Thread: What are some good books on politics for a novice?

I've never really been interested in politics or the campaign for the presidency until this year, but I still know very little about the political process and how American government works, so I want to educate myself a bit more before I even begin to try to chose between Obama or McCain.

What are some good books that will introduce me to the political process, American government and economy, and the main historical differences between the Democrats and the Republicans? I need something like a voting guide that is not affiliated with a particular party.

WAR IS A RACKET- Smedley Butler

any ron paul book

Healing Our World
in an Age of Aggression

by Dr. Mary Ruwart

Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do by peter mcwilliams

Reading the Literature of Liberty by Roy Childs

INTRODUCTION TO LIBERTY

* Bergland, David. Libertarianism in One Lesson (ASG, LF)
* Burris, Allan. A Liberty Primer (ASG, FF)
* Ruwart, Mary. Healing our World (FF, LF)
* Sprading, Charles ed. Liberty and the Great Libertarians (LF)
* Narveson, Jan The Libertarian Idea AZ

ECONOMICS

* Block, Walter & Michael Walker. A Lexicon of Economic Thought (FI)
* Hazlitt, Henry. Economics in One Lesson (ASG, LF)
* Friedman, Milton. Free to Choose (LF)
* Reisman, George. The Government Against the Economy (LF)
* von Mises, Ludwig. Human Action (FEE, FF, LF)

EDUCATION

* Boulogne, Jack. The Zoo (FF, FEE)
* Public Education and Indoctrination (FEE, FF)
* Richman, Sheldon. Separating School and State (LF)

ENVIRONMENT

* Anderson, Terry & Donald Leal. Free Market Environmentalism (FF)
* Anderson, Terry L. ed. NAFTA and the Environment (FI)
* Bast, Joseph, Peter Hill & Richard Rue. Eco-Sanity (LF)
* Block, Walter ed. Economics & the Environment (FF, FI)

FICTION

* Anderson, Poul. Harvest of Stars (LF)
* Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged (FF, LF)

HISTORY

* Lane, Rose Wilder. The Discovery of Freedom (LF)
* Paterson, Isabel. The God of the Machine (LF)
* Weaver, Henry Grady. The Mainspring of Human Progress (FEE, FF)

LAW & CRIME

* Bastiat, Frederic. The Law (FEE, LF)
* Epstein, Richard. Simple Rules for a Complex World (LF)
* Hamowy, Ronald ed. Dealing with Drugs (FF)
* Lapierre, Wayne. Guns, Crime, and Freedom (LF)

PHILOSOPHY

* Locke, John. Two Treatises of Government (LF)
* Machan, Tibor. Individuals and their Rights (FF)
* Narveson, Jan. The Libertarian Idea (LF)
* Nozick, Robert. Anarchy, State, and Utopia (LF)
* Rand, Ayn. The Capitalist Manifesto (FF, LF)
* Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations (FF, LF)

POLITICS

* Peter Brimelow. Patriot Games (LF)
* Browne, Harry. Why Government Doesn't Work (LF)
* Hayek, F.A. The Road to Serfdom (FF, LF)
* Herbert, Auberon. The Right & Wrong of Compulsion by the State (FF)
* Horry, Isabella & Michael Walker. Government Spending Facts 2 (FI)
* Kendall, Frances & Leon Louw. Let the People Govern (FF)
* Nock, Albert Jay. Our Enemy, The State (FF, LF)
* Palda, Filip. Election Finance Regulation in Canada (FI)

SOCIAL POLICY

* Adie, Douglas K. The Mail Monopoly (FI)
* Grant, R.W. Rent Control and the War against the Poor (ASG)
* Hamowy, Ronald. Canadian Medicine: A Study in Restricted Entry (FI)
* Murray, Charles. Losing Ground (LF)
* Sarlo, Christopher. Poverty in Canada (FI)

WAR

* Opitz, Edmund ed. Leviathan at War (FEE, LF)
* Rummel, R.J. Death by Government (LF)

MAGAZINES & NEWSLETTERS

* Reason - Reason is the flagship libertarian magazine. The writers are all first rate and the production values are good. Founded in the mid-seventies, Reson is not so much interested in libertarian theory as in libertarian practice. The typical issue will featu re several articles on government problems and libertarian solutions as well as a mixture of book reviews and other columns. Reason can often be found in better book stores (not Coles!). Published 11 times per year. Subscription rate: US$26 per year. Contact: Reason Magazine on the World Wide Web, or write to their Subscription Department, P.O. Box 526, Mt Morris, IL, 61054 Phone 815-734-1102
* Fraser Forum (FI)
* Freedom Network News (FF)
* The Freeman (FEE)
* The Liberator (ASG)
* Liberty - PO Box 1167 , Port Townsend WA 98368.