Below are recommended books to deepen your understanding of politics and history and how they relate to our current moment.
All books are available online or through your local library.
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Unholy: How White Christian Nationalists Powered the Trump Presidency, and the Devastating Legacy They Left Behind
By Sarah Posner
Have you wondered why evangelical Christians (a massive voting block) could so fervently support a man that represented the opposite of everything they claimed to believe in? Sarah Posner has an extensive history writing about contemporary religion, and she takes a deep dive into this world, ripping off the masks of evangelical Trump voters to show how the goals of white nationalists and Christian nationalists actually overlap… and have done so for years. Trump was the catalyst to bring them together.
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century
By Timothy Snyder
Are you scared about what is happening to our country, and feel overwhelmed about what to do? This short but vital book explores what tyranny and fascism actually is, and provides 20 practical things you can do to resist.
The Hidden History of the American Dream: The Demise of the Middle Class―and How to Rescue Our Future
By Thom Hartmann
Thom Hartmann is the most popular progressive talk show host, and is also a student of history. He has many books in his Hidden History series, and each is fairly short and easy to read. Because voters are worried about rising prices and the cancellation of government services, this book details how we got here and gives practical advice on what we can do going forward.
The Hidden History of American Healthcare: Why Sickness Bankrupts You and Makes Others Insanely Rich
By Thom Hartmann
With Medicare cuts on the horizon, it’s justified to be worried about what’s next. Also part of Thom Hartmann’s Hidden History series, this book explores why the US is the only developed nation without a nationalized health care system, and the racism and greed which brought that about. However, the book ends with practical policies that most Americans want and for which we can advocate.
The Echo Machine: How Right-Wing Extremism Created a Post-Truth America
By David Pakman
Do you grow exasperated with right-wingers when you can’t even agree on facts? David Pakman is one of the most popular progressive independent journalists, and his daily David Pakman Show is one of the most-viewed political programs on YouTube. His book explores how people get sucked into a right-wing bubble where only ideology, not truth, matters, and he provides practical solutions to help ourselves and others become better critical thinkers.
Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice
By Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Nobody’s Girl is a posthumous memoir by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, set for release on October 21, 2025. The book provides Giuffre’s firsthand account of her experiences with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, detailing her journey from victimhood to becoming a prominent advocate for sex trafficking survivors. Giuffre completed the memoir before her death in April 2025 and stipulated that it be published to share her story and support her charity for survivors. Amidst the calls for the Epstein files to be released, this book couldn’t be more timely.
Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds
By John Fugelsang
Imagine if comedian George Carlin was a Bible scholar, and you’ve captured the tone of this book. Now also imagine going to your next family gathering and effectively defusing the weak arguments of your MAGA-loving evangelical relatives with Bible knowledge and effective probing questions. While this book is helpful for those who have escaped a Christian nationalist upbringing, it’s even better for non-Christian readers, because there’s nothing more effective at shutting down overly pious relatives than destroying their uninformed Scriptural claims by quoting chapter-and-verse progressive ideals back to them.