1. Dissent and The Supreme Court: Its Role in the Court's History and The Nation's Constitutional Dialogue By Melvin I. Urofsky
Illustrates how a select number of dissenting opinions of the Supreme Court have been vital in the constitutional dialogue that has shaped the U.S. Constitution and our democratic society. Identifies significant dissents that prevailed over time, where critical dialogue was initiated by the dissenters and the Court sometimes, either quickly or decades later, adjusted its position and adopted the dissenting opinion. Addresses opinions on several issues including slavery, segregation, free speech, capital punishment, abortion, and gay rights. Argues dissent and constitutional dialogue are necessary in reinventing and reinvigorating our society and essential in keeping the Constitution alive.
Pantheon Books, 2015. 426 pages.
342.7302 UR6D 2015
2. Saving Capitalism: for the Many, Not the Few By Robert B. Reich
Discusses the political landscape that has shaped our current economic system. Examines the free market and how it is regulated, the worth and value of work, and the role of countervailing power in the shaping of economic policy and discourse. Ponders how the United States economy could be made more inclusive and stable through the establishment of programs such as a basic minimum income or the scaling back of copyright protections.
Alfred A. Knopf, 2015. 279 pages.
330.973 R271S 2015
3. In Defense of a Liberal Education By Fareed Zakaria
Discusses the virtues of a liberal arts education at a time when many feel that this kind of undergraduate degree is a waste of time and money. Recounts the author's own educational experience in India and at Yale to help challenge the current belief held by many in the U.S. that students must obtain a skills-based education in order to succeed. Argues that while a professional education may ensure students a job upon graduating, it is the students who have learned to write and think clearly and analytically, and to express themselves convincingly who are of the most value to employers and society in the long run.
W.W. Norton & Company, 2015. 204 pages.
370.11 Z13I 2015
4. Hate Crimes in Cyberspace By Danielle Keats Citron
Examines cyber-stalking/harassment through a documented series of personal accounts, many of which include threats of violence, privacy invasions, and cyber-stalking. Proposes that a more proactive approach is needed to combat hate crimes online, both by legislators and private businesses. Argues that there should be a balance between an individual's right to online privacy and someone else's right to free speech online, which sets the stage for a new civil rights fight in the digital age.
Harvard University Press, 2014. 343 pages.
364.150285 C498H 2014
5. Then Comes Marriage: United States v. Windsor and the Defeat of DOMA By Roberta Kaplan with Lisa Dickey
Chronicles the history of the United States v. Windsor case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. Offers a personal and behind-the-scenes view of the litigation, including the oral argument before the Court, by the lead plaintiff's attorney in the case, Roberta Kaplan.
W.W. Norton & Company, 2015. 350 pages.
346.7301 K141C 2015
6. Democracy's Muse: How Thomas Jefferson Became an FDR Liberal, a Reagan Republican, and a Tea Party Fanatic, All the While Being Dead By Andrew Burstein
Explores how politicians on the right and left have made Thomas Jefferson the definer of essential American values, as they see them. Investigates how the past has sometimes been misappropriated, highlighting examples of racism and separation of church and state. Concludes Jefferson has become whatever an adoring posterity has needed him to be, and therefore, this critique of modern politics is as much about us as it is about Jefferson.
University of Virginia Press, 2015. 256 pages.
320.01 B949D 2015
