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10 Books to Help Understand Hillary's Platform
It's easy to forget the real issues at stake for America in the midst of all the craziness of the 2016 election. As November inches closer and closer, voters need to take some time to understand the platform's of the presidential candidates. One of the best ways to do so is through books, so here are 10 nonfiction books about political issues to help you understand Hillary Clinton's platform.
If you go to her website, Clinton has a detailed, well-organized, and comprehensive section dedicated to her platform and her plan-of-action on each issue. I've taken some of her points of action and matched them to books that provide in-depth explorations of these issues. Many of these books were written by people unaffiliated with Hillary Clinton. Some of them may not reflect her exact opinion; rather, they'll dive into the issue in question so you can get a better understanding of how Clinton's plan fits into the context of each issue.
Whether you're a die-hard Clinton supporter or you're still undecided, use these books as an opportunity to truly understand what you're voting for and make an informed decision when it's time to cast your ballot.
1. Hard Choices by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Of course, one of Clinton's biggest selling points is all of her experience. And who better to hear about it than from Clinton herself? In this, her most recent book, she details her experiences as Secretary of State, giving you an inside look at all the work she's done for our country.
2. It Takes a Village by Hillary Rodham Clinton
This, Clinton's first book, was published in 1995, when Clinton was First Lady, and it's still entirely relevant. Clinton even mentioned it in her speech at the DNC. Clinton's dedication to children remains at the center of political agenda, and in this book, she dives into her vision for the future of America's children.
3. Unstoppable by Bill Nye
Clinton is an advocate for action against climate change, and she's laid out many ideas for how to "[take] on the threat of climate change and making America the world’s clean energy superpower." Bill Nye the Science Guy, one of the loudest voices in the fight against global warming, thinks that we have the power to fight climate change. In this book, he explains how he thinks we can do it.
4. Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Radical Right by Jane Meyer
Clinton's platform includes a five-point plan to create "an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top." In this intricate and powerful book, Mayer dives into the economic inequality plaguing the U.S. and the forces that created it, exposing a dark concentration of power within our nation's system.
5. What Will It Take to Make a Woman President? by Marianne Schnall
Clinton is, of course, an advocate for women's rights. In order to answer the titular question of her book, Marianne Schnall collected essays and interviews from thought-leaders in women's issues about the challenges that face women today. (Plus, Beyoncè recommended this book to her fans.)
6. Black Flags by Joby Warrick
Clinton once said: "It is not enough to contain ISIS and the threat of radical jihadism—we have to defeat it." The presidential hopeful also laid out a three-point agenda for combatting terrorism. Read this book to better understand the challenges the United States faces when it comes to ISIS. Warrick examines the historical events that led to the creation of ISIS and what this means for our future security.
7. A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
A People's History of the United States is a quintessential read about the many inequalities in the United States today. This book tells the history of the U.S. from the perspective of immigrants, workers, African Americans, Native Americans, and other marginalized groups.
8. Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights by Kathy Pollitt
Clinton is a defender of women's right to choose, saying she will "defend access to affordable contraception, preventive care, and safe and legal abortion—not just in principle, but in practice." This is the book to read about the issue of abortion, and Pollitt makes a strong argument for the importance of a woman's right to choose.
9. The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care by T.R. Reid
Clinton says that she "will continue to lead the fight to expand health care access for every American—even when it means standing up to special interests," advocating for universal health care as well as attention to specific issues, including autism and Alzheimer's. In this book, Reid picks apart the United States's broken system, comparing it to the rest of the world, and explores the ways in which we desperately need to improve.
10. The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch
In this book, former Assistant Secretary of Education Diane Ravitch lays out all the problems with our current educational system, demands specific changes, and advocates for many of the things Clinton has laid out in her platform — including fair wages for teachers and strong early childhood education.
