political and social views

"In The Great Debate Yuval Levin explores the origins of the familiar left/right divide in American politics by examining the views of the men who best represent each side of that debate: Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine. In a groundbreaking exploration of the origins of our political order, Levin shows that our political divide did not originate (as many historians argue) in the French Revolution, but rather in the Anglo-American debate about that revolution. Burke and Paine were both utterly fascinating figures--active in politics, versed in philosophy, and two of the best, most effective and powerful political writers and polemicists in the history of the English speaking world. Levin sets the work of these two men against the dramatic history of their era and shows how they mixed theory and practice to advance their very different notions of liberty, equality, nature, history, reason, revolution, and reform. Paine believed in radical change and saw the American and French Revolutions as catalysts for creating a new society; Burke believed in a significantly more gradual approach with each generation acting merely as part of a long chain of history. These differing approaches to revolution and reform created a division that continues to shape our current political discourse--including issues ranging from gun control and abortion to welfare and economic reform"--.

Examines the Quit India Movement, Mohandas Gandi's campaign for Indian independence from the British Empire.

Deftly weaving together a memorable cast of characters, "Lost Hawaii" brings to life the ensuing clash between a vulnerable Polynesian people and relentlessly expanding capitalist powers. Portraits of royalty and rogues, sugar barons, and missionaries combine into a sweeping tale of the Hawaiian Kingdom's rise and fall. At the center of the story is Lili'uokalani, the last queen of Hawai'i.

The author presents a scathing indictment against the Bush-Cheney administration accusing them of seizing their executive powers and permanently altering the constitutional balance of the democracy.

Studies the contributions Richard Nixon has made to politics in the years since he resigned from the presidency and discusses what his final thoughts are about the Watergate crisis.

A collection of more than fifty essays and journalistic pieces in which American author John Steinbeck reflects on the world around him.

Presents a critical analysis of the works of twentieth-century African-American poet, Gwendolyn Brooks between 1945 and 1960, and examines her poems that depict racism and class struggles in the urban ghetto community.

Presents fifty-one works by and interviews with late-twentieth-century activist and political writer Cornel West, covering such topics as African-American cultural politics, Marxist theory, Christian thought, the arts, and race relations, and includes autobiographical essays.