Excerpt:

I wasn’t very involved in politics before the 2004 campaign. I did vote in most elections. However, in 2004 I got more involved in the general election by canvassing a couple times. After the 2004 election, I made the goal to read 1 political book each month in hopes that I would learn more about politics and the issues. Now I haven’t been able to accomplish this goal each month, but for the most part I have done pretty well.

Here are the top 10 political books that I have read since then…

10. Big Coal by Jeff Goodell - outlines the influence the coal industry has

9. The Argument by Matt Bai - a detailed portrayal of the battle for the heart of the Democratic party

8. How Would a Patriot Act by Glenn Greenwald - great background on warrantless wiretapping the Bush’s theory of unitary executive

7. Don’t Think of an Elephant by George Lakoff - made me aware that using the correct wording is half the battle

6. Conscience of a Liberal by Paul Wellstone - Wellstone laid out a vision that is still being fought for today

5. Hostile Takeover by David Sirota - shows how corporations are taking over our government on each issue

4. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised by Joe Trippi - an interesting look at the Iowa caucuses, the Dean campaign in 2004, and how the internet is changing politics.

3. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins - gives you background on why we are in Iraq and how the U.S. has built an empire through economic means

2. Imperial Life in the Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaren - a must read about how bad the planning in Iraq after the fall of Saddam really was

1. Homegrown Democrat by Garrison Keillor - a humorous look at what it really means to be a Democrat

Chime in with any good books you have read.

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