BookAwards.com
Award-Winning Books from Today's Best Authors
A Free Resource for Book Lovers, Authors, Agents, Publishers and Journalists
Recommend this book:
Why They Stay
Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives
Anne Michaud
2022 Finalist
281 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite
Have you ever wondered why the wives of cheating presidents and powerful politicians seldom walk away? Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives by Anne Michaud profiles the lives of eight powerful political couples through American and British history. Anne delved behind the curtains to shine a light on the private and public lives of political wives and why they tolerate the consistent infidelities of their husbands. As a veteran political journalist, Anne left no stone unturned through thorough research, bringing us the truth. She also reveals how the conduct of these couples spills into the next generation: their children. Did we know anything from what the media showed us? Why They Stay told me we know nothing. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this seasoned exposé!
Why They Stay by Anne Michaud was revealing, insightful, and arresting. This book felt like a mix of premium gossip tabloids and a journal. While the stories were fun, I was appalled by how much a woman would put up with for the sake of power, affluence, and fame. I always believed marriage to be sacred, but I watched these couples turn their marriages into transactional and contractual relationships. Someone had to gain something, and often, the woman was at a disadvantage. Where do wives draw the line between self-respect, healthy marriage life, and the quest for power and financial security? However, I developed a grudging respect for Jackie. Anne’s reportage is not isolated but a conduit that links women across races, exposing their private ordeals from the past to the present.
Have you ever wondered why the wives of cheating presidents and powerful politicians seldom walk away? Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives by Anne Michaud profiles the lives of eight powerful political couples through American and British history. Anne delved behind the curtains to shine a light on the private and public lives of political wives and why they tolerate the consistent infidelities of their husbands. As a veteran political journalist, Anne left no stone unturned through thorough research, bringing us the truth. She also reveals how the conduct of these couples spills into the next generation: their children. Did we know anything from what the media showed us? Why They Stay told me we know nothing. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this seasoned exposé!
Why They Stay by Anne Michaud was revealing, insightful, and arresting. This book felt like a mix of premium gossip tabloids and a journal. While the stories were fun, I was appalled by how much a woman would put up with for the sake of power, affluence, and fame. I always believed marriage to be sacred, but I watched these couples turn their marriages into transactional and contractual relationships. Someone had to gain something, and often, the woman was at a disadvantage. Where do wives draw the line between self-respect, healthy marriage life, and the quest for power and financial security? However, I developed a grudging respect for Jackie. Anne’s reportage is not isolated but a conduit that links women across races, exposing their private ordeals from the past to the present.
Recommend this book:
Macron Unveiled
The Prototype for a New Generation of World Leaders
Alain Lefebvre
2022 Honorable Mention
224 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
Reviewed by Frances Deborah Kerr-Phillips for Readers' Favorite
Macron Unveiled by Alain Lefebvre is an in-depth investigation into Emmanuel Macron, President of France, man, politician, and player on the international stage. In each chapter, Lefebvre explores a different aspect of Macron’s complex public persona in terms of how he has approached significant internal and external crises and events. Macron is shown to be a completely new political ‘prototype’ in that he has positioned himself as being in the middle of the political spectrum, independent of traditional left-wing and right-wing ideologies, being driven by what he believes is best for France. However, Lefebvre does not shy away from what he perceives as being flaws in Macron’s strategies. Macron Unveiled follows the French president's meteoric rise, his stumbling, and his regaining of equilibrium as the end of his first term approaches.
In reading Macron Unveiled, I hoped to improve my knowledge and understanding of France’s current political landscape. Lefebvre’s book, however, offers so much more: he couches his analysis of Macron within a deeper study of French political history, providing the reader with abundant context. In addition, Macron’s strategies and character are often compared to those of key political players around the globe, such as John F. Kennedy. His commentary is frequently substantiated by quotations from various print media publications, as well as from public figures, lending authenticity to his arguments. With the first round of the 2022 French presidential election less than a month away, the opportunity Macron Unveiled offers to gain insight into one of the key contenders is well worth seizing.
Macron Unveiled by Alain Lefebvre is an in-depth investigation into Emmanuel Macron, President of France, man, politician, and player on the international stage. In each chapter, Lefebvre explores a different aspect of Macron’s complex public persona in terms of how he has approached significant internal and external crises and events. Macron is shown to be a completely new political ‘prototype’ in that he has positioned himself as being in the middle of the political spectrum, independent of traditional left-wing and right-wing ideologies, being driven by what he believes is best for France. However, Lefebvre does not shy away from what he perceives as being flaws in Macron’s strategies. Macron Unveiled follows the French president's meteoric rise, his stumbling, and his regaining of equilibrium as the end of his first term approaches.
In reading Macron Unveiled, I hoped to improve my knowledge and understanding of France’s current political landscape. Lefebvre’s book, however, offers so much more: he couches his analysis of Macron within a deeper study of French political history, providing the reader with abundant context. In addition, Macron’s strategies and character are often compared to those of key political players around the globe, such as John F. Kennedy. His commentary is frequently substantiated by quotations from various print media publications, as well as from public figures, lending authenticity to his arguments. With the first round of the 2022 French presidential election less than a month away, the opportunity Macron Unveiled offers to gain insight into one of the key contenders is well worth seizing.
Recommend this book:
Stress Test
How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy
William Cooper
2022 Bronze Medal
184 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
Reviewed by Francis Mont for Readers' Favorite
Stress Test: How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy by William Cooper is a collection of previously published columns by the author. The theme is American Democracy, its current state of health, and the stresses it has undergone during and after the Trump presidency. The collection systematically analyzes the key preconditions of a healthy democratic system and points out the danger signs that we have all witnessed during the unprecedented period it’s dealing with. It starts with the 2019 impeachment proceeding; then continues with an analysis of the judiciary; then the role and condition of the press; it follows with a description of voter apathy, cognitive dissonance, and powerful bias permeating the citizenry. The criminal justice system’s dismal record is followed by a detailed analysis of the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol and Trump’s role in it. The 2020 election is covered in one column and then he dives into the thorny issue of what can we do in the “The Way Forward” column in which he points out the danger signs American democracy is facing now with Trump still looming large, casting a dark shadow on America’s future
I have very seldom read a collection as factually balanced as this one. In our age of extreme opinions, painting everything as wholly good or evil, it is so refreshing to read a rational analysis, in the best sense of the word. The author cautions us that rationality most and foremost has to consider the facts that are well documented and well understood. Once in possession of the facts, rational human beings have to use intelligent judgment to evaluate them and draw cautious conclusions, ready to modify them as and when new facts emerge or old ones are discarded. Scientists use the same method (The Scientific Method) to achieve great results in areas of science, medicine, and technology. Human beings, dealing with their own issues about their democratic institutions should do the same. The writing is clear, concise, thorough, and often passionate. William Cooper’s Stress Test should be required reading for all segments of the citizenry from politicians to educators to the press. Highly recommended.
Stress Test: How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy by William Cooper is a collection of previously published columns by the author. The theme is American Democracy, its current state of health, and the stresses it has undergone during and after the Trump presidency. The collection systematically analyzes the key preconditions of a healthy democratic system and points out the danger signs that we have all witnessed during the unprecedented period it’s dealing with. It starts with the 2019 impeachment proceeding; then continues with an analysis of the judiciary; then the role and condition of the press; it follows with a description of voter apathy, cognitive dissonance, and powerful bias permeating the citizenry. The criminal justice system’s dismal record is followed by a detailed analysis of the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol and Trump’s role in it. The 2020 election is covered in one column and then he dives into the thorny issue of what can we do in the “The Way Forward” column in which he points out the danger signs American democracy is facing now with Trump still looming large, casting a dark shadow on America’s future
I have very seldom read a collection as factually balanced as this one. In our age of extreme opinions, painting everything as wholly good or evil, it is so refreshing to read a rational analysis, in the best sense of the word. The author cautions us that rationality most and foremost has to consider the facts that are well documented and well understood. Once in possession of the facts, rational human beings have to use intelligent judgment to evaluate them and draw cautious conclusions, ready to modify them as and when new facts emerge or old ones are discarded. Scientists use the same method (The Scientific Method) to achieve great results in areas of science, medicine, and technology. Human beings, dealing with their own issues about their democratic institutions should do the same. The writing is clear, concise, thorough, and often passionate. William Cooper’s Stress Test should be required reading for all segments of the citizenry from politicians to educators to the press. Highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
The Intrepid Brotherhood
Public Power, Corruption, and Whistleblowing in the Pacific Northwest
Gordon Graham
2022 Silver Medal
216 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite
The Intrepid Brotherhood: Public Power, Corruption, and Whistleblowing in the Pacific Northwest by Gordon Graham is an account of the author's experiences leading up to his controversial filing of a whistle-blower petition with the Chelan County Public Utility District. Organized under state statute as a non-profit municipal corporation, the organization functions as a customer-owned public cooperative energy district. It provides electric, water, wastewater, public utility, and telecommunications services in Chelan County, in north-central Washington, USA. When Sonny Smart announced his retirement as General Manager in 1997 and a new manager was hired under questionable circumstances, an autocratic style of management became the norm. As director of its Information Technology Department, Gordon Graham tried to do his job under stressful circumstances but matters finally came to a head when he was unceremoniously fired. This is his story.
Gordon Graham’s The Intrepid Brotherhood exposes what went wrong at the Chelan County Public Utility District when an ambitious Chief Financial Officer set out to take over its management and succeeded, albeit temporarily. In eight interesting chapters, the author logically and objectively presents the way the organization was manipulated and mismanaged. The aftermath included overspending, irregular payments for work that wasn’t performed, inadequate implementation of a new system, and collusion in approving contracts to preferred vendors. In telling his story, the author provides not only the full picture behind his filing of the whistle-blower petition but also guidelines on how to manage a business or an organization through the use of best practices and ethical leadership. This book is a must-read for all managers and every member of the workforce. Highly recommended!
The Intrepid Brotherhood: Public Power, Corruption, and Whistleblowing in the Pacific Northwest by Gordon Graham is an account of the author's experiences leading up to his controversial filing of a whistle-blower petition with the Chelan County Public Utility District. Organized under state statute as a non-profit municipal corporation, the organization functions as a customer-owned public cooperative energy district. It provides electric, water, wastewater, public utility, and telecommunications services in Chelan County, in north-central Washington, USA. When Sonny Smart announced his retirement as General Manager in 1997 and a new manager was hired under questionable circumstances, an autocratic style of management became the norm. As director of its Information Technology Department, Gordon Graham tried to do his job under stressful circumstances but matters finally came to a head when he was unceremoniously fired. This is his story.
Gordon Graham’s The Intrepid Brotherhood exposes what went wrong at the Chelan County Public Utility District when an ambitious Chief Financial Officer set out to take over its management and succeeded, albeit temporarily. In eight interesting chapters, the author logically and objectively presents the way the organization was manipulated and mismanaged. The aftermath included overspending, irregular payments for work that wasn’t performed, inadequate implementation of a new system, and collusion in approving contracts to preferred vendors. In telling his story, the author provides not only the full picture behind his filing of the whistle-blower petition but also guidelines on how to manage a business or an organization through the use of best practices and ethical leadership. This book is a must-read for all managers and every member of the workforce. Highly recommended!
Recommend this book:
We The Presidents
How American Presidents Shaped the Last Century
Ronald Gruner
2022 Gold Medal
648 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Life hasn’t changed that much. Politics remains partisan and often volatile. But what of life? Ronald Gruner explores this theme in We The Presidents: How American Presidents Shaped the Last Century. We still have a world full of differing opinions on everything from climate change to soaring inflation, issues on equity and inclusion, wars and natural disasters, and the list goes on. Yet, when the politicians make their platform statements, it’s all empty promises with only the rhetoric of the party they represent shining through. Presidential biographies focus on these partisan issues: what the president accomplished and how he stood up for the beliefs of their respective political parties. If one were to look at the non-partisan side of presidential biographies, what would the story be like? Perhaps what we’d see, first-hand, is a repeat of the same issues, the same problems, everything that defines what America is now and what it was then. “It’s the intertwined threads of history, rippling upward to today, that have woven the intricate tableau that is America.” What truly makes each of these presidents, the way history defines them, is the people who supported them, voted them in, rallied for or against them – in other words, the real Americans who stood the test of time.
Ronald Gruner’s book, We The Presidents, is a fascinating study of modern American history and the politics that defined it. From Warren G. Harding to Donald Trump, the author has delved into the man behind the scenes, the man who represented the presidential office, and the often volatile issues that played out. The study follows the presidents sequentially, with each chapter beginning with a profound quote from the president being portrayed. From Harding’s, “America’s present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration,” to Trump’s proclamation, “Together, we will make America strong again,” the underlying theme is the resilience of the people and all for the good of the people. This is an engrossing look at both modern American history and American political history.
Life hasn’t changed that much. Politics remains partisan and often volatile. But what of life? Ronald Gruner explores this theme in We The Presidents: How American Presidents Shaped the Last Century. We still have a world full of differing opinions on everything from climate change to soaring inflation, issues on equity and inclusion, wars and natural disasters, and the list goes on. Yet, when the politicians make their platform statements, it’s all empty promises with only the rhetoric of the party they represent shining through. Presidential biographies focus on these partisan issues: what the president accomplished and how he stood up for the beliefs of their respective political parties. If one were to look at the non-partisan side of presidential biographies, what would the story be like? Perhaps what we’d see, first-hand, is a repeat of the same issues, the same problems, everything that defines what America is now and what it was then. “It’s the intertwined threads of history, rippling upward to today, that have woven the intricate tableau that is America.” What truly makes each of these presidents, the way history defines them, is the people who supported them, voted them in, rallied for or against them – in other words, the real Americans who stood the test of time.
Ronald Gruner’s book, We The Presidents, is a fascinating study of modern American history and the politics that defined it. From Warren G. Harding to Donald Trump, the author has delved into the man behind the scenes, the man who represented the presidential office, and the often volatile issues that played out. The study follows the presidents sequentially, with each chapter beginning with a profound quote from the president being portrayed. From Harding’s, “America’s present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration,” to Trump’s proclamation, “Together, we will make America strong again,” the underlying theme is the resilience of the people and all for the good of the people. This is an engrossing look at both modern American history and American political history.
Recommend this book:
Side Steps Terrorizing Sound Bites Part 2
Some things are black and white
Amy Jean
2021 Finalist
116 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Side Steps Terrorizing Sound Bites Part 2: Some Things are Black and White by Amy Jean, with illustrations by Eric Savage, is a non-fiction poetic memoir that follows Jean's first book and its shared title. Many of Jean's work correlates to her own life and experiences, with periodic extensions into more diverse pieces that grab on to the recessive nature of humanity and an almost predatory societal system. Scattered throughout the book and between Jean's poems are a collection of the author's own quotes and a series of sketched illustrations by Savage. While Jean's poetry is written in free verse, they do have a metered rhyme scheme of shared vowel and/or consonant sounds that vary by poem and subject matter. In all, twenty-three poems and an introductory piece make up the whole of the book's compilation. They are intended to be read in chronological order.
There is no question that Amy Jean is an extraordinarily talented poet. Side Steps Terrorizing Sound Bites Part 2 is intelligently written with creative, powerful messages. Jean's punchy delivery is applied throughout, and for me, it was the political work with wordplay that was the standout. For example, Social Distancing, a timely poem on being together while apart for the good of all—“A way to depart, from civil distress, and rework the country, using common sense...” As for the illustrations, while well-executed, they frequently distracted me from the poignancy of Jean's work. That said, many are quite beautiful and even included a reworking of the 15th century tapestry The Lady and the Unicorn. Poetry is as subjective an art form as any, but Jean is able to weave themes that most would find to be universally affecting and I can see the work being embraced by many.
Side Steps Terrorizing Sound Bites Part 2: Some Things are Black and White by Amy Jean, with illustrations by Eric Savage, is a non-fiction poetic memoir that follows Jean's first book and its shared title. Many of Jean's work correlates to her own life and experiences, with periodic extensions into more diverse pieces that grab on to the recessive nature of humanity and an almost predatory societal system. Scattered throughout the book and between Jean's poems are a collection of the author's own quotes and a series of sketched illustrations by Savage. While Jean's poetry is written in free verse, they do have a metered rhyme scheme of shared vowel and/or consonant sounds that vary by poem and subject matter. In all, twenty-three poems and an introductory piece make up the whole of the book's compilation. They are intended to be read in chronological order.
There is no question that Amy Jean is an extraordinarily talented poet. Side Steps Terrorizing Sound Bites Part 2 is intelligently written with creative, powerful messages. Jean's punchy delivery is applied throughout, and for me, it was the political work with wordplay that was the standout. For example, Social Distancing, a timely poem on being together while apart for the good of all—“A way to depart, from civil distress, and rework the country, using common sense...” As for the illustrations, while well-executed, they frequently distracted me from the poignancy of Jean's work. That said, many are quite beautiful and even included a reworking of the 15th century tapestry The Lady and the Unicorn. Poetry is as subjective an art form as any, but Jean is able to weave themes that most would find to be universally affecting and I can see the work being embraced by many.
Recommend this book:
The Ailing Nation
Lessons from the Bedside for America's Leaders
Nate Link, MD
2021 Honorable Mention
297 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
The Ailing Nation: Lessons from the Bedside for America's Leaders by Nate Link, MD makes a bold, startling, yet obvious claim: America is chronically sick and dying. This is an observation that the author doesn’t take lightly, for he demonstrates with historical facts the signs of a crippled economy, America’s weakened ability to influence and shape global events, and the collapse of democratic institutions. In this book, the author shares interesting and thought-provoking stories from patients with diverse backgrounds, unique situations and profiles. and draws lessons from these stories that can be applied to the national healing experience. This is a book by an experienced medical professional, providing tools that can be used to diagnose and systemically cure the chronic illness that plagues contemporary American society.
The Ailing Nation is practical and filled with common-sense solutions, and readers will enjoy how the author discusses the concepts of “just culture” and “evidence-based decision making” and how to use them in leadership to address the problems America faces today. In this book, readers understand what makes a great leader. Nate Link defines a systematic approach to resolving problems and illustrates why it is important to face the facts of the diagnosis, execute a plan, and respect the truth. The book explores the place of compassion, acceptance, and coalescence in the kind of leadership that is capable of restoring the nation’s health. But what is most important is how to set the pace for full recovery, complete healing, and prosperity.
The lessons are evident in the author’s work while treating different kinds of patients and readers will find powerful lessons in stories of patients like Juan riddled with AIDS, Gerry the accountant with memory problems, and Thomas. The Ailing Nation: Lessons from the Bedside for America's Leaders proposes a path to healing and recovery that should not only be read but studied and discussed. It is illuminating, packed with insights, and has the potential to transform America into something better.
The Ailing Nation: Lessons from the Bedside for America's Leaders by Nate Link, MD makes a bold, startling, yet obvious claim: America is chronically sick and dying. This is an observation that the author doesn’t take lightly, for he demonstrates with historical facts the signs of a crippled economy, America’s weakened ability to influence and shape global events, and the collapse of democratic institutions. In this book, the author shares interesting and thought-provoking stories from patients with diverse backgrounds, unique situations and profiles. and draws lessons from these stories that can be applied to the national healing experience. This is a book by an experienced medical professional, providing tools that can be used to diagnose and systemically cure the chronic illness that plagues contemporary American society.
The Ailing Nation is practical and filled with common-sense solutions, and readers will enjoy how the author discusses the concepts of “just culture” and “evidence-based decision making” and how to use them in leadership to address the problems America faces today. In this book, readers understand what makes a great leader. Nate Link defines a systematic approach to resolving problems and illustrates why it is important to face the facts of the diagnosis, execute a plan, and respect the truth. The book explores the place of compassion, acceptance, and coalescence in the kind of leadership that is capable of restoring the nation’s health. But what is most important is how to set the pace for full recovery, complete healing, and prosperity.
The lessons are evident in the author’s work while treating different kinds of patients and readers will find powerful lessons in stories of patients like Juan riddled with AIDS, Gerry the accountant with memory problems, and Thomas. The Ailing Nation: Lessons from the Bedside for America's Leaders proposes a path to healing and recovery that should not only be read but studied and discussed. It is illuminating, packed with insights, and has the potential to transform America into something better.
Recommend this book:
Words Whispered in Water
Why the Levees Broke in Hurricane Katrina
Sandy Rosenthal
2021 Bronze Medal
346 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
Reviewed by Francis Mont for Readers' Favorite
Words Whispered in Water: Why the Levees Broke in Hurricane Katrina by Sandy Rosenthal is a David vs. Goliath story or a more recent Erin Brockovich vs. Pacific Gas & Electric Company of California, except this time the scope is much larger than a biblical myth or the fight for justice against an unconscionable corporation. This book is a documentary about one housewife’s effort to unearth the truth about the real reason those levees failed, causing the deaths of 1,836 US citizens. With unbelievable energy and determination, Ms. Rosenthal launched and organized a grassroots movement (Levees.org) that took on the mighty United States Army Corps of Engineers, the main designers, and contractors of the failed New Orleans levees that collapsed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She started with help from her 15-year-old son who designed a website intending to place the blame squarely on the poor design by the Army Corps. The book is a testimony of the fourteen-year-long fight for the truth to come out – a story meticulously documented and cross-referenced with publicly available data.
I must say that reading Words Whispered in Water was a refreshing experience – reading an almost day-by-day account of a struggle that seemed hopeless at times. I found the style clear and easy to follow, the facts presented were enlightening. The information had been mostly unknown to me and is shockingly convincing about the book’s main theme: powerful players in the drama used every dirty trick to misdirect blame from themselves, even going to the length of blaming the victims. In the era of post-truth social media hysteria, I thoroughly enjoyed reading an objectively reported investigation into a tragedy that should never have happened. The courage of Sandy Rosenthal in her crusade to reveal the truth and disprove the unfair accusations against her beloved New Orleans should inspire all her readers to take a stand for decency when they are faced with the challenge.
Words Whispered in Water: Why the Levees Broke in Hurricane Katrina by Sandy Rosenthal is a David vs. Goliath story or a more recent Erin Brockovich vs. Pacific Gas & Electric Company of California, except this time the scope is much larger than a biblical myth or the fight for justice against an unconscionable corporation. This book is a documentary about one housewife’s effort to unearth the truth about the real reason those levees failed, causing the deaths of 1,836 US citizens. With unbelievable energy and determination, Ms. Rosenthal launched and organized a grassroots movement (Levees.org) that took on the mighty United States Army Corps of Engineers, the main designers, and contractors of the failed New Orleans levees that collapsed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She started with help from her 15-year-old son who designed a website intending to place the blame squarely on the poor design by the Army Corps. The book is a testimony of the fourteen-year-long fight for the truth to come out – a story meticulously documented and cross-referenced with publicly available data.
I must say that reading Words Whispered in Water was a refreshing experience – reading an almost day-by-day account of a struggle that seemed hopeless at times. I found the style clear and easy to follow, the facts presented were enlightening. The information had been mostly unknown to me and is shockingly convincing about the book’s main theme: powerful players in the drama used every dirty trick to misdirect blame from themselves, even going to the length of blaming the victims. In the era of post-truth social media hysteria, I thoroughly enjoyed reading an objectively reported investigation into a tragedy that should never have happened. The courage of Sandy Rosenthal in her crusade to reveal the truth and disprove the unfair accusations against her beloved New Orleans should inspire all her readers to take a stand for decency when they are faced with the challenge.
Recommend this book:
The Uninformed Voter
Robert Levine
2021 Silver Medal
386 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
The Uninformed Voter by Robert Levine is a non-fiction political philosophy and public opinion book that delivers the author's critical assessment on the governing of the United States of America and the voters who put them there. The book is broken down into twelve distinct and interlaced chapters, covering the fragility of democracy in 'the Great Experiment' that is America, its foundational principles and evolution—which resembles a regression over actual progress, corruption in politics that include sexual scandals and harassment alongside financial incentive and lobbyists. This transcends into the ways corruption impacts foreign governments, polarizing both historical and modern partisanship, red tape, bureaucracy, and inefficiency, among many other things.
The Uninformed Voter is an ambitious undertaking that Robert Levine tackles with intensive factual analysis and just enough panache to keep the whole book fascinating. This is not a light read, nor is it meant to be. It reads like an in-depth dissertation modified for public consumption and leaves little doubt that much of what Levine argues has merit. If any reader questions this, the fifty-plus pages of source material and references in the back matter should clear it up immediately. My interest in Levine's direction comes from being a dual UK and US citizen myself and watching one country implode with Brexit, and the other brought to its knees by a self-serving costermonger. Both were the result of short-sighted voters on pitchfork crusades, electing people who work against the best interests of all. I had to restrain a chuckle when the inability of most US citizens to pass the US citizenship test was mentioned in a blip, on account of having had to take it myself and my co-workers having a deer-in-the-headlights look when I quizzed them on it. Levine has a lot to say, and while not everyone will make their way into the fold, he's worth a listen and a read.
The Uninformed Voter by Robert Levine is a non-fiction political philosophy and public opinion book that delivers the author's critical assessment on the governing of the United States of America and the voters who put them there. The book is broken down into twelve distinct and interlaced chapters, covering the fragility of democracy in 'the Great Experiment' that is America, its foundational principles and evolution—which resembles a regression over actual progress, corruption in politics that include sexual scandals and harassment alongside financial incentive and lobbyists. This transcends into the ways corruption impacts foreign governments, polarizing both historical and modern partisanship, red tape, bureaucracy, and inefficiency, among many other things.
The Uninformed Voter is an ambitious undertaking that Robert Levine tackles with intensive factual analysis and just enough panache to keep the whole book fascinating. This is not a light read, nor is it meant to be. It reads like an in-depth dissertation modified for public consumption and leaves little doubt that much of what Levine argues has merit. If any reader questions this, the fifty-plus pages of source material and references in the back matter should clear it up immediately. My interest in Levine's direction comes from being a dual UK and US citizen myself and watching one country implode with Brexit, and the other brought to its knees by a self-serving costermonger. Both were the result of short-sighted voters on pitchfork crusades, electing people who work against the best interests of all. I had to restrain a chuckle when the inability of most US citizens to pass the US citizenship test was mentioned in a blip, on account of having had to take it myself and my co-workers having a deer-in-the-headlights look when I quizzed them on it. Levine has a lot to say, and while not everyone will make their way into the fold, he's worth a listen and a read.
Recommend this book:
Bellwether Blues
A Conservative Awakening of the Millennial Soul
Jonathan R Jakubowski
2021 Gold Medal
208 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Bellwether Blues: A Conservative Awakening of the Millennial Soul by Jonathan R Jakubowski is a spellbinding book that combines political and social commentary with personal stories to demonstrate how millennial voters, who have been out of reach to conservatives, are shifting their choices from the left to the right. The book presents seven stories of millennials — Tiffany Crain, Jenna Cline, Jose Mendez, Arron Lawrence, Douglas Simpson, Alfonso Mack, and Jeremy Harpel — and illustrates how they broke away from the cycle of hopelessness, skepticism, and despair when considering the state of American political affairs. While these characters are from different backgrounds and each is imbued with unique challenges, their stories are revealing of the questions that inhabit the minds of millennials.
Readers will not only understand why these seven millennials in Swing County America swung from Obama to Trump but will also decipher the salient values of faith, family, and freedom in the electoral context. Tiffany has experienced the pain of not seeing her unborn children, Arron is a replica of the hidden dreams and aspirations of young ones in black communities, and Jeremy has concerns and worries about attacks on individual freedom. Each of these characters has a stirring in the heart, a yearning that a democratic culture — even if it is more open to innovation than the conservative — has not successfully addressed. Each of the characters that readers encounter in this book is well-written and in sharing these stories, the author makes a challenge to conservatives, proposing a new strategy to winning over millennials. Bellwether Blues: A Conservative Awakening of the Millennial Soul is written in gorgeous prose, the voice is compelling and observant, and the entire work is filled with social and political commentaries that are both spot-on and mind-boggling. This author just succeeded to have me rethink what I thought I knew about American politics.
Bellwether Blues: A Conservative Awakening of the Millennial Soul by Jonathan R Jakubowski is a spellbinding book that combines political and social commentary with personal stories to demonstrate how millennial voters, who have been out of reach to conservatives, are shifting their choices from the left to the right. The book presents seven stories of millennials — Tiffany Crain, Jenna Cline, Jose Mendez, Arron Lawrence, Douglas Simpson, Alfonso Mack, and Jeremy Harpel — and illustrates how they broke away from the cycle of hopelessness, skepticism, and despair when considering the state of American political affairs. While these characters are from different backgrounds and each is imbued with unique challenges, their stories are revealing of the questions that inhabit the minds of millennials.
Readers will not only understand why these seven millennials in Swing County America swung from Obama to Trump but will also decipher the salient values of faith, family, and freedom in the electoral context. Tiffany has experienced the pain of not seeing her unborn children, Arron is a replica of the hidden dreams and aspirations of young ones in black communities, and Jeremy has concerns and worries about attacks on individual freedom. Each of these characters has a stirring in the heart, a yearning that a democratic culture — even if it is more open to innovation than the conservative — has not successfully addressed. Each of the characters that readers encounter in this book is well-written and in sharing these stories, the author makes a challenge to conservatives, proposing a new strategy to winning over millennials. Bellwether Blues: A Conservative Awakening of the Millennial Soul is written in gorgeous prose, the voice is compelling and observant, and the entire work is filled with social and political commentaries that are both spot-on and mind-boggling. This author just succeeded to have me rethink what I thought I knew about American politics.
Contact Author -
