Rainy / Reading Season

I just hit University Bookstore in search of new titles by the disgruntled. I was wondering whethering inquiring minds and conspiring pens had been put to paper since the 2004 elections, particularly in the areas of media and election reform. My methodology was to look for a flashy cover, an intriguing title, an self-explanatory lengthy subtitle (if possible), then to delve into the liner notes, index and table of contents and read any juicy parts I could find. I have also given some presumptious awards.

It seemed like after the "2nd bloodless coup" that these three books were trendy:
1. Don't Think of An Elephant - George Lakoff
2. What's the Matter With Kansas - Thomas Frank
3. God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It - Jim Wallis
& I keep recommending
4. The Best Democracy Money Can Buy - Greg Palast

Now I'm curious about the following:

MEDIA REFORM:

Tragedy and Farce: How the American Media Sell War, Spin Elections and Damage Democracy -
Nichols & McChestnuy

Blog! How the Newest Media Revolution is Changing Politics, Business & Culture - David Kline &
Dan Barsten

Sneaking Into the Flying Circus: How the Media Turn Our Presidential Campaigns Into Freak Shows
Alexandra Pelosi (award: best book for fitting into both media & election categories)

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Democracy, the Internet & the Overthrow of Everything - Joe Trippi (award: best title)

ELECTION REFORM:

What Went Wrong in Ohio: The Conyers Report on the 2004 Presidential Election

The Great Divide: Retro vs Metro America - John Sperling

CONSERVATIVE CONSPIRACIES:

The Raw Deal: How the Bush Republicans Plan to Destroy Social Security and the Legacy to the New Deal
Joe Conason

What We've Lost: How the Administration Has Curtailed our Freedoms, Mortgaged our Economy, Ravaged the Environment & Damaged our Standing in the World - Graydon Carter

The Soft Cage: Surveillance in America from Slavery to the War on Terror - Christian Parenti

Jesus Is Not A Republican: The Religious Right's War On America - Eds Willis & Hardcastle

The Republican War on Science - Chris Mooney

BAD FOREIGN POLICY:

Weapons of Mass Distraction: Soft Power & American Empire - Matthew Fraser

The War on Truth: 9/11, Disinformation & the Anatomy of Terrorism - Nafeez Mosadeqq Ahmed

INSPIRATION:

Mr. Galloway Goes to Washington: The Brit Who Set Congress Straight About Iraq

ACTION:

Had Enough: A Handbook for Fighting Back
- James Carville

Going Nucular: Language Politics & Culture in Confrontational Times - Geoff Nunberg

Welcoming comments, critiques & suggestions

DiAnne

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE: found in a rubbish bin in Oxford, UK)

Comments

[kj]

DiAnne,

Write a blog around that picture! It's perfect. p-e-r-f-e-c-t