The art and perception of war — on the battlefield and on the campaign trail — consumes this week’s Rising Newsmax Bestsellers. The first makes the case that the Gaza War has set off a rise in antisemitism in the United States, and the second is an inside look at the greatest political comeback in memory. The third is an updated version of a World War II classic, and the final non-fiction offering is a look at World War II’s most unassuming general. For fiction, there is a rollicking, quirky novel.
“Run for the Hills,” by Kevin Wilson (Ecco)
Madeline Hill and her mom have been working a Tennessee farm on their own since her dad left them two decades earlier. Then one day someone pulls up to the farm claiming to be Madeline’s half-brother, and her relatively quiet life suddenly becomes more interesting. He invites her on a cross-country road trip to track down a list of other half-siblings he’s managed to compile with the help of a private investigative firm. Eventually all the newly found Hill family members decide to track down the common denominator — their dad. “‘Run for the Hills’ is a touching and generous romp of a novel, a sort of lighthearted family heist in which the anticipated grift is simply a meeting (or confrontation?) with the characters’ father,” wrote Bobby Finger, New York Times “Editors’ Choice” Book Review. “The results of their quest are, frankly, beside the point. In bringing the siblings together — with or without the man who helped create them — Wilson makes a bold and convincing case that every real family is one you have to find and, at some point, choose, even if it’s the one you’re born into.” [Fiction]
“American Intifada: Israel, the Gaza War and the New Antisemitism,” by Uri Kaufman (Republic Book Publishers)
Ever since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel’s civilian population, liberals have cast blame on Israel rather than Hamas terrorists. Former President Barack Obama’s response was typical. He claimed that Israel had “unclean hands” because of an alleged “unbearable occupation.” Author Uri Kaufman likens this to the left’s perception of race, where Israelis are perceived as a white group of privilege, while Palestinians are viewed as downtrodden people of color. Looking at the events through that distorted lens, Kaufman says, is the only way that the left’s perception of the Israeli-Palestinian situation make any sense. “For too long, Israel has been the subject of unfair and untrue attacks by politicians, professors and the press,” said Alan Dershowitz, law professor emeritus and Newsmax contributor. “Whether one agrees or disagrees with all its conclusions, this well-researched, thought-provoking book is an important contribution to understanding and overcoming the phenomenon.” [Nonfiction]
“The Greatest Comeback Ever: Inside Trump's Big Beautiful Campaign,” by Joe Concha (Broadside Books)
Progressives were so petrified of a second Trump term that they threw everything imaginable at him: Two assassination attempts, unrelenting lawfare, billions of dollars in a campaign war chest and a Kamala coronation after a dismal debate performance by Joe Biden. None of it worked. Democrats didn’t just lose, they were humiliated at the polls, author Joe Concha writes. Trump was handed an overwhelming mandate and was given both chambers of Congress. It was “The Greatest Comeback Ever,” and this is the inside scoop of how it all came together. “Although I remember most of all this, it's good to read about it all again,” wrote Lori Ittner in her GoodReads review. “We were all in amazement at the audacity and incompetence of not only the Harris…campaign, but the mainstream media.” [Nonfiction]
“The Old Breed... The Complete Story Revealed: A Father, A Son, and How WWII in the Pacific Shaped Their Lives,” by W. Henry Sledge (Knox Press)
In this, Eugene Sledge’s son breathes new life and adds context to his father’s 40-year-old wartime classic memoir, “With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa.” He does so by sharing memories of father-son talks and inserting personal anecdotes throughout the original work. What results is “an intimate look at a WWII veteran and his struggles to adapt to civilian life following the war,” according to the publisher. “We Marines were blessed with the writings of E.B. Sledge,” wrote Gen. Anthony Zinni, USMC (retired). “He eloquently captured the battlefield environment many of us experienced throughout our Corps’ history. His son Henry has added to his father’s legacy with this superb book. From his father’s papers and his shared stories with Henry, we have been given another great Sledge work!” [Nonfiction]
“Omar Bradley: General at War,” by Jim DeFelice (Regnery History)
This, the latest in the Jim DeFelice “The Generals” series, depicts a WWII senior European theater commander who came to be known as the “G.I. General.” He acquired that moniker because of his self-effacing, hard-working “one of the guys” demeanor. He was the yin to Gen. George S. Patton’s yang, and for that reason he’s often been overlooked by historians — until now. While Patton claimed much of the glory, and Eisenhower got a lot of the credit for the European theater’s planning, Bradley trudged along, quietly racking up his own record of success. “Anyone interested in World War II, particularly in the European theater would enjoy this book,” wrote John Nevola in his Amazon review. “It is well written, heavily sourced and somewhat revealing. It held my interest throughout despite the flawed editing.” [Nonfiction]