The best 73 Political Figures books

1
LBJ

LBJ

Randall Woods
Architect of American Ambition
4.4 (20 ratings)

What's LBJ about?

LBJ is the story of its namesake –⁠ Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States –⁠ from birth to death. Looking with a sympathetic, though not uncritical, eye on one of the nation’s most maligned and misunderstood leaders, it analyzes the dynamics that shaped him in his youth, the causes he championed, and the presidential decisions that turned him into an icon. By the end, you’ll come away with a much deeper, more nuanced understanding of this controversial, yet titanic, twentieth-century leader. 

Who should read LBJ?

  • American history buffs
  • Social justice activists interested in the history of their cause
  • Anyone with preconceived notions about LBJ.

2
Leadership

Leadership

Henry Kissinger
Six Studies in World Strategy
4.3 (308 ratings)

What's Leadership about?

Leadership (2022) is a detailed analysis of six monumental twentieth-century leaders. By examining both the circumstances that formed these leaders and the strategies they used to shepherd their respective nations through periods of turmoil, it presents invaluable lessons for anyone working to shape the world’s future. From Charles de Gaulle’s strategy of will to Anwar Sadat’s strategy of transcendence and beyond, it serves as a historical debriefing on some of the defining leadership strategies of the last century.

Who should read Leadership?

  • History and politics geeks
  • Aspiring politicians
  • Biography lovers

3
The Light We Carry

The Light We Carry

Michelle Obama
Overcoming in Uncertain Times
4.3 (405 ratings)

What's The Light We Carry about?

In The Light We Carry (2022), former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, tackles complex questions about community, identity, and relationships with trademark warmth and honesty. Obama believes we all carry a light inside us – in this book, she tells us how to shine that light so it illuminates the potential for hope and healing, and pathways toward a better world.

Who should read The Light We Carry?

  • Anyone whose fear is holding them back from living authentically
  • Those who wants to trade disconnection for community and friendship
  • People who need encouragement to keep doing the work in challenging times

4
The Courage to Be Free

The Courage to Be Free

Ron DeSantis
Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival
3.6 (33 ratings)

What's The Courage to Be Free about?

The Courage to Be Free (2023) is an account of Ron DeSantis’s career so far, focusing on his work as governor of Florida. He reflects on his approach to leadership and outlines his vision for America.

Who should read The Courage to Be Free?

  • Republicans and anyone who has right-wing political views
  • People interested in US politics
  • Anyone who wants to know more about a potential future president

5
Becoming

Becoming

Michelle Obama
The intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States
4.5 (538 ratings)

What's Becoming about?

Becoming (2018) tells the story of Michelle Obama, née Robinson. Born to loving parents in a working-class Chicago neighborhood, she grew into a strong, independent woman, who just happened to meet and fall in love with a man named Barack Obama. This is the life story of a woman who didn’t expect to become the first African-American First Lady, yet found a way to continue exercising her own unique voice under the most unusual and trying of circumstances.

Who should read Becoming?

  • People who enjoy an inspirational story
  • Working moms
  • Anyone eager to make a difference

6
Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great

Philip Freeman
The Macedonian who conquered the world
4.6 (231 ratings)

What's Alexander the Great about?

The eponymous hero of Alexander the Great (2011) is remembered as one of the greatest military commanders who ever lived. Setting out from Greece at the age of 21, Alexander waged a ten-year campaign, during which he defeated the Persian Achaemenids and, in so doing, created the largest empire the world had ever seen. By spreading Greek culture and language throughout Eurasia, his legacy remained influential for centuries after.

Who should read Alexander the Great?

  • People interested in how Greek culture became so dominant
  • History buffs interested in military strategy
  • Students of ancient history

7
Ten Caesars

Ten Caesars

Barry Strauss
Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine
4.6 (78 ratings)

What's Ten Caesars about?

Ten Caesars (2019) charts the history of the Roman empire from its rise to its reinvention under the first Christian emperor in the fourth century AD. Along the way, it sheds light on the character and policies of the men who ruled it through years of triumphant expansion and catastrophic crises.

Who should read Ten Caesars?

  • History buffs
  • Classicists
  • Romanophiles

8
The Man Without A Face

The Man Without A Face

Masha Gessen
The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin
4.3 (279 ratings)

What's The Man Without A Face about?

A biography of Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Man Without A Face shines a clear light on one of contemporary history’s more shadowy political figures. The book charts Putin’s almost accidental rise to Russia’s highest office, starting from his benign beginnings in the state secret police. His vindictive personality, overwhelming greed and disdain for democratic norms continue to transform Russia today.

Who should read The Man Without A Face?

  • Anyone interested in Russia’s place in global politics
  • Anyone curious about the life of a notorious world leader
  • Anyone fighting for accountability and transparency in politics

9
The Nazi Conspiracy

The Nazi Conspiracy

Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill
4.6 (273 ratings)

What's The Nazi Conspiracy about?

The Nazi Conspiracy (2023) tells the thrilling true story of the first meeting between the leaders of the Allied forces during the height of World War II – and the top-secret Nazi plot that almost changed the course of history. Full of drama, twists, and political intrigue stretching all over the world, it shows how the three leaders – Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin – defied all odds, and arranged one of the most pivotal events in the entire war.

Who should read The Nazi Conspiracy?

  • World War II buffs looking for a deep exploration of one of the lesser-known developments of the war 
  • Armchair historians interested in the small events that changed the world
  • Anyone who loves political drama, intrigue, and a good spy story

10
Ukraine Crisis

Ukraine Crisis

Andrew Wilson
What It Means for the West
4.3 (666 ratings)

What's Ukraine Crisis about?

Ukraine Crisis (2014) addresses the peaceful protests and violent conflicts that have rocked Ukraine in recent years. This book take a look at the events surrounding the Maidan uprising, the Russian annexation of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in the Donbas. Importantly, the crisis is put into context not just for the future of Ukraine but also how it affects Russia, the European Union and the world.

Who should read Ukraine Crisis?

  • Students and professors of history or politics
  • People interested in contemporary history
  • Anyone curious about the power play between Russia and the West

11
Bedtime Biography: Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

Bedtime Biography: Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

Jack Weatherford
The Rise of the Mongol Empire and Its First Great Khan
4.6 (313 ratings)

What's Bedtime Biography: Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World about?

Read to you by Marston York.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World (2004) tells the fascinating story of Genghis Khan, the man who founded the great Mongol Empire. Today, he’s remembered as a ruthless, violent conqueror who thrived on bloodshed and destruction. What has largely been forgotten, though, is how he united disparate peoples, fostered trade and modernization, and advanced democracy – and in so doing, ushered in the modern world.

Who should read Bedtime Biography: Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World?

  • History buffs
  • Global citizens interested in the roots of the modern world
  • Anyone with preconceived notions about the Mongol Empire

12
Bedtime Biography: Margaret Thatcher

Bedtime Biography: Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher
The Autobiography
4.6 (196 ratings)

What's Bedtime Biography: Margaret Thatcher about?

Margaret Thatcher: The Autobiography (2013) is the definitive account of the Iron Lady. Covering everything from her upbringing to the political battles that defined her time in office, this memoir sheds light on the thinking and values of Britain’s most transformative twentieth-century leaders. 

Who should read Bedtime Biography: Margaret Thatcher?

  • History buffs
  • Anglophiles
  • Politicos

13
Killing the Killers

Killing the Killers

Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
The Secret War Against Terrorists
3.9 (252 ratings)

What's Killing the Killers about?

Killing the Killers (2022) takes you deep into the global war on terror. As it examines the role of Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, it moves through all the theaters of action including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Iran, and Afghanistan. It’s the eleventh book in the best-selling Killing series.

Who should read Killing the Killers?

  • Fans of the Killing series
  • History buffs interested in the war on terror
  • Lovers of dramatic story-telling

14
Putin's People

Putin's People

Catherine Belton
How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took On the West
4.3 (343 ratings)

What's Putin's People about?

Putin’s People (2020) is a shocking account of the corruption and political schemes that swirl around Russia’s infamous president, Vladimir Putin, and his close inner circle. The KGB is well-known as the former Soviet Union’s secret police force – but that was far from its only role in the Soviet government and economy. This is the story of how the KGB lost its power, gained it back, and has been exploiting it ever since.

Who should read Putin's People?

  • Fans of political intrigue and international relations
  • Students of Russian history and culture
  • Anyone curious about the inner workings of Vladimir Putin’s regime

15
A Promised Land

A Promised Land

Barack Obama
The first memoir of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States
4.6 (406 ratings)

What's A Promised Land about?

A Promised Land (2020) is the first volume of the memoirs of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States. The memoir chronicles Obama’s journey from teenage Honolulu ne'er-do-well to Chicago community organizer and on to one of the most beloved – and mistrusted – figures in American history.

Who should read A Promised Land?

  • Anyone wanting to understand modern American politics
  • Lovers of deep-dive biography
  • Those looking to learn college-age Obama’s strategy for picking up girls

16
G-Man

G-Man

Beverly Gage
J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century
4.4 (30 ratings)

What's G-Man about?

G-Man (2022) is a thorough and comprehensive biography of J. Edgar Hoover and the history of the FBI. Drawing from established history as well as newly uncovered documents, it covers the entire timeline of Hoover’s personal life as well as his role in shaping America as we know it.

Who should read G-Man?

  • American history buffs
  • People curious about J. Edgar Hoover
  • Anyone interested in the hidden forces influencing American politics

17
First Principles

First Principles

Thomas E. Ricks
What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country
4.3 (99 ratings)

What's First Principles about?

Over the years, much has been made of the influence of Enlightenment ideas –⁠ particularly those of English philosopher John Locke –⁠ on America’s founding fathers. First Principles (2020) takes a different approach. It focuses instead on the ways in which Greek and Roman history and philosophy profoundly shaped the values and goals of America’s first four presidents, and how classical ideas are embedded in the nation to this day.

Who should read First Principles?

  • Anyone interested in American history, or political philosophy
  • Students of Greek and Roman classics

18
Elizabeth the Queen

Elizabeth the Queen

Sally Bedell Smith
The Life of a Modern Monarch
3.9 (209 ratings)

What's Elizabeth the Queen about?

Elizabeth the Queen (2012) is a brisk yet in-depth exposé of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Tracing key moments in her life, big and small, lighthearted and tragic, it pulls back the curtain on a most singular figure. Elizabeth II was at once a woman who struggled to balance her roles as both mother and monarch; a leader who learned to embody dignity and diplomacy; and the calm epicenter of the drama that ever swirled around her closest relations.

Who should read Elizabeth the Queen?

  • Royal watchers and anglophiles
  • Americans interested in British politics
  • Biography lovers

19
Long Walk to Freedom

Long Walk to Freedom

Nelson Mandela
The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
4.4 (148 ratings)

What's Long Walk to Freedom about?

Nelson Mandela's A Long Walk to Freedom (1994) is one of the most famous autobiographies of recent times. It tells the story of his life, from his humble beginnings in the South African countryside to his work as an iconic anti-apartheid freedom fighter, and ends, after chronicling his twenty-year prison sentence, with his final victory and release.

Who should read Long Walk to Freedom?

  • People interested in Nelson Mandela
  • Anyone curious about South African history
  • Proponents of social justice

20
And There Was Light

And There Was Light

Jon Meacham
Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle
4.5 (52 ratings)

What's And There Was Light about?

And There Was Light (2022) is a biography of Abraham Lincoln that takes a nuanced look at a complex leader. Focusing especially on Lincoln’s evolving views on and actions around slavery, it’s a picture of a man who wrestled with his moral convictions while attempting to hold together a divided nation. Echoes of that struggle still ring out today, making it essential to keep Lincoln’s story at the forefront of American consciousness.

Who should read And There Was Light?

  • American history enthusiasts
  • People interested in controversial historical figures
  • Budding political pundits looking to add to their historical knowledge

21
Leadership

Leadership

Doris Kearns Goodwin
In Turbulent Times
4.4 (80 ratings)

What's Leadership about?

Leadership: In Turbulent Times (2018) examines the lives of four of the most transformational presidents in US history: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. By looking at the similarities and differences between how these men became great leaders, author Doris Kearns Goodwin provides insight into how and why they rose to the occasion at pivotal times in American history.

Who should read Leadership?

  • Aspiring and current leaders looking for insights into the art of leadership
  • Presidential history buffs
  • Citizens looking for role models from the past

22
The Myth of the Strong Leader

The Myth of the Strong Leader

Archie Brown
Political Leadership in the Modern Age
3.9 (71 ratings)

What's The Myth of the Strong Leader about?

The Myth of the Strong Leader (2014) explores why people tend to favor charismatic leaders, those they perceive as “strong.” These blinks show which factors allow such leaders to rise to power and why such a personality type shouldn’t necessarily lead a democratic society. Importantly, you’ll learn what can happen on an international scale when ill-suited “strong leaders” take the reins of a democracy.

Who should read The Myth of the Strong Leader?

  • Students of politics or history
  • People curious how authoritarian leaders rise to power
  • Aspiring leaders who want to lead fairly

23
The Black Jacobins

The Black Jacobins

C.L.R. James
Toussaint L’Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution
4.6 (67 ratings)

What's The Black Jacobins about?

The Black Jacobins (1938) traces the remarkable history of the revolution in the French colony of San Domingo (modern day Haiti). It describes the events that helped the revolution become the first successful slave rebellion in history.

In particular, The Black Jacobins views the events through the prism of the revolution’s greatest figure, Toussaint L’Ouverture. It shows how he, a former slave who was inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, successfully defeated the European empires and helped to destroy the brutal practice of slavery in San Domingo.

Who should read The Black Jacobins?

  • Students of history and postcolonial studies
  • Anyone who wants to understand why people revolt
  • Anyone interested in how political ideas can change the world

24
The Audacity of Hope

The Audacity of Hope

Barack Obama
Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
4.6 (99 ratings)

What's The Audacity of Hope about?

The Audacity of Hope is based on a keynote speech Barack Obama delivered at the 2004 Democratic Convention, which launched him into the spotlight of the nation. It contains many of the subjects of Obama’s 2008 campaign for the presidency.

Who should read The Audacity of Hope?

  • Anyone interested in American politics and international affairs
  • Anyone who wants to find out about Obama’s core values

25
The Revolutionary

The Revolutionary

Stacy Schiff
Samuel Adams
4.6 (206 ratings)

What's The Revolutionary about?

The Revolutionary (2022) offers a nuanced look at one of the most central figures in the lead-up to the American War of Independence. It reveals a man of character and contradiction, whose revolutionary thinking and deep commitment to civil liberties came to define a revolution.

Who should read The Revolutionary?

  • History lovers looking for a deep dive into characters that create change
  • Political thinkers looking for an inside view of revolutionary politics
  • Anyone seeking inspiring examples of ideals put into practice

26
Anarchism

Anarchism

Colin Ward
A Very Short Introduction
4.5 (95 ratings)

What's Anarchism about?

Anarchism (2004) lays out the history and principles behind an oft-misunderstood political ideology. Crucially, anarchists emphasize freedom over oppression, thereby seeking to do away with human life’s many hierarchies, be they those imposed by the modern nation-state, by patriarchal societies or even by religious organizations. Anarchism envisions a world free from any sort of coercion.

Who should read Anarchism?

  • Anyone looking to learn about alternative societal models
  • Students of politics or history
  • Citizens concerned about climate change and how we might stop it

27
The Plantagenets

The Plantagenets

Dan Jones
The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England
4.5 (171 ratings)

What's The Plantagenets about?

The Plantagenets (2012) is a rollicking history of eight generations of English royal rule. From the Crusades through the signing of Magna Carta and up to the start of the Hundred Years’ War, the House of Plantagenet ruled during some of the most thrilling times of English history.

Who should read The Plantagenets?

  • Lovers of high drama and intrigue
  • Game of Thrones fans
  • Medieval history fanatics

28
Confidence Man

Confidence Man

Maggie Haberman
The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America
3.7 (280 ratings)

What's Confidence Man about?

Confidence Man (2022) is a full account of Trump’s life in the spotlight. It tracks his career from early New York real estate deals to his tumultuous tenure in the White House. It shows how his aggressive personality was molded early on and only intensified as the stage grew bigger.

Who should read Confidence Man?

  • Politics junkies
  • People interested in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol
  • Anyone interested in the unique life of Donald J. Trump

29
The Autobiography of Malcolm X

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Alex Haley
As told to Alex Haley
4.6 (116 ratings)

What's The Autobiography of Malcolm X about?

The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965) is a profound and personal account of one man’s journey from dropping out of school and entering a life of crime and drug addiction to finding redemption through human rights activism. These blinks tell the story of a curious and evolving mind: a man who dedicated his life to helping African-Americans gain identity and freedom from oppression by any means necessary.

Who should read The Autobiography of Malcolm X?

  • Human rights activists
  • Historians
  • People interested in the civil rights movement

30
The Splendid and the Vile

The Splendid and the Vile

Erik Larson
A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
4.6 (100 ratings)

What's The Splendid and the Vile about?

The Splendid and the Vile (2020) is a meticulously researched account of Winston Churchill’s first year of leadership. Beginning in 1940, he led the country through France’s surrender, the miraculous rescue at Dunkirk, and the Nazi air force’s bombing blitz of the UK, which killed over 44,000 Brits. Through it all, he retained his sense of humor and charming eccentricities that ensure him a fond place in our collective memory.

Who should read The Splendid and the Vile?

  • World War II nerds
  • People interested in eccentric histories
  • Anyone curious about Winston Churchill’s legacy

31
Compromised

Compromised

Peter Strzok
Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump
3.9 (31 ratings)

What's Compromised about?

Compromised (2020) is an inside account of the FBI’s handling of the now-famous Midyear Exam and Crossfire Hurricane investigations concerning Hillary Clinton and the Trump campaign, respectively. It tackles partisan media and White House accusations head-on, from the point of view of a person at the center of it all.

Who should read Compromised?

  • Politically engaged Americans on both sides of the aisle
  • Those who have been exposed to conflicting narratives about the FBI
  • Curious followers of current events and politics

32
Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom

Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom

Nelson Mandela
The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
4.6 (75 ratings)

What's Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom about?

Read to you by Twaambo Kapilikisha

Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom (1994) is one of the most famous autobiographies of recent times. It tells the story of his life, from his humble beginnings in the South African countryside to his work as an iconic anti-apartheid freedom fighter, and ends, after chronicling his twenty-year prison sentence, with his final victory and release.

Who should read Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom?

  • People interested in Nelson Mandela
  • Anyone curious about South African history
  • Proponents of social justice

33
Renegades

Renegades

Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen
Born in the USA
4.1 (305 ratings)

What's Renegades about?

Renegades (2021) documents eight intimate and enlightening conversations between two living legends: the musician Bruce Springsteen and the former US president Barack Obama. These two friends delve into some of the issues that have defined both of their careers, including American identity, fatherhood, class and racial divides, wrestling with the past, and maintaining hope for the future.

Who should read Renegades?

  • American citizens concerned about the country’s future
  • Fans of “the Boss” and the forty-fourth president
  • Music buffs

34
The Bully Pulpit

The Bully Pulpit

Doris Kearns Goodwin
Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and the Golden Age of Journalism
4.4 (48 ratings)

What's The Bully Pulpit about?

The Bully Pulpit (2013) follows three intricately linked strands of American history: the life of president Theodore Roosevelt, the emergence of a class of progressive investigative journalists, and the life of William Howard Taft and his complicated relationship with Roosevelt. 

Who should read The Bully Pulpit?

  • People interested in American history
  • Those curious about the relationship between journalism and politics
  • Anyone wanting to know more about Theodore Roosevelt or William Howard Taft

35
Reagan

Reagan

H. W. Brands
The Life
4.3 (172 ratings)

What's Reagan about?

Reagan (2015) is the definitive account of the life of a towering figure in American history. Starting with his childhood in Illinois, the narrative follows the course of Ronald Reagan’s life, from his charmed days in Hollywood to his time as governor of California and, finally, from the White House to the world stage of the Cold War.

Who should read Reagan?

  • All those who think they know what Reagan was all about
  • History buffs
  • People looking to understand modern American conservatism

36
The Conscience of a Conservative

The Conscience of a Conservative

Barry Goldwater
A classic statement of the conservative mindset
4.3 (126 ratings)

What's The Conscience of a Conservative about?

The Conscience of a Conservative (1960) is a classic statement of the conservative mindset. Penned in an age of bipartisan support for big government, Barry Goldwater’s manifesto rekindled a conservative movement committed to shrinking the state. Over the next 20 years, Goldwater’s positions on topics such as taxation, education, and welfare became commonsensical on the American right, laying the foundations for the 1980s Reagan revolution. 

Who should read The Conscience of a Conservative?

  • History buffs and politicos 
  • Advocates of limited government 
  • Liberals interested in the other side of the argument

37
After the Fall

After the Fall

Ben Rhodes
Being American in the World We've Made
4.0 (228 ratings)

What's After the Fall about?

After the Fall (2021) takes a sobering look at the rise of nationalism and authoritarianism in places like Hungary, China, Russia, and the United States of America. It examines how the standing and influence of the US changed in the years following the Cold War, and how this has led to the current challenges facing democracy around the world. 

Who should read After the Fall?

  • Political junkies
  • Fans of democracy
  • Students of modern history

38
Maoism

Maoism

Julia Lovell
A Global History
4.3 (78 ratings)

What's Maoism about?

Maoism (2019) is a deep dive into Maoist ideology, tracing the origins of the movement in the caves of northwest China to the jungles of India, the high Andean sierra, and the California city parks where The Black Panthers did their military drills. Maoism is a movement that’s hardly limited to China or even Asia.

Who should read Maoism?

  • Anyone looking to bone up on Chinese history
  • Followers of leftist politics
  • Those interested in transnational historical arcs

39
The World as It Is

The World as It Is

Ben Rhodes
A Memoir of the Obama White House
4.4 (27 ratings)

What's The World as It Is about?

The World as It Is (2018) is a deeply personal look at the Obama presidency, written by a man who not only worked closely with the forty-fourth president, but also became his friend. Taking us on a behind-the-scenes tour of Obama’s presidency, from his first campaign to Trump’s inauguration, these blinks also chronicle the author’s personal journey from fresh-faced staffer to hardened national security operator.

Who should read The World as It Is?

  • History and politics buffs
  • Anyone interested in an inside look at the highest levels of government
  • People who want a better understanding of the state of US politics today

40
Dark Towers

Dark Towers

David Enrich
Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and an Epic Trail of Destruction
4.4 (82 ratings)

What's Dark Towers about?

Dark Towers (2020) is a heavily researched look into the ignominious rise and devastating fall of Deutsche Bank. Over the course of 150 years, the bank helped build the American railroad system, funded Nazi genocide, schmoozed Russian oligarchs, and had a hand in the election of President Donald Trump. When Deutsche executive Bill Broeksmit killed himself in 2014, he came to symbolize the destructive power of the bank’s institutional greed.

Who should read Dark Towers?

  • People who work in finance
  • Anyone still mad about the government’s Wall Street bailout
  • Stock market watchers

41
Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon

John A. Farrell
The Life
4.2 (109 ratings)

What's Richard Nixon about?

Richard Nixon: The Life (2017) is a thorough biography of one of the most controversial American presidents. Tracing Nixon’s life from his humble upbringing through his meteoric political ascent to his crashing downfall in the Watergate scandal, it reveals a complex, troubled, and sentimental man.

Who should read Richard Nixon?

  • US-politics aficionados
  • Biography enthusiasts who love a scandal
  • People looking to deepen their knowledge of American history

42
Navalny

Navalny

Jan Matti Dollbaum
Putin's Nemesis, Russia's Future?
4.4 (183 ratings)

What's Navalny about?

Navalny (2021) is an in-depth look at the life and politics of Russian politician Alexei Navalny. This biography details how Navalny rose to prominence and what plans he has for Russia’s future.

Who should read Navalny?

  • Outsiders seeking to understand life in Russia 
  • Political thinkers keen to grasp the concept of power in a post-USSR world
  • All those invested in the future of world governance

43
Bedtime Biography: An Autobiography

Bedtime Biography: An Autobiography

M.K. Gandhi
The Story of My Experiments With Truth
4.4 (230 ratings)

What's Bedtime Biography: An Autobiography about?

Narrated by Marston York

An Autobiography
(First published in two volumes; Volume 1, 1927, and Volume 2, 1929) is the autobiography of one of the world’s most famous political icons – Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The book traverses his rebellious childhood, his early activism in South Africa and his work for the Indian Independence Movement up until 1920, and gives insight into Gandhi’s personal philosophy and his lifelong quest for Truth.

Who should read Bedtime Biography: An Autobiography?

  • Anyone interested in Gandhi’s life and personal philosophy
  • Students of history and political science
  • People cultivating leadership skills

44
The Prime Ministers

The Prime Ministers

Steve Richards
Reflections on Leadership from Wilson to May
4.3 (50 ratings)

What's The Prime Ministers about?

The Prime Ministers (2019) looks back on nine British prime ministers, from Harold Wilson to Theresa May. Taking in different political eras – from Thatcher’s booming eighties to the troubled post-Brexit landscape of Theresa May – Steve Richards considers the particular leadership qualities of these figures, judging their merits and defects at crucial junctures in their careers.

Who should read The Prime Ministers?

  • Anyone following the current political crisis in the UK
  • Those interested in British political history
  • Would-be leaders looking to learn from past mistakes and triumphs

45
Adults in The Room

Adults in The Room

Yanis Varoufakis
My Battle With Europe’s Deep Establishment
4.1 (61 ratings)

What's Adults in The Room about?

Adults in the Room (2017) is a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of what it’s like to deal with the European Union establishment, as experienced by the former Minister of Finance of Greece. This scathing exposé shows that, when it comes to global politics, the best interests of weaker nations aren’t always of the utmost importance to those in charge.

Who should read Adults in The Room?

  • European citizens
  • Anyone interested in European politics
  • Students of economics and world affairs

46
All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days

All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days

Rebecca Donner
The True Story of the American Woman at the Heart of the German Resistance to Hitler
4.6 (152 ratings)

What's All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days about?

All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days (2021) offers a deeply intimate look at individuals who risked their lives by establishing an anti-Nazi resistance movement in Germany. With years of research, and access to letters and declassified documents, this is a detailed story about people who have often been overlooked in the fight against fascism.

Who should read All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days?

  • Fans of real-world espionage stories
  • People curious about life in WWII-era Germany
  • History buffs

47
Becoming Kim Jong Un

Becoming Kim Jong Un

Jung H. Pak
A Former CIA Officer's Insights into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator
4.2 (57 ratings)

What's Becoming Kim Jong Un about?

Becoming Kim Jong Un (2020) tells the story of the North Korean dictator from his childhood as the son and grandson of two infamous Korean leaders through to his momentous summit with American president Donald Trump. Setting aside the insults and jokes about Kim that the media and internet often perpetuate, it takes a serious look at Kim’s enigmatic persona and behavior and diagnoses the grave threat that he and his nation⁠ pose to the world.

Who should read Becoming Kim Jong Un?

  • People fascinated by international politics and global issues
  • History lovers
  • Anyone with an interest in modern Asia

48
The Economists’ Hour

The Economists’ Hour

Binyamin Appelbaum
False Prophets, Free Markets, and the Fracture of Society
4.3 (62 ratings)

What's The Economists’ Hour about?

The Economists’ Hour (2019) is a compact history of how economists came to dominate our political discourse. This work traces the rise of neoliberal ideology from the 1960s to today.

Who should read The Economists’ Hour?

  • Political wonks wanting to parse the current climate
  • Citizens concerned about America’s rightward shift
  • Anyone asking, “how did things get so bad?”

49
On His Own Terms

On His Own Terms

Richard Norton Smith
A Life of Nelson Rockefeller
4.1 (16 ratings)

What's On His Own Terms about?

On His Own Terms (2014) tells the remarkable life story of Nelson Rockefeller, who used his family’s notoriety and wealth to change the world for the better. These blinks walk you through Nelson’s life, from his involvement in the family oil business to his extended career in politics.

Who should read On His Own Terms?

  • Students of history and politics
  • Readers who love a good biography

50
Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton

Ron Chernow
The bestselling inspiration for the hit Broadway musical
4.6 (77 ratings)

What's Alexander Hamilton about?

Alexander Hamilton (2004) tells the incredible story of a poor orphan boy whose limitless ambition, intelligence and tenacity shaped the course of American history. From his early years in the Caribbean to his role in the War of Independence and the drafting of the Constitution, this is the biography of Alexander Hamilton, the intellectual, soldier and politician who helped make the United States into the country that it is today.

Who should read Alexander Hamilton?

  • History buffs
  • Anyone captivated by the Hamilton musical and keen to learn more about its hero
  • Fans of epic true-life stories

51
Russian Roulette

Russian Roulette

Michael Isikoff and David Corn
The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump
4.1 (47 ratings)

What's Russian Roulette about?

Russian Roulette (2018) relates the results of an investigation by two journalists into the Russian interference in the 2016 American presidential election. These include details on Trump’s business ties to Russia, the Russian connections of his campaign team, the Russian hacking of Democratic institutions, the disinformation campaigns on social media and what Russian intelligence might have gathered to compromise Trump. The blinks also tell how the American intelligence community and the Obama administration reacted to the Russian hacking.

Who should read Russian Roulette?

  • News junkies interested in the 2016 US presidential election
  • Concerned citizens who want to know more about Trump’s ties to Russia
  • Students of politics seeking an explanation for why Trump won

52
Bedtime Biography: Queen of Fashion

Bedtime Biography: Queen of Fashion

Caroline Weber
What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution
4.5 (53 ratings)

What's Bedtime Biography: Queen of Fashion about?

Narrated by Marston York

Music by Federico Coderoni

Queen of Fashion (2006) unveils the untold ways in which Marie Antoinette, with her iconoclastic sense of fashion and rebellious nature, challenged the status quo of 18th century French court. Expressing herself through daring originality, her story reveals a great deal about the revolutionary politics that make up the history of both fashion and France.

Who should read Bedtime Biography: Queen of Fashion?

  • Fashionistas wanting to know more about the link between power and clothing
  • Francophiles obsessed with Marie Antoinette
  • History students interested in the French Revolution

53
American Kompromat

American Kompromat

Craig Unger
How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery
3.9 (58 ratings)

What's American Kompromat about?

American Kompromat (2021) tells the dark and unsettling tale of how the Russian KGB began cultivating Donald Trump as an asset –⁠ and then hit the jackpot when he became the president of the United States. Drawing connections between Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and a mysterious Catholic sect called Opus Dei, it explores the reasons why Trump repeatedly did Putin’s bidding –⁠ and who enabled him to do so.

Who should read American Kompromat?

  • Americans trying to make sense of Trump’s connection to Russia
  • Fans of political gossip and conspiracies
  • Citizens concerned about how politicians and businessmen weaponize their power

54
The Autobiography Of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Autobiography Of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King
King's journey to becoming the leading figure in the American civil rights movement
4.7 (56 ratings)

What's The Autobiography Of Martin Luther King, Jr. about?

The Autobiography Of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1998) is a firsthand account of the life and work of one of the most important figures in recent American history: Martin Luther King Jr. Assembled from his writings, letters, interviews, and speeches, this autobiography tells of King’s journey from Christian minister in the segregated South to leading figure of the civil rights movement. 

Who should read The Autobiography Of Martin Luther King, Jr.?

  • History and political buffs
  • Citizens concerned with issues of racial, social, and economic justice
  • Anyone looking to educate themselves on Black American history

55
A Very Stable Genius

A Very Stable Genius

Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig
Donald J. Trump's Testing of America
3.6 (100 ratings)

What's A Very Stable Genius about?

A Very Stable Genius (2020) is the definitive account of Donald Trump’s time in the White House. After three years of silence, dozens of public officials and other first-hand witnesses familiar with the workings of the Trump administration went on record with reporters Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker. Their testimony forms the backbone of these blinks, which reveal the forty-fifth president of the United States up close. 

Who should read A Very Stable Genius?

  • Politics buffs 
  • News junkies looking for the bigger picture 
  • Journalists and reporters

56
I Alone Can Fix It

I Alone Can Fix It

Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker
Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year
3.8 (88 ratings)

What's I Alone Can Fix It about?

I Alone Can Fix It (2021) is the definitive behind-the-scenes account of Donald Trump’s final 12 months in the White House. Drawing on in-depth interviews with participants in the drama, it charts how a president who was on course for reelection ended up presiding over a doomed and bloody attempt to cling on to power. Along the way, it reveals the thinking behind Trump’s dysfunctional responses to the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. 

Who should read I Alone Can Fix It?

  • Politics buffs
  • Current affairs junkies
  • Americanophiles

57
What Happened

What Happened

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Learn what went wrong with Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign
3.6 (34 ratings)

What's What Happened about?

What Happened (2017) is the story of the woman at the center of one of the craziest elections the United States has ever seen: the 2016 presidential election. This is Hillary Rodham Clinton’s account of her experience facing, and eventually losing to, Donald Trump – an opponent like no other – and the road that led her to this historic election.  

Who should read What Happened?

  • US voters
  • Activists and advocates
  • Women seeking inspiration

58
Fire and Fury

Fire and Fury

Michael Wolff
Inside the Trump White House
4.1 (58 ratings)

What's Fire and Fury about?

Fire and Fury (2018) gives a fly-on-the-wall account of the Trump administration’s early days. With his insider access to the West Wing and over two hundred conversations with senior staff under his belt, Michael Wolff paints a fascinating portrait of an administration he claims is wholly unprepared to govern.

Who should read Fire and Fury?

  • Readers who want a behind-the-scenes peek into the White House
  • US citizens concerned about how fit Donald Trump is for the job
  • News junkies looking for more insight into the Trump presidency

59
Profiles in Corruption

Profiles in Corruption

Peter Schweizer
Abuse of Power by America’s Progressive Elite
3.3 (65 ratings)

What's Profiles in Corruption about?

Profiles in Corruption (2020) challenges us to question and confront the moral integrity of the politicians at the forefront of the modern progressive movement in America. Derived from a range of sources, from financial reports to corporate documentation, eight profiles of the biggest names in left-wing politics tell us a harrowing story of illicit exchanges, cover-ups, and double-crosses.

Who should read Profiles in Corruption?

  • Americans concerned about the integrity of Democratic politicians
  • Truth-seekers who want to know what goes on behind Washington’s closed doors
  • Fans of political intrigue

60
Blood Feud

Blood Feud

Edward Klein
The Clintons vs. the Obamas
3.4 (28 ratings)

What's Blood Feud about?

Blood Feud (2014) tells the story of how two of the most influential families in the United States, the Obamas and the Clintons, came to despise one another, and how this mutual hatred has led to a long and cruel history of manipulation, back-stabbing and broken trust.

Who should read Blood Feud?

  • Gossip aficionados who love wild rumours about America’s Beltway
  • Anyone interested in American politics
  • Fans of Machiavelli’s The Prince

61
On the House

On the House

John Boehner
A Washington Memoir
4.3 (14 ratings)

What's On the House about?

On the House (2021) is the memoir of a political maverick and one of the Republican party’s most outspoken representatives. Tracing his life from a Democrat-voting, blue-collar household in Cincinnati through to his crusading career on Capitol Hill, John Boehner tells us how Washington really works and dishes the dirt on enemies and allies alike.

Who should read On the House?

  • Politics buffs
  • Liberals interested in the other side of the story
  • Old-school conservatives

62
Siege

Siege

Michael Wolff
Trump Under Fire
4.3 (36 ratings)

What's Siege about?

Siege (2019) gives a detailed account of Donald Trump’s presidency between 2017 and early 2019, portraying a White House that always seems to be on the brink of collapse. In a blow-by-blow description of the seismic events of Trump’s second and third years in office, Michael Wolff evokes an administration under siege.

Who should read Siege?

  • Readers who are morbidly fascinated by the Trump presidency
  • Fans of gripping political narratives
  • US citizens wondering whether their president will see through a full term in office

63
Where Law Ends

Where Law Ends

Andrew Weissmann
Inside the Mueller Investigation
4.3 (32 ratings)

What's Where Law Ends about?

Where Law Ends (2020) offers a behind-the-scenes look at the special counsel investigation that resulted in the controversial Mueller Report. It takes you step-by-step through the 22-month process of interviews and evidence gathering that resulted in unprecedented findings that raise serious questions about America’s democratic institutions.

Who should read Where Law Ends?

  • American voters worried about election interference
  • People curious about the limits of executive power
  • Fans of gripping legal investigations

64
The Big Lie

The Big Lie

Dinesh D’Souza
Exposing the Nazi Roots of the American Left
3.1 (135 ratings)

What's The Big Lie about?

The Big Lie (2017) is a right-wing account of current American political events. Author Dinesh D’Souza thinks that attacks against Trump from the Left are unfair. The progressive Left claim that Trump is a racist and a fascist, and have likened him to a Nazi, but this book radically upends these accusations. For D’Souza, the American Left is recycling one big lie. It’s the Democrats who are the real Nazis, the true fascists and racists.

Who should read The Big Lie?

  • Conservatives, Republicans, Trump-supporters, right-wing voters
  • Historians and political scientists
  • Progressive and liberal voters who want to understand populist arguments

65
No Is Not Enough

No Is Not Enough

Naomi Klein
Resisting the New Shock Politics and Winning the World We Need
3.3 (25 ratings)

What's No Is Not Enough about?

No Is Not Enough (2017) offers a critical account of Trump’s first months in the Oval Office, reflecting on how he got there and what we should expect from him. At the heart of this account is not only an unmasking of Trump’s routine shock tactics, but also advice on how we can resist and forge a better tomorrow.

Who should read No Is Not Enough?

  • Readers trying to make sense of Trump’s presidency
  • Americans outraged by the policies of the Trump administration
  • Activists willing to resist the corporate takeover of politics

66
The Man I Knew

The Man I Knew

Jean Becker
The Amazing Story of George H. W. Bush's Post-Presidency
4.4 (20 ratings)

What's The Man I Knew about?

The Man I Knew (2021) is the simultaneously heartwarming, tear-jerking, and surprising story of George H. W. Bush’s life after the White House. Many people are aware of President Bush’s accomplishments as a politician – shepherding the US through the end of the Cold War, successfully navigating the Gulf War, and signing the Americans With Disabilities Act into law, to name but a few. But this isn’t the story of George Bush the politician –⁠ it’s the story of George Bush the husband, friend, and father.

Who should read The Man I Knew?

  • Fans of the Bush family and other prominent Republicans
  • Democrats who want to get to know someone on the other side of the aisle
  • Memoir-lovers

67
It Was All a Lie

It Was All a Lie

Stuart Stevens
How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump
4.1 (92 ratings)

What's It Was All a Lie about?

It Was All A Lie (2020) is former Republican political consultant Stuart Stevens’ take on how Republican leaders, desperate for power, have mortgaged their purported values to support Donald Trump.

Who should read It Was All a Lie?

  • Americans disappointed by the Trump presidency
  • Lovers of well-crafted snark
  • Political junkies

68
Dear Madam President

Dear Madam President

Jennifer Palmieri
An Open Letter to the Women Who Will Run the World
3.6 (13 ratings)

What's Dear Madam President about?

Dear Madam President (2018) explores the factors that led to Hillary Clinton’s defeat in the 2016 US presidential election. The blinks give an insider’s perspective on the discrimination and controversies Clinton faced in her fight to become America’s first female president.

Who should read Dear Madam President?

  • Followers of American politics
  • Women seeking greater access to leadership positions
  • Those interested in learning more about Hillary Clinton

69
The Reckoning

The Reckoning

Mary L. Trump
Our Nation's Trauma and Finding a Way to Heal
3.2 (208 ratings)

What's The Reckoning about?

The Reckoning (2021) is an unflinching look at contemporary American society. This sharp treatise draws informative connections between the nation’s traumas and its current issues.

Who should read The Reckoning?

  • Voters struggling to understand the contemporary political landscape
  • Citizens concerned about the future of their country
  • Anyone interested in a critical analysis of American society

70
The Truths We Hold

The Truths We Hold

Kamala Harris
An American Journey
4.1 (43 ratings)

What's The Truths We Hold about?

The Truths We Hold (2019) is an intimate self-portrait of one of the rising forces in contemporary American political life: Californian Senator and civil rights activist Kamala Harris. Combining the personal with the political, Harris sheds light on her early years as the daughter of immigrants, her legal career in the Golden State and the causes she has championed as an elected representative in Trump’s America.

Who should read The Truths We Hold?

  • Politics and history buffs
  • Anyone interested in the life and views of a potential presidential candidate
  • Legal professionals and civil rights activists

71
American Carnage

American Carnage

Tim Alberta
On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump
3.9 (72 ratings)

What's American Carnage about?

American Carnage (2019) details the ideological battle at the heart of the Republican Party over the last decade. From George Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” to the Tea Party’s right-wing fervor, Tim Alberta covers the ideological metamorphosis that led to Donald Trump’s presidency.

Who should read American Carnage?

  • Anyone with an interest in American politics 
  • Budding Washington hacks
  • Those anxious about the rise of the far right

72
American Crisis

American Crisis

Andrew M. Cuomo
Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic
3.6 (22 ratings)

What's American Crisis about?

American Crisis (2020) is a candid retelling of how Governor Andrew Cuomo managed the COVID-19 crisis in one of the worst affected states in America: New York. It reveals the steps Cuomo took to steer New York through the early days of the pandemic in a country run by a president Cuomo sees as incapable of leadership. It also shows how real leadership requires honesty and transparency, clear communication, and compassion for others.

Who should read American Crisis?

  • Anyone interested in American politics 
  • Leaders of organizations who want to learn about crisis management
  • Those curious about how New York has fared throughout the crisis

73
Mandela’s Way

Mandela’s Way

Richard Stengel
Lessons on Life
4.5 (20 ratings)

What's Mandela’s Way about?

This book is about the inspiring personality traits of Nelson Mandela. It shows us how to develop a similar strength of character, so that, no matter what obstacles life throws in our path, we can overcome the challenges, forgive our oppressors, understand the complexity of human nature, fight for our core principles and thereby succeed in changing society for the better.

Who should read Mandela’s Way?

  • Anyone in a leadership position who wishes to learn about great leadership 
  • Anyone who wishes to learn how to face the trials of life
  • Anyone who wants to know how Nelson Mandela became one of the most inspirational figures of the twentieth century

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