Political Figures

Before John Glenn orbited the Earth or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as "human computers" used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets and astronauts into space. Among these problem solvers were a group of exceptionally talented African American women, some of the brightest minds of their generation.

In this groundbreaking biography of the Japanese emperor Hirohito, Herbert P. Bix offers the first complete, unvarnished look at the enigmatic leader whose 63-year reign ushered Japan into the modern world. Never before has the full life of this controversial figure been revealed with such clarity and vividness. Bix describes what it was like to be trained from birth for a lone position at the apex of the nation's political hierarchy and as a revered symbol of divine status.

In this lively and compelling biography, Harlow Giles Unger reveals the dominant political figure of a generation. A fierce fighter in four critical Revolutionary War battles and a courageous survivor of Valley Forge and a near-fatal wound at the Battle of Trenton, James Monroe (1751 - 1831) went on to become America's first full-time politician, dedicating his life to securing America's national and international durability.

WHEN I WANT YOUR OPINION, I’LL GIVE IT TO YOU isn’t just a title—it’s a line you’ve probably rehearsed in your head a hundred times and never had the guts to say out loud. Until now. This book is your front-row seat to the drama of modern-day bullying—social, political, professional, and personal. But this isn’t just about high school flashbacks or the mean girl who ran the locker room. Nope. This is about the boss who cancels your promotion but keeps your ideas. The politician who yells “freedom” while silencing dissent. The keyboard warrior with Wi-Fi and a vendetta. The...

Born into upper-class America in the same year, 1854, Sara Delano (later to become the mother of Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and Jennie Jerome (later to become the mother of Winston Churchill) refused to settle into predictable, sheltered lives as little-known wives to prominent men. Instead, both women concentrated much of their energies on enabling their sons to reach the epicenter of political power on two continents.

Emperor Tiberius: Life and Reign offers a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of one of Rome’s most enigmatic emperors. Tiberius, who ruled from AD 14 to AD 37, has often been portrayed through the lens of his reclusive and autocratic later years, but this book aims to provide a balanced view, shedding light on both his achievements and controversies. From his birth into the prominent Claudian family and his early military successes to his complex relationships with Augustus and his mother Livia, Tiberius’ life is a tapestry of ambition, duty, and personal struggle. His rise to power ...

Hubert Humphrey was one of the great liberal leaders of postwar American politics, yet because he never made it to the Oval Office, he has been largely overlooked by biographers. Historian Arnold A. Offner has explored vast troves of archival records to recapture Humphrey's life, giving us previously unknown details of the vice president's fractious relationship with Lyndon Johnson, showing how Johnson colluded with Richard Nixon to deny Humphrey the presidency, and describing the most neglected aspect of Humphrey's career.

Murder of a Senator is a riveting murder mystery set in the vibrant yet shadowy streets of Colón, Panama during the early 20th century. This novel weaves a tale of political intrigue, hidden motives, and complex investigations. Senator James Hermann, a significant political figure, is found dead in his carriage under mysterious circumstances. Douglas Hunter, fresh from a diplomatic mission in Japan, had returned at the senator's request, only to find himself at the center of a high-stakes investigation. As he delves deeper into the senator's life and death, he uncovers a conspiracy that ...

When he woke up in jail in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 2015, Tim Murtaugh had no way of knowing he'd be a senior leader on the reelection campaign for the president of the United States less than four years later.

Lessons in Power By Georg Feneberg What do Julius Caesar, Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have in common? They understood that power isn’t just taken—it’s shaped. In Lessons in Power, Georg Feneberg distills the boldest leadership moves in history into sharp, strategic insights for a chaotic modern world. From ancient Rome to TikTok diplomacy, this book explores how perception, narrative, emotion, and control continue to define who rises—and who falls. Combining gripping historical storytelling with modern parallels, each chapter unveils how leaders seized...

This book offers a much-needed new political theory of an old phenomenon. The last decade alone has marked the highest number of migrations in recorded history. Constrained by environmental, economic, and political instability, scores of people are on the move. But other sorts of changes - from global tourism to undocumented labor - have led to the fact that to some extent, we are all becoming migrants. The migrant has become the political figure of our time.

In the ancient alleys of Damascus, where tradition and secrecy reign, the sudden death of a woman sets the stage for a gripping mystery. When Haj Adel's daughter-in-law dies under suspicious circumstances, the call goes out to Mullah Abdullah Al-Allab, a devout imam with a hidden talent for detective work. As a revered figure in the community, Mullah Abdullah uses his position and keen insight to navigate the intricate web of lies, family honor, and societal expectations. Amidst the echoes of prayers and the whispers of scandal, Mullah Abdullah must uncover the truth in a city where ...

The father that the brothers shared was as elusive a figure for George as he had been for Barack Obama; he died when George was six months old and George was raised by his mother and stepfather. But after his mother and stepfather separated, he drifted into gangs and petty crime. Arrested for robbery, restless, willful, and troubled, he lost himself in Nairobi's vast Mathare ghetto. After being framed for an armed robbery he did not commit and spending time in jail, he represented himself at trial and won the case.

Get Inspired by an Icon for Freedom Meet Nelson Mandela, the freedom fighter and statesman who changed the world! This inspiring book takes you on a journey through Mandela's life, from his childhood in rural South Africa to his presidency and beyond. With exclusive insights into his thought process, work philosophy, and breakthrough ideas, you will discover the secrets behind his remarkable achievements. Through Mandela's story, learn about the power of non-violent resistance, the importance of empathy and compassion, and the significance of leadership and reconciliation. And discover how ...

Figures of the One Must Go is a book that dares you to listen to it. This modernist philosophical work adopts a playful attitude with the words within. Words evolve, multiply, surprise, and delight in this chronicle of the four different paths of life. Are you brave enough to walk down the philosophical path, the psychological path, the political path, and the lyrical path? Each one presents challenging ideas about the nature of life and the long history of the human race.

Growing up as the child of former sharecroppers in a segregated Baltimore, Elijah Cummings saw firsthand how injustice could run rampant, even in a democracy that promises fairness and equality. But with a strong support system and fiery self-discipline, Elijah utilized the momentum of the civil rights movement to overcome the obstacles of poverty and racism to effect change at a time when our country so badly needed it.