Summaries of books about Politics & Social Sciences:
Unhinged
An Insider's Account of the Trump White House
Omarosa Manigault Newman
The book is a tell-all memoir detailing the author's time working in the Trump administration, where she presents an unflattering portrayal of President Donald Trump and the chaotic nature of the White House. It includes allegations of racism, incompetence, and corruption, as well as personal anecdotes and insider observations from her tenure as a political aide.
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Rigged
How the Media, Big Tech, and the Democrats Seized Our Elections
Mollie Ziegler Hemingway
The book presents an argument that the 2020 United States presidential election was influenced by a combination of media bias, censorship by technology companies, and actions by the Democratic Party. It suggests that these factors collectively shaped the electoral outcome by controlling the flow of information and swaying public opinion.
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This Changes Everything
Capitalism vs. The Climate
Naomi Klein
The book argues that the climate crisis cannot be addressed without fundamentally altering the current capitalist economic system, which prioritizes profit and growth over environmental sustainability. It critiques corporate greed, complicit governments, and ineffective market solutions, while advocating for a transformative shift towards more equitable, sustainable societies and economies.
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Nickel and Dimed
On (Not) Getting By in America
Barbara Ehrenreich
The book chronicles the author's undercover investigation into the lives of low-wage workers in America, where she takes on various minimum wage jobs to experience and expose the struggles of poverty, job insecurity, and the inadequacy of social safety nets firsthand. Through her journey, she reveals the harsh realities of trying to survive on meager earnings in a society structured around economic inequality.
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It Was All a Lie
How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump
Stuart Stevens
The book provides a critical examination of the transformation of the Republican Party, arguing that its embrace of Donald Trump's ideology was not an aberration but a culmination of long-standing attitudes and tactics. It delves into the party's history of exploiting racial tensions, its shift towards authoritarianism, and the abandonment of its professed conservative principles.
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Bad Feminist
Essays
Roxane Gay
The collection presents a series of essays that explore the complexities of being a feminist in today's world, tackling topics such as race, gender, sexuality, and pop culture through a personal and critical lens. The author reflects on her own experiences and societal expectations, challenging the notion of a perfect feminist and advocating for a more inclusive and understanding approach to feminism.
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Gender Queer
A Memoir
Maia Kobabe
The book is a graphic memoir that explores the author's journey with gender identity and sexuality, detailing experiences of coming out as nonbinary and asexual. It uses personal anecdotes and illustrations to discuss themes of identity, self-acceptance, and the challenges of societal norms and expectations.
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She Said
Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement
Jodi Kantor|Megan Twohey
The book chronicles the investigative journalism journey of two New York Times reporters as they uncover numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Their reporting not only exposes Weinstein's misconduct but also sparks the global #MeToo movement, encouraging women to speak out against sexual abuse.
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The Deficit Myth
Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People's Economy
Stephanie Kelton
The book challenges conventional views on government finance, arguing that a sovereign currency issuer like the U.S. can't run out of money and that deficits can be a tool for achieving full employment and social goals. It introduces Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) as a framework for understanding how currency works and how fiscal policy can be used to address inequality and economic instability without causing inflation.
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All Boys Aren't Blue
A Memoir-Manifesto
George M. Johnson
The book is a personal account that explores the author's experiences growing up as a queer Black man, addressing topics like identity, sexuality, and family. It combines elements of memoir with social commentary, offering both personal anecdotes and broader reflections on race, gender, and LGBTQ+ issues.
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