304: The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz

Simplify. Is it possible to have too many choices? Barry Schwartz looks at the psychology of happiness and the role choice plays. It turns out that too many choices can create anxiety and unhappiness, the opposite of what is supposed to happen with so many choices.

Why this is liberal/progressive: From the slow food movement to the calls for voluntary simplicity, progressives have been challenging the role of consumption in the West for decades. In The Paradox of Choice you can learn about the psychology underpinning these desires to make life simpler.



Here is Barry Schwartz's TED talk from 2006 --

305: Planet of Slums by Mike Davis

Planet of Slums by Mike Davis

In this book Davis takes a look at the millions of people living in huge urban mega-slums around the world. At the turn of the 20th century progressive muckrakers in the US reported on the horrifying and squalid conditions of American ghettos. At the turn of the 21st century Davis demonstrates the exponentially worse version that's plaguing major cities in the global south.

Why this is liberal/progressive: Progressives tend to be more city-oriented than rural, and tend to be more concerned with global issues. Planet of Slums reveals the dark underbelly of the most important cities of the 21st century.



For a glimpse into the world Davis is writing about check out the incredible Anderson Sa in Favela Rising.

306: The Trial of Socrates by I. F. Stone

The Trial of Socrates by I. F. Stone

One of the greatest journalists of the 20th century, I. F. Stone decided to study classical philosophy after he retired. The result is this best-selling book. An iconoclast is someone who intentionally destroys a religious icon. It's used figuratively to mean someone who assails the unassailable, who questions the unquestionable, and challenges those generally thought to be beyond challenge. You've probably heard that Socrates served this role in ancient Athens. He was a gadfly, hanging out in the market denouncing gods and government.

Knowing the gadfly nature of Socrates, and the gadfly nature of Stone, you might assume this book is a celebration of Socrates's life. You'd assume wrong. Stone finds in his research that Socrates (more accurately, Plato's representation of Socrates) wasn't much for liberal democracy. While Athens should never have sentenced him to death, Stone makes a case for why Socrates isn't such a great icon for progressives.

Why this is liberal/progressive: Blacklisted in 1950, I. F. Stone started his own weekly newspaper, I. F. Stone's Weekly. By diligently reading obscure government reports in the public domain, Stone was able to provide political insight unmatched by his mainstream contemporaries. When asked how he saw his role as a progressive journalist, Stone responded --

"To write the truth as I see it; to defend the weak against the strong; to fight for justice; and to seek, as best I can, to bring healing perspectives to bear on the terrible hates and fears of mankind, in the hope of someday bringing about one world, in which men will enjoy the differences of the human garden instead of killing each other over them."

307: The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois

The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois

This collection of essays attempts to explain what it's like to be black at the end of the nineteenth century in the United States. Most famously, this collection includes the essay in which Du Bois writes about double consciousness. Du Bois argues that black people in the US, when in the company of whites, have a "sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others." The whiteness of white people doesn't have the salience of blackness to black people, Du Bois argues.

Why this is liberal/progressive: A watershed work in American literature. Should be mandatory reading for every progressive. Du Bois was a brilliant writer and a groundbreaking sociologist. Du Bois lived to be 95 and spent his entire life working on progressive causes, most especially racial equality.



Read it for free here.

308: The General Theory of Employment Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes

The General Theory of Employment Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes

Wikipedia offers a nice summation of Keynes's General Theory --

"The central argument of The General Theory is that the level of employment is determined, not by the price of labour as in neoclassical economics, but by the spending of money (aggregate demand). He argues that it is wrong to assume that competitive markets will, in the long run, deliver full employment or that full employment is the natural, self-righting, equilibrium state of a monetary economy. On the contrary, under-employment and under-investment are likely to be the natural state unless active measures are taken. One implication of The General Theory is that a lack of competition is not the fundamental problem and measures to reduce unemployment by cutting wages or benefits are not only hard-hearted but ultimately futile."

Check out this introduction by Paul Krugman.

Why this is liberal/progressive: Regular readers of this blog may have noticed that I'm a big proponent of reading the original. Regardless of how difficult the reading may seem it's better to read Marx than to read about Marx, better to read Keynes than to read about Keynes, and better to read the works of your ideological opponents than to read about those works. Even if you don't understand everything about a work (and there's lots I don't understand about Keynes magnum opus) you still come out with a better understanding of what all the fuss is about. Don't be afraid to read challenging works. It's more rewarding than you might think.

309: The Open Society and Its Enemies by Karl Popper

The Open Society and Its Enemies by Karl Popper

In this philosophical critique of Plato, Aristotle, and Hegel, Karl Popper builds an argument for why an open society and liberal democracy is the best solution for combating tyranny. An open society allows for the peaceful removal of political leaders (i.e. fair elections) and allows for all the citizens to know what their government is doing (i.e. transparency).

Why this is progressive/liberal: If you really want to understand the philosophy that underpins progressive political philosophy you need to be familiar with this 2-volume set. Popper lays out the argument for the importance of transparency and openness in a liberal democracy.

Unfortunately, it does this mostly by critiquing other philosophers. This is not an easy read, but it's an important one.

310: Maus by Art Spiegelman

Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman

More than just a book about the holocaust, Spiegelman tells a story about himself, history, art, and father-son relations. Maus is a breakthrough work in the maturation of comics. This modern classic weaves a complex tale about identity, family, and the way history haunts us in ways we barely recognize.

Why this is progressive/liberal: When they're not blaming each other for being Just. Like. Hitler. US citizens generally concede the Nazis were bad guys, the holocaust was unacceptable, and that we should avoid similar mistakes. In Maus Art Spiegelman tells the story of his family and their experience as Jews in WWII Germany. Spiegelman's work gives us something to measure our selves by. When we set aside policy differences and conflicting cultural values we can compare ourselves to the reminisces masterfully caught by Spiegelman's art.

311: Palestine by Joe Sacco

Palestine by Joe Sacco

In the early 1990s cartoonist Joe Sacco visited Palestine intending to present the Palestinian side of the Israel/Palestine conflict. This book, an early example of the extended use of cartooning for journalistic purposes, doesn't attempt to be un-biased. While Sacco attempts to present the story fairly, he concedes that his presence influences the people he interviews, and that it would take another volume to present the Israeli side of the story. Regardless, this is a tremendous look at the life of ordinary Palestinians, made even more moving by Sacco's images of the destitution, poverty, and squalor of Palestine.

Why this is liberal/progressive?: The clash between Israel and Palestine is one of the most contentious and intractable in the world. In the United States it is rare to hear the Palestinian side of the story. For many progressives, this is a human-rights issue, and the unblinking support for Israel needs to be questioned.



Also be sure to check out: The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

312: Presidential Biographies

Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox: Vol. 1, 1882-1940
Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom: Vol. 2, 1940-1945
Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris

The life of politics and the ideas of politics can be two wildly different things. I recommend reading some presidential biographies to get a better sense of how progressive ideas sometimes won out and were sometimes defeated. Nobody has time to read 40+ biographies of all the presidents, and I recommend reading biographies rather than self-serving autobiographies. If you're already familiar with the Roosevelts, check out Caro's magisterial biography of LBJ (here's the link to the first volume).

Why this is liberal/progressive: Traditionally, conservatives are more likely to celebrate their ideological heroes while liberals/progressives are more likely to criticize their ideological heroes. The Enlightenment era shaped the early concepts of liberalism. This Age of Reason (to use Thomas Paine's phrase) relied on facts, rationality, and experiment. The Romantic backlash at the beginning of the 19th century argued that this failed to take into account important human qualities that can't be quantified - like courage, valor, love, poetry, whimsy, etc. Included in this constellation of human qualities that conservatives embraced as anti-liberal was hero worship.

We're all a mix of liberal and conservative beliefs, but I bet conservatives are more likely able to name personal heroes than progressives.

I don't expect progressives to ever hero worship the Roosevelts the way conservatives worship Reagan, but progressives can learn a lot from reading their biographies.

While Teddy Roosevelt was a Republican he was also an important early progressive. He fought against corporate monopolies and in 1912 was instrumental in creating the Progressive Party (nicknamed the Bull Moose Party). His cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the most important liberal president of the 20th century. Both of these men fought their own parties and fought against huge special interests. They didn't always win, and neither was perfect, but their stories are fascinating.

313: Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) by Richard Feynman

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)

A best-seller since it was published in 1985 this collection of essays covers a wide range of topics. Some funny, some poignant. Feynman was a Nobel prize-winning physicist noted for his wide-ranging curiosity and his ability to make complex ideas understandable. The world would be a much better place if we had more Feynmans in it.

Why this is liberal/progressive: Progressive political philosophy is deeply influenced by the scientific method. The best government is a government based on facts, not faith. Feynman has a way of cutting through the BS and getting to the facts of the matter. These humorous essays show how a scientist looks at the world.

BUY THIS BOOK

314: Soros: The Life, Ideas, and Impact of the World's Most Influential Investor by Robert Slater

Soros: The Life, Ideas, and Impact of the World's Most Influential Investor by Robert Slater

It's still not clear to my why George Soros is so deeply despised by the political right. How did this communism-hating, capitalism-loving, self-made billionaire end up as their number one bogeyman?

Robert Slater is hardly a raving lefty. He's written feel-good books about the Wal-Mart family, Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and several about Jack Welch. I chose Slater's book about Soros because Slater is a little more savvy about the financial aspects of Soros's life than some other biographers.

Why this is progressive/liberal: Not only did Soros dedicate a substantial portion of his fortune to fighting Soviet oppression in eastern Europe by supporting pro-democracy resistance, but he's also deeply reviled by many on the political right. You should be familiar with his work to help disentangle what he's really done from the fabrications perpetuated by conservatives.

Buy the Kindle edition: Soros : The Life, Ideas, and Impact of the World's Most Influential Investor

315: The Smart Growth Manual by Andres Duany and Jeff Speck

The Smart Growth Manual by Andres Duany and Jeff Speck

The Smart Growth Manual is a wide-ranging introduction to many of the issues facing the 21st-century city. In an effort to be comprehensive the Manual begins by looking how the growth of the city affects the region in which it sits. From there the authors work down the scale from region to neighborhood to street to buildings. This book is jam-packed with ideas everyone interested in improving their city should be familiar with.

Why this is progressive/liberal: Progressives tend to favor the cosmopolitanism of cities. If you look at election maps the division isn't so much between red states and blue states as it is between red rural areas and blue urban centers. This also contributes to the different ways conservatives and liberals see the role of government. Taxes to pay for public transportation are essential for a well-run city (for example). And, since progressives are more likely to be found in the city, they're also more interested in what it takes to make a city great.



Also be sure to check out: The New Urbanism: Toward an Architecture of Community by Peter Katz

316: Exit Through the Gift Shop

How about a movie today? At the beginning of 2012 I'll devote a whole month to movies and documentaries. In anticipation of that, and just to break up the monotony a little bit, I'm going to recommend watching Exit Through the Gift Shop, a documentary(?) about graffiti artists Banksy and Shepard Fairey.

Exit Through the Gift Shop

Banksy, the director of this movie, is an internationally recognized graffiti artist known for his politically charged work. Considering the subversive nature of graffiti art it should be no surprise that his excursion into documentary is similarly provocative. While this is marketed and styled as a documentary, there is some serious debate about whether the principle character -- Thierry Guetta -- is really as portrayed or a fictional character.

Why this is progressive/liberal: This week has been the week of counterculture recommendations. On the one hand this requires a broad definition of progressive. As I've mentioned several times this week, just because someone is involved in one of these subcultures does not mean they have progressive values. Similarly, there are many progressives that have no interest in counterculture movements. But it's important to recognize there are scores of counterculture movements that I don't mention, because there isn't much overlap with progressive values and pastimes. On the whole, progressives are sympathetic to the subversive art of Banksy.



And, while we're on the topic of influential graffiti artists, check out the movie Basquiat.

317: No Logo by Naomi Klein

No Logo: 10th Anniversary Edition with a New Introduction by the Author

This best-selling book about the anti-globalization movement introduced a generation to culture jamming and progressive concerns with out-sized corporate influence. Klein writes in an engaging style and covers a lot of territory. If you're not sure why progressives are concerned about giant multi-national corporations, this is a good place to start.

However, don't conclude your research with this book. In order to cover so much territory Klein tends to simplify the issues.

Why this is progressive/liberal: One of the largest, if not the largest, concern of progressives is corporate influence on the government. Democracy only works for the people if the people are in charge. A government that favors corporations over individuals is more accurately called a corporatocracy.

Get the Kindle edition: No Logo by Naomi Klein

318: World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction by Immanuel Wallerstein

World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction by Immanuel Wallerstein

Unless you're a grad student there's no reason to read the whole of Wallerstein's work. Fortunately he's put together this slim introduction.

The possibilities of the future open up when you begin to understand how much has changed over time. Wallerstein makes the argument that to really understand human history you need to look at their global experience, rather than their national experience. When we take a step back it's easier to see that throughout history there have been core nations and periphery nations. The core nations are the wealthiest and mightiest. They become influential in peripheral countries by taking resources to fuel their wealth and might. This core-periphery dynamic creates a shared stream of cultural exchange that's still not well understood.

Why this is progressive/liberal: Progressives are all about trying to improve the world (i.e. progress). Wallerstein's way of looking at global history helps those those thinking about our global present and our global future.



Also be sure to read: Can the Subaltern Speak? by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

319: Burning Book: A Visual History of Burning Man by Jessica Bruder

Burning Book: A Visual History of Burning Man by Jessica Bruder

This annual celebration has become the summer party for the wannabe radical (and a few real ones) who celebrate radically progressive ideas like cash-free exchange, gift economies, few restrictions on self-expression, high tolerance for drug use and strange behavior, and an emphasis on creativity and absurdity. Bruder's book is filled with photos from her visits to Burning Man. If you've never been, but want to get a sense of what it's like, this is the book for you.

Why this is progressive/liberal: It's a bike-friendly, drug-friendly, environment-friendly, nudity-friendly, non-traditional belief-friendly, anti-capitalist, summer break for hipsters of all persuasions.



You might also want to check out: The Tribes of Burning Man: How an Experimental City in the Desert Is Shaping the New American Counterculture by Steven T. Jones

320: England's Dreaming: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond by Jon Savage

England's Dreaming: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond by Jon Savage

Some consider this the definitive history of punk rock. Jon Savage looks at the origins of punk through the lens of one of its most famous practitioners -- the Sex Pistols. Savage is a thoughtful and talented writer, which makes this pop culture history more substantive than most. Good for those who lived through it, and those who want to learn about the British punk music of the 1970s.

Why this is progressive/liberal: Not all punks are progressive (in fact, many can be considered reactionary), but the pervasive spirit of anarchy and opposition to corporate power make them fellow travelers of the progressive.

321: The Best of No Depression: Writing about American Music edited by Grant Alden and Peter Blackstock

The Best of No Depression: Writing about American Music edited by Grant Alden and Peter Blackstock

The magazine No Depression probably did the most of any publication to shape and champion the alternative country music movement of the 1990s. As mentioned in yesterday's post, musical genres aren't in and of themselves progressive, but Americana (aka alt.country, American roots music) is embraced by many hipster, progressive types who wouldn't be caught dead listening to commercial country music. Wilco, which grew out of the alt.country band Uncle Tupelo, is a good example of the DIY punk ethos, experimental music, and fondness for early American country music. If you need an introduction to this type of music, this is the place to start.


Why this is progressive/liberal: Because it is the music of choice for many progressives.



A worthy companion volume: United States of Americana: Backyard Chickens, Burlesque Beauties, and Handmade Bitters: A Field Guide to the New American Roots Movement

322: Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad

Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad

In Our Band Could Be Your Life, music journalist Michael Azerrad chronicles the rise of the post-punk era in American music. Between the punk rock of the 1970s and the phenomena that was Nirvana in the 1990s there lies a substantial body of independent music that connects the two. Azerrad looks at 13 different bands including Black Flag, The Minutemen, The Replacements, The Butthole Surfers, Sonic Youth, and Fugazi.

"This is the story of post-punk indie rock in America and the bands whose do-it-yourself ethic paved the way for the grunge phenomenon of the 1990s. Without major label support, these bands depended on resourcefulness and creativity to survive."

Why this is progressive/liberal: Today and the three days that follow are about music and counterculture. While music and counterculture aren't by themselves progressive, there are some genres that embrace a radical spirit closely aligned with progressive values. Not everyone involved in this scene can be labeled a progressive, but the DIY philosophy of this musical movement is a key element of progressive action, from the abolitionists of the 19th century to the urban farm advocates of today.

323: Racial Formation in the United States: From the 1960s to the 1990s by Michael Omi and Howard Winant

Racial Formation in the United States: From the 1960s to the 1990s by Michael Omi and Howard Winant

If you want to know why there's no such thing as reverse racism, read this book. Racism is about power. Race is a social construct created and maintained by those in power to keep their power.

That doesn't mean there can't be ethnic biases among disenfranchised ethnicities. However, simply have a bias against someone with a different skin color is not what progressives are talking about when they're talking about race problems in the US.

Omi and Winant present one of the best arguments made about the development of racial attitudes in the United States. It is a must-read for understanding this complicated issue.

Why this is progressive/liberal: For many conservatives the concept of racism is simple: it's not liking someone with a different skin color. For progressives, the story is much more complicated than that.



Add the following for a good overview of race in the US.

324: Making Sex: Body and Gender from the Greeks to Freud by Thomas Laqueur

Making Sex: Body and Gender from the Greeks to Freud by Thomas Laqueur

In this historical analysis Laqueur critiques the influence of society on scientific research. By looking at how concepts of sex and sexuality change over time, Laqueur shows that many times science tries to map what it discovers onto prevailing notions of how things should be. This criticism of science shouldn't be taken as a condemnation of the scientific method, but a conscientious warning that science can sometimes be deeply influenced by the social meaning we give to the natural world.

"Laqueur begins with the question of why, in the late eighteenth century, woman's orgasm came to be regarded as irrelevant to conception, and he then proceeds to retrace the dramatic changes in Western views of sexual characteristics over two millennia. Along the way, two "masterplots" emerge. In the one-sex story, woman is an imperfect version of man, and her anatomy and physiology are construed accordingly: the vagina is seen as an interior penis, the womb as a scrotum, the ovaries as testicles. The body is thus a representation, not the foundation, of social gender. The second plot tends to dominate post-Enlightenment thinking while the one-sex model is firmly rooted in classical learning. The two-sex story says that the body determines gender differences, that woman is the opposite of man with incommensurably different organs, functions, and feelings. The two plots overlap; neither ever holds a monopoly. Science may establish many new facts, but even so, Laqueur argues, science was only providing a new way of speaking, a rhetoric and not a key to female liberation or to social progress."

Why this is progressive/liberal: Challenging our "common wisdom" is a progressive endeavor. Studying sex and sexuality is more commonly undertaken by progressives than conservatives. Especially if that study suggests that everything we know about sex is wrong. This is an excellent introduction to how profoundly our concepts of sex and sexuality change over time.



A good companion book is How Sex Changed: A History of Transsexuality in the United States by Joanne Meyerowitz.

"How Sex Changed is a fascinating social, cultural, and medical history of transsexuality in the United States. Joanne Meyerowitz tells a powerful human story about people who had a deep and unshakable desire to transform their bodily sex. In the last century when many challenged the social categories and hierarchies of race, class, and gender, transsexuals questioned biological sex itself, the category that seemed most fundamental and fixed of all."

325: Deliberative Democracy: Essays on Reason and Politics edited by James Bohman and William Rehg

Deliberative Democracy: Essays on Reason and Politics

In this book the editors Bohman and Rehg collect a range of essays looking at ways to improve public deliberation among citizens. The belief among those who support the idea of deliberative democracy is that well-informed citizens make better decisions. And a well-informed citizenry is created by debate, analysis, and presentations of evidence and argument. On the surface this seems simple enough. These authors look at what democratic societies should do when the topic isn't simple. How do democratic communities resolve highly contentious issues? Is majority rule always for the best? How do you separate fact from fiction in a debate?

This is an excellent introduction to deliberative democracy, and is valuable whether you want to apply these concepts to a small community or to an entire nation.

Why this is progressive/liberal: In our democratic-republic form of government progressives tend to the democractic side of the spectrum. However, one of the weaknesses of a democracy is when an uninformed electorate is making the decisions. This is why public education is such an important issues for liberals and progressives. It's also why progressives work to find better ways to implement democratic ideas in their communities.

326: The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires by Tim Wu

The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires by Tim Wu

Have you ever watched a video clip on YouTube? How about Hulu? What if your Internet provider allowed you access to one, but not the other? Net neutrality is the idea that your ISP allows you access to all the Internet has to offer. Without net neutrality your ISP will be able to pick and choose what you can access on the Internet. Without net neutrality the Internet becomes more like cable television.

Right now that seems unlikely, but in The Master Switch Tim Wu shows how media throughout the 20th century started out as relatively open platforms, only to end up controlled by corporate masters.

"In this age of an open Internet, it is easy to forget that every American information industry, beginning with the telephone, has eventually been taken captive by some ruthless monopoly or cartel. With all our media now traveling a single network, an unprecedented potential is building for centralized control over what Americans see and hear. Could history repeat itself with the next industrial consolidation? Could the Internet -- the entire flow of American information -- come to be ruled by one corporate leviathan in possession of "the master switch"? That is the big question of Tim Wu's pathbreaking book. As Wu's sweeping history shows, each of the new media of the twentieth century -- radio, telephone, television, and film -- was born free and open. Each invited unrestricted use and enterprising experiment until some would-be mogul battled his way to total domination."

Why this is progressive/liberal: One of the big debates between progressives and conservatives is the need for net neutrality. For the most part liberals and progressives argue that we need laws to ensure the Internet stays an open platform. Net neutrality is what we have today, and progressives think we need legislation to keep it that way. This book, and the one by Zittrain provide the arguments for keeping an open Internet.

Buy the Kindle version: The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires (Borzoi Books)



An excellent companion piece to this is Jonathan Zittrain's The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It.

Buy the Kindle version: The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It by Jonathan Zittrain

327: The good guys, the bad guys and the first amendment: Free speech vs. fairness in broadcasting by Fred Friendly

The good guys, the bad guys and the first amendment: Free speech vs. fairness in broadcasting

It's surprisingly difficult to find a book analyzing the debate over the Fairness Doctrine. This book from 1975 by Fred Friendly (Edward R. Murrow's producer) serves as a high-quality introduction, and is written in an accessible manner. Friendly also works to maintain an even-handed journalistic approach, trying to fairly represent the different sides of the debate.

"This book, an account of the 'Red Lion' Supreme Court case and similar cases that arose after that decision, discusses the implications and problems inherent in enforcing the Federal Communications Commission's 'Fairness Doctrine.' After a detailed chronicle of the Red Lion case, the book relates applications of the Fairness Doctrine to commercial announcements, presidential use of television, and network distortion of the news. The book emphasizes that, in many of the cases and issues, it is difficult to tell the good guys from the bad guys."

Why this is progessive/liberal: Public resources like the broadcast spectrum should be used responsibly to represent the different voices of the public. The Fairness Doctrine is intended to create a platform to ensure equal time for different opinions. This book explains how the Fairness Doctrine came about, and why it's important as a guideline for using resources in the public domain.

328: The Pursuit of Fairness: A History of Affirmative Action by Terry H. Anderson

The Pursuit of Fairness: A History of Affirmative Action by Terry H. Anderson

Even toddlers seem to inherently understand fairness. Try giving two small children different sizes of cake slices and see how fast the one with the smaller slice complains. Or, sometimes, the one with the larger slice shares.

In this book you will learn about the origins of affirmative action. Affirmative action started in WWII and JFK was the first to use the term. It started because qualified contractors were ignored by government agencies because they were owned by black people. There existed government procurers who would purchase lower quality goods or services because they didn't want to do business with a black person. Affirmative action started as a way to compensate for the bias in the system.

Why this is progressive/liberal: Affirmative action is one of the progressive policies that conservatives find most irksome. Senator Paul has stated his opposition to the Civil Rights Act, making the perfectly reasonable claim that every business owner should be allowed to sell or not sell to whomever they choose. In order to counter Paul and those who make similar arguments it's important to understand the history and logic behind affirmative action and other actions made by the government to shore up America's commitment to equal rights for all of its citizens. Once you've done your homework you'll be able to easily see that Paul and his ilk have not done theirs. Affirmative action only applies to government agencies, or those getting money from the federal government. And the Civil Rights Act only pertains to businesses that offer public accommodations. As long as Paul's business isn't a public service and doesn't take any government money, he can restrict who he takes money from all he wants.

BUY THIS BOOK

Buy the Kindle version: The Pursuit of Fairness: A History of Affirmative Action

329: The Winona LaDuke Reader: A Collection of Essential Writings

The Winona LaDuke Reader: A Collection of Essential Writings

In 1996 and 2000 LaDuke was the vice-presidential candidate for the Green Party. She is a tireless activist for women's rights, Indian rights, and for protecting the environment. This reader provides an excellent introduction to her work and thinking.

From the publisher's book description:

"For more than twenty years, Winona LaDuke has impressed people around the world with her oratory and debate skills and as an advocate for Native American rights, champion of women’s and children’s issues, protector of the environment, and as a leading voice of the Green Party. A charismatic and inspiring speaker and writer, LaDuke possesses a stirring passion that comes through in the 30 speeches, articles, and fiction excerpts compiled in The Winona LaDuke Reader. This is the first collection of the many political speeches and "think-pieces" that she has written for magazines such as Sierra, Smithsonian’s American Indian, and more."

Why this is progressive/liberal: LaDuke embodies much of the progressive spirit and speaks out on many issues important to progressives.

330: Merchants of Grain by Dan Morgan

Merchants of Grain: The Power and Profits of the Five Giant Companies at the Center of the World's Food Supply by Dan Morgan

Published in 1979, and so a little dated, this book by Dan Morgan takes a look at the secretive food companies and their influence on our food supply and legislative food policy. Despite its age it still provides tremendous insight into how much power we have ceded to private corporations. The story is even more compelling when you realize that they have only gained more power and control in the 30+ years since this was written.

Why this is progressive/liberal: Progressives don't like secretive institutions influencing important institutions. There are certain elements of a democratic society in which the citizens should have a say, and food is near the top of that list.

BUY THIS BOOK

331: Dispatches by Michael Herr

Dispatches by Michael Herr

Published in 1977 Dispatches remains one of the best books written about the Vietnam war. It's notable because it presents the war from the soldier's experience. There's no analysis of strategy or politics, only stories of the soldiers fighting the war. Herr reported back the chaos, the violence, and the tragic absurdity of war. Every person thinking about joining the military should read this book first.

Why this is progressive/liberal: War is hell. Most of the combat US soldiers have been involved in is unnecessary for maintaining this nation's sovereignty. Books like this one by Michael Herr help dispel the myth that war is glamorous. As Herr aptly notes in the second chapter, Hell sucks.

332: Capital by Karl Marx

Capital: Volume 1: A Critique of Political Econom, Vol. 1
Capital : A Critique of Political Economy, Vol. 2
Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, Vol. 3

They're going to call you a communist so you might as well know what they're accusing you of. This is a classic economic text and should be read by anybody with an interest in politics or economics. You might want to read your Adam Smith and David Ricardo before you start reading Karl Marx, but it's not an absolute necessity.

Don't be put off by the size of this work. Yes, it's huge, but you'll be surprised how much you can get out of even a casual reading.

Why this is progressive/liberal: Almost everything you know about Marx is wrong. Once you understand Marx's critique of the commodification of life you may find yourself more sympathetic to his arguments. Even if you ultimately don't agree with Marx, and decide life is better as an unrepentant capitalist, you should at least know the argument.

Buy the Kindle version: Capital: A Critique of Political Economy: 1
Capital: 2
Capital: 3

333: My Life with the Chimpanzees by Jane Goodall

My Life with the Chimpanzees by Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall has been writing about her research with chimpanzees for over forty years. It's difficult to choose just one book to represent her work, but My Life with the Chimpanzees is as good an introduction as any. Plus, it's a kids book, so it makes a perfect gift for the curious pre-teen in your life. (Her more substantive The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior is out of print. If you would like something written for an older audience check out Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe.)

Why this is progressive/liberal: This book helps explain why progressives want to protect endangered species. It also provides an introduction to the life of a scientist and importance of expanding your intellectual horizons.

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334: Counterculture Through the Ages: From Abraham to Acid House by Ken Goffman

Counterculture Through the Ages: From Abraham to Acid House by Ken Goffman

Some may know Ken Goffman better as R. U. Sirius, one time editor of the groundbreaking magazine Mondo 2000 (Wired Magazine is Mondo 2000 with all the cool parts taken out). Before that Goffman edited and published Reality Hackers. Since then he's been a prolific author, journalist, podcaster, and in 2000 a candidate for the presidency of the United States representing the Revolution Party.

Counterculture is Goffman's effort to trace the unending spirit of creative destruction artistic subcultures bring to society. For Goffman the counterculture represents those elements in society fighting for "individualism, anti-authoritarianism, and a belief in the possibility of personal and social transformation."

Why this is progressive/liberal: Technically, countercultures aren't necessarily progressive. However, it is the progressive subcultures Goffman is most interested in this book. Ever wonder how raves are connected to the Biblical Abraham? or how medieval balladeers anticipated 20th century Rock and Roll? Check out Counterculture Through the Ages and find out.

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Buy the Kindle version: Counterculture Through the Ages: From Abraham to Acid House