The Nine: Jeffrey Toobin on the Evolution of the Supreme Court

In the current political climate, The Nine isn’t a particularly pleasant read for more liberal audiences, but it is something of an essential one. On the day when Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, now is actually the perfect time to get to know the ways the court has evolved since Kennedy was appointed under Reagan … More The Nine: Jeffrey Toobin on the Evolution of the Supreme Court

Tomorrow Will Be Different: Sarah McBride and Transgender Activism

Hope for the Future If I may get personal for a moment, this book was particularly meaningful for me because my husband and I have recently gotten licensed to be foster parents and we have been working on a placement with a transgender teenager. You can imagine, then, that Sarah McBride’s story of coming out … More Tomorrow Will Be Different: Sarah McBride and Transgender Activism

How the Chief of Staff Shapes the Presidency: The Gatekeepers, by Chris Whipple: Book Review

The success or failure of a presidency largely depends on whether or not the president is able to deliver on the agenda he or she sets upon taking office. Are they able to get things done? Can they focus and prioritize their goals so they don’t waste time on something that isn’t achievable or realistic … More How the Chief of Staff Shapes the Presidency: The Gatekeepers, by Chris Whipple: Book Review

A Culture of Violence: The Association of Small Bombs, by Karan Mahajan: Book Review

The Association of Small Bombs begins with a sudden explosion in a Delhi marketplace in 1996. Two young brothers, Tushar and Nakul Khurana, are killed. Their friend Mansoor Ahmed survives. The novel then follows what happens over the next twenty years in order to show the ripple effect that this “small bomb” has. Tushar and … More A Culture of Violence: The Association of Small Bombs, by Karan Mahajan: Book Review