This week’s Newsmax Rising Bestsellers include a view from mid-20th century politics, with the first breathing new life into a book written by a man whose name became a verb, and the second a biography of another whose last name defined the latter half of the era. Two other nonfiction selections each examine the corrosive concept of “wokeism” and how to combat it to preserve any sense of civil society. One suggests the reader become domestic extremists in order to win the war and save Western culture, while the second explains that the trending belief and tactics of those on the left to eventually prevail is to silence everyone else. For fiction, there is a trip back in time to a half century ago, written by a New York Times bestselling author.
“A Calamity of Souls,” by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing)
This tale is set during the turbulent 1960s, when Martin Luther King Jr. led marches seeking equal treatment for minorities. It depicts two Virginia lawyers — one black, one white — who team up to defend their Black client who has been wrongfully accused of brutally murdering a wealthy, powerful, and elderly white man. “(David) Baldacci has a reputation for solid character development, and ‘A Calamity of Souls’ continues to build that reputation even higher!” wrote Judith Reveal for New York Journal of Books. “This story climbs many hills and descends into many valleys, while the reader scratches their head trying to figure out how this story will end. Do not look at the end of the story — see it through. It will be well worth the full read.” [Fiction]
“The Antitrust Paradox: A Policy at War With Itself,” by Robert H. Bork, Robert H. Bork Jr. & Mike Lee (Introduction) (Bork Publishing LLC)
Initially published in 1978, written by the senior Bork, this tome is brought back to life by his son, with an introduction by Sen. Mike Lee. The name Bork may ring a bell, with his nomination to the Supreme Court by Ronald Reagan spurring a liberal smear campaign to block a “right-wing extremist” from reaching the court – a tactic that became known as “borking.” “The Antitrust Paradox” explains a vastly important but little-understood subject — one that ultimately affects every American as government has exerted increasing influence on private affairs — and not necessarily for the good. “The writing was excellent and held the reader’s attention despite the complexity of the issues,” wrote Holly H. for Amazon. “The notes provided extensive backup and places to jump off from for additional research. Senators and congresspersons at the national and state level should assign a staff member to each chapter and then, develop ways to support bills in process and to fashion new bills to address the problem(s).” [Nonfiction]
“Domestic Extremist: A Practical Guide to Winning the Culture War,” by Peachy Keenan (Regnery)
Peachy Keenan, a tongue-in-cheek pseudonym for the mother/writer and contributor to The Federalist, uses humor, insight and satire to argue that if we hope to save the world, the republic, our family and ultimately ourselves, we have to ditch social niceties and don our domestic extremist hats. It’s necessary she says to take on the woke left mob in a tooth-and-nail, take-no-prisoners battle. She builds upon some traditional (and some not so traditional) truths, such as:
- Parents are the bosses of their kids;
- Babies are good, more babies are better;
- Two sexes are plenty;
- Your career is overrated;
- Feminism is how the unpopular and undatable cope with life;
- Mainstream American culture destroys families.
“I don't care whether you agree with the politics of this book or not … you still have to hand it to Mrs. Keenan for writing what is probably the funniest book on politics since the heyday of P.J. O’Rourke,” wrote Mark for GoodReads. “This is one helluva enjoyable read, and when you strip away all of the political baggage people want to bring to these conversations, strictly as an empirical matter, what's she's saying about America's cultural hostility towards creating healthy marriages and families is largely common sense we all know to be true.” [Nonfiction]
“The Real RFK Jr.: Trials of a Truth Warrior,” by Dick Russell (Skyhorse)
No matter what your political stripes — conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a part of the political landscape, and although he’s highly unlikely to win the White House, he’ll very likely draw votes away from each of the major candidates. Described as an “intimate biographical portrait,” the book delves deep into the events that created the man known for his leftist environmental policy advocacy and public health pronouncements. “Dick Russell does a great job of making what might appear to be a seemingly mundane subject (for my interests,) jump to life – like an interesting and compelling novel,” wrote Brian Brogan in his GoodReads review. “The book contains unpublished writings and personal journals, interviews with RFK Jr., family members, friends and colleagues all running fluidly together by Dick's narration. It's an inspiring story and I think it's an important book to read given America's rapid decline, and with questions looming if the remnants of democracy can be brought back to life.” [Nonfiction]
“The Woking Dead: How Society's Vogue Virus Destroys Our Culture,”
by A.J. Rice (Post Hill Press)
Written by a Washington-based publicist and insider, this explains that at about the same time that “wokeism” became a plague infecting and destroying every segment of society — politics, education, media and even sports — Donald Trump emerged on the scene to become its most effective vaccine. And for that reason, the woke crowd did, and is still doing, everything in its power to destroy him. “This book is very well written and Washington, D.C., insider AJ Rice, makes the case as well as anybody that ‘Woke Culture’ is neither,” wrote Mystic Post for Amazon. “They don't want to ‘wake’ us up, they want to shut us up. And the ‘culture’ of wok(e)ism is leading America towards a dark, even dangerous, dystopian world. ‘The Woking Dead’ pulls no punches and it shouldn't. As AJ Rice points out, wok(e)ism is not merely an academic debate but rather a sinister ideology that leads to ruined lives and a weakened America. In ‘The Woking Dead,’ Rice's biting prose, and sharp wit make for a refreshing tonic to be enjoyed as we face the desert of the mainstream media's group think wasteland. Highly entertaining and thought provoking.” [Nonfiction]