Political leaders and leadership Books

Book SynopsisRecent interest in the wives of American Presidents has led to the rediscovery of many First Ladies whose public service and accomplishments had been forgotten. The prime example is Lou Henry Hoover, a vivacious woman with a thoroughly modern approach to life, an unquenchable zest for living, and a long-term dedication to public service that dated from the Spanish-American War. This book provides readers with their first in-depth examination of the adventure-filled life and numerous public services of this complex and fascinating First Lady.

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Book SynopsisThe public perception of the First Lady has evolved through the years and the press and scholars are beginning to take note of the essential role presidents'' wives have played in the Administration and in the nation as a whole. Their participation in the country''s historical, philosophical and sociological experience has made them "First Women" and "First Partners". The twentieth century in particular has seen the construction of their image in the media and highlighted the evolution of their political role at the heart of presidential power. This book explores the ambiguity that underlies Nancy Reagan''s multiple facets as both an individual and the first lady. It also sheds light on the particularities of one of the most controversial yet exceptional women of the twentieth century and provides a deeper insight into the complex role of the (first) lady they called "the woman behind the man".

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Book SynopsisEdith Roosevelt was one half of one of the most powerful and influential political couples in American history. She proved to be a perfect complement to her husband, Theodore, as her quiet and self-assured nature balanced the exuberance and recklessness of her husband. She was mother to the largest family of children ever to live in the White House and is rated as one of the more efficient and competent First Ladies. Yet, she is also a figure that is cloaked in relative obscurity. After Theodore''s death, Edith refused offers to write an autobiography and instead continued to work to promote the memory of her husband and his political legacy. Towards the end of her life, Edith slipped into obscurity and was far overshadowed by her relative, Eleanor Roosevelt. This book provides readers with an overview of both Edith Roosevelt''s character and personality and her accomplishments as political wife.

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Book SynopsisJimmy Carter was a complex man who from his early years in rural southern Georgia, strove for excellence and ambitiously pursued his personal agenda. One thing that made Jimmy Carter such an interesting and complex person was the unique combination of principles and political ambition. This book examines the presidency of Jimmy Carter.

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Book SynopsisThis series gathers and presents original research in the study of the Presidency of the United States. Each article has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial topical data across a broad spectrum. Topics discussed in this compilation include senate consideration of presidential nominations; presidential appointments, the Senate''s confirmation process, and proposal for change, 112th congress; recess appointments; and presidential policy directive 8 and the national preparedness system.

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Book SynopsisThe introduction and ten articles comprising this book represent the work of participants in a conference held at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library (WWPL) in Staunton, Virginia, in April 2010 on the topic "World of Power/World of Law: Wilsonianism and Other Visions of Foreign Policy." These contributions stand on their own as examples of fine scholarship about an important topic. As a whole, this book also forms part of a larger tradition of research and scholarship about President Wilson that dates to the year 2000, when the WWPL produced the first of five national symposia. A brief history of these symposia provides a context for understanding the present book and the importance of current scholarship about Woodrow Wilson as we approach the centennial of his election to the presidency in 2012.

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Book SynopsisWarren Gamaliel Harding was a traditional man in the mode of the late-nineteenth, early-twentieth century. His values, perspective on the world around him, his habits and leisure pastimes, and his opinions about being an American and a man were all extremely traditional. To understand Warren G Harding one must first seek the essence of the man. This work attempts to discover and analyse the essence of Harding through three methods. First, this book presents a biographical overview that examines the person of Warren G Harding in an effort to understand how he captured the admiration and adoration of so many Americans while at the same time being assailed as an ignorant man, incompetent President, and unethical individual. Second, in order to ascertain and evaluate Harding as a political leader and the effectiveness of his presidency, this book analyses selected key decisions, tactics, and policies pursued by the Harding Administration. Third, this work briefly describes the context of the Harding Era, basically the period from 1920 through 1923.

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Book SynopsisOver the decades, histories of Lyndon Johnson have continued to evolve. There remain many debated questions even more than 40 years after his death. The 37th president is, even today -- and more so than others who have attained the nation''s highest elected office -- such a larger than life figure that no single biographical work fully captures or contains him. Johnson dominated government and American public life for a relatively brief time, only a half-decade. Yet, his personality and his policies have resonated for far longer. While topics such as the Great Society and Vietnam continue to capture the attention of many scholars, later rounds of revisionism also brought into focus other aspects of the Johnson presidency. Historians and thinkers continue to wrestle with questions as relevant to today as they were during the Johnson administration. These include debates over the proper role of government in its citizens'' lives, the conduct of elected officials and the "credibility gap" during wartime, the extent to which the federal government is capable of transforming society, and the limits of social welfare policies. He continues to be ranked very high on domestic policy, even while he is criticised for escalating American involvement in the Vietnam War. His stock has been much slower to rise than other presidents following their deaths, perhaps because many of the controversial issues of his presidency remain controversial and unresolved today. For that reason, his legacy remains unresolved, yet he continues to inspire and fascinate. For as long as additional records continue to be declassified and released at the Johnson Presidential Library on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, new studies continue to be written, creating opportunities for fresh perspectives on both familiar and emerging discussions. His long rehabilitation continues.

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Book SynopsisThe American presidency has become one of the most powerful offices in the world with the ascendancy of American power in the 20th century. ''White House Studies Compendium'' brings together piercing analyses of the American presidency -- dealing with both current issues and historical events. The compendia are the bound issues of ''White House Studies'' with the addition of a comprehensive subject index.

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Book SynopsisThe American presidency has become one of the most powerful offices in the world with the ascendancy of American power in the 20th century. "White House Studies Compendium" brings together piercing analyses of the American presidency and deals with both current issues and historical events. This volume pays special attention to US presidential leadership at the UN from 1945 to present.

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Book SynopsisThe American presidency has become one of the most powerful offices in the world with the ascendency of American power in the 20th century. "White House Studies Compendium" brings together piercing analyses of the American presidency and deals with both current issues and historical events. This volume pays special attention to comparisons of the presidencies of George W Bush and Barack Obama.

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Book SynopsisDuring the 1992 campaign, Bill Clinton repeatedly sought to distance himself from the liberal orthodoxy that had come to define the Democratic Party''s national image. Labeling himself a "New Democrat," Clinton supported the death penalty, criticized racially incendiary remarks by black political activist Sister Souljah and promised to "end welfare as we know it." These pronouncements enabled Clinton to position himself as a moderate. In 1992, independent voters who had supported Republicans in previous elections returned to support the Democratic presidential candidate. As President, Clinton pledged to pursue "third way" policies that would synthesize the best of liberal and conservative ideas for the benefit of the nation. This volume, assessing the domestic policies of the Clinton administration, addresses two broad though closely related questions. First, was the New Democrat approach substantively significant or merely rhetorical? Second, did the policies themselves succeed in furthering the national interest? This collection features papers and commentaries initially presented at the 2005 Hofstra University Conference, "William Jefferson Clinton: The New Democrat'' from Hope," in which dozens of top scholars, journalists and Clinton Administration officials evaluated the Clinton Administration''s legacy. In this volume, political scientist Stephen K. Medvic and former White House senior staffer Elaine C. Kamarck examine the meaning of Clinton''s New Democrat philosophy. Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin and economist Dean Baker offer commentary on economic policy. Clinton Trade Representative Mickey Kantor and Pepperdine University business law professor Larry Bumgardner offer evaluations of the administration''s trade policies. Hofstra University information technology professor Laura Lally discusses the Clinton Administration''s technology policy, and political scientist Robert J. Spitzer examines gun control policy.

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Book SynopsisComing from humble origins in Illinois, Ronald Reagan always carried an optimism that life would get better, and with his education from small Eureka College, he moved on to become a radio announcer in Iowa and an actor for Warner Brothers in Hollywood. As World War II ended, his political consciousness grew to the point that he appreciated a palpable Communist influence in Hollywood an influence he fought as president of the Screen Actors Guild. He became a Republican turned off by large government programs and high tax rates that stifled personal initiative, and a televised 1964 speech in support of Senator Barry Goldwater''s presidential campaign put him on the political map. After his acting career moved from motion pictures to television, he decided at his friends'' urging to run for governor of California in 1966. He won and served two terms as a successful governor, cutting government waste and abuse of the welfare rolls while protecting law and order and the environment. After the great trials of the nation with Watergate and the Vietnam War, Reagan challenged fellow Republicans for president in 1976 unsuccessfully, but he learned a lot. Following the economic decline of the late 1970s, the nation was ready for Reagan as president in the 1980 election. He won wide success and popularity over two terms even overcoming the Iran-Contra scandal -- by cutting taxes, trusting the people''s ability to work hard and give to others in need, and by never backing down to the Soviet Union. He also dreamed of nuclear weapons'' elimination; he at least managed the elimination of one class of weapons with the INF Treaty signed with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987. The Cold War was effectively won with Reagan''s presidency.

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Book SynopsisJames Monroe was the fifth president of the United States, whose terms extended from his election in 1816 through his retirement after the election of 1824. He brought an extensive résumé to the office, as Monroe had fought in the American Revolution, served in the Articles of Confederation Congress, became a lawyer, served as Governor of Virginia, Minister to France, England, and Spain, and was elected president as a Democratic-Republican. He had married Elizabeth Kortright from New York who spoke fluent French, and she greatly assisted him in rescuing the Marquise Adrienne Lafayette family during the French Reign of Terror. James Monroe was a deliberate man who studied all sides of a political question, consulted with his Cabinet, and made his own decisions with an instinct for command. He was a man''s man who rode hard, shot sure, spoke plainly, and loved his family unconditionally. He worked hard to establish himself as a planter aristocrat in Virginia and befriended most politicians of his era, working with George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, and David Livingston. Monroe was an ardent negotiator and was instrumental in securing the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. He is most well-known and admired for his famed Monroe Doctrine, which guaranteed the independence of Latin American countries following the Napoleonic Wars. Monroe was a true statesman who ensured America''s national security by rounding out U.S. natural boundaries through treaties and diplomacy, and provided for strong defenses at U.S. ports, harbors, and military installations. By enforcing the Monroe Doctrine, President Monroe established a strong place for America in world affairs, earning international respect and admiration.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the incident that forged Canada's reputation as a broker of peace and a player with outsized influence in world affairs. In a world on the edge of crisis, a nation forged its identity.Shortlisted for the John W. Dafoe Book Prize“Anderson delivers a brisk, gripping yarn making excellent use of his research, including multiple interviews with surviving actors in the drama. Pearson ... is front and centre throughout. That Anderson captures him so well is a tribute to his métier as a storyteller.”— Literary Review of CanadaLester Pearson, Canada's foreign minister (and future prime minister) stands before the United Nations General Assembly. His speech, shaped by caution and hope, is a last-ditch attempt to prevent a conflict in Egypt from igniting a conflagration throughout the Middle East. He is about to carve out a razor's edge of common ground to bring together angry allies and bitter enemies by suggesting the creation of the first UN peacekeeping force.Pearson's diplomacy throughout the Suez Crisis launched a bold experiment in international security and cemented Canada's reputation as "a moderate, mediatory, middle power." In this timely biography, available now in a trade paper edition, Antony Anderson has created not only a compelling portrait of a future prime minister, but also a nuanced analysis of the political maze navigated by Pearson to avert a bloody war.Trade Review"Anderson delivers a brisk, gripping yarn making excellent use of his research, including multiple interviews with surviving actors in the drama. Pearson . . . is front and centre throughout. That Anderson captures him so well is a tribute to his métier as a storyteller." * Literary Review of Canada *

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Book SynopsisWinner, Evelyn Richardson Non-Fiction AwardFinalist, APMA Best Atlantic-Published Book Award and George Borden Writing for Change AwardAlexa McDonough’s impact on Canadian politics cannot be measured solely by election victories or seat tallies. As the first female leader of a mainstream Canadian political party, she helped transform Nova Scotian and Canadian politics. In the process, she transcended party affiliation and gender to become simply "Alexa" to Canadians across the country. In this authorized biography, veteran author Stephen Kimber chronicles Alexa’s life and political career and with it, weaves a narrative of the changing attitudes towards women in politics, from her early battles as the lone female MLA in a hostile Nova Scotian legislature to her leadership of the federal NDP to her role as senior stateswoman in Jack Layton’s shadow cabinet. Along the way, Kimber delves into McDonough’s personal life to uncover the origins of her political career: her upbringing in a wealthy family committed to progressive politics, her tightknit circles of female friends, her personal metamorphosis from "wife-of" to "leader-of," and her emergence as a political leader whose importance goes beyond partisan politics. The result is an engrossing story of one of Canada’s most beloved politicians, whose common touch and lifelong advocacy of progressive causes made her a significant player in Canadian public life.Trade Review“From the very first page of Alexa!, we’re given a look into the motivating forces that inspired her life and her work to make people’s lives better. From bringing awareness to the challenges faced by Black people in Africville and overhauling Halifax’s welfare system to her important role in advancing women’s rightful place in Canadian politics, this biography chronicles Alexa’s growing determination to build a better Canada.” -- Jagmeet Singh“A deeply personal, yet objective, informative, and thought-provoking account of the life of one of Canada’s most inspiring parliamentarians. Alexa McDonough not only changed the face of politics in Canada and her beloved Nova Scotia, but she transformed lives and political processes. Alexa! offers readers a documented legacy of a political leader we could emulate. This book will inspire generations to continue the work she started.” -- Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard“Excellent and highly recommended ... Alexa! is a compelling and well-written portrait of a trailblazing, influential politician.” -- Scott Costen * The Sidebar *

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Book SynopsisThis biography of Tariana Turia sees family members, iwi leaders, social justice advocates and politicians share their experiences of this remarkable woman.While parliament was not part of her life plan, Tariana Turia was involved in many community initiatives. A turning point came in 1995, when Tariana’s leadership was evident in the reoccupation of Pakaitore. Here was a woman with the courage to care, the determination to speak up and a deep commitment to whanau. Inevitably, she was invited to stand in the 1996 general election. In her eighteen years as an MP, she advanced thinking in the disability area, advocated for tobacco reform and spoke out about sexual abuse, violence and racism. She also led the Whanau Ora initiative. In 2004, she crossed the floor, leading to the birth of the Maori Party.

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Book SynopsisEarly in the morning of 4 March 2015, a fierce knock at the door heralded the start of a new chapter in Harvey Proctor's almost continuous relationship with the police and media, when officers from the Metropolitan Police raided his home in connection with Operation Midland, Scotland Yard's investigation into allegations of a historic Westminster paedophile ring.In Credible and True - words famously used by the police to describe the allegations of Proctor's traducer - the former Conservative MP talks frankly about his life in and out of Parliament, from the struggles and controversy surrounding his resignation in 1987 to the numerous homophobic attacks endured since - one of which, revealed here in horrific detail for the first time, was a very nearly successful attempt on his life.Finally, he speaks candidly about his most recent embroilment in Operation Midland, of being the victim of a 'homosexual witch-hunt' that has all but destroyed his reputation, adding to the topical debate about police lack of due process in the post-Savile world of 'guilty until proven innocent'.Trade Review"This is the first book to be written - the first full, personal account - by someone on the receiving end of a horrific and shameful police scandal. The argument is incredibly strong; the facts are astonishing; the story is compelling." - Matthew Parris; "I have read no more painful account of the value of the presumption of innocence, or of the cruelty that comes without it." - Lord Ken Macdonald QC; "Credible and True will be an important reference book when historians research the era in which the fundamental tenet of the British justice system - 'innocent until proven guilty' - was inverted by the police. It takes great courage to stand up to the misdirected weight of the state. Harvey Proctor had that courage." - Paul Gambaccini; "Harvey Proctor's memoir carries a deadly serious message about victimisation ... This book is extraordinary." - Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisBy any measure, the story of the Scottish National Party is an extraordinary one.Forced to endure decades of electoral irrelevance since its creation in the 1930s, during which it often found itself grappling with internal debate on strategy, and rebellion from within its own ranks, the SNP virtually swept the board in the 2015 general election, winning all but three of Scotland's fifty-nine seats in Westminster. What's more, under the current leadership of Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP has never been a more important force in the landscape of British politics.The leaders who have stood at its helm during this tumultuous eighty-year history - from Sir Alexander MacEwen to Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond - have steered the SNP vessel with varying degrees of success, but there is no doubt that all have contributed to the shape, purpose and ultimate goal of the party of government we see today.The latest addition to the acclaimed British Political Leaders series, Scottish National Party Leaders examines each of these senior figures for the first time, and is essential reading for anyone curious about how this former fringe party evolved into a political phenomenon, changing not only the face of Scottish politics, but British politics as well.Trade Review"A powerful, persuasive and long overdue account of the personalities who have shaped and sustained modern Scottish nationalism since its foundations a century ago." - Ian Jack, writer and journalist; "This book provides a fascinating backdrop to the interesting political times Scotland now faces and the characters that lived the dream that has never died." - Kenny MacAskill, former SNP minister and former MSP; "A fascinating journey through eighty years of Scottish political history, full of insights and lessons for us all. Scholarly and thorough, but also creditably human." - John Harris, The Guardian; "Each of the men and women who guided the SNP, as diverse in temperament as the talents of the authors who bring them to life in this remarkable book, made decisions which still mark the party. Their life sketches, and those of a score of others, make this book an absorbing argument for how human agency, with spoonfuls of sheer luck, can construct political triumph." - Neal Ascherson, author of Stone Voices: The Search for Scotland

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Book SynopsisHe is a most unlikely revolutionary: a middle-aged, middle-class former grammar schoolboy who honed his radicalism on the mean streets of rural Shropshire. Last summer, this little-known outsider rode a wave of popular enthusiasm to win the Labour Party leadership by a landslide, with a greater mandate than any British political leader before him.One year on, as Corbyn struggles to retain his grip on the leadership amid open revolt from his own MPs, this new edition of the critically acclaimed biography brings the Jeremy Corbyn story fully up to date, setting out how this very British iconoclast managed to snatch the leadership of a party he spent forty years rebelling against ...and how the party has rebelled against him in turn.Engaging, clear-sighted and above all revealing, Comrade Corbyn explores the extraordinary story of the most unexpected leader in modern British politics.Trade Review"Fascinating and forensic - a real insight into the making of Labour's accidental leader. Meticulously researched and always even-handed, this is a very human portrait of a figure who has become a byword for controversy. Essential reading for anyone who follows politics." - Mary Riddell, Daily Telegraph; "Comrade Corbyn is a real political thriller with a revolutionary ending. This is British politics' most incredible political journey. Ever." - Kevin Maguire, Daily Mirror; "Rosa Prince's explosive new biography reveals why the Labour leader has not changed with the times." - The Telegraph; "Comprehensive and forensic." - Progress; "An accomplished study and the most lucid explanation yet of the Labour Party's present state." - New Statesman; "A clear, well-researched and fair-minded account." - Daily Mail; "[Rosa Prince] has described in extraordinarily close detail exactly how, methodologically, it happened that Corbyn became leader." - David Sexton, Evening Standard; "An affectionate portrait of a man that Prince obviously thinks has landed himself in the wrong job." - The Independent; "(An) engaging and accomplished analysis." - Jason Cowley, Sunday Times; "Prince has produced a well- researched and balanced account of the rise of this most unlikely politician." - The Spectator

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Book SynopsisMargaret Thatcher’s premiership changed the face of modern Britain. Yet few people know of the critical role played by Jews in sparking and sustaining her revolution. Was this chance, choice, or simply a reflection of the fact that, as the Iron Lady herself said: `I just wanted a Cabinet of clever, energetic people and frequently that turned out to be the same thing’? In this book, the first to explore Mrs Thatcher’s relationship with Britain’s Jewish community, Robert Philpot shows that her regard did not come simply from representing a constituency with more Jewish voters than any other, but stretched back to her childhood. She saw her own philosophical beliefs expressed in the values of Judaism – and in it, too, she saw elements of her beloved father’s Methodist teachings. Margaret Thatcher: The Honorary Jew explores Mrs Thatcher’s complex and fascinating relationship with the Jewish community and draws on archives and a wide range of memoirs and exclusive interviews, ranging from former Cabinet ministers to political opponents. It reveals how Immanuel Jakobovits, the Chief Rabbi, assisted her fight with the Church of England and how her attachment to Israel led her to internal battles as a member of Edward Heath’s government and as Prime Minister, as well as examining her relationships with various Israeli leaders.Trade Review"Meticulously researched and skilfully written, this book delivers something that's very difficult to do these days - namely to provide a genuinely fresh perspective on one of Britain's, indeed the world's, most talked-about political icons." - Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London; "We all think we know about Maggie - and especially her relationship with the Jewish community and Israel. Robert Philpot's brilliantly readable book shows just how superficial the received wisdom is. Anyone who wants to understand what made Baroness Thatcher tick needs to read this." - Stephen Pollard , Editor of the Jewish Chronicle; "An original and important contribution to works on Thatcherism. This well-researched book is filled with fresh insights into the rapport the Prime Minister had with her circle of energetic Cabinet Ministers and No. 10 advisors from Jewish backgrounds. Philpot's revealing portraits of Keith Joseph, Nigel Lawson, Malcolm Rifkind, David Young, Alfred Sherman, Stephen Sherbourne and other key figures are particularly perceptive." - Jonathan Aitken

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Book SynopsisAs a key player during the election campaign and transition, and Donald Trump's press secretary for the first seven months in the White House, Sean Spicer found himself on the front line between Trump and the press - regularly jousting with the media and having to explain the President's policy decisions and comments to America and the world. The Briefing taps into Spicer's first-hand experience in the front row of the Trump campaign and presidency, shedding new light on the most controversial moments, sharing stories of the personalities involved and, ultimately, setting the record straight.

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Book SynopsisImagined by one of the world's foremost JFK scholars, this fictionalised conversation presents the essential biography of America's most glamorous and mythologised president. For many, the presidency of John F. Kennedy was a magic interlude in American history. His admirers saw him as a leader of intelligence and imagination, who wielded power with grace, courage and verve - although detractors have questioned the depth of his convictions and drawn attention to his serial philandering. Kennedy's rise also marked the beginning of modern "celebrity" politics - a politician with film star charisma who proved ideally suited to the new age of television. Meet the man himself and he'll tell you how it felt to have his finger on the red button when the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war. The book is divided into two parts: a biographical essay that provides a concise overview of JFK's life, achievements, scandals and controversies; and a Q&A dialogue based on rigorous research and incorporating JFK's actual spoken or written words whenever possible, along with rigorously researched biographical interpretations of his various views and positions. Here you will find all the key moments in JFK's life and career: his early days at Harvard and the US Navy; his family background and the importance of his Catholic faith; running for office against Richard Nixon; his clashes with communist power in Berlin and Cuba; the Civil Rights movement; Vietnam; and the president's often scandalous personal life that was carefully concealed from an adoring public. Kennedy's assassination on 22 November 1963 marked the beginning of a tumultuous and bitterly divided decade, and birthed countless conspiracy theories that thrive to this day. These legacies of polarisation and suspicion of established authority have assumed particular salience in the 21st century.

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Book SynopsisDid you know that Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka was the first woman in the world to become a democratically elected prime minister? That Tina Anselmi was a wartime resistance fighter who became the first woman to serve as a cabinet minister in Italy? Or that Sylvie Kinigi of Burundi was the first woman to serve as a prime minister in Africa? It is high time these extraordinary women who helped shape our world became household names, and this book brings them at last to the fore.Women Who Won is a celebration of 70 women from the last 100 years: politicians from around the globe who fought for election in a man’s world… and won. Beautifully illustrated by artist Emmy Lupin, it features well-known figures, including Kamala Harris, Benazir Bhutto, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Jacinda Ardern and Julia Gillard, alongside lesser-known women whose stories are ready to be heard: Shidzue Katō, one of the first women elected to the Diet of Japan Yulia Tymoshenko, the first woman prime minister of Ukraine Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the US Congress Peri-Khan Sofieva, the first democratically elected Muslim woman Ethel Blondin-Andrew, the first Indigenous woman elected to Canadian parliament Women of the past, but also women of the present and future. Women who smashed the political glass ceiling. Women who fought to leave a positive legacy for future generations. Women who paved the way for girls of today to become women who won.

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Book Synopsis'A gem. Brief, authoritative and fair in its judgements - an intensely readable introduction to this most complex and fascinating man' - Graham Farmelo, award-winning author of The Strangest ManA new and dynamic reappraisal of Winston Churchill, and his finest hour in 1940-1.Who was Winston Churchill? Even fifity years after his death he is one of the most iconic figures in British history: as a young man he was a maverick journalist, his many positions in politics before 1940 marked him out as a courageous but foolhardy man. Yet it is Churchill's record in war, which has recently been questioned, that confirms his genius as a military commander and national leader ­- someone who understood the dangers of Nazi Germany before 1939; someone uniquely capable to lead the empire through the turmoil of the Second World War. Catherwood argues that it was Churchill's stand in 1940-41 that saved Britain and only he was able to bring together the allies that eventually defeated Hitler in 1945.Catherwood has produced a challenging yet accessible reassessment of the life and career of Winston Churchill, lion of British history and flawed hero.Trade ReviewChristopher Catherwood is a master at explaining complex historical issues in an admirably clear way. In this fascinating account of Churchill's career he illustrates some very important features of 20th century history, at the same time as presenting a very human portrait of that great figure. This is a very fine book indeed. -- Alexander McCall SmithA gem. Brief, authoritative and fair in its judgements - an intensely readable introduction to this most complex and fascinating man. * Graham Farmelo, author of The Strangest Man, winner of the Costa Biography Prize. *

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Book SynopsisWhat makes a man put politics and ambition before family? Ed Miliband is perhaps the least understood political leader of modern times. This book reveals where he has come from and where he is going. It charts his unique upbringing, against the backdrop of tragedy and with a prominent Marxist thinker for a father. But Ed's story cannot be fully understood outside the context of his struggle to emerge from the shadow of his elder brother, David. Ed followed David to the same college at Oxford, into Parliament and into the Cabinet before, at the eleventh hour, snatching away David's dream of the leadership.Trade Review"Well written and expertly researched, this book is essential reading for anybody wanting to understand either Ed Miliband or the modern Labour Party." Peter Oborne "Exhaustively researched and written with unflagging energy ... may prove to be the definitive account of the formative years and rise to power. "John Gray, The Guardian

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Book SynopsisForeword by John Bercow In 2011 John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, instigated a series of public lectures in which current parliamentarians reassessed the careers and characters of earlier parliamentary giants and the result was a sequence of fascinating reappraisals of some of the great political lives. Many of the pieces were informed by the lecturer having worked closely with the subject, while others such as Nicholas Soames on his grandfather Winston Churchill draw on even closer personal experience. But every contribution offers fresh insights, anecdotes and a new angle. The roll-call, both of lecturers and subjects, is outstanding: Kenneth Morgan on DAVID LLOYD GEORGE, Sir Peter Tapsell on F. E. SMITH, Shirley Williams on NANCY ASTOR, Nicholas Soames on SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL, Gordon Marsden on ANEURIN BEVAN, Neil Kinnock on MICHAEL FOOT, Philip Norton on ENOCH POWELL, Douglas Hurd on IAIN MACLEOD, Andrew Adonis on ROY JENKINS, John Whittingdale on MARGARET THATCHER, Tristram Hunt on TONY BENN. A fascinating insight into the character of the great politicians.

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Book SynopsisIn the wake of the inconclusive May 2010 general election Lord Adonis and other senior Labour figures sat down for talks with the Liberal Democrat leadership to try to persuade them to govern Britain together in a Lib - Lab coalition. The talks ultimately resulted in failure for Labour amid recriminations on both sides and the accusation that the Lib Dems had conducted a dutch auction, inviting Labour to outbid the Tories on a shopping list of demands. Despite calls for him to give his own account of this historic sequence of events, Adonis has kept his own counsel until now. Published to coincide with the third anniversary of the general election that would eventually produce an historic first coalition government since the Second World War, 5 Days In May is a remarkable and important insider account of the dramatic negotiations that led to its formation. It also offers the author's views on what the future holds as the run-up to the next election begins. 5 Days in May presents a unique eyewitness account of a pivotal moment in political history.Trade ReviewRevelatory and quietly shocking. The Guardian Details with breathless energy the plotting, late - night phone calls and the desperately fading hopes of Brown's government from inside Number 10 - Fascinatingly candid - Adonis's description of the hectic negotiations is absorbing for its detail and the palpable sense of chaos at the heart of the British establishment - Flashes of irony and slapstick - Convincing book by a man generally more interested in ideas than tribal loyalties - This book may prove to be his most important work. The Telegraph If anyone is going to spend five days inside the head of anyone, Adonis is a good candidate. He is intelligent, moderate and nice. The Spectator A West Wing-style thriller. New Statesman [An] invaluable book on the negotiations that led to the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. The Observer This is a political thriller with a twist. Times Literary Supplement It is a book full of anger, recrimination and justice...But this adds to the interest as the words crackle with barely concealed rage. Total Politics 'as gripping as any Dan Brown page-turner.' Choice Magazine 'Without a doubt the political book of the summer, alongside Charles Moore's Thatcher biography - As both a tell-all (it's peppered with key details about Labour front benchers) and an examination of coalition governments, it makes for a compelling read. Unsurprisingly, Nick Clegg doesn't come off well.' GQ '[T]here is a revelation on almost every page of Adonis's book.' The Independent 'All Adonis' books are important, and now is the time to read one.' Independent on Sunday " [It] challenges conventional wisdom about the forming of the coalition. Anyone who might be near the leadership of the Labour Party in 2015 needs to read this now."Independent on Sunday "An inside account of how the coalition was formed [ - ] It is advice the Labour leader would be wise to take." New Statesman

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Book SynopsisAs the party that has won wars, reversed recessions and held prime ministerial power more times than any other, the Conservatives have played an undoubtedly crucial role in the shaping of contemporary British society. And yet, the leaders who have stood at its helm - from Sir Robert Peel to David Cameron, via Benjamin Disraeli, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher - have steered the party vessel with enormously varying degrees of success.;With the widening of the franchise, revolutionary changes to social values and the growing ubiquity of the media, the requirements, techniques and goals of Conservative leadership since the party's nineteenth-century factional breakaway have been forced to evolve almost beyond recognition - and not all its leaders have managed to keep up.;This comprehensive and enlightening book considers the attributes and achievements of each leader in the context of their respective time and diplomatic landscape, offering a compelling analytical framework by which they may be judged, detailed personal biographies from some of the country's foremost political critics, and exclusive interviews with former leaders themselves.; An indispensable contribution to the study of party leadership, British Conservative Leaders is the essential guide to understanding British political history and governance through the prism of those who created it.;Contributing authors include Matthew d'Ancona, Tim Bale, Stuart Ball, Jim Buller, John Campbell, John Charmley, Charles Clarke, Mark Davies, Patrick Diamond, David Dutton, Dr Mark Garnett, Richard A. Gaunt, William Hague, Angus Hawkins, Timothy Heppell, Andrew Holt, Michael Howard, Toby S. James, Nigel Keohane, Jo-Anne Nadler, T. G. Otte, Anne Perkins, Robert Saunders, Anthony Seldon, Andrew Taylor, D. R. Thorpe and Alan Wager.Trade Review'This is a riveting book. It succeeds as a work of history - the best authors on their topic of expert knowledge. It succeeds in understanding the Conservative Party, its flexibility and understanding of power. And, most interestingly, it succeeds as a reflection on political leadership. Read this if your side has just lost an election and wants to win the next one. Read it if your side has just won an election and wants to avoid losing the next one. Read it if you don't have a side.' - Daniel Finkelstein; 'I found this book a fascinating read because it is such a distinctively political analysis of various Conservative leaders and concentrates on their political successes or failures as leaders of a party. This gives an intriguing insight into an essential element of any political leader's career, which is usually only written about as background to the events of the 'reign'. I found the analysis absorbing.' - Ken Clarke; 'Puts David Cameron's 2015 victory in context - and shows him to be among the greatest winners in the long history of the Conservative Party.' - Boris Johnson

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Book SynopsisChristina Isajiw's book Negotiating Human Rights: In Defence of Dissidents during the Soviet Era. A Memoir chronicles the activities of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians (WCFU) during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly this NGO's defense of Ukrainian dissidents and human rights activists within the context of the so-called Helsinki Process that followed the signing of the Helsinki Accords in 1975. The author recounts the courage and dedication of human rights activists in the former USSR and the efforts on the part of their supporters in the West to lobby Western governments to pressure the political establishments of the USSR and other Eastern bloc countries to implement the human rights provisions of the Helsinki Final Act. In describing the many international conferences and intergovernmental negotiations that provided the framework for these activities, the author provides insight into the evolution of the Helsinki Process and the development of Western commitment to human rights, all of which contributed to the revolutionary changes in Eastern Europe of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The book includes a CD with relevant documentation.

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Book SynopsisWhen Abraham Lincoln said, 'You can be anything you want to be,' Americans, and eventually everybody everywhere, lifted their sights. Nowadays anybody can aspire to be a leader, and nearly everybody has to lead sometimes. In his first book, Simon McDonald assumes that thinking about leadership before you lead helps you to lead better. No matter the circumstances in which we might be called to lead - be it at work, on the sports field, or in the community - the example of top leaders in politics and public service (both their successes and shortcomings) can help you figure out your own approach. Over nearly four decades in HM Diplomatic Service, Simon worked for four permanent under-secretaries and a dozen senior ambassadors before becoming permanent under-secretary himself and leading the Service (which has over 14,000 staff in 270 countries worldwide) for five years. He also worked directly for six foreign secretaries and saw five prime ministers work at close quarters. Observing these people undertaking the most important and often the most difficult work in the country, Simon saw the behaviours which helped them achieve their objectives, and those which hindered them. He then had the chance to try to apply that learning. In a closing chapter that considers the future of leadership in the UK, Simon McDonald makes a compelling case for the reform of the monarchy, the cabinet, civil service and, in particular, the House of Lords, of which he has been a member since 2021. Leadership of the United Kingdom is being debated as never before. This book is a clear-sighted and insightful contribution to that debate.

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Book SynopsisGord Mackintosh was not your typical politician and this book is not your typical political memoir. Mackintosh steps out of his familiar role as the Manitoba NDP’s go-to guy, foot soldier and law reformer to provide a unique take on the quirky places and people behind his long and varied career. From secret passages, archaisms, and funny business at Manitoba’s Legislature, to door-knocking surprises, crime-fighting and “saving Mother Earth,” Mackintosh weaves warm-hearted anecdotes of his many years in public life. Hooey, hijinks, and embarrassment that humanize our political system are interspersed with major political events of the last thirty years, for which he had suspiciously differing roles. Whether Manitoba’s French Language Crisis, the Meech Lake Crisis, the MTS Debate, the Flood of the Century, the Auto Theft Capital of North America, or the internal rebellion against Premier Greg Selinger, he still urges, “It wasn’t me.” Calling it “more sunshine sketches than social science”, Mackintosh exposes what it’s really like in politics, with seasoned political advice, strong opinion -- including an “unbiased view” of opponents, and a celebration of leadership. He also offers a self-deprecating backstory to many government decisions—required reading for Manitoba citizens of any political stripe.

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Book SynopsisBob Woodward’s new book, Rage, is an unprecedented and intimate tour de force of new reporting on the Trump presidency facing a global pandemic, economic disaster and racial unrest.Woodward, the #1 international bestselling author of Fear: Trump in the White House, has uncovered the precise moment the president was warned that the Covid-19 epidemic would be the biggest national security threat to his presidency. In dramatic detail, Woodward takes readers into the Oval Office as Trump’s head pops up when he is told in January 2020 that the pandemic could reach the scale of the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed 675,000 Americans. In 17 on-the-record interviews with Woodward over seven volatile months—an utterly vivid window into Trump’s mind—the president provides a self-portrait that is part denial and part combative interchange mixed with surprising moments of doubt as he glimpses the perils in the presidency and what he calls the “dynamite behind every door.” At key decision points, Rage shows how Trump’s responses to the crises of 2020 were rooted in the instincts, habits and style he developed during his first three years as president. Revisiting the earliest days of the Trump presidency, Rage reveals how Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats struggled to keep the country safe as the president dismantled any semblance of collegial national security decision making. Rage draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand witnesses as well as participants’ notes, emails, diaries, calendars and confidential documents. Woodward obtained 25 never-seen personal letters exchanged between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who describes the bond between the two leaders as out of a “fantasy film.” Trump insists to Woodward he will triumph over Covid-19 and the economic calamity. “Don’t worry about it, Bob. Okay?” Trump told the author in July. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll get to do another book. You’ll find I was right.”

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Book SynopsisAn illuminating new biography of the young Jackie Bouvier Kennedy that covers her formative adventures abroad in Paris; her life as a writer and photographer at a Washington, DC, newspaper; and her romance with a dashing, charismatic Massachusetts congressman who shared her intellectual passion.Camera Girl brings to cinematic life Jackie’s years as a young, single woman trying to figure out who she wanted to become. Chafing at the expectations of her family and the societal limitations placed on women in that era, Jackie pursued her dream of becoming a writer. Set primarily during the years of 1949 to 1953, when Jackie was in her early twenties, the book recounts in heretofore unrevealed detail the story of her late college years and her early adulthood as a working woman. Before she met Jack Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier was the Washington Times-Herald’s “Inquiring Camera Girl,” posing compelling questions to members of the public on the streets of DC and snapping their photos with her unwieldy Graflex camera. She then fashioned the results into a daily column, of which six hundred were published. Carl Sferrazza Anthony, a historian and leading expert on First Ladies, draws on these columns and previously unseen archives of Jackie’s writings from this time, along with insights gleaned from interviews he conducted with the former First Lady’s friends, colleagues, and family members. Camera Girl offers a fresh perspective on the woman later known as Jacqueline Kennedy and Jackie O, introducing us to the headstrong, self-assured young woman who went on to be one of the world’s most famous people. It’s a glamorous and surprisingly hard-charging story of a person determined to define herself, told with admiration, empathy, and journalistic rigor.Trade Review“In Camera Girl, Carl Anthony slows down the story of Jacqueline Bouvier so that her complexity and wide range of interests can be grasped during the period of her life before marriage, political obligation, and tragedy—when she is forming a distinct sense of what role she hopes to someday play in the larger world. From designing her red ‘Bouvier cape,’ to her descriptive letters of new cultures and shrewd assessments of individuals, to her cartooning skills, to translating and analyzing French diplomatic and military texts about Indochina, we see Jackie in her fullness. For anyone of any age, the Jackie in Camera Girl offers an example of intentional living.” —Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Happened “Carl Anthony has found a wholly refreshing way to look at one of the most gazed upon women in American history, while also revealing how essential Jackie Bouvier was to Jack Kennedy's intellectual and political development. Camera Girl is as delightful as it is insightful.” —David Maraniss, New York Times bestselling author of Barack Obama: The Story “In this charming portrait, Carl Anthony traces the genesis of Jacqueline Kennedy's mesmerizing personality. Behind her privileged upbringing, Jackie coped with a dysfunctional family and cultivated an independent spirit as well as a questing intellect. In Anthony's telling, her determination to make her way on her own terms foreshadowed her groundbreaking role as First Lady.” —Sally Bedell Smith, New York Times bestselling author of Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House “A lively depiction of a young woman who relished every opportunity to regard the world from her own perspective.” —The New Yorker, Best Books of 2023 "Whether she’s avoiding a traffic ticket after speeding in her car named Zelda, or translating books for Kennedy’s report on the history of France in Indochina, this portrait of young Jackie Bouvier shines with wit and intelligence." —Library Journal, starred review “Camera Girl offers one of the most detailed, nuanced portraits of Jackie to date." —The Washington Post “A convincing and colorful reconsideration of a first lady known more for her style than her substance . . . [Anthony] sheds intriguing light on Jackie’s stint as a columnist for the Washington Times-Herald, the engagement she called off prior to marrying JFK, and her volatile and occasionally violent relationship with her mother.” —Publishers Weekly “The Jacqueline Bouvier whom Carl Anthony brings to life in these deeply researched pages is a revelation. She is defiant, curious, independent—and a rule-breaker determined to chart a course that would make history take notice.” —Karen Tumulty, author of The Triumph of Nancy Reagan “Anthony uncovers the root of Jackie’s distinctive blend of rebelliousness and vulnerability, independence and insecurity that would attract and confound supporters and critics alike. By drawing on extensive interviews with Jackie’s contemporaries and family, oral histories, and presidential archives, Anthony delivers a well-rounded depiction of this eternally fascinating, covertly complicated, and perennially misunderstood historical and cultural icon.” —Booklist “What shaped Jackie Kennedy Onassis to become one of the most influential women of the 20th century? In this lively, dishy account, author Carl Anthony traces four formative years when she was Jacqueline Bouvier, negotiating her way into adulthood with a determination and an independence that belied the reserved mien she showed to the world. ‘Become distinct,’ she told herself. And so she did.” —Susan Page, New York Times bestselling author of The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty "Prior to her marriage to John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier was an ambitious journalist and photographer, a remarkable period of her life captured in this engaging coming-of-age biography . . . Drawing on Bouvier’s letters and interviews, Anthony pulls together a compelling portrait of a young woman facing both the problems of her time and timeless issues. Should she focus on her career or getting married? How can she be respectful to her problematic parents while still declaring her own adult independence? A well-crafted biography that could easily spawn both a delightful TV drama or a historical look at female journalists." —Kirkus, starred review

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Book SynopsisTurkey fell subject to the gravest treachery in the history of the Republic. An attempt to make a ferocious coup on 15 July 2016 was carried out by this movement of betrayal, which was carefully planned for almost fifty years by foreign powers, sources of evil and their domestic collaborators, this movement of betrayal that was advanced by using all kinds of deceits and means, and this movement of betrayal that expanded step by step through abusing the trust and the virtuous intention of our people and all the Muslims. Their true aim was to create a chaotic situation by eliminating the President of the Republic, who was directly elected by the people, the Government and the Grand Turkish National Assembly. Thus, they wanted to prepare an environment susceptible to foreign intervention and, henceforth an invasion. The past and the present of this activity of treachery committed by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization is presented in detail in this book.

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Book SynopsisThe book "Manmohan's Dream India" explores the government's strategies for transforming the Indian economy through rural development, aiming to bridge the gap with urban development. This vision is seen as a 'Second Revolution' following the Green Revolution, with the goal of completely transforming the country's economy.

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