Collection: Politics

An acclaimed science journalist's extraordinary seven-year investigation into how the U.S. oil and gas industry has avoided environmental regulations and created a dangerous and radioactive public health crisis.

As Justin Nobel traveled the United States reporting on the oil and gas industry he learned a disturbing and little-considered fact: a lot more comes to the surface at a well than just the oil and gas. Each year the industry produces billions of tons of waste, much of it toxic and radioactive. The fracking boom has only worsened the problem. So where does it all go?

Petroleum-238 provides the shocking answer. Shielded by a system of lax regulations and legal loopholes, this waste has been spilled, spread, injected, dumped, and freely emitted across America. Nobel relies on oilfield workers, community activists, a century of academic research, and a trove of never-before released industry and government documents to lay out a series of game-changing reveals into the world's most powerful industry. None have been more deceived than the industry's own workers, who are suffering mysterious health maladies and dying from unexplainable cancers.

This book is an impressive work of investigative science journalism with surprising moments of literary beauty, and a welcome breakdown of the false wall corporations and politicians often set between industry workers and environmentalists. In the tradition of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, Petroleum-238 is both a landmark work of environmental writing and an urgent call to action.

Temperamentally and intellectually, Natan Sharansky is a man very much like many of us--which makes this account of his arrest on political grounds, his trial, and ten years' imprisonment in the Orwellian universe of the Soviet gulag particularly vivid and resonant.

Since Fear No Evil was originally published in 1988, the Soviet government that imprisoned Sharansky has collapsed. Sharansky has become an important national leader in Israel--and serves as Israel's diplomatic liaison to the former Soviet Union! New York Times Jerusalem Bureau Chief Serge Schmemann reflects on those monumental events, and on Sharansky's extraordinary life in the decades since his arrest, in a new introduction to this edition. But the truths Sharansky learned in his jail cell and sets forth in this book have timeless importance so long as rulers anywhere on earth still supress their own peoples. For anyone with an interest in human rights--and anyone with an appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit--he illuminates the weapons with which the powerless can humble the powerful: physical courage, an untiring sense of humor, a bountiful imagination, and the conviction that "Nothing they do can humiliate me. I alone can humiliate myself."

Inspirada en el bestseller #1 del New York Times Ella persistió / She Persisted de Chelsea Clinton y Alexandra Boiger, llega esta serie en Chapter Books sobre mujeres que sobresalieron, lucharon y se levantaron contra viento y marea, como Pura Belpré.

Pura Belpré se mudó de Puerto Rico a la ciudad de Nueva York y se hizo bibliotecaria en un momento en que las bibliotecas estaban llenas de sólo libros en inglés. Pero ella sabía que a las personas hispanohablantes también les encantaría poder ir a las bibliotecas, por lo que persistió en implementar programas y libros bilingües en las bibliotecas de toda la ciudad. Ella también escribía sus propias historias y tradujo cuentos puertorriqueños al inglés para que pudieran llegar a un público más amplio. Pura Belpré cambió la manera en que las bibliotecas se acercaban a los lectores y les dio a las comunidades hispanas de toda la ciudad, y del país, la oportunidad de acercarse a los libros y formar ahí un tipo de comunidad que nunca antes habían tenido.

En este libro biográfico escrito por la galardonada autora bestseller Meg Medina, los lectores aprenderán sobre la increíble vida de Pura Belpré y cómo ella persistió.

El libro incluye una introducción de Chelsea Clinton, ilustraciones en blanco y negro y una lista de maneras en que los lectores pueden seguir los pasos de Pura Belpré y así marcar la diferencia!

Y no te pierdas los demás libros de la serie She Persisted, con muchas otras mujeres que persistieron, como Coretta Scott King, Harriet Tubman, Sonia Sotomayor, Malala Yousafzai, Diana Taurasi y otras más!

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Pura Belpré!

Pura Belpré moved from Puerto Rico to New York City and became a librarian at a time when libraries were filled with only English language books. But she knew that Spanish speakers would love to make use of the libraries too, and so she persisted in implementing bilingual programming and offerings in libraries across the city. She also wrote stories of her own and translated Puerto Rican tales into English to bring them to wider audiences. She changed the way libraries reach readers and gave Spanish speakers across the city and the country the opportunity to read and find community in ways they never had before. In this chapter book biography by bestselling and award-winning author Meg Medina, readers learn about the amazing life of Pura Belpré--and how she persisted. Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Pura Belpré's footsteps and make a difference! And don't miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Sonia Sotomayor, Diana Taurasi, Malala Yousafzai, and more!

"A moving and timely book that strips away misleading politics to reveal the complexities of real human lives." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

A provocative, conversation-sparking exploration of refugee experiences told in their own words, for readers of Karla Cornejo Villavicencio's The Undocumented Americans and Viet Thanh Nguyen

Forced to leave their homes, they came to America...

In this intimate and eye-opening book, Diya Abdo--daughter of refugees, U.S. immigrant, English professor, and activist--shares the stories of seven refugees. Coming from around the world, they're welcomed by Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR), an organization Diya founded to leverage existing resources at colleges to provide temporary shelter to refugee families.

Bookended by Diya's powerful essay "Radical Hospitality" and the inspiring coda "Names and Numbers," each chapter weaves the individual stories into a powerful journey along a common theme:

• Life Before ("The Body Leaves its Soul Behind")

• The Moment of Rupture ("Proof and Persecution")

• The Journey ("Right Next Door")

• Arrival/Resettlement ("Back to the Margins")

• A Few Years Later ("From Camp to Campus")

The lives explored in American Refuge include the artist who, before he created the illustration on the cover of this book, narrowly escaped two assassination attempts in Iraq and now works at Tyson cutting chicken.

We learn that these refugees from Burma, Burundi, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, and Uganda lived in homes they loved, left against their will, moved to countries without access or rights, and were among the 1% of the "lucky" few to resettle after a long wait, almost certain never to return to the homes they never wanted to leave. We learn that anybody, at any time, can become a refugee.

A fascinating collection of Einstein's observations about life, religion, nationalism, and a host of personal topics that engaged the genius's intellect
In the aftermath of the First World War, Einstein writes about his hopes for the League of Nations, his feelings as a German citizen about the growing anti-Semitism and nationalism of his country, and his myriad opinions about the current affairs of his day. In addition to these political perspectives, The World As I See It reveals the idealistic, spiritual, and witty side of this great intellectual as he approaches topics including "Good and Evil," "Religion and Science," "Active Pacifism," "Christianity and Judaism," and "Minorities." Including letters, speeches, articles, and essays written before 1935, this collection offers a complete portrait of Einstein as a humanitarian and as a human being trying to make sense of the changing world around him. This authorized Philosophical Library book features a new introduction by Neil Berger, PhD, and an illustrated biography of Albert Einstein, which includes rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the Albert Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The 2015 winner of the Brown Democracy Medal, Joan C. Tronto, argues in Who Cares? that we need to rethink American democracy, as well as our own fundamental values and commitments, from a caring perspective. Asserting that Americans are facing a "caring deficit"--that there are simply too many demands on our time to care adequately for children, elderly people, and ourselves--she asks us to reconsider how we allocate care responsibilities.At the same time, while democratic politics should help citizens to care better, most people see caring as unsupported by public life and deem the concerns of politics as too remote from their lives to make a difference in this sphere. Tronto traces the reasons for this disconnect and argues for the need to make care, not economics, the central concern of democratic political life.

Agenda 21 is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. It is a product of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. Its purpose is an action agenda for the UN, other multilateral organizations, and individual governments around the world that can be executed at local, national, and global levels. The "21" in Agenda 21 refers to the 21st century.

"A searing and emotionally gripping account of a young black girl growing up to become a strong black woman during the most difficult time of racial segregation."--Professor Charles Ogletree, Harvard Law School

"Provides important context for an important moment in America's history."--Associated Press

When fourteen-year-old Carlotta Walls walked up the stairs of Little Rock Central High School on September 25, 1957, she and eight other black students only wanted to make it to class. But the journey of the "Little Rock Nine," as they came to be known, would lead the nation on an even longer and much more turbulent path, one that would challenge prevailing attitudes, break down barriers, and forever change the landscape of America.

For Carlotta and the eight other children, simply getting through the door of this admired academic institution involved angry mobs, racist elected officials, and intervention by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was forced to send in the 101st Airborne to escort the Nine into the building. But entry was simply the first of many trials. Breaking her silence at last and sharing her story for the first time, Carlotta Walls has written an engrossing memoir that is a testament not only to the power of a single person to make a difference but also to the sacrifices made by families and communities that found themselves a part of history.

Help kids ages 6 to 9 discover the life of George Washington--a story about fighting for independence and building a country

George Washington became the first president of the United States of America and is known as the father of our country. He won the fight for American independence from England, but before that, he was a hardworking kid who enjoyed challenging himself in school and sports. He learned that overcoming challenges in his life would help make him a great leader.

Explore how George went from being an ambitious farm boy in Virginia to the most well-known founding father in American history. How will his revolutionary spirit inspire you?

This book about George Washington for kids includes:

• See George's progress--Unlike other books about George Washington for kids, this one has a visual timeline of his life so you can get a picture of his important milestones.
• Helpful definitions--Discover a glossary with easy-to-understand definitions for the more advanced words and ideas in this book about George Washington for kids.
• A lasting legacy--This unique book about George Washington for kids explains how he changed the world for future generations and you.

If you've been searching for fun, colorful books about George Washington for kids, look no further--this one has it all!

A rallying cry for a more just approach to the law that bolsters social justice movements by throwing out originalism--the theory that judges should interpret the Constitution exactly as conservatives say the Founders meant it

"The greatest trick conservatives ever pulled was convincing the world that originalism exists. This book is vital for understanding why the world sucks right now."--Elie Mystal, author of Allow Me to Retort

There is no one true way to interpret the Constitution, but that's not what originalists want you to think. They'd rather we be held hostage to their "objective" theory that our rights and liberties are bound by history--an idea that was once confined to the fringes of academia. Americans saw just how subjective originalism can be when the Supreme Court cherry-picked the past to deny bodily autonomy to millions of Americans in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health. Though originalism is supposed to be a serious intellectual theory, a closer look reveals its many inherent faults, as it deliberately over-emphasizes a version of history that treats civil rights gains as categorically suspect. According to Madiba K. Dennie, it's time to let it go.

Dennie discards originalism in favor of a new approach that serves everyone: inclusive constitutionalism. She disentangles the Constitution's ideals from originalist ideology and underscores the ambition of the Reconstruction Amendments, which were adopted in the wake of the Civil War and sought to build a democracy with equal membership for marginalized persons. The Originalism Trap argues that the law must serve to make that promise of democracy real.

Seamlessly blending scholarship with sass and written for law people and laypeople alike, The Originalism Trap shows readers that the Constitution belongs to them and how, by understanding its possibilities, they can use it to fight for their rights. As courts--and the Constitution--increasingly become political battlegrounds, The Originalism Trap is a necessary guide to what's at stake and a vision for a more just future.

Unitive Justice introduces a revolutionary concept: Justice as Love, or Unitive Justice, a way to achieve justice without inflicting revenge or seeking retribution.

Written by an experienced civil trial attorney, Sylvia Clute, Unitive Justice offers a much-needed alternative to the punitive model of justice, which comes with a heavy cost to individuals and communities, by setting out fourteen Arcs from punitive justice to Unitive Justice. What begins to appear is a path from a punitive system to a unitive system.

It is urgently important that we transform our understanding of justice if we hope to create peace, save our environment, end systemic racism and other debilitating prejudices, address deep pockets of poverty, and achieve lasting positive change.

Of course, Justice system change is no small undertaking. Justice is not limited to the courts-it is all-encompassing and exists to a large extent in our minds. Unitive Justice shows the promise that Justice as Love holds for transforming our justice system and world. It is not a "quick fix" for the brokenness in the world, but it is a start. It may take many lifetimes to transform a world tethered to dualistic thinking, and yet it can be implemented by one person, in one prison pod, in one family, in one relationship, right now.

The fact that grave injustices have existed and could happen again is a compelling reason to begin to create small pockets of Unitive Justice wherever we can and to nurture them with all the Love we can muster. Practicing Justice as Love is life-changing, if not life-saving, for many involved.

With this book, readers will gain insight into the life-changing concept of Unitive Justice and discover how it can completely transform the way we approach justice. Once you experience Unitive Justice, you can no longer believe that punitive justice is the best we can do.

The United States of America has been the most powerful country in the world for over seventy years, but recently the U.S. National Security Strategy declared that the return of great power competition with Russia and China is the greatest threat to U.S. national security. Further, many analysts predict that America's autocratic rivals will have at least some success in disrupting-and, in the longer term, possibly even displacing-U.S. global leadership.

Brilliant and engagingly written, The Return of Great Power Rivalry argues that this conventional wisdom is wrong. Drawing on an extraordinary range of historical evidence and the works of figures like Herodotus, Machiavelli, and Montesquieu and combining it with cutting-edge social science research, Matthew Kroenig advances the riveting argument that democracies tend to excel in great power rivalries. He contends that democracies actually have unique economic, diplomatic, and military advantages in long-run geopolitical competitions. He considers autocratic advantages as well, but shows that these are more than outweighed by their vulnerabilities.Kroenig then shows these arguments through the seven most important cases of democratic-versus-autocratic rivalries throughout history, from the ancient world to the Cold War. Finally, he analyzes the new era of great power rivalry among the United States, Russia, and China through the lens of the democratic advantage argument. By advancing a "hard-power" argument for democracy, Kroenig demonstrates that despite its many problems, the U.S. is better positioned to maintain a global leadership role than either Russia or China.

A vitally important book for anyone concerned about the future of global geopolitics, The Return of Great Power Rivalry provides both an innovative way of thinking about power in international politics and an optimistic assessment of the future of American global leadership.

Discover the life of Ruby Bridges--a story about bravery and breaking down barriers for kids ages 6 to 9

Ruby Bridges was the first Black student to attend an all-white public school in the southern United States. Before she helped desegregate schools and change the course of history, she was a happy girl who helped take care of her younger siblings and loved to play outside. Her life changed when she was chosen to attend William Frantz Elementary, where she became a civil rights leader at a very young age. Explore how Ruby went from being a thoughtful girl growing up in Mississippi to a national leader in the fight for equality.

• Independent reading--This Ruby Bridges biography is broken down into short chapters and simple language so kids 6 to 9 can read and learn on their own.
• Critical thinking--Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Ruby's life, find definitions of new words, discussion questions, and more.
• A lasting legacy--This Black History Month, find out how Ruby Bridges made an impact on African American history, and helped make the world a better place for future generations, including you!

How will Ruby's courage inspire you?

Discover activists, artists, and athletes, and more from all across history with the rest of The Story Of series, including famous figures like: Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, Jackie Robinson, and Barack Obama.

Barons is the story of seven corporate titans, their rise to power, and the consequences for everyone else. Take Mike McCloskey, Chairman of Fair Oaks Farms. In a few short decades, he went from managing a modest dairy herd to running the Disneyland of agriculture, where school children ride trams through mechanized warehouses filled with tens of thousands of cows that never see the light of day. What was the key to his success? Hard work and exceptional business savvy? Maybe. But more than anything else, Mike benefitted from deregulation of the American food industry, a phenomenon that has consolidated wealth in the hands of select tycoons, and along the way, hollowed out the nation's rural towns and local businesses.

Along with Mike McCloskey, readers will meet a secretive German family that took over the global coffee industry in less than a decade, relying on wealth traced back to the Nazis to gobble up countless independent roasters. They will discover how a small grain business transformed itself into an empire bigger than Koch Industries, with ample help from taxpayer dollars. And they will learn that in the food business, crime really does pay--especially when you can bribe and then double-cross the president of Brazil.

These, and the other stories in this book, are simply examples of the monopolies and ubiquitous corruption that today define American food. The tycoons profiled in these pages are hardly unique: many other companies have manipulated our lax laws and failed policies for their own benefit, to the detriment of our neighborhoods, livelihoods, and our democracy itself. Barons paints a stark portrait of the consequences of corporate consolidation, but it also shows we can choose a different path. A fair, healthy, and prosperous food industry is possible--if we take back power from the barons who have robbed us of it.

Young children will be excited to learn about the first Black, South Asian, female Vice President, Kamala Harris, and her inspiring journey in this Step 2 Biography Reader!

Learn how Kamala's childhood as a biracial child of immigrant parents, her education, and inspiration from her mother helped shape who she is--someone who fights injustice and empowers the powerless. She is an inspiration herself--for boys and girls everywhere who can now see someone in the White House who looks like them.

Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.