“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”
Ah, the US of A. As the world’s dominant military, economic, and cultural superpower, politics in the US have a huge influence on global affairs. US politics can also be some of the most controversial, absurd, and outlandish, capable of leaving even the most clued-up commentators scratching their heads and the rest of us completely lost. So, with election fever already starting to grip the nation, we thought we would explore everything from the Electoral College to the White House with the best books on American politics here at What We Reading!
A People’s History Of The United States – Howard Zinn
The first work on our list of the best books on US politics comes from Howard Zinn in A People’s History of the United States. Rather than the traditional sweep-throughs, Zinn’s acclaimed 1980 book presents America through the lens of the exploitation and manipulation of rigged systems that favour a small group of elites from orthodox political positions.
Labelled ‘brilliant and moving’ by Library Journal, A People’s History of the United States has become one of the go-to resources for students and readers looking to further their understanding of the history and politics behind the country. A profound piece of historical work, Zinn focuses on the American people, presenting a perspective that had largely been ignored before.
The World As It Is: Inside The Obama White House – Ben Rhodes
Between 2009 and 2017, Ben Rhodes served as deputy national security advisor to President Barack Obama. His chief responsibilities included overseeing the administration’s speeches, public engagement, global engagement programming, and national security communications. In short, he remains one of the most experienced and qualified voices on how the inner machinations of US politics work.
His 2018 book, The World As It Is, is a vivid portrayal of what life was like in the middle of the Obama presidency. From starting every morning with Obama in the Daily Briefing, securing nuclear deals with Iran, waiting out the Bin Laden raid in the Situation Room to confronting the populist wave of Donald Trump’s election, Rhodes lifts the lid on life at the top of the political tree, mapping his rise from speechwriter, policymaker to one of the President’s closest aides.
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The Color Of Law: A Forgotten History Of How Our Government Segregated America – Richard Rothstein
Renowned expert on housing policy Richard Rothstein debunks the myth that American segregation came about from individual preferences or the actions of institutions such as banks but was rather a de jure policy made by local, state, and federal governments in his groundbreaking history of contemporary American cities, The Color of Law.
A curation of meticulous research and extraordinary revelations, Rothstein begins mapping the history of the American metropolis as far back as the 1920s, showing how the first acts of segregation came about through explicit racial zoning. He continues to run through history into the flawed urban planning of America’s cities, resulting in one of the most important examinations into the legacies of these eras and how they continue to impact racial tensions across US politics to this day.
Why We’re Polarized – Ezra Klein
Political journalist Ezra Klein scours over fifty years of American history and attempts to explain how the shock victory of Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Election wasn’t as surprising as most view it as. Instead, Why We’re Polarized exposes how partisan ideologies have taken a grip on American politics and completely altered how people view one another.
Klein’s 2020 book is neither a polemic nor a lament but a clear and accessible guide to understanding everything from Trump’s ascent to the Democrats’ shift to the left. It is one of the most comprehensive books on US politics for redefining how readers look at their elected representatives and themselves.
The Selling Of The President: The Classical Account Of The Packaging Of A Candidate – Joe McGinniss
What determines your vote in an election? A good campaign or the candidate behind it? First published back in 1969, Joe McGinniss’ classic work, The Selling of the President, was the first exploration of image taking precedence over substance and stands as a timely commentary today on the state of US politics.
The Selling of the President documents the election of 1968, where Richard Nixon contested for the highest position of power in the world. McGinniss lifts the lid on the key individuals behind the candidate who engineered one of the most defining campaigns that would forever shape the country’s political landscape. From Frank Shakespeare’s experience at CBS to Harry Treleaven’s assumption that voters were bored by policies, the landscape for contemporary American politics was forged during this pivotal race and its players.
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What You Should Know About Politics…But Don’t: A Nonpartisan Guide To The Issues – Jessamyn Conrad
Initially released in 2008, Jessamyn Conrad’s What You Should Know About Politics takes aim at the sound bites and misinformation that so often cloud politics and guides readers through all the key issues and information they need to know.
Whether it’s the economy, healthcare, or climate change, Conrad’s book on US politics bridges the volatile bipartisan divide. It presents all of these key issues in an accessible and informative manner. For a comprehensive guidebook on the topics that are always talked about in the lead-up to election day, What You Should Know About Politics is essential reading.
I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening): A Guide To Grace-Filled Political Conversations – Sarah Stewart Holland And Beth Silvers
In I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening), authors Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, two working moms from opposite ends of the political spectrum navigate the toxic landscape of conflict and anger and teach readers how to have healthier, more constructive discourse.
One of the best US politics books for understanding how politics has become more polarized and divisive, this 2019 book condenses all of the insights, principles, and practical tools the moms have cultivated on their podcast Pantsuit Politics. The result is a fascinating and healthy demonstration of how to put understanding before argument and relationship before agenda, traits invaluable in today’s world.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
