‘Tis the season to be bookish - here come my favourite picks for the book lover in your life who has a penchant for History. (Apart from this glorious substack, obviously).
“Preparing for War. The extremist history of white Christian nationalism and what comes next”, by Bradley Onishi
This gem of a book will only come out January 3th, but how about pre-ordering this new book by Brad Onishi for a loved one?
Who it’s for: Those interested in American Religion and how we got to this point.
What it’s about: A breakdown of the most important moments in the history of the
Religious Right - and how White Christian Nationalism influences
politics in the US.
What to expect: Sharp analysis mixed with juicy, vivid, and at times heart-breaking
anecdotes and tales from Brad’s own former life in White evangelicalism.
“Myth America. Historians take on the biggest legends and lies of our past”, edited by Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer
Another Jan 3rd contender, this is a dangerous book if you want to cling to the classic myths of American history. If you are ready for a challenge, however, this is the book for you:
Who it’s for: Those interest in American history - who are willing to unravel the
myths they have been taught.
What it’s about: A reckoning with what has long been considered canon in American
historiography.
What to expect: Recent scholarly analysis of myths that have found their way into the
mainstream - and tackle topics from the New Deal to White Backlash.
“Allow me to retort: A Black guy’s guide to the constitution”, by Elie Mystal
This is a trailblazer of a book - witty, sharp and unrelenting. For your fellow law-nerd (or a SCOTUS-stanning uncle you want to enrage)
Who it’s for: Law-nerds and those who want to become them. No need to be a lawyer in order to be able to read this 8but it also doesn’t hurt!)
What it’s about: A smart, razor-sharp analysis of what is happening at the SCOTUS,
and why originalism is, excuse my French, a steaming pile of bullshit.
What to expect: In-depth analysis of the constitution and right-wing shenanigans by
The Nation’s SCOTUS correspondent and MSNBC contributor Elie
Mystal (who you should also definitely follow on Twitter, while it still exists).
“The Death of Reconstruction. Race, labor and politics in the post-civil-war north 1865-1901”, by Heather Cox Richardson
Who it’s for: Everyone who wants to brush up their knowledge of the Reconstruction
What it’s about: Insightful, well-sourced and big-picture analysis of how economic
interests drove Northerners to abandon the cause of Reconstruction and let it fail - and how the Republican Party abandoned Civil Rights in aquiescence with Jim Crow.
What to expect: A spotlight on Northern attitudes to Reconstruction, and a focus on
class politics as well as race.
“Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell”, by Tim Miller
I’m normally not the biggest fan of books from the “Never Trumper” variety, but I’ll make an exception for this one:
Who it’s for: Everyone who wants to understand the motivation of GOP operatives
What it’s about: Tim Miller was a Republican strategist - until Trump was was the final nail in the coffin that led him to break with his party. Here, he
chronicles his choices that led him to this point - this book is penance for his deeds.
What to expect: Miller is harshest on himself - but also extremely witty. I didn’t expect to giggle this much while reading a book like this one. Highly recommend. Also, he dishes up a steaming pile of insider gossip that leaves the reader slack-jawed more than once.
Stay tuned for more Christmas gift ideas of the book variety. Next time, the genre will be - Fantasy! (Because we all need a break from reality sometimes).