Other books that might interest you

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  Socialized Medicine

  Ronald Reagan

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  In 1961 Reagan spoke out against socialized medicine. Since 1965 when Medicare and Medicaid were enacted, the federal government controls payment for most U.S. healthcare: hospitals, drugs, doctors, nurses, and so on. Has this been a blessing or a curse? 
  Milton Friedman, the small, talkative, smiling genius, perhaps the best economist ever, argued that governments should give the deserving needy money to buy education, housing, and healthcare, but should never give goods or services such as govenment schools, government housing, or medical services. 
  Would this small change make a big difference? Prior to 1965, U.S. health insurance was medically underwritten. When a person applied for insurance, they were weighed and tested to see how healthy they were. If they were unhealthy, premiums were high, and coverage limited. 
  The result was that people had powerful financial incentives to adopt a healthy diet and lifestyle. Under Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare, medical underwriting is illegal and the financial incentive for a healthy diet is eliminated. Epidemics of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and chronic disease since 1965 are the result. And the cost of medical services without market competition has exploded. 
  If the elderly and needy were paid in cash rather than medical services, and purchased medical services in competitive, risk-based markets, people would have strong incentive to adopt fiber-based diets of vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, and avoid animal foods and low-fiber processed foods that promote chronic disease. 
  The left blames the food industry for our poor diet, but the federal government’s control of medical services and abolition of medical underwriting are the true causes of the obesity and diabetes crisis that afflicts America, and the reason healthcare is so amazingly expensive. Competitive markets would benefit the elderly, the needy, and the country. 
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  American Identity in Crisis:...

  Kat Calvin

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  A trailblazing activist’s passionate and incisive look at why she started a movement to ensure that 26 million Americans have access to the IDs they need to escape poverty and live healthy and productive lives 
  American Identity in Crisis weaves together three remarkable stories: the making of an activist in the wake of the 2016 presidential election; the fight against the onerous rules that are being used to keep vulnerable and targeted populations from participating in all facets of American life -from obtaining jobs and housing to going to the polls- and how we can solve a problem that impacts millions of American adults. 
  Kat Calvin ties all of these threads together in profound ways. In American Identity in Crisis, she takes us on a cross-country tour as she and her team uncover one of the biggest secrets in America and learn how to solve it. We meet veterans, the unhoused, and senior citizens, and learn the story of the fierce advocate who insists on recognizing their humanity and seeing them as souls who are resilient and striving for change.  
  Told in a voice that is strong and vulnerable; funny and fearless, confident and self-deprecating, American Identity in Crisis is a defense of human dignity and everyone’s right to have access to the pursuit of happiness.

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  Bridging Our Political Divide -...

  Kenneth Barish

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  Bridging Our Political Divide: How Liberals and Conservatives Can Understand Each Other and Find Common Ground is an essential contribution to a better national conversation. 
   
   
   
  Psychologist Kenneth Barish explains the sources and consistency of our political beliefs and why we continue to disagree about fundamental issues in American life. He offers antidotes to the angry, repetitive, and unproductive arguments that now dominate our political culture. Barish teaches us how to listen, think, and speak about our political opinions in a way that allows us to understand each other's concerns, resist false dichotomies and ideological certainty, see new perspectives and possibilities, and find common ground. The concluding chapter shows how we can move beyond partisan divisions toward pragmatic solutions and a better future for America's children. 
   
   
   
  This fundamentally hopeful book is an essential listen for students in all areas of study, for professionals in the fields of conflict resolution, communication, political science, and social psychology, and for anyone seeking to improve the quality of their conversations with people who may disagree with them, in both politics and in their personal relationships.

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  7 Signs You May Be...

  John Harpoon

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  Unintentional manipulation is a behavior that often goes unnoticed, even by the person exhibiting it. Many people associate manipulation with malicious intent, but the reality is that it can stem from deep-seated insecurities, learned behaviors, or a lack of self-awareness. When manipulation is unintentional, it can be especially difficult to recognize because the person engaging in it often believes they are acting out of necessity, self-protection, or even love. However, these behaviors can have lasting negative effects on relationships, creating tension, mistrust, and emotional exhaustion for both parties involved.  
    
  Understanding manipulation requires a willingness to look inward and examine patterns of communication and interaction. Some people use guilt, passive-aggression, or victimhood as a means of influencing others without realizing that these tactics can be harmful. Others may withdraw affection or communication to maintain control in situations where they feel vulnerable. In some cases, even excessive people-pleasing can be a form of manipulation, as it subtly pressures others to respond in a certain way. These behaviors are often unconscious, but they still impact those around us. Recognizing them is the first step toward change.   
    
  The purpose of this book is not to shame or condemn but to provide insight into these behaviors and offer practical steps for improvement. No one is perfect, and many people engage in manipulative behaviors at some point in their lives. However, when these behaviors become patterns, they can erode trust and create unhealthy dynamics. By identifying the signs of unintentional manipulation, individuals can develop healthier ways of expressing their needs, setting boundaries, and maintaining relationships based on mutual respect and honesty. 

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  The Picts - A History

  Tim Clarkson

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  A British historian explores the mysterious Scottish culture of the Iron Age and Early Middle Ages whose enigmatic symbols adorn standing stones. 
   
   
   
  The Picts were an ancient nation who ruled most of northern and eastern Scotland during the Dark Ages. Despite their historical importance, they remain shrouded in myth and misconception. Absorbed by the kingdom of the Scots in the ninth century, they lost their unique identity, their language, and their vibrant artistic culture. Among their few surviving traces are standing stones decorated with incredible skill and covered with enigmatic symbols. 
   
   
   
  The Pictish Stones offer some of the few remaining clues to the powerful and gifted people who bequeathed no chronicles to tell the sagas of their kings and heroes. In this book, Medieval historian Tim Clarkson pieces together the evidence to tell the story of this mysterious people from their emergence in Roman times to their eventual disappearance.

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  Perseverance Through Severe...

  Reggie D. Ford

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  In Reggie Ford’s bold reassessment of the Black experience in America, he demonstrates that a new understanding of PTSD is required. PTSD, Perseverance Through Severe Dysfunction, as Ford defines it, underlines the darkness of mental health illnesses and behaviors that impact young Black men and have plagued Black Americans for generations. 
  But his reassessment is not doom and gloom. Instead, Ford implores that we turn pain into peace. His uplifting message shows that by realizing, accepting, and treating mental health with grace, kindness, and appreciation of the backgrounds of those needing support, we can reduce the significant impact of PTSD and other mental conditions on not just Black, but all people. 
  Ford uses his own traumatic experiences to inform his call to action. He takes his impoverished and scarred childhood and turns it into a life of promise and abundance. His memoir shines a light on the intergenerational impact of unaddressed mental health issues, showing how the power of a familial network can help or severely harm an individual’s battle with mental health illnesses. He writes searingly of the overwhelming odds and systemic racism that must be overcome by Black Americans in order to reach the heights he has scaled. Ford’s own heartbreaking story is yet an optimistic one, intended to show that mental health has a real and demonstrable effect on Black Americans, but that it can be overcome. 
  PTSD places one man’s experiences in the realm of the broad sociopolitical issues that affect so many Americans. Ford emphasizes that the trauma of society creates situations of mental health issues and behaviors that hold back so many. But he also believes there is room for hope, that his own experiences of overcoming so many hardships and difficulties offer a path for others to follow. Immense suffering, Ford believes, can lead to improbable success.

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