1. Growing Up in the Lone Star State: Notable Texans Remember Their Childhoods
By Gaylon Finklea Hecker and Marianne Odom
Presents 47 oral history interviews describing Texas in the early twentieth century: detailing how growing up in the Lone Star State benefited the interviewees. Recalls tales about the Great Depression, the two world wars, former slave colonies and sharecropper fields, the modern growth of major cities, the race to the moon, and a variety of other topics. Includes interviews with Representative Senfronia Thompson, former Representative Sarah Weddington, Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ruth Simmons, Dan Rather, Lady Bird Johnson, and Richard Overton.
Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin, 2021, 442 pages
976.4 H449G 2021

 

2. The Plague Year: America in the Time of COVID
By Lawrence Wright
Recounts the events of the year 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States in a journalistic style. Includes interviews with politicians and political aides, the developers of the mRNA vaccines, public health officials, and COVID-19 patients and their families.
Alfred A. Knopf, 2021, 322 pages
614.5 W947P 2021

 

3. The Union League and Biracial Politics in Reconstruction Texas
By Carl H. Moneyhon
Traces the establishment and role of the Republican Union League of America, a secret organization introduced in Texas in 1867 to mobilize new Black voters during Reconstruction. Details the achievements of the organization's biracial coalition of delegates and how it impacted Black voters and politicians, including former Texas Senator George T. Ruby, who was elected president of the Union League in 1868. Addresses the political controversies that led to its disbandment in 1871 by the Texas Republican Party and the effect its demise had on Black Texans.
Texas A&M University Press, 2021, 426 pages
305.8009764 M742UN 2021

 

4. Releasing the Butterfly: A Love Affair in Four Acts
By Max Sherman
Describes the decades-long love story and marriage of former Texas Senator Max Sherman and his wife, Gene Alice. Explores how the couple learned to navigate their life together as equals while he served as a member of the Texas Senate, president of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, and Dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. Provides stories of their shared adventures, Texas politics, and ultimately, how they faced Gene Alice's struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
Max Sherman, 2020, 270 pages
920 SH553R 2020

 

5. Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments, 87th Regular Session, November 2, 2021, Election
By Texas Legislative Council
Provides detailed information on the eight joint resolutions passed during the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature that propose amendments to the Texas Constitution. Notes the amendments will be offered for approval by Texas voters in the upcoming November election. Includes extensive analysis, background information, comments from both supporters and opponents, the text of the joint resolution, and the ballot language.
Texas Legislative Council, 2021, 48 pages
L1400.7 C766 2021

 

6. Condensed Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments, 87th Regular Session, November 2, 2021, Election
By Texas Legislative Council
Presents a one-page analysis for each proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution that passed during 87th Regular Session and will appear on the upcoming November election ballot. Includes the text of the proposed amendment, a summary analysis, and a summary of comments made by supporters and opponents during the legislative process.
Texas Legislative Council, 2021, 10 pages
L1400.7 C766C 2021

 

1. Just Algorithms: Using Science to Reduce Incarceration and Inform a Jurisprudence of Risk
By Christopher Slobogin
Comments on the use of risk assessment instruments in the criminal justice system – statistical formulas that predict the likelihood a person will commit a crime in the future. Explains how risk algorithms work, the types of legal questions they should answer, and the criteria for judging whether they do so in a way that minimizes bias and respects human dignity. Provides examples of a number of these instruments to illustrate their diversity and nuances. Points out the author's shorter related publication Primer on Risk Assessment Instruments for Legal Decision-Makers.
Cambridge University Press, 2021, 182 pages
345.73 SL634J 2021

 

2. When the Lone Star Froze Over - Winter Storm Uri and the Lived Experiences of Texas Low-Income Communities
By Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute
Details how Texans, particularly low-income individuals, were impacted by the February 2021 winter storm that caused 4.5 million households to lose electricity when temperatures fell below freezing. Discusses the failure of the electrical grid, the resulting increase in electricity market rates, and the unexpected consequences of the storm on low-income families, many who were already struggling with energy cost burdens. Addresses the 87th Legislature's actions following the storm, as well as regulatory actions taken by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, 2021, 18 pages
976.4 EN56W 2021

 

3. Texas Supreme Court Justice Bob Gammage: A Jurisprudence of Rights and Liberties
By John C. Domino
Examines Justice Bob Gammage's service on the Texas Supreme Court during a tumultuous period of judicial history (1991-1995), including the debate on judicial campaigns and contributions, changes in the partisan and ideological composition of Texas courts, and the birth of the judicial reform movement. Discusses Gammage's terms in the Texas Legislature from the 62nd through 64th Legislatures (1971-1976), particularly his role in the Constitutional Convention of 1974.
Lexington Books, 2020, 273 pages
347.764 D671T 2020

 

4. The Rise and Fall of the Voting Rights Act
By Charles S. Bullock III, Ronald Keith Gaddie, and Justin J. Wert
Traces the Voting Rights Act from its inception in 1965 through the Supreme Court's 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, analyzing the evolving legislation and the future of voting rights in the United States. Discusses redistricting, preclearance review, voter identification laws, and voter participation and registration in Texas. Explores potential next steps after the Shelby County ruling, including proposals to restore the preclearance process.
University of Oklahoma Press, 2016, 240 pages
342.73072 B876R 2016

 

5. Rotten Boroughs, Political Thickets, and Legislative Donnybrooks: Redistricting in Texas
By Gary A. Keith
Presents legal, political, and historical aspects of redistricting in Texas. Brings together essays on the process of redistricting since 1965 from attorneys, political scientists, and practitioners. Includes an essay by former state legislator and U.S. Congressman Craig A. Washington, on his experiences with redistricting in the Texas Legislature from the 1970s to the 1990s.
University of Texas Press, 2013, 202 pages
328.3345 R748 2013

 

6. The Evolution of American Legislatures: Colonies, Territories, and States, 1619-2009
By Peverill Squire
Explores how state legislatures have evolved in the United States and speculates how they could change in the future. Addresses the establishment of colonial assemblies and territorial legislatures as well as the institutional history of state legislatures and their professionalization since 1900. Discusses the evolution of legislative procedures and rules, including quorum standards for conducting legislative business in Texas and other states.
University of Michigan Press, 2012, 440 pages
328.73 SQ58E 2012

 

1. America's National Anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner" in U.S. History, Culture, and Law
By John R. Vile
Presents the history and cultural significance of "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States, in an encyclopedic format. Serves as a comprehensive resource on several aspects of the anthem, including the song's origin, its selection by Congress, laws and legal decisions related to its performance, and its impact on different demographic groups. Addresses controversies, such as the political protests undertaken during renditions of the anthem to highlight racial inequality
ABC-CLIO, 2021, 350 pages
973.52 V699 2021

 

2. Lone Star Vistas: Travel Writing on Texas, 1821-1861
By Astrid Haas
Examines and compares Mexican, German, and Anglo-American travel writings from military-scientific exploration, colonization, and professional journeys during the antebellum period. Argues these early accounts contributed to the public image of Texas at a time of political and social transformation. Highlights individual writers and how their backgrounds affected their views on nature, white settlement, military engagement, indigenous resistance, and slavery.
University of Texas Press, 2021, 215 pages
917.6405 H112 2021

 

3. Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants
By George W. Bush
Presents a new collection of portraits painted by former President George W. Bush. Spotlights the inspiring journeys of 43 men and women who immigrated to the U.S. and their contributions to the life and prosperity of the nation. Highlights immigrant values that are often viewed as distinctly American, including optimism and gratitude, a willingness to strive and to work, a deep sense of patriotism, and a spirit of self-reliance.
Crown Publishers, 2021, 208 pages
759.13 B963O 2021

 

4. The Republican Party of Texas A Political History
By Wayne J. Thorburn
Explores the history of the Republican Party in Texas, from its founding in the mid-1800s to its current state dominance. Concludes that while Republicans have a strong foothold in the state, the party is fighting changing demographics, and ideologies from within and outside of its own party.
University of Texas Press, 2021, 387 pages
324.2764 T487R 2021

 

5. Reverberations of Racial Violence: Critical Reflections on the History of the Border
By Sonia Hernandez and John Moran Gonzalez, editors
Compiles a series of essays inspired by the 1919 Joint Committee to Investigate the Ranger Force, which addressed the violence committed against Mexican-Americans by Texas Rangers. Explores the historical context surrounding the Ranger investigation, the life of Brownsville Representative José Tomás Canales (whose activism led to the investigation), and how the history of violence against Texans of Mexican descent has been rediscovered by a new generation of historians, writers, and filmmakers.
University of Texas Press, 2021, 310 pages
363.209764 H557R 2021

 

6. Final Results of Sunset Reviews 2020–2021
By Sunset Advisory Commission
Summarizes the actions taken by the 87th Legislature on 19 entities that were under review by the Sunset Commission prior to the Regular Session. Highlights major changes to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Provides the Sunset bill number, fiscal impact for 2022-2023, and final action taken on each of the entities reviewed.
Sunset Advisory Commission, 2021, 49 pages
S1500.8 AN79 2021

 

1. Fortunate Son: Selected Essays from the Lone Star State
By Rick Bass
Explores the meaning of being a "Texan" through literary essays. Chronicles historical state events through the author's memories and musings on nature, music, football, religion, geology, and the passage of time. Scrutinizes the ever-changing culture of the Lone Star State, with stories stretching from Galveston Bay to Wichita Falls and featuring characters such as Roy Bedichek and James McMurtry, musician and son of writer Larry McMurtry.
High Road Books, 2021, 189 pages
976.4063 B317F 2021

 

2. From a Taller Tower: The Rise of the American Mass Shooter
By Seamus McGraw
Chronicles the rise of mass shootings, beginning in 1966 on the campus of the University of Texas. Explores the backgrounds of the perpetrators, as well as the experiences of gun violence survivors, first responders, and mental health experts. Challenges the notion of a "good guy with a gun" and the cultural idolization of guns.
University of Texas Press, 2021, 240 pages
364.152 M487 2021

 

3. On Juneteenth
By Annette Gordon-Reed
Provides a series of short essays on the history of Juneteenth, a holiday marking the end of slavery in Texas, and how African Americans have played a crucial role in Texas history. Examines the author's own recollections and her family history to discuss the complexities of the Black experience in Texas.
Liveright Publishing, 2021, 148 pages
394.263 G662J 2021

 

4. A Single Star and Bloody Knuckles: A History of Politics and Race in Texas
By Bill Minutaglio
Recounts a history of Texas politics from the June 19 ("Juneteenth") order announcing the emancipation of slaves in Texas in 1865 to the 2020 election, with an eye to how race and racism have shaped the institutions and mythology of the state. Profiles both well-known and forgotten figures in Texas political history, such as Barbara Jordan, George W. Bush, labor activist Emma Tenayuca, and Reconstruction Governor Edmund Davis.
University of Texas Press, 2021, 376 pages
976.406 M668 2021

 

5. The Texas Triangle: An Emerging Power in the Global Economy
By Henry G. Cisneros, David Hendricks, J. H. Cullum Clark, and William Fulton
Studies the Texas Triangle, the interconnected urban economy consisting of three metropolitan complexes – Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston-Galveston, and Austin-San Antonio. Explains the origin of the Texas Triangle, its importance to Texas, how it compares to other economies, and its potential to become one of the most economically powerful regions in the world. Points out that the political structure that fueled the state's success during the past sixty years now has the potential to undermine the state's and the Texas Triangle's continued growth and future success.
Texas A&M University Press, 2021, 335 pages
330.9764 C579 2021

 

6. The Eyes of Texans: From Slavery to the Texas Capitol: Personal Stories from Six Generations of One Family
By Melvin Edwards
Retells the stories of six generations of the author's family, spanning from Edwards' first enslaved ancestor in Texas to his role as speechwriter for former Texas Governor Rick Perry. Features firsthand accounts detailing their lives, while delivering a glimpse into Texas history. Provides insight into the discrimination and harassment endured by African Americans along with their achievements.
Independently published, 2020, 159 pages
929.20973 ED26E 2020

 

7. Juneteenth Texas: Essays in African-American Folklore
Presents a wide variety of viewpoints on African American folklore in Texas, including personal memoirs, scholarly articles, and essays describing African American folk culture, songs, and stories. Includes an essay on the history of the Juneteenth celebration in Texas, highlighting the path to establishing it as an official state holiday with the passage of HB 1016, 66th Legislature.
University of North Texas Press, 1996, 364 pages
398 AB37 1996

 

1. Preventing the Next Pandemic: Vaccine Diplomacy in a Time of Anti-science
By Peter J. Hotez
Attributes the global rise of epidemic infectious disease to many factors, including war, climate change, shifting poverty, urbanization, and anti-vaccination views — culminating in the dramatic outbreak of COVID-19. Examines the culture of anti-science and anti-vaccination that is contributing to declines in previous global health gains and increases in vaccine-preventable and neglected diseases. Emphasizes that vaccine diplomacy and partnerships are critical for preventing more pandemics in a post-COVID world.
Johns Hopkins University Press, 2021, 192 pages
362.19698 H832P 2021

 

2. The Sports Revolution: How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics
By Frank Andre Guridy
Describes how the Lone Star State was at the center of America's investment in sport from the 1960s through the 1980s, with the confluence of television, professional sports leagues and franchises, changing demographics, and the civil rights and feminist movements. Includes discussion of the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Senators (now Texas Rangers), Houston Astros, and San Antonio Spurs.
University of Texas Press, 2021, 418 pages
796.09764 G979S 2021

 

3. The People’s Revolt: Texas Populists and the Roots of American Liberalism
By Gregg Cantrell
Narrates a detailed history of the Texas Populist Party in the 1890s, which arose from farmer and worker cooperatives in the industrial, post-Civil War South. Profiles the careers of Populists and explores their views on financial policy, religion, and racial and gender equality. Argues that although the Texas Populists of the 1890s saw little political success in their time, they should be considered important influences on modern American liberalism.
Yale University Press, 2020, 555 pages
324.276402 C233P 2020

 

4. The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future
By Gretchen Bakke, Ph.D.
Presents a historical and social perspective of America's electrical grid technology, the laws that shaped the current system, and the economics that drive it. Examines the current challenges in modernizing the grid's deteriorating and failing infrastructure systems. Notes Americans endure more outages than people in other industrial countries and more minutes of outages each year. Considers factors necessary to transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy.
Bloomsbury, 2016, 352 pages
333.7932 B168G 2016

 

5. CSSB 1: The House Appropriations Committee’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal 2022-23
By House Research Organization
Provides an overview of the House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1 (CSSB 1), the House Appropriations Committee's version of the state budget for the 2022-2023 biennium. Addresses significant budget issues along with House and Senate proposals for funding individual state agencies and programs. Includes supporters' and critics' opinions regarding CSSB 1.
House Research Organization, 2021, 42 pages
L1801.9 ST94 87F-2

 

6. Summary of House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1: 2022-23 Biennium (House)
By Legislative Budget Board
Summarizes appropriations found within the House Committee Substitute for the General Appropriations Bill, SB 1, 87th Legislature. Highlights major funding items, trends in state government expenditures, and constitutional spending limits. Includes article-specific chapters, a guide on how to read General Appropriations Bills, and a chart comparing the committee substitute to the House version of the General Appropriations Bill, HB 1, 87th Legislature.
Legislative Budget Board, 2021, 132 pages
L1300.8 B859 2022_23SH

 

7. Summary of Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1: 2022-23 Biennium (Senate)
By Legislative Budget Board
Summarizes appropriations found within the Senate Committee Substitute for the General Appropriations Bill, SB 1, 87th Legislature. Highlights major funding items, trends in state government expenditures, and constitutional spending limits. Includes article-specific chapters, a guide on how to read General Appropriations Bills, and a chart comparing the introduced version to the committee substitute.
Legislative Budget Board, 2021, 130 pages
L1300.8 B859 2022_23SS

 

1. Let the Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty
By Maurice Chammah
Recounts the history of the death penalty in America through court cases and state laws from the Supreme Court decision in Furman v. Georgia in 1972 to the present, with a special focus on Texas. Uses personal stories of lawyers, victims, corrections workers, and the convicted to illustrate the complexities of death penalty cases and highlight larger trends within criminal justice in Texas and the United States.
Crown, 2021, 354 pages
364.6609764 C448L 2021

 

2. Making Government Work: A Conservative Agenda for the States
By Tan Parker, ed.
Presents a collection of essays from a conservative policy perspective on federalism, pro-growth tax reform for the states, health care innovation, religious liberty, the Electoral College, labor unions, energy policy, crime, public universities, veterans, infrastructure, abortion, and the Second Amendment. Includes a chapter on the Texas Model by former Texas Governor Rick Perry.
Regnery Publishing, 2020, 466 pages
353.9 P228M 2020

 

3. Reading, Writing, and Revolution: Escuelitas and the Emergence of a Mexican American Identity in Texas
By Phillis M. Barragan Goetz
Traces the origins and eventual decline of grassroots escuelitas, or "little schools," community-based Spanish-speaking schools that helped shape the early Mexican Texan experience. Merges U.S. and Mexican history by analyzing oral histories, archives, and genealogical materials of individuals who were involved in creating escuelitas and those who attended them. Details the ways in which escuelitas founders and teachers addressed key needs in their communities and how they ultimately challenged the hegemonic U.S. public school curriculum by empowering children through language and identity.
University of Texas Press, 2020, 236 pages
371.829 G555R 2020

 

4. Sutherland Springs: God, Guns, and Hope in a Texas Town
By Joe Holley
Explores how the people of the Sutherland Springs community are rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the worst mass shooting in a church setting in U.S. history, an event in which 26 people died. Features interviews with survivors and with victims' families while examining the topic of guns and gun violence.
Hatchette Books, 2020, 294 pages
364.152 H724S 2020

 

5. Texas Place Names
By Edward Callary
Recounts colorful stories about the people, places, and events that contributed to the naming of more than ten thousand Texas counties, cities, and towns – from Abbott (Hill County) to Zunkerville (Karnes County). Clarifies local pronunciation and includes the dates of creation and organization for each county. Mentions a number of places named for Texas legislators and their families, including Akin Grove, Cleveland, DeBerry, Emory, Hartley County, Hubbard, Kittrell, Maverick County, Millican, Rains County, and Rowlett.
University of Texas Press, 2020, 411 pages
976.4 C131T 2020

 

6. Texas Water Law: A Legal Research Guide
By Tobe Liebert
Provides guidance on researching Texas water law. Offers a short introduction on classifying surface water and groundwater and water use rights in Texas. Cites the statutory basis, duties, and regulations related to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Includes sections on relevant secondary sources and major state legislation and a glossary.
William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 2020, 47 pages
346.04691 L716W 2020

 

1. Chasing Success and Confronting Failure in American Schools
By Larry Cuban
Examines what constitutes educational success in the United States. Argues that American education historically, both in terms of academic achievement metrics and reform efforts, has not been "stable nor consistent." Considers multiple factors that complicate academic success such as politics and policies, social dynamics, school district leadership, and differences in communities.
Harvard Education Press, 2020, 260 pages
363.33 ES74F 2020

 

2. George T. Ruby: Champion of Equal Rights in Reconstruction Texas
By Carl H. Moneyhon
Profiles George T. Ruby, one of the most widely known of the first generation of Black politicians in Texas. Chronicles Ruby's emergence as a political leader, Radical Republican and delegate to the Constitution Convention of 1868, and his election to the Texas State Senate in 1869. Details his legislative priorities in the Texas Senate and his efforts to ensure the protection of basic civil rights of African Americans.
Center for Texas Studies and TCU Press, 2020, 413 pages
976.4 M742G 2020

 

3. The Governor and the Colonel: A Dual Biography of William P. Hobby and Oveta Culp Hobby
By Don Carleton
Chronicles the lives and careers of William P. Hobby and Oveta Culp Hobby. Details their political, journalistic, and public service careers, from William's duties as the 27th Governor of Texas and his success in creating a major media empire to Oveta's role in leading the Women's Army Corps and her subsequent rise on the national stage in a presidential cabinet position. Illustrates how the esteemed husband-and-wife "Hobby Team" had a distinct impact on Texan and American history in politics, journalism, war, and philanthropy across the twentieth century.
Briscoe Center for American History, 2020, 885 pages
976.4 C192G 2021

 

4. South to Freedom: Runaway Slaves to Mexico and the Road to the Civil War
By Alice L. Baumgartner
Examines how thousands from the South Central United States escaped slavery by crossing the southern border into Mexico after the country's abolition of the practice in 1837. Details how political relations between Mexico and the U.S., including Southerners' hopes of annexing Texas and invading Mexico, only fueled a sectional crisis in the United States. Highlights the experiences of individuals from the time, including enslaved persons seeking their freedom.
Basic Books, 2020, 365 pages
973.7115 B348S 2020

 

5. Governor's Budget, 2022-2023
By Texas Governor Greg Abbott
Presents Governor Greg Abbott's budget priorities for the fiscal 2022-2023 biennium, which include investment in healthcare, workforce development and unemployment, public safety, election security and education. Discusses the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and suggests specific areas where federal and state funding should be directed to strengthen pandemic relief.
Office of the Governor, 2021, 31 pages
L1800 B859 2022-23G

 

6. Sources of Revenue: A History of State Taxes and Fees in Texas, 1972-2020
By Texas Comptroller's Office
Reviews the history and current status of Texas revenue sources back to 1972 in a easy-to-navigate document. Includes an overview of major taxes, fees, and assessments by subject, along with helpful tables and indexes. Lists major revenue related bills by session. Provides a resource that allows policy makers and the general public access to an often complicated and difficult topic — taxes.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Fiscal Management Division, 2021, 272 pages
C2600.8 SO85 2021

 

1. Essentials of Texas Firearms Law
By Massad F. Ayoob
Reviews the use of firearms and the constitutionally protected rights of gun owners in Texas. Details both federal and Texas firearms laws, licensing practices, federal court cases revolving around the Second Amendment, civil liability, and places where firearms are prohibited.
State Bar of Texas, 2020, 333 pages
363.33 ES74F 2020

 

2. Gerrymandering Texas
By Steve Bickerstaff
Recounts the history of redistricting and gerrymandering in the state of Texas, with emphasis on the role legislative apportionment played in political and demographic power shifts across the state. Comments on key redistricting cases at the state and federal level, with some personal notes on cases worked by Steve Bickerstaff during his long career in Texas politics. Makes recommendations for redistricting Texas in 2021 and for the reduction of gerrymandering practices. Includes an extensive bibliography of Texas redistricting cases broken down by decade.
Texas Tech University Press, 2020, 247 pages
328.73073 B472G 2020

 

3. The Merit Myth: How Our Colleges Favor the Rich and Divide America
By Anthony P. Carnevale
Argues there are extreme inequities in American higher education and that the policies of elite colleges are contributing to the educational divide among students. Addresses bias in testing and admissions, merit-based aid, affirmative action, and how colleges are evaluated. Proposes an assortment of measures to make higher education more fair and provide academic opportunity for all students, including guaranteeing a public K-14 education.
The New Press, 2020, 302 pages
378.1 C217M 2020

 

4. The Starting Line: Latina/o Children, Texas schools, and National Debates on Early Education
By Robert Crosnoe
Studies a large urban school district in Texas to determine how early education programs result in varying degrees of success and failure for children from socially and economically disadvantaged environments. Focuses on the complex connections between classrooms, schools, families, and communities. Examines programs specifically serving Latinas and Latinos to discuss the broader topics of income inequality, academic opportunity, and the changing demographics of the United States.
University of Texas Press, 2020, 167 pages
371.829 C884S 2020

 

5. The Sum of the People: How the Census Has Shaped Nations, from the Ancient World to the Modern Age
By Andrew Whitby
Recounts the history of census taking, with an emphasis on how the collection of quantitative population data has changed the relationship between individuals and the state. Includes chapters on the misuse of population records by the Nazi regime, the connection of censuses to population control strategies, and problems caused by undercounting. Concludes with a discussion of the controversy surrounding the "citizenship question" on the 2020 U.S. census.
Basic Books, 2020, 356 pages
310.9 W581S 2020

 

6. Texas vs. California: A History of Their Struggle for the Future of America
By Kenneth P. Miller
Examines the rivalry between Texas and California as "the leaders of Red and Blue America," both populous and economically powerful states with oil wealth and large Latino populations. Describes how each state constructed opposing, comprehensive policy models, one progressive and the other conservative, through a focus on five areas – tax, labor, energy and environment, poverty, and social issues. Includes a brief preface on the effect of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the two states.
Oxford University Press, 2020, 372 pages
306.20973 M615T 2020

 

7. The Trillion Dollar Revolution: How the Affordable Care Act Transformed Politics, Law, and Health Care in America
By Ezekiel J. Emanuel
Compiles the opinions of academics, policy-makers, and doctors on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ten years after its passage. Includes essays by Democrats and Republicans, as well as legal, financial, and health policy experts. Examines how the ACA has affected the three-trillion-dollar health care sector and the economy, its interaction with the courts, and its influence on American politics. Looks ahead to how the ACA may continue to impact health care reform, including the right to care and drug pricing regulation.
Public Affairs, 2020, 449 pages
368.382 EM11T 2020

 

1. In This Land of Plenty: Mickey Leland and Africa in American Politics
By Benjamin Talton
Explores the life and career of Congressman and former Texas Representative George Thomas "Mickey" Leland. Notes the beginning of Leland's political career in the Texas Legislature and his advocacy for what he called the "People's Bills," before he went on to succeed Congresswoman Barbara Jordan in the U.S. House of Representatives. Focuses on Leland's leadership in bringing an African American perspective to U.S. politics, including his influence on developing foreign policy toward Africa, promoting humanitarianism, and eradicating world hunger.
University of Pennsylvania Press, 2019, 281 pages
328.73 T149L 2019


 

2. A Black Women's History of the United States
By Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross
Profiles Black women and their roles in shaping American culture, society, and politics since the 1600s, including histories of enslaved women, freedwomen, religious leaders, artists, politicians, educators, and activists. Highlights the stories of women within the context of broader historical events, such as exploration and contact in the New World, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the civil rights and Black Power movements.
Beacon Press, 2020, 298 pages
305.48 B459B 2020


 

3. Black Software: The Internet & Racial Justice, from the AfroNet to Black Lives Matter
By Charlton D. McIlwain
Chronicles African Americans' relationship with computing technology and the Internet. Examines not only how computing technology has been used to contain, profile, and detain Black Americans for decades, but how Black activists used and are using these computing tools and the Internet to build community and engage in a racial justice activism that has been proclaimed by many as the new civil rights movement.
Oxford University Press, 2020, 296 pages
302.23089 M188B 2020


 

4. African Americans in Central Texas History: From Slavery to Civil Rights
By Bruce A. Glasrud and Deborah M. Liles, editors
Presents a collection of essays documenting the experiences of African Americans in Central Texas from the time of slavery through the civil rights marches of the 1960s. Addresses Black Texans' struggle for freedom and racial equality along with the threats, violence, and systemic denials of justice they encountered. Details the life stories of selected enslaved people, soldiers, cattlemen, professionals, politicians, and activists.
Texas A&M University Press, 2019, 316 pages
323.1196 G463AM 2019


 

5. Fault Lines: Portraits of East Austin
By John Langmore, photographer, with Wilhelmina Delco, Michael King, and Johnny Limón
Presents a collection of photographs from 2006 to 2011 documenting East Austin through personal and family portraits, community activities, and cultural landmarks. Illustrates the dramatic changes in demographics, housing, and neighborhoods in East Austin, and fragmentation of African American and Latino families due to gentrification and rising housing costs. Includes an essay by former Representative Wilhelmina Delco, reflecting on the history and importance of the African American community in East Austin.
Maverick Books, 2019, 171 pages
976.431 L267F 2019


 

6. Illusions of Emancipation: The Pursuit of Freedom and Equality in the Twilight of Slavery
By Joseph P. Reidy
Asserts that emancipation was not a single event but rather a complex journey that fundamentally altered ideas about time, space, and home, for all of the peoples of the United States. Describes how the Civil War and Reconstruction generations viewed the drastic changes involved in dismantling slavery, emphasizing the testimonies of formerly enslaved people.
University of North Carolina Press, 2019, 506 pages
305.896 R27IL 2019


 

7. Black Texans: A History of African Americans in Texas, 1528-1995
By Alwyn Barr
Provides an overview of the African American experience in Texas, spanning from the 1528 appearance of the Spanish shipwreck slave, Estevan, through slavery, Reconstruction, and significant gains made in the twentieth century. Discusses each period in terms of political, economic, social, and legal status as well as explaining the violence that occurred at various times. Recommends extensive sources for deeper study.
University of Oklahoma Press, 1996, 294 pages
325.26 B27 1996


 

1. Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life
By Louise Aronson
Examines aging with the goal of changing perceptions and practices in the medical field and giving society a new appreciation for growing old. Draws from anecdotes from the author's personal life and work as a geriatrician, as well as history, science, literature, and popular culture, to provide the perspective that elderhood is simply another unique stage of life with positive and negative facets.
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019, 449 pages
362.60973 AR67EL 2019


 

2. The Essential J. Frank Dobie
By Steven L. Davis, editor
Gathers in one volume the "most vital" writings of J. Frank Dobie, an environmentalist, civil rights advocate, folklorist, and writer who has been called the father of Texas literature. Includes pieces that inspired readers to action ranging from establishing what would become Big Bend National Park to saving the Texas Longhorn breed of cattle from extinction. Explores his sometimes controversial opinions on serious political topics, as well as more lighthearted matters like cedar fever.
Texas A & M University Press, 2019, 305 pages
818.5209 D297ES 2019


 

3. In Pain: A Bioethicist's Personal Struggle with Opioids
By Travis N. Rieder
Recounts the author's devastating experience with opioid dependence and withdrawal that began with a motorcycle accident, followed by multiple surgeries and poor pain management. Examines the inadequacy of the American healthcare system when it comes to managing pain with opioid therapy. Discusses the history of opioids since their invention in the 1800s, the changing attitudes about pain management, and how to improve the treatment of chronic pain in a manner that helps patients but avoids opioid dependence.
Harper, 2019, 297 pages
362.29 R442IN 2019


 

4. Modernizing the Electric Grid: State Role and Policy Options
By Glen Andersen, Megan Cleveland, and Daniel Shea
Analyzes the current U.S. system of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, the components of the modern electric grid, and the recent explosion of new technologies, from electric vehicles to energy storage. Recommends policy and regulatory approaches to update the electric grid for a modern energy system. Continues the discussion in an accompanying podcast, Power Play: States Address U.S. Electric Grid.
National Conference of State Legislatures, 2019, 51 pages
Online at: https://www.ncsl.org/Portals/1/Documents/energy/Modernizing-the-Electri-Grid_112519_34226.pdf
343.0929 AN23M 2019


 

5. Redistricting Law 2020
By Michelle Davis, et al.
Explains fundamentals of current redistricting law to assist legislators and their staff with the upcoming redrawing of electoral districts. Addresses ten major legal topics that are applicable to redistricting. Highlights new developments in redistricting law relating to the Voting Rights Act, partisanship, legislative privilege, and population. Includes summaries of each legal topic by chapter, relevant case law from this decade, and historic Supreme Court cases.
National Conference of State Legislatures, 2019, 282 pages
Online at: https://www.ncsl.org/research/redistricting/redistrictinglaw2020.aspx
328.3345 N2135 2020


 

6. Regional Differences in the Drugs Most Frequently Involved in Drug Overdose Deaths: United States, 2017
By Holly Hedegaard, et al.
Studies data from the 2017 National Vital Statistics System-Mortality files to compare drugs most frequently involved in drug overdose deaths, grouped by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regions. Argues that understanding regional differences of drugs used in overdose deaths could assist prevention and policy efforts.
National Center for Health Statistics, 2019, 16 pages
Online at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_12-508.pdf
362.6 H358 2019