Other books that might interest you

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  Day of Reckoning - How the Far...

  Mike Wendling

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  The United States has become an almost unrecognizable country—with millions in thrall to conspiracy theories, toxic populism, and the far right edging closer to total power—a dire threat to civil society and democratic institutions. While the MAGA movement was in remission due to Donald Trump's defeat in 2020, the fascist fringes have not just survived but have continued to thrive and burrow into the mainstream. The January 6th Capitol Riot prosecutions have done little to curb their enthusiasm for mayhem. 
   
   
   
  Trump's base in the Republican Party is committed to their candidate like never before. The institutionalization of racist voter suppression and the outdated logic behind the Electoral College means he could take back the White House. Apocalyptic messaging ensures the alt-right, anti-government, anti-LGBT, and white nationalist groups see the next election as a life-or-death struggle and are uniting to back the one person they can all agree on—guaranteeing another chaotic election. 
   
   
   
  In this chilling exposé, Wendling encounters Capital rioters, Covid deniers, QAnon supporters, and Proud Boys and uncovers the roots of a movement that threatens to shatter the foundations of democracy.

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  On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

  Henry David Thoreau

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  Dive into Henry David Thoreau's profound essay On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, where he argues passionately for the right of the individual to oppose governmental injustice. Originally penned in 1849, Thoreau's insights remain as vital and relevant today, influencing civil rights leaders from Mahatma Gandhi to Martin Luther King Jr. 
  Thoreau challenges listeners to act according to conscience rather than blindly follow laws, particularly those that uphold unjust systems. His compelling narrative not only examines the conflicts between individual ethics and state demands but also promotes nonviolent resistance as a powerful tool for social change. 
  Perfect for those interested in philosophy, politics, and human rights, Thoreau's essay is a timeless call to place morality above conformity. Revisit this classic to inspire your personal or community advocacy efforts in the pursuit of justice and equality. Embrace Thoreau’s vision where individual integrity shapes and challenges the societal status quo. 
  This audiobook was narrated and produced by RAM Studios, where humans and artificial intelligence collaborate to create an excellent listening experience. (The reading is done primarily by AI)

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  An Enemy of the Crown - The...

  David Burke

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  In the early 1970s, Sir Maurice Oldfield of the British Secret Service, MI6, embarked upon a decade-long campaign to derail the political career of Charles Haughey. The English spymaster believed Haughey was a Provisional IRA godfather, therefore, a threat to Britain. Oldfield was assisted by unscrupulous British agents and by a shadowy group of conspirators inside the Irish state's security apparatus, all sharing his distrust of Haughey. Escaping scrutiny for their actions until now, Enemy of the Crown examines more than a dozen instances of their activities.
  Oldfield was conspiratorial by nature and lacked a moral compass. Involved in regime change plots and torture in the Middle East, in the Republic of Ireland he engaged with convicted criminals as agent provocateurs as well as the exploitation of pedophile rings in Northern Ireland. He and his spies engaged in dirty tricks as they ran vicious smear campaigns in Ireland, Britain and the US. MI6 and IRD intrigues were deployed to impede Haughey's bid to secure a position on Fianna Fáil's front bench and any return to respectability.
  London's hateful drive against Haughey saw no let-up after Fianna Fáil's triumphal return to power in 1977 which saw them win a large majority of seats in the Dáil. When Haughey sought a place at Cabinet, Oldfield and his spies devised more dirty tricks to impede him. While Haughey was suspicious of MI6 interference, he had no inkling of the full extent of London's clandestine efforts to destroy him. By circulating lurid stories about him, they played a major part in trying to prevent him succeed Jack Lynch as Taoiseach in 1979. This book attempts to shed light on some of the anti-Haughey conspiracies which took place during the period of the late 1960s right through to the early 1980s.

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  The Hong Kong Protests - The...

  Fredrich Hazelton

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  Hong Kong, a former British colony handed back to China in 1997, has long been a symbol of political and economic success. Its unique status under the "One Country, Two Systems" framework promised a high degree of autonomy, preserving its freedoms and capitalist economy for 50 years after the handover. However, in recent years, this promise has been put to the test, as Beijing's increasing influence over the region has sparked widespread protests and growing unrest. These protests, driven by a desire to protect Hong Kong’s democracy and autonomy, have become a focal point for global discussions about civil liberties, governance, and the future of one of Asia’s most vibrant cities. 
  The roots of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movements can be traced back to the 1997 handover and the promises of autonomy that accompanied it. Despite these promises, many in Hong Kong have felt that their political freedoms and rights are being steadily eroded. In response, various pro-democracy movements have emerged over the years, with the youth of the city playing a significant role in these campaigns. Their efforts have challenged not only local authorities but also the central government in Beijing, which has worked to tighten its control over the city in ways that many see as incompatible with Hong Kong’s unique status. 
  The most significant of these movements has been the series of protests that have swept across Hong Kong in the past decade. The 2014 Umbrella Movement, a response to proposed electoral reforms, marked a pivotal moment in Hong Kong’s struggle for democracy. It demonstrated the growing dissatisfaction with Beijing's influence and the increasing willingness of Hong Kong citizens to take to the streets in protest. Yet, it was the 2019 Anti-Extradition Bill protests that would bring the issue of Hong Kong's autonomy to the world stage.

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  Embracing Autonomy - Latin...

  Gregory Weeks

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  Gregory Weeks's Embracing Autonomy departs from other general treatments of Latin American-US relations not by putting US policy aside but by bringing in the Latin American and global contexts more closely and thus avoiding the incomplete picture provided by a narrow focus solely on the policies of the United States. 
   
   
   
  The core of autonomy for Latin America from the United States is seen in new, deeper, and more numerous relationships that do not include the United States. The book is not a study of rebellion against the United States, or even a critique of US policy. Instead, it is an examination of the major shifts that have taken place in the region in recent decades and how they have shaped Latin American-US relations. 
   
   
   
  Weeks's book provides a clearer understanding of where Latin America stands vis-à-vis the United States in the early twenty-first century. In doing so, we gain a better sense of the trajectory of Latin American-US relations and how they develop in turbulent times.

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  Thomas Paine: Common Sense -...

  Thomas Paine

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  Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775–76 that inspired people in the Thirteen Colonies to declare and fight for independence from Great Britain in the summer of 1776. In clear, simple language it explained the advantages of and the need for immediate independence. It was published anonymously on January 10, 1776, at the beginning of the American Revolution and became an immediate sensation. It was sold and distributed widely and read aloud at taverns and meeting places. Washington had it read to all his troops, which at the time had surrounded the British army in Boston. In proportion to the population of the colonies at that time (2.5 million), it had the largest sale and circulation of any book published in American history. 
  Common Sense presented the American colonists with an argument for freedom from British rule at a time when the question of whether or not to seek independence was the central issue of the day. Paine wrote and reasoned in a style that common people understood. Forgoing the philosophical and Latin references used by Enlightenment era writers, he structured Common Sense as if it were a sermon, and relied on Biblical references to make his case to the people. He connected independence with common dissenting Protestant beliefs as a means to present a distinctly American political identity. Historian Gordon S. Wood described Common Sense as "the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era".

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