Books Update: This Is America

A number of books that touch on issues shaping our country’s past and its future

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 3, 2020 Derek Brahney Dear Reader, It’s the Fourth of July weekend, which is traditionally a time for family reunions, backyard barbecues, towns gathering in parks to watch fireworks and to reflect on the past and future of our country. All that is going to feel a bit different right now. This week’s issue pulls together a number of books that touch on issues shaping our country’s past and its future, from Robert M. Gates’s new book about post-Cold War foreign policy, “Exercise of Power,” to DW Gibson’s “14 Miles,” about the construction of the border wall. Two editors at the Book Review contribute to this week’s issue: Barry Gewen, whose book “The Inevitability of Tragedy: Henry Kissinger and His World” came out in April, writes an essay about Hans Morgenthau’s “Politics Among Nations” and its impact on American policy. And Lauren Christensen gathered some of the most significant and authoritative voices in poetry, fiction and academia to write about the books concerning race and racism that have most informed and affected their own understanding. The results offer a remarkable range of fiction and nonfiction books that I suspect will have all of us reading well into the year in ways that will engage, surprise and challenge us. Please stay in touch and let us know what you think — whether it’s about this newsletter, our reviews, our podcast, our literary calendar, our Instagram or what you’re reading. We read and ponder all of it. I even write back, albeit belatedly. You can email me at books@nytimes.com. Pamela Paul Editor of The New York Times Book Review @PamelaPaulNYT Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Like this email? Sign-up here or forward it to your friends. Have a suggestion or two on how we can improve it? Let us know at newsletters@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. THE BOOK REVIEW PODCAST Jules Feiffer on His Long, Varied Career Feiffer talks about his new picture book and more, and Steve Inskeep discusses “Imperfect Union.” FICTION fiction Can Political Satire Outpace Reality? 3 Books Toss Their Hats in the Ring Christopher Buckley’s “Make Russia Great Again,” Jessica Anthony’s “Enter the Aardvark” and the anthology “The Faking of the President” all have fun with American politics. By Ben Greenman NONFICTION nonfiction What Keeps America Divided? “Let Them Eat Tweets,” by Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson, examines the ways in which the wealthy control the Republican Party. By Franklin Foer nonfiction Is Donald Trump a Danger to Democracy? Two new books, Masha Gessen’s “Surviving Autocracy” and Eric A. Posner’s “The Demagogue’s Handbook,” assess what we do — and don’t — know about the president. By Yascha Mounk nonfiction How Can the U.S. Fix Its Foreign Policy? In “Exercise of Power,” Robert M. Gates draws on his years of experience to examine America’s role in the world, and outlines a plausible way to repair the damage. By Gideon Rose nonfiction What Is the Status of Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Wall’? In “14 Miles,” his exploration of life on the border, DW Gibson reveals the reality and fantasy of the president’s desired wall. By Shane Bauer nonfiction How Generations of Russians Have Tried to Influence American Elections David Shimer’s “Rigged” provides the history and context behind Moscow’s interference in the 2016 election. By Timothy Naftali Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CHILDREN’S BOOKS children’s books Preparing to Launch: Three Adolescents Count Down to Adulthood Erin Entrada Kelly’s “We Dream of Space” follows three siblings, adrift in a dysfunctional family, as they await the shuttle Challenger’s liftoff. By Catherine Bush children’s books Brave Teenage Refugees Seek a Home of the Free In Jenny Torres Sanchez’ “We Are Not From Here,” three Guatemalan teenagers embark on a harrowing journey through Mexico to the U.S. border. By Paola Mendoza FEATURES by the book Steve Inskeep Is Drawn to Books With Nuanced Female Characters “Years ago I read everything by Hemingway and Raymond Carver. It’s a different experience to read Elif Shafak and Lauren Groff.” ‘Every Work of American Literature Is About Race’: Writers on How We Got Here Amid the most profound social upheaval since the 1960s, these novelists, historians, poets, comedians and activists take a moment to look back to the literature. By Lauren Christensen essay The Book That Shaped Foreign Policy for a Generation Has More to Say Hans Morgenthau’s “Politics Among Nations” taught thinkers from George F. Kennan to Henry Kissinger to put national interest above idealism. America is still learning that lesson. By Barry Gewen graphic review How Do We See Each Other in a ‘Market Society’? A graphic review of Karl Polanyi’s seminal work “The Great Transformation,” which charted the social effects of capitalism. By Ben Katchor new & noteworthy New Audiobooks, From Thomas Cromwell to the World of Darkness A selection of recent audiobooks of note; plus, a peek at what our colleagues around the newsroom are reading. Feminists, Poetic Pretensions and Other Letters to the Editor Readers respond to recent issues of the Sunday Book Review. Considering the American Voice Irving Howe wrote for the Book Review about American literature — “moving from visions to problems, from ecstasy to trouble, from self to society” — on July 4, 1976. “Land of the free? Yes, but also home of the exploited.” editors’ choice 10 New Books We Recommend This Week Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times. inside the list Meet Vashti Harrison, Belle of the Best-Seller Lists This author and illustrator is a mainstay across multiple categories. She hopes her work broadens the horizons of young readers. By Elisabeth Egan New in Paperback: ‘The Yellow House’ and ‘Night Boat to Tangier’ Six new paperbacks to check out this week. By Jennifer Krauss Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Best Sellers Combined Print & E-Book Fiction Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction Hardcover Fiction Hardcover Nonfiction Paperback Trade Fiction Paperback Nonfiction All Lists New International Books Illustration by Thoka Maer Your sneak preview of books coming out in 2020 from around the world. Get globetrotting. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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