Other books that might interest you

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  The Vote Collectors - The True...

  Nick Ochsner, Michael Graff

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  In November 2018, Baptist preacher Mark Harris beat the odds, narrowly fending off a blue wave in the sprawling Ninth District of North Carolina. But word soon got around that something fishy was going on in rural Bladen County. At the center of the mess was a local political operative named McCrae Dowless. Dowless had learned the ins and outs of the absentee ballot system from Democrats before switching over to the Republican Party. Bladen County's vote-collecting cottage industry made national headlines, led to multiple election fraud indictments, toppled North Carolina GOP leadership, and left hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians without congressional representation for nearly a year. 
   
    
    
  Michael Graff and Nick Ochsner tell the story of the political shenanigans in Bladen County, exposing the shocking vulnerability of local elections and explaining why our present systems are powerless to monitor and prevent fraud. In their hands, this tale of rural corruption becomes a fascinating narrative of the long clash of racism and electioneering—and a larger story about the challenges to democracy in the rural South. 
   
   
   
  At a time rife with accusations of election fraud, The Vote Collectors shows the reality of election stealing in one southern county, where democracy was undermined the old-fashioned way: one absentee ballot at a time.

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  Leviathan

  Thomas Hobbes

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  Leviathan is a book written by Thomas Hobbes and published in 1651. It is one of the most important works in political philosophy and is considered a cornerstone of modern political thought. 
  The main argument of Leviathan is that humans are fundamentally selfish and violent, and that without a strong government to control them, they would inevitably descend into a state of chaos and conflict. Hobbes famously characterized this state as "the war of all against all." 
  In order to avoid this scenario, Hobbes argued that individuals must surrender their natural rights to a sovereign authority. This sovereign, which Hobbes called the Leviathan, would have absolute power to enforce its will upon the people, and in exchange would provide them with security and protection. 
  Hobbes believed that the ideal form of government was an absolute monarchy, where the sovereign's power was not limited by any laws or institutions. He argued that any attempt to limit the power of the sovereign would be doomed to failure, as it would only lead to the re-emergence of the state of nature and the breakdown of society. 
  Leviathan is also notable for its contributions to social contract theory, which argues that individuals enter into a contract with their government in order to protect their rights and maintain order in society. Hobbes' social contract theory was influential in the development of political thought and continues to be studied and debated today.

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  Hermann Röchling: The Factory of...

  Margaret Manale

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  Who now remembers Hermann Röchling (1872-1955), an emblematic figure of German industry during the two world wars. A Nazi from the very beginning, he was one of the main protagonists of this sinister movement, alongside Albert Speer and Adolf Hitler. He did not shy away from any measure to support the National Socialist effort, and his power was such that the Americans referred to him as the “czar” of a regime that functioned on the backs of millions of enslaved workers.
  A steel magnate and notorious anti-Semite, Hermann Röchling fell through the cracks of history. Margaret Manale is the first researcher to devote an exhaustive biography to him. She explains the reasons why such a character has remained almost unnoticed. She sheds light on the difficulty of judging him in the aftermath of the collapse of the Third Reich.
  To put his personality into perspective, Manale goes back to the origins of the family in 1870 and the French defeat by Germany. For 170 years, the Röchlings played a major role in these successive conflicts and in particular in the struggle for control of the mines in Alsace-Lorraine. Herman Röchling was prosecuted and sentenced at Nuremberg for war crimes in 1946 but, under American pressure, he was pardoned in 1951 in order to revive Germany quickly and build a strong Europe in the face of the Soviet threat.
  This shocking book is the implacable account of one man’s deception and the weight of realpolitik.

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  On His Majesty's Service - How...

  Julian Francis Godolphin

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  The commonly held belief that the king or queen is a mere ornament of the constitution could not be further from reality. The turbulent past decade has tested the British constitution like never before, and Brexit, the illegal proroguing of Parliament and the near death of Boris Johnson while in office have demonstrated the often misunderstood but crucial role the sovereign plays in ensuring stability in our political system.
  The king or queen holds a unique set of powers that enable them to act as the defender of our constitution, a duty they perform not through the active use of power but by constitutional authority. The mere threat of action by the sovereign is often all that is needed to get the political machine back on track and avoid crisis.
  Taking us on a fascinating journey through centuries of British political history, focusing on the monarch's powers to appoint and dismiss a Prime Minister, grant a dissolution of Parliament and refuse assent to legislation, On His Majesty's Service examines how past monarchs have avoided constitutional crisis and reveals the hidden hand of the monarchy in the smooth running of the state, shattering the accepted political truism that the king reigns but does not rule.
  These are the king's prerogative powers, and this is their story.

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  Gaslighting - Psychological...

  Cito Harder

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  Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation designed to make a person question their reality, memory, and perceptions. This insidious tactic is often used to exert power and control over others, making them more vulnerable to influence. The term originates from the 1944 film Gaslight, in which a husband manipulates his wife into doubting her own sanity by subtly altering her environment and insisting that she is imagining things. Over time, the concept has evolved to describe a range of behaviors intended to destabilize and disorient a target, whether in personal relationships, workplaces, politics, or broader societal contexts. 
  At its core, gaslighting is not about simple lying or deception—it is about eroding a person’s confidence in their ability to trust their own thoughts and feelings. Gaslighters often employ tactics such as denial, contradiction, misdirection, and trivialization to manipulate their targets. For instance, they may deny having said or done something, even when there is clear evidence to the contrary. They may dismiss a person’s concerns as overreactions or exaggerations, making the victim feel unreasonable for questioning the situation. Over time, the repeated nature of these tactics causes the victim to second-guess their own reality, often leading to confusion, self-doubt, and emotional dependence on the manipulator. 
  Gaslighting thrives in power imbalances. It is most commonly seen in relationships where one party has an advantage over the other—whether through authority, emotional leverage, or societal position. In romantic relationships, a partner may gaslight their significant other to maintain control, dismissing valid concerns about infidelity, financial issues, or abusive behavior. In workplaces, gaslighting can manifest when a superior undermines an employee’s confidence, making them doubt their competence or memory of events.

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  Chimú Empire - The Kingdom of...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Chimú Empire, one of the most prominent pre-Columbian civilizations of the northern coast of Peru, flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries. This advanced civilization is known for its impressive urban centers, most notably the capital city of Chan Chan, which remains the largest adobe city in the world. At its height, the Chimú Empire controlled vast territories, from the southern border of the Moche Valley to the northern regions of present-day Ecuador. The empire was characterized by its highly structured society, advanced technology, and unique artistic traditions, which helped shape the cultural landscape of the Andean region. 
  The roots of the Chimú Empire trace back to the Moche culture, which had a significant influence on the development of the Chimú. However, the Chimú people took the foundational knowledge of their predecessors and expanded upon it, creating a powerful and sophisticated society. They established a series of city-states along the coast, which were eventually unified under the leadership of a single ruler, the Chimú king, who governed from Chan Chan. 
  The Chimú Empire’s political structure was highly organized, with a well-defined hierarchy that ranged from the elite rulers to the common people. The king, or "Sapa Chimú," was considered the most powerful figure, acting as both a political and spiritual leader. The empire was divided into regions, each overseen by local lords who managed administrative and religious duties within their territories. This hierarchical structure helped maintain control over the vast lands and resources of the empire.

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