The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s the filibuster in the US Senate? Should the filibuster be abolished? In Why We’re Polarized, American progressive journalist, political commentator, and podcaster Ezra Klein explains why the filibuster should be abolished. He thinks the rule is abused and contributes to political polarization. Keep reading to understand why Klein believes it’s time for the filibuster to go and why not everyone agrees with his analysis.
Is there a connection between political polarization and the way America elects its officials? If so, what should be done about it? Progressive journalist, political commentator, and podcaster Ezra Klein says that, if done right, election reform can break up the push toward growing polarization. He proposes the replacement of the Electoral College by a direct popular vote for the presidency as well as the creation of multi-member districts. Keep reading to understand both of these proposals and what Klein hopes they’ll accomplish.
What was the first party system in the US like? What did each party advocate for? According to Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, the politician of the same name played an important role in the forming of the first American political parties. These parties are known as the Federalist and Republican parties. Discover more about the first party system and their beliefs.
Do you recognize efforts to sow division between you and your fellow citizens? If so, how do you respond? In Why We’re Polarized, progressive journalist, political commentator, and podcaster Ezra Klein explores the history and roots of polarization in America and its impact on the two major political parties. Then, he discusses how to reduce political polarization through institutional and individual actions. Keep reading to find out how Americans might be able to stem the tide of polarization.
What was America’s role in the French Revolution? Why were American parties split on helping the French? According to Ron Chernow’s book Alexander Hamilton, the French Revolution was a tough time for America. The Federalists wanted to side with the British for economic reasons, whereas the Republicans advocated for helping the French for democratic reasons. Let’s look at the impact of the French Revolution on America.
Why is “Buy Now, Pay Later” regulation in the works? Who do these programs help and harm? Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services provide short-term financing that enables people to make large purchases they might otherwise not be able to afford. But critics argue that the services put financially vulnerable individuals at greater risk. Continue reading to learn about BNPL programs and regulations.
Why are Americans so politically divided? Can anything be done about it? Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein argues that Americans are split into two sharply contrasting groups rooted in partisan identities. He believes this is a departure from previous eras when political divides were more about issues than identities. Continue reading for an overview of this book that provides insight into what’s going on in America today.
When did the Federalist Party end? What triggered the collapse of Federalism? Federalism slowly began to fizzle out by the end of the 18th century due to the rise of Republican voters and presidents. Ron Chernow’s biography Alexander Hamilton details the fall of Federalism and Hamilton, who was the de facto leader of the party. Read more about the end of Federalism and Hamilton’s career.
What was Alexander Hamilton’s early life like? How did Hamilton go from an underprivileged boy in the Caribbean to a successful writer? Hamilton’s childhood is described in Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow as a rags-to-riches story. While some details about Hamilton’s parentage and upbringing are still unknown, there’s no denying that he had an extraordinary transformation. Keep reading to learn more about the early life of one of the most influential political figures in America.
What purpose does the debt ceiling serve? What are its pros and cons? Is abolishing the debt ceiling feasible? Many Americans agree that Congress’s increasingly chaotic debt ceiling negotiations have become a distracting and dangerous spectacle. But to date, calls to abolish the ceiling have fizzled. We’ll examine why the US has a debt ceiling and what it would mean to abolish it.