Richard Nixon: Speeches, Writings, Documents
by Richard Nixon



350+ pages of Nixon in Nixon's own words. You know you want to. Even the people who made the book call him "America's most controversial president". And it includes "schoolboy letters". I can't imagine "Nixon" and "schoolboy" together without laughing and thinking of a cartoon character. Reminds me of the time I was at Richie's house and his mom told him to make dinner, and he just turned around and said, "Mom, I am not a cook". Dix was like that. Wild that way.

Zimbabwe's Guerrilla War: Peasant Voices
by Norma J. Kriger



A real peasant should be seen but not heard. That's what my grandfather always said. He owned an African diamond company and was butchered in his sleep by two of his slaves. Until he died, though, he was a wise man.

Literature and Dictatorship in Africa and Latin America, 1958-1987
by Josaphat Bekunuru Kubayanda



Words to free and repress by. This is a cool topic, though, seriously. I can't be snappy about it. But I can be snappy about the author's name: Josaphat Bekunuru Kubayanda. Here, say it again: Josaphat Bekunuru Kubayanda. Imagine that guy driving the lane and dunking on Lebron James. That's what I thought. Rezpek da Josaphat! Rezpek!

My Life with Che: The Making of a Revolutionary
by Hilda Gadea



Like he did at most things he ever tried, Che failed at marriage, too. That's why some dude named Ilan Stavans can write that "Che Guevara is our Jesus Christ". I'm assuming that means he's an idiot, so when, a few sentences later, he writes that in the book we "come across a Che that is, at once, small and larger-than-life", his humorous pun is an accident. Incidentally, a good title for a Che book: The Red Star of Courage.

Violence: Big Ideas/Small Books
by Slavoj Zizek



In the words of Steven Poole of The Guardian: "[Slavoj Zizek] stares out, disheveled, from the page and dares the reader to disagree." Well, I disagree. Brush your hair, you bum, and stop staring; it's not polite! Oh, wait, I forgot: a normal-haired, polite Zizek wouldn't be interesting anymore. Well, then, whatever it takes to market yourself, Slavoj. It's hard out there for a philosopher.

Inside Defense: Understanding the U.S. Military in the 21st Century
by editors



Essays on the American military: perpetual Miss Understood or alluring, deceitful femme fatale? I'm sure this book will tell me. I'm kind of interested to know what the miltary does, too. Baked goods? Is it baked goods? I bet it's baked goods. I hear McArthur made a mean peanut butter cookie.

Libya since 1969: Qadhafi's Revolution Revisited
by Dirk Vandewalle



I'll be honest: even though I've read the name Qadhafi over and over again and I know where Libya is, I don't know a g'damn thing about it. That's why I'm interested in reading this book. According to the description, if I do I will learn about two things: "the rise of the military in Libya, the impact of its self-styled revolution on Libyan society and economy." I guess Libya's been pretty dead since 1969.

Religion and the Culture of Print in Modern America
by editors



The medium is the message of God. Too bad it only focuses on print media, because print is boring. I want God with laser shows and rock music and that guy from Creed shouting at me. And a big-ass subwoofer attached to a car that bounces up and down whenever there's a black guy in it. Religion, fool: get it.

New Protective State: Government, Intelligence and Terrorism
by Peter Hennessy



I don't have a real clue what this is about. But the title sounds provocative, yet educational and balanced; and the cover has that rare blend of blue, green, and purple against a black background that has my aesthetic senses tingling.

American Ascendance and British Retreat in the Persian Gulf Region
by W. Taylor Fain



Post-WWII dealings in the trouble area between the two English-speaking powers. I'd skip this book, because it has nothing to do with what's going on in the world today. Go read a Tom Clancy novel, instead; and learn about how much Tom loves big, black guns. Mmm: so big, so black.

Gender, Violence and Security: Discourse as Practice
by Laura J. Sheperd



It's a "poststructural feminist critique" that "maps the discursive terrains of institutions [...] which formulate and implement resolutions and guides of practice that affect gender issues in the context of international policy practices." Oh, and don't forget the "domestic-international dichotomy"! If that all sounds confusing, don't worry: the author "develops a compelling discourse-theoretical analysis" to make you understand.

Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance, and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam
by Mark Levine



Yes, the cover sucks balls and the book is cheap; but the author has also written a fairly-respected book on music theory so this one might be better than it seems. Indeed, even I want to read this one, and most of what I post on this site is crap on which I'd never waste my time. Rock on, Muslims. Rock on.

Who Killed the Constitution: The Fate of American Liberty from World War I to George W. Bush
by Thomas E. Woods Jr. and Kevin R. C. Gutzman



It's ironic this book has a paper shredder on the cover. But, wait: WHO KILLED IRONY? Joking aside, the answer to the book's question is undoubtedly O.J. Simpson in James Madison's room with a crooked spoon.

Pipelines: Flowing Oil and Crude Politics
by Rafael Kandiyoti



The power of oil lies not only in its possession but also in its transportation, says the author.Or: he who controls the pipelines, controls the oil; and he who controls the oil, controls Dune! Science fiction references aside, this book actually appears quite interesting. I may read it, and so should you may read it.

The Politics of Space Security: Strategic Restraint and the Pursuit of National Interests
by James Moltz 



If that fancy European particle-collider fails to rip open a horrific tear in the fabric of space-time that cannibalizes the Earth, the militarization and control of space will become an important issue in the years to come. Unless you want the Chinese to win, I suggest you educate yourselves now, while there's still time. But remember: when you're reading wear tinfoil, so those Asiatic satellites can't scan your brain and extract your intelligence.

Standardized Childhood: The Political and Cultural Struggle over Early Education
by Bruce Fuller 



The Great American Preschool Debate. Is preschool good, should we have it, should the state require it, blah, blah, blah? I'll tell you what preschool does: it keeps children away from us; children are small and irritating; therefore, preschool is good and should be both fully standardized and forcefully implemented with tanks.

The New Case Against Immigration: Both Legal and Illegal
by Mark Krikorian 



When a book's own description calls it "controversial" you can be pretty sure it's a sensationalist piece of crap meant to $tir emotions. But who am I to prevent those emotions from being stirred? Inevitably, people will buy this book, read it, and then argue over it. I guess debate is good. You know what else is good: that the publisher, editors, and author of The New Case Against Immigration will probably hold a release party staffed by Mexicans. The case against immigration.

The Rise and Fall of the Caucasian Race: A Political History of Racial Identity
by Bruce Baum 



Much like Stephen Colbert, I don't see colour; so I don't really know what this book is about. However, for all y'all racists out there who do see colour, I'd imagine it's about the historical development of the concept of race and how that concept has been put to political use over the years. For people who aren't as politically correct and perfect as myself, that might be interesting.