[BrianNYC]

Howdy all, I'm a long-time Mayberry lurker but only registered a few days ago. Basically, what 'hooked' me into Mayberry are the intellectual discussions about philosophy, theology and some about careers. I also read a lot of books and there are times when I've seen some good book recommendations here in Mayberry.

However, I have a dilemma. I've been trying to get a good and unbiased political book that will help me fully understand the differences among the ideals of political parties. Upon searching for political books online, the ones I've seen are full of biased and are either in the extreme left or right. I just cannot read books with titles like these:

If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans
If Republicans Had Any Hearts: They'd Be Democrats
The Case Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media's Favorite Candidate
The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder

Basically, I want to be totally enlightened about the political spectrum and maybe, help me choose who to vote for in the upcoming elections. I was thinking if I should start with George Lakoff books (I heard 'Don't Think of an Elephant' is very good) but we all know Lakoff is an outspoken progressive (democrat) so there's no denying about his biases.

Can anyone help me out? Thanks.

[thebluerider]

Fantastic question. I have no answer for you, but I am curious to see what people have to say.

[TeTe lol Chin]

I just finished reading Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas. It was a very fair analysis of his life and work.

I just started a new book: Richard Nixon - Alone in the White House. It seems pretty fair minded too.

[thebluerider]

Originally Posted by TeTe lol Chin

I just finished reading Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas. It was a very fair analysis of his life and work.

I just started a new book: Richard Nixon - Alone in the White House. It seems pretty fair minded too.

I think you can find books that are pretty objective regarding people or events, but finding an objective one that focuses mainly on ideology seems much harder.

[BrianNYC]

You wouldn't believe this, I posted this thread onto an book club forum and I got a reply straight from Jon Fisher, the author of one of the bookS I listed on my first post, 'If Republicans Had Any Hearts: They'd Be Democrats'. (Well, I do hope it is really him as he claims he is).

Here is Jon Fisher's exact reply:

Originally Posted by Jon Fisher

BrianNYC,

I had the same problem, so I wrote one of the books that you have rejected because of the title. If you go to Amazon and read inside the book you will discover from the first chapter that the book is not about Republican bashing. It teaches. I discus liberals and conservatives from a psychological point of view. I talk about the humanitarian foundation of socialism and how that makes Obama so dangerous. I talk about lots of issues, and I offer a fair analysis of liberal and conservative bias on these issues. At the end of the book you will find a copy of the speeches of Kennedy and Jefferson. So please check out the Read Inside The Book feature at Amazon and let me know what you think.

Jon Fisher

[thebluerider]

Originally Posted by BrianNYC

You wouldn't believe this, I posted this thread onto an book club forum and I got a reply straight from Jon Fisher, the author of one of the bookS I listed on my first post, 'If Republicans Had Any Hearts: They'd Be Democrats'. (Well, I do hope it is really him as he claims he is).

Here is Jon Fisher's exact reply:

Please read this and let us know what you think!

[Blackdanger]

unbiased and politics don't go in the same sentence man.

everyone is biased when it comes to politics

[rammsteiner]

Unbiased and political in the same sentence?

Does that even make sense?!

[cmw43]

You could just read a textbook, I had to read bits of this one for one of my politics modules and I thought it was decent.


American Politics and Society by David McKay



He also did Controversies in American Politics in Society which looks at key issues like Health Care, Gun Control etc and informs you on the issues and both parties stances on them.

Amazon.co.uk: American Politics and Society: David McKay: Books

Amazon.co.uk: Controversies in American Politics and Society: David McKay, David Houghton, Andrew Wroe: Books

[BrianNYC]

Originally Posted by thebluerider

Please read this and let us know what you think!

I will definitely put this book on my queue list and revive this thread once I finished reading