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UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Category Archives: American Politics
America’s Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State – Randall Balmer
(Reviewed by JD Jung) For years Americans have taken for granted the most cherished and essential constitutional principles, one being the separation of Church and State. Historian and ordained minister Randall Balmer presents a timely, thoughtful, and deeply researched examination … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Politics and Social Justice, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged American History, Christian Nationalism, Religion
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Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man’s Search for Home – Jonathan Capehart
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Everything we do in life is an audition for something. We just don’t know what for yet.” Journalist, commentator, and Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Jonathan Capehart relates his life experiences in his memoir, Yet Here I … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, Bios and Memoirs
Tagged gay, journalism, memoir, New York, race, truth
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The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine – Alexander Vindman
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Without Ukraine, Russia is a country; with Ukraine, it’s an empire.” Without an independent Ukraine we will see an acceleration of authoritarianism. This war is a fight between authoritarianism and democracy. So how did we get … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged authoritarianism, democracy, Russia, Ukraine
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On Heroism: McCain, Milley, Mattis, and the Cowardice of Donald Trump – Jeffrey Goldberg
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Why do so many politicians and public servants continue to support a man who has little regard for the military, no regard for the Constitution, and holds dictators in such high regard? Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor in … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice, Reviewers' Top Picks, Social Justice
Tagged military, political history, President, Trump
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Shameless: Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy – Brian Tyler Cohen
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “You can’t understand the Trump phenomenon unless you understand the role that independent media on the right has played in terms of social media, in terms of amplification of his message, in terms of getting his … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, Politics and Social Justice
Tagged democracy, Democratic Party, media, Republican party, social media, Trump
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Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics – Elle Reeve
(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’ve been amazed how CNN correspondent Elle Reeve has put herself in risky situations to get a story as well as to obtain the perspective of potentially dangerous people. This is even more evident in her … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, Bios and Memoirs, History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice, Social Justice
Tagged alt-right, January 6, neo-fascism
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The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America – Jeffrey Rosen
(reviewed by JD Jung) “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. But what did the “pursuit of Happiness” mean to the founding fathers? American legal scholar, Jeffrey Rosen uncovers … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Philosophical reads
Tagged American History, happiness, justice, philosophy, racism, slavery
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Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD – Jason Kander
(Reviewed by JD Jung) One would think that Jason Kander had it all. He completed his law degree from Georgetown University and was married to Diana, a girl he met when they were both seventeen. He served in the U.S. … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, Bios and Memoirs, Politics and Social Justice
Tagged Afghanistan, mental illness, PTSD, veterans
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They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency – Malcolm Nance
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “We have something new in American history…a political party defined by the terror if feels for its own voters, that’s the Republican party right now” – George Will How was Donald Trump able to transform the Republican … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice
Tagged anti-antisemitism, domestic terrorism, QAnon, racism, Republican party, terrorism, Trump
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Here, Right Matters: An American Story – Alexander Vindman
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Regardless of any impact on the president, the domestic and foreign policy consequences, or personal costs, I had no choice but to report what I’d heard. That duty to report is a critical component of U.S. … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, Bios and Memoirs, History, Immigration, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice, Reviewers' Top Picks, World Issues
Tagged Donald Trump, ethics, immigration, impeachment, military, Russia, Soviet Union
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