Other books that might interest you

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  Liberalism and Its Discontents

  Francis Fukuyama

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  An audiobook about the challenges to liberalism from the right and the left by the bestselling author of The Origins of Political Order.Classical liberalism is in a state of crisis. Developed in the wake of Europe’s wars over religion and nationalism, liberalism is a system for governing diverse societies, which is grounded in fundamental principles of equality and the rule of law. It emphasizes the rights of individuals to pursue their own forms of happiness free from encroachment by government.It's no secret that liberalism didn't always live up to its own ideals. In America, many people were denied equality before the law. Who counted as full human beings worthy of universal rights was contested for centuries, and only recently has this circle expanded to include women, African Americans, LGBTQ+ people, and others. Conservatives complain that liberalism empties the common life of meaning. As the renowned political philosopher Francis Fukuyama shows in Liberalism and Its Discontents, the principles of liberalism have also, in recent decades, been pushed to new extremes by both the right and the left: neoliberals made a cult of economic freedom, and progressives focused on identity over human universality as central to their political vision. The result, Fukuyama argues, has been a fracturing of our civil society and an increasing peril to our democracy.In this clear account of our current political discontents, Fukuyama offers an essential defense of a revitalized liberalism for the twenty-first century.A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

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  Republicanism Explained - The...

  Arlo Holders

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  Republicanism is a political ideology that emphasizes the importance of a government where power rests in the hands of elected representatives, rather than a monarch or dictator. The essence of republicanism lies in the commitment to a system that prioritizes liberty, the rule of law, and the well-being of the public. Republicanism has roots in the ancient political thought of Greece and Rome, particularly through the Roman Republic, which provided the foundational ideas of civic participation and the limitation of power. It was in the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods that these principles were revived and further refined, giving rise to modern republicanism as we know it today. 
  The core tenet of republicanism is that government should be based on consent of the governed. Unlike monarchies, where power is inherited or imposed, republicanism promotes a system in which rulers are elected by the people to serve their interests. This concept of popular sovereignty—government’s authority coming from the consent of the people—distinguishes republicanism from both monarchy and democracy. In republican systems, rulers are expected to act in the best interest of society, balancing the needs of the individual with those of the community, while also safeguarding the common good. 
  A key feature of republicanism is its emphasis on the separation of powers. Drawing from Montesquieu’s influence, republican thought advocates for dividing government authority into branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—in order to prevent any one entity from becoming too powerful. This system of checks and balances ensures that power is distributed and that no single branch or individual can dominate or misuse their authority. This is vital to maintaining the liberty of individuals within a republican system.

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  Sanctify Them in Truth - How the...

  Fr. Jeffrey Kirby S.T.D.

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  We live in a world that has become secularized, marked by ideology and partisanship. In such a world, how are we supposed to know what is right and wrong? As Christians, how are we supposed to approach the social issues of our day? With conflicting voices surrounding us, how can we hear and know the voice of Jesus Christ and receive His teachings? 
  As Christians, we seek to live the way of the Lord Jesus, but that’s easier said than done. We want to demonstrate the Lord’s love and kindness to all men and women, but we’re faced with issues that cause us to discern what that looks like and how it’s virtuously expressed. We want to do what is right and good, but trying to determine right and wrong can at times be confusing and unsettling. 
  The teaching authority of the Church is here to help. Appointed by Jesus Christ, our shepherds discern, interpret, and apply His teachings to our everyday lives. 
  The Church’s Social Doctrine, by Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, is an approachable, easy-to-read guide on eight of our most pressing social issues. The book applies divine wisdom and the guidance of the Church as it dissects oft-debated topics, presenting helpful teaching so that the reader knows how to navigate today’s contentious world with conviction and a clear conscience. 
  The book answers: 
  • Why is abortion above all other social issues in importance? 
  • Can immigration be both moral and limited? 
  • What is the Christian responsibility to the environment? 
  • How are we called to approach the LGBTQ+ movement? 
  • Is healthcare a human right? 
  • When can artificial nutrition and hydration be suspended for a dying relative? 
  • Is the Critical Race Theory within the bounds of justice? 
  • Why can’t women be ordained priests?

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  The Southernization of America -...

  Frye Gaillard, Cynthia Tucker

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  Pulitzer Prize-winner Cynthia Tucker and award-winning author Frye Gaillard reflect on the role of the South in America's long descent into Trumpism. In 1974, Southern author John Egerton published his seminal work, The Americanization of Dixie, reflecting on the double-edged reality of the South becoming more like the rest of the country and vice versa. Tucker and Gaillard dive deeper into that reality from the time that Egerton published his book until the present. They explore the "birtherism" of Donald Trump and the roots of the racial backlash against President Obama; the specter of family separation on our southern border, with its echoes of similar separations in the era of slavery; as well as the rise of the Christian right, demonstrations in Charlottesville, the death of George Floyd, and the attack on the capital—all of which, they argue, have roots that trace their way to the South. But Tucker and Gaillard see another side too, a legacy rooted in the civil rights years that has given us political leaders like John Lewis, Jimmy Carter, Raphael Warnock, and Stacy Abrams. The authors raise the ironic possibility that the South might lead the way on the path to redemption. They bring a multi-racial perspective and years of political reporting to bear on a critical moment in American history, a time of racial reckoning and of democracy under siege.

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  Corporations Are Not People -...

  Jeffrey D. Clements, Bill Myers

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  A revised and updated edition of the definitive guide to overturning Citizens United. 
   
   
    
  Since the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling that the rights of things—money and corporations—matter more than the rights of people, America has faced a crisis of democracy. In this timely and thoroughly updated second edition, Jeff Clements describes the strange history of this bizarre ruling, its ongoing destructive effects, and the growing movement to reverse it. 
   
    
    
  He includes a new chapter, "Do Something!," showing how—state by state and community by community—Americans are using creative strategies and tools to renew democracy and curb unbalanced corporate power. Since the first edition, sixteen states, one-hundred-sixty members of Congress, and five hundred cities and towns have called for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, and the list is growing. This is a fight we can win! 
   
   
    
  "More relevant than ever, this updated edition of Corporations Are Not People chronicles the remarkably vibrant, nationwide grassroots movement to 'get money out and voters in.' " —Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor and Publisher, The Nation

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  White Torture - Interviews with...

  Narges Mohammadi, Amir...

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  Written by the winner of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize 
   
  Female prisoners of conscience and activists speak out against torture in Iranian prisons 
   
  With a foreword by Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize winner 
   
  Extended solitary confinement has been condemned as a severe violation of human rights. Yet it is still widely used in Iranian prisons. In White Torture, thirteen women, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, share their experiences of imprisonment: harassment and beatings by guards, total blindfolding and denial of medical treatment. Angry interrogators threaten their families and lie about their whereabouts. One prisoner is even told she is dead. 
   
  None of the women have committed crimes – they are prisoners of conscience or held hostage as bargaining chips. Through psychological torture, the Iranian state hopes to remake their souls. These interviews, carried out while each woman was in prison or facing charges, are astounding documents of resistance and integrity. White Torture unveils the rot at the heart of the Iranian legal system and calls on us to act for change.

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