Must-Read Books for Our Current Political Situation:

For those who, like me, are disturbed about the current political situation, here are some important books to read. I’m sure there are also others, but these are some that have been very instructive to me:

1.      The Plot Against America by Philip Roth What might have happened had Charles Lindbergh, one of the most popular figures of his time -- and an anti-Semite -- won the Presidential election against FDR in 1940? That is the scenario envisioned in this novel by Philip Roth. The story is told convincingly by the author, and as a reader I was caught up in the question of whether the nation would be able to recover from a poor election choice. I found that question very relevant to our own political situation after the 2024 election. 

2.      It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis – This book is a cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy, an alarming look at how fascism could take hold in America. Written during the Great Depression when America was largely oblivious to Hitler's aggression, it juxtaposes sharp political satire with the chillingly realistic rise of a President who becomes a dictator to "save the nation." Sound familiar?

3.      I Shall Not Hate: a Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the Road to Peace and Dignity by Izzeldin Abuelaish - In this time of hate between us and the Arab world and the devastation of Gaza, this book is a must read. An Arab physician from Gaza, who delivers and cares for both Arab and Jewish babies in both Gaza and Israel, writes of his commitment to get past the hate to find true community. His words are especially meaningful because of his loss of three of his eight children in an indiscriminate Israeli bombing attack. The book is recommended both by Jimmy Carter and Jewish Nobel laureate and holocaust survivor Elie Weisel.

4.      Fascism by Madeleine Albright -- With Donald Trump talking about how much he admires the power of dictators like Putin and Kim-Jon-Un, and with his verbal assaults on the press and attempts to repress dissent, I cannot imagine a more vital book for our times than Madeleine Albright's FASCISM: A WARNING. Albright writes, "If we think of fascism as a wound from the past that had almost healed, putting Donald Trump in the White House was like ripping off the bandage and picking at the scab." 

5.      The False White Gospel by Jim Wallis -- This is a must read for anyone who is concerned about the recent rise of White Nationalism and its connection to Donald Trump. Wallis, who founded SOJOURNERS (an organization for Christian Social Action) and who is Georgetown University's inaugural holder of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Chair in Faith and Justice, is a bold voice for social justice and against the mutated Christianity of those clergy who supported Trump's 2024 election victory. 

6.      All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror by Stephen Kinzer -- Anyone who wants to better understand US relations with Iran should read this book. A riveting history!

7.      Climate Church, Climate World by Jim Antal -- This book is an insightful reflection on the role of the church in confronting the climate change crisis. If you want to keep burying your head in the sand in relation to climate change, then definitely you should NOT read this book! But for people who take the mission of the church seriously, it's a must-read. The author challenges the church to treat this crisis like the civil rights fight of the 60's and 70's, and have the courage to speak up, and keep on speaking up about human-caused changes that seriously threaten the goodness of the creation God has given to us as caretakers.