosevelt in 1906: So far as this movement of agitation throughout the country takes the form of a fierce discontent with evil, of a firm determination to punish the authors of evil, whether in industry or politics... Read A Fierce Discontent Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Society: Immigration, Society: Community
Tags Immigration / Refugee, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Sociology, History: World, Biography
Publication year 1981
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Philosophy, Post Modernism, Religion / Spirituality, Arts / Culture, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government
An influential work of moral philosophy, After Virtue (1981) by the Scottish-born philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre takes a bleak view of the state of modern moral dialogue, viewing it as suffering from a lack of rational thought and an inability to resolve disagreements. By looking at older forms of moral discourse, such as Aristotle’s moral framework, and comparing them to the modern version, he generally finds the modern moral framework to be lacking and suggests fixes... Read After Virtue Summary
Publication year 1996
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Class, Society: War, Society: Economics, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Disability, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Birth, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Class, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Grief / Death
A Game of Thrones is a 1996 epic fantasy novel by George R. R. Martin and is the first in his long-running A Song of Ice and Fire series. The novel introduces the audience to the fictional world of Westeros, where characters become embroiled in a complicated web of plots, conspiracies, and betrayals as they pursue power. A Game of Thrones won numerous awards on publication and was adapted for television in 2011. This guide... Read A Game of Thrones Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Politics / Government, British Literature
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War
Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Psychology, Politics / Government, History: World
Publication year 1931
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Colonialism, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags History: Asian, History: European, Politics / Government, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Colonialism, Society: Education, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, Class, Education, History: World, History: Asian, History: European, Incarceration, Politics / Government, Children's Literature, Indian Literature, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Natural World: Environment, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Community
Tags Business / Economics, History: World, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Education, Education, Science / Nature
A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things: A Guide to Capitalism, Nature, and the Future of the Planet (2017) is a nonfiction book written by Raj Patel, a political economist and professor at the University of Texas at Austin, also known for Stuffed and Starved (2007), and Jason W. Moore, an environmental historian and associate professor at Binghamton University. The authors’ expertise in political economy and environmental history provides a unique perspective on... Read A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things Summary
Publication year 1945
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Politics / Government, History: European
Publication year 1851
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Gender, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 1981
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Gender, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, Politics / Government
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Society: Economics
Tags Science / Nature, Technology, Business / Economics, Technology, History: World, Chinese Literature, Politics / Government
Publication year 2004
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Tags Colonial America, History: U.S., American Revolution, History: World, Biography, Politics / Government
Alexander Hamilton is a 2004 biography of Alexander Hamilton, written by Ron Chernow. Beginning with Hamilton’s birth in the Caribbean, the book traces Hamilton’s story from his childhood, to his early years in America, to his rise as one of the most admired—and reviled—politicians and statesmen that the country would ever see. The popular music Hamilton is based on the story told in Chernow’s book, and shows the development of both America, and one of its... Read Alexander Hamilton Summary
Publication year -1
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Tags Philosophy, Ancient Greece, Education, Education, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government
Plato’s Republic takes the form of a series of dialogues between the first-person narrator (Socrates, Plato's teacher) and various real-life figures. “The Allegory of the Cave,” perhaps the most well-known section of The Republic, takes place as a conversation between Socrates and Plato’s brother, Glaucon. In this section, Socrates attempts to illustrate a point about how one can gain knowledge and wisdom and “perceive [...] the Essential Form of Goodness” (paragraph 31, line 10), via... Read Allegory Of The Cave Summary
Publication year 1982
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Literary Criticism, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Philosophy, History: World, Sociology, Politics / Government, Modernism
Publication year 1946
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Southern Literature, Politics / Government
All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren is a fictional political novel originally published in 1946 by Harcourt Brace & Company. Robert Penn Warren was an acclaimed novelist and poet from the American South. Along with fellow Southerners Cleanth Brooks and John Crowe Ransom, he was a leading proponent of the literary critical approach known as New Criticism. His best-known novel, All the King’s Men follows the political rise and fall of Governor Willie... Read All the King's Men Summary