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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

When a police officer of Republic, Washington learns of a new state ballot called Initiative 1639 regulating the ownership of firearms, he could see the Constitution on a slippery slope to its demise. Officer Loren Culp refused to stand by and see the hopes and dreams of the Founding Fathers diluted until the rights and liberties of American citizens were unrecognizable. A post on social media voicing his determination that no citizen would have their rights violated by law enforcement under his watch instantly drew much public support. Loren then contacted City Council and made an appearance on Fox News to continue his fight for justice. American Cop by Loren Culp outlines his arguments to preserve the 2nd Amendment and the God-given birthright of its people. Discover why the safety of American citizens is threatened by strict gun laws and why as a country you must fight to preserve the core foundation of the American Constitution, whether you are pro or anti-firearms. With historical references and quotes from some of the most pivotal people throughout American history, you will discover that to fight for rights you may not agree with is the basis of a free and democratic society.

The arguments put forward in this compelling book are not only powerful but very intelligent. I am not particularly pro-gun myself but Loren Culp provides some convincing statistics and information regarding the manipulation of society into believing one narrative. His breakdown of why fighting for democracy is vital even though you may not agree with some aspects of it was completely on point. The roles of lawmakers and the media in influencing public opinion to suit their own agendas were so pertinent. I found the section on the Democratic Revolution chilling because that kind of society could materialize. Loren's personal stories were beautifully written; he certainly has a great storytelling ability. I could not believe the absurdity of some of the rules regarding Initiative 1939, especially how a person could be responsible for a felon if their firearm was stolen and used to commit a crime. American Cop certainly highlights the frightening consequences of changing any of America's Constitution and hopefully, this book will help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the citizens of the United States.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Republican Party, Apostles Of Failure, Unfit To Govern is a work of non-fiction focused on government and politics in the United States, and was penned by author Richard J. Weisberg. With its specific focus put on the policy decisions involving economics, the volume tracks the prior ‘American System’ of commerce, which once had America very high on the list of economic world powers, compared to the newly-emerged Republican plans of the last half-century, in which a fantasy of low taxation for the wealthy has led the country into inequality, privatization, and turmoil. In his treatise on the issues, Weisberg attempts to model a future solution from the successes of the past.

Knowing very little about the history of American economics, I found this volume to be a thorough education on the topic, as well as an eye-opening read for the twists and turns that have led the USA into its current state under the presidency of Donald Trump. Author Richard J. Weisberg treats the subject matter fairly with no undue political bias, looking at clear financial facts and tracking the genuine decline of the American economy and market since the mid-1970s. The writing style is clear and concise, with plenty of additional information that helps to glean a full understanding of the subject matter at hand, and well-explained examples from recent and 19th-century history that make a convincing argument for Weisberg’s case. Overall, The Republican Party, Apostles Of Failure, Unfit To Govern is an insightful and thought-provoking read for all.