​Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged is a sprawling dramatization of her objectivist philosophy, a work that venerates selfishness as a cardinal virtue while decrying altruism as a destructive force. The novel’s central narrative follows Dagny Taggart, a determined industrialist striving to keep her family’s railroad company afloat amidst societal collapse. What sets the text apart—both strikingly and problematically—is its moral absolutism: the heroes are rich, rational industrialists who embody brilliance, while the villains are cynical bureaucrats and collectivists, cloaked in the language of public good but ultimately parasitic and corrupt.

Revisiting My Life by Bill Clinton was a fascinating journey, offering me a chance to reflect on the presidency of Bill Clinton through a much richer lens than when I first encountered it in high school. At that time, I read only portions of the book, and while it piqued my interest, I lacked the perspective I’ve gained through graduate school, personal experience in politics, and years of studying the presidency. Returning to it now was a deeply nostalgic and intellectually engaging experience, particularly because Clinton’s presidency unfolded during my lifetime.

What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer is a monumental work, exploring the complex dynamics of the 1988 presidential election. Spanning over 1,000 pages, it covers the campaigns of George H.W. Bush, Michael Dukakis, Bob Dole, Dick Gephardt, Gary Hart, and Joe Biden, with appearances by figures like Al Gore and Jesse Jackson. 

Barack Obama discusses race and identity from an introspective and multifaceted perspective. His evaluation is never too sure of itself, questioning, and reflective. Characters are given respect, though he mixes his judgment with apparently realistic, practical analysis. Their foibles and inconsistencies interweave with their superlative qualities to craft a humane diorama of one man's life in the presence of others. His characters evince a contrived quality as well. Their intonations often seem to reflect a composite attitude stereotypical of a certain type of person. Sometimes, the characters seem like vehicles for Obama to express ideas or opinions he would rather not have associated with the narrator.