I grew up very conservative and once I moved out I have always considered myself an independent, as I really don't like either party at all. I'm trying to educate myself on both sides and want to understand at a deeper level why each party believes what they believe. I have a decent understanding of the right due to my upbringing, but I am admittedly much more ignorant of the left past a surface level. If anyone could recommend books that would help me better understand more left leaning policies and why they would be good for America and the world, I would greatly appreciate it.
by LucasJames37
15 Comments
Look at books written by Thom Hartmann. I have read and listened to his show for years and he goes in depth on issues and history behind them.
https://substack.com/@thomhartmann/note/c-91760240?r=53vjxt
the new jim crow might be a good one to start with
“Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right” by Al Franken.
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. Obviously it’s a history book, not politics, but it’s engaging, covers a lot you probably were not taught in school, and echoes many liberal sentiments. It’s not perfect, many accuse it of being socialist, but it will likely open your eyes to a more common person view of American history. Think of it as a supplement to the other suggestions.
Try Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
A little bit round about but stolen focus by Johann Hari, which is about addressing attentional problems. The reason I really recommend it for you is that it’s political while being about something else, so there is an actual case to think through.
Its argument is for combining personal changes with lobbying the state for political regulation of not just surveillance capitalism but labor protection, access to medical care and pollution. It addresses race disparities without being a book about race. I think it’s a good example of a left wing approach to a problem. And it’s a problem that both the left and the right agrees is happening, so you can also think about a more traditional right wing solution and framing and also a current Republican Party framing
Poverty, by America written by Matthew Desmond. Also, consider getting more sources in the history we have and have not been taught. Black AF History by Michael Harriot is an information packed book presented in a fun yet enlightening way. If you want to listen to it the author is the reader and really moves the book along.
I recommend anything about the history of the labor movement and unions. And you’ll see why working class solidarity is so important looking at how workers used to be treated in the not so distant past and why threats to labor rights are so serious
There’s some good context in Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America
First of all, I love your curiosity. Above all, stay curious.
Instead of trying to understand political parties, perhaps you should educate yourself on some major policy issues instead. Here are some top of mind thoughts.
Climate change
Systemic racism (read books about the Tulsa Massacre; also Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grant)
Systemic and generational poverty and why pulling yourself up from your bootstraps is a myth
Criminal justice reform (Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson is a good read)
Healthcare – the broken for-profit US healthcare system
Women’s rights and healthcare
Also, more generally, reading fiction and memoirs will help to exercise your empathy muscle.
Anything you can do to develop and hone critical thinking skills will be especially important going forward since social media and “news” is increasingly manipulated. On this point, read (or re-read) George Orwell’s 1984.
Edited to add – it would also be good to read up on the history and current state of labor unions and workers’ rights.
Read anything by Angela Davis that you can get your hands on, she’s spectacular.
For women’s issues specifically, *Feminism is for Everybody* by bell hooks is a great first book to read about patriarchy. It makes a compelling case for why battling patriarchy benefits us all and offers a view of feminism that opposes its representation in mainstream media. Like the title suggests, it’s intended for all audiences, women and men.
Lies my teacher told me
Letter from a Birmingham jail
Weapons of Math Destruction
You might find *The Color of Law* interesting. It’s a history of how governmental policies segregated the whole of America.
May I recommend “American Nations” by Colin Woodward.
[American Nations – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Nations)
As a bonus I would also recommend “How to Hide an Empire” by Daniel Immerwahr
[‘How to Hide an Empire’ Shines Light on America’s Expansionist Side – The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/13/books/review-how-to-hide-empire-daniel-immerwahr.html)
I would go into detail but the links are better.
American history.