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 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