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–Admiral James Stavridis
There is no “how to” guide on the work and business of leading and engaging the task
before a modern state legislative body. But, in the course of our work we have both found that
learning from the experience of others, reading their biographies and thoughts, is among the best
and most sound sources of professional development for work in politics and government. We
have traded books and reading recommendations since we first met, shortly after the 2014
primary election. Inspired by the reading lists put together by senior military leaders and the
military service branches, we have crafted a recommended reading list for those involved in the
Maryland General Assembly’s work. Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied
Commander at NATO and author of numerous books, including as co-author of The Leader’s
Bookshelf (a wonderful collection of 50 books on leadership), guided us in this effort.
We each asked 15 of our current or former colleagues, other elected officials, staff
members, advocates, and other Maryland leaders for reading recommendations in five
categories:
• General Leadership
• General Politics and History
• Public Policy
• Maryland-specific Politics and History; and
• Regional Understanding.
The response was overwhelming and a number of the same recommendations came multiple
times. The list generated a broad range of offerings in each category and we have come away
with many additions to our personal reading lists. We also made our own picks.
General Leadership
Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family by Condoleezza Rice: “This is the riveting
story of a young African American woman growing-up in Birmingham, Alabama amidst the
Suggested Maryland General Assembly Reading List - 2020
turbulent and harsh violence of the Jim Crow south. Secretary Rice tells the story of how
segregation, tragedy, and a loving family shape her experiences as she earns a PhD in
international affairs and political science, serves as Provost of Stanford University, and rises to
serve three U.S. Presidents in the area of international affairs and national security, and
ultimately becomes the U.S. Secretary of State.” –Cory McCray
The Gatekeepers by Chris Whipple: “Simultaneously I served in the Legislature while still
serving as a staffer to Steny Hoyer. This provided a unique perspective on the value of: 1) having
good staff; 2) listening to them; 3) treating them fairly. Having the opportunity to work with
Steny Hoyer in the Congress and Mike Busch in the House of Delegates underscored that both
leaders succeeded by valuing their staffs and trusting their colleagues who serve as an extended
team of advisors.” –John Bohanan. Also recommended by Lisa Harris Jones and Alex Hughes
(“Each chapter on a modern presidential chief of staff. I’m obligated to list this one, right?”).
Grant by Ron Chernow: “We know Ulysses S. Grant, as commanding general of the Union
armies in the civil war, led us to victory and saved the Union, but Chernow’s book highlights a
number of the experiences, battles and people that shaped Grant for success on the battlefield and
in the presidency. It’s worth noting that Chernow is also the author of the biography of
Alexander Hamilton that inspired Lin-Manuel Mirand’s play” –Cory McCray. Also
recommended by Andy Serafini.
Harold, the People's Mayor: The Biography of Harold Washington by Dempsey Travis:
“Mayor Washington was well ahead of his time. His election as the first Black Mayor of Chicago
was a stunning win over longtime Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daly’s political machine and the
bitter feelings that lingered against racial integration and progress. His election was inspirational
and heartening. His service coincided with President Barack Obama’s time as a community
organizer, and he has been credited a number of times by President Obama and First Lady
Obama for his leadership and being the spark that ignited their fire for public service.
Unfortunately, his life was cut short during his second term in office but, he leaves a bright and
substantive legacy that should inform us and our work today.” –Cory McCray
The Power Broker by Robert Caro: “[A] timeless classic about public administration, rather than
public policy, but trying to separate the two is folly. It’s from another state, and another era, but
the insights into power and authority and influence among public sector actors make it a riveting
read for pretty much anyone who’d get past the headline of this exercise.” –Michael Sanderson.
Also recommended by Alex Hughes ( “My first experience with Caro, and my copy is still
annotated. Prepare yourself for 1,000+ pages but the history of politics as we know it today is
reflected in every page: how to interact with the press; making policy decisions; what members
of the public get engaged in the process and which ones don’t; the power of vision; and the
hubris of leaders that sometimes overtakes the best intentions.”). Also recommended by Cory
McCray (“As you may know, Robert Caro is the author of the multi-volume biography of
President Lyndon B. Johnson. He takes the same care to chronicle the life of Robert Moses, the
New York planner. It’s a thick book on one man’s journey to use his positions and power to
direct the life and community of New York City using its built environment.”).
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The Prince by Machiavelli: “A good leader (or a good person) must have ideals, goals, priorities,
and be true to him or herself about them. But to realize them you have to understand those of
your colleagues and opponents as well. I have always thought Machiavelli a much
misunderstood and underestimated writer. He seeks to strip the illusion away and urges a would-
be leader to see human nature as it is (or as he saw if). I believe his guidance often rings true,
albeit depressing, after more than 500 years, (e.g., ‘A man is quicker to forget the loss of his
Father than of his patrimony’ (The Prince). Listen carefully to what others are actually saying
and don’t just assume you know what’s in their minds.” –Nancy Kopp
Profiles in Courage by Senator John F. Kennedy, Jr.: “A real classic. A copy was given to me by
a colleague who sent it to me, along with a very nice note, after I'd taken a difficult vote on an
issue. Craig Zucker gave it to me and it was before Marriage Equality.” –John Bohanan. Also
recommended by Nancy Kopp (“Have to remember why we’re here and it’s not just to win
reelection”).
Overcoming the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African American Young Women by
Freeman A. Hrabowski –Adrienne Jones
Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris: “Second book in a series about Theodore Roosevelt. Yes,
different Party than me, but a great President who ushered in conservation policies and helped to
create millions of acres of parks and forests. Roosevelt was a true environmentalist who left
office when he was only 50 years old. During the COVID respite, many have re-discovered the
great values of having strong policies to support the environment, open spaces and parks. This
book has rich historical detail, but his leadership on these issues still stands as a guidepost for
legislators today.” –John Bohanan
Where Peachtree Meets Sweet Auburn: A Saga of Race and Family by Gary M. Pomerantz:
“This is the story of how two mayors, Ivan Allen & Maynard Jackson, guided Atlanta through
fractured times while breaking down barriers that limited its future and opportunity to create a
modern and international city that thrives for all people. The book details both mayors’ families’
and personal histories for the reader to gain a deeper understanding of their personal journey and
principals.” –Cory McCray
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The Agenda by Bob Woodward: “This book was written in 1994, and focuses on the first year of
the Clinton presidency during which Clinton pushed his economic recovery plan. The book
describes the conflict between the deficit reduction priority and increased spending on social
programs/middle class tax cuts. I re-read the book recently and appreciated that the economic
choices faced back then are similar to those we face today. The book is process heavy—and I
admit that I place ‘All the President’s Men’ as my favorite Woodward book because reading it as
a teenager helped fuel my passion for politics and law. I put ‘The Agenda’ on this list because of
the insight it shows of an elected official facing reality while trying to fulfill campaign
promises.” –Sandy Brantley
Barbara Jordan: American Hero by Mary Beth Rogers: “Congresswoman Jordan’s tenacity and
hard work propelled her to succeed well beyond the glass ceilings that sought to limit her
because of her race and gender. She rose in the Texas Senate, serving as the first African
American woman amongst a majority of white men, and was then elected the first African
American woman to Congress from Texas. She was an excellent orator, teacher, and leader. Her
story chronicles her life and experiences as the U.S.’ attitudes on race and gender evolved.” –
Cory McCray
Charged by Emily Bazelon: “Although ‘Just Mercy’ by Bryan Stevenson remains one of the
books of the decade, this compendium gives some detailed context to the underbelly of plea
bargaining, discovery and structural improvements to the criminal justice system with a
summary of possible program ideas at the end of the book.” –Stu Simms
The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis: “This book outlines the danger of incompetent government
leadership and persuasively makes the case for the critical missions of a good government
workforce. Lewis describes the ‘fifth risk’ as ‘the risk a society runs when it falls into the habit
of responding to long-term risks with short-term solutions.’” –Sandy Brantley
First Person Political by Grant Reeher: “a book focused on examinations of legislators as people
and politicians and what drives and inhibits their effectiveness.” –Jason Buckel
Founding Brothers and Quartet by Joseph Ellis: “Revolutionary War background and historical
perspective that is missed in most historical accounts. The rivalry between Jefferson and Adams
that points to the beginning of partisan politics could be ripped out of the current headlines.”
–Andy Serafini
Master of the Senate by Robert Caro. –Sandy Rosenberg. Also recommended by Marc Korman
(“Delegate Rosenberg did not explain but he is also Professor Rosenberg and teaches a course of
the legislature. This is the textbook.”).
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Once in A Great City: A Detroit Story by David Maraniss. Must read for anyone who loves a
city: about the rise and fall of a city that was at the heart of this country – and what led to its fall.
–Alex Hughes
Plain Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution by Richard Beenman: “One of the
most detailed looks at the triumphs and the flaws of the development of the Constitution.”
–Jason Buckel
Plunkitt of Tammany Hall by George Plunkitt: “Because it’s the most rudimentary style of don’t
care about the public good politics, graft, and corruption—and it’s time tested. These practices
still exist.” –Melanie Wenger. Also recommended by Nancy Kopp (“This book can punch the
balloon of any politician.”)
Public Policy
American Apartheid by Douglas S. Massey and Nancy A. Denton: “This book was written in
1993 but is still recommended reading on how segregated communities, public schools, and
access to government was and continues to be.” –Alex Hughes
The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt: “Outlines what is
wrong with the world of higher education in today colleges. A powerful read for anyone
interested in what has caused the fragility of today’s youth and aggressive nature of other
millennials.” –Andy Serafini
Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic by Sam Quinones –Maggie McIntosh
Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America by Conor Dougherty: “Centered in the Bay area,
a contemporary view on housing challenges today.” –Michael Sanderson
The Hidden Cost of Federal Tax Policy by Jason Fichtner and Jacob Feldman. –Jason Buckel
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander: “This is a deep dive into the systems and policies
put into place to halt the progress of African Americans following the civil war and during the
20th Century. The discussion pays particular attention to the modern mechanisms that are
currently in place and limit the progress and opportunities of black people in our country.” –Cory
McCray
The Other One Percent: Indians in America by Chakravorty, Kapur and Singh: “Maryland will
continue to deal with immigration issues and technology and that makes this worth reading. This
is a fascinating book about a very successful group of immigrants to the U.S. since an
immigration policy was changed in the 1960s. The Indian diaspora is omnipresent in Maryland
and is becoming more engaged politically with each election which makes them a demographic
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worth knowing and understanding. In Maryland, residents of Indian origin are found in great
numbers in the fields of medicine, technology, business and finance, etc. and, increasingly, they
are key advisors and influencers in public policy decisions. Their successes also run counter to
the present day denigration of immigrants by many elected officials.” –John Bohanan
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram Kendi:
“This is an intense and necessary read on the foundations of racist ideas that were put into place
to deconstruct black communities. One of the strongest, if not best, reads to explain the national
movement that is happening now in response to police brutality, poor education systems, and the
many other social issues that plague African American communities. Most important of all are
the solutions discussed to move forward.” –Cory McCray
Surpassing Shanghai: An Agenda for American Education Built on the World’s Leading
Systems by Marc Tucker: “Tucker is the President/Founder of the National Center for Education
and the Economy (NCEE). NCEE was one of the consultants to the Kirwan Commission. I first
met Marc back in 2014 when Rich Madaleno and I were part of an international study group that
NCSL convened to look at why US students are not performing better on international
assessments called PISA compared to developed and developing countries in the world. I would
call Surpassing Shanghai required reading for anyone who wants to better understand how the
US education system got to where it is now, how to improve it, and how this laid the foundation
for the Kirwan Commission recommendations now known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s
Future.” –Rachel Hise
Taming the Sun by Varun Sivarim: “Nominally about solar energy, but larger undertones
connecting to climate change and carbon usage generally.” –Michael Sanderson
Within Our Reach by Lisbeth Schorr: “She demonstrates so well how to analyze problems, draw
commonalities and apply solutions. She has many successors, but she was a ground-breaker. We
used her work to reform parts of Maryland social services in the 1980s.” –Nancy Kopp
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Adventurous Lady: Margaret Brent of Maryland by Dorothy Grant: “A book written for grade
school level, but it succinctly tells the story of a powerful Maryland colonist who is one of
America's earliest suffragists. Unfortunately, there are few books about her, but this one captures
the highlights of her extraordinary life. She demanded a vote in the Colonial Assembly based on
the fact that she owned property here (near my home in St. Mary's City). During her time in the
early Maryland Colony, she amassed incredible power and performed many of the important
tasks of running the Colony, while men like her brother held the big titles! It reminds me of one
of my early lessons in politics, when someone told me ‘if you want something done, get the
women to do it—the men just like to jawbone all day.’.” –John Bohanan
Heavy Lifting: The Job of the American Legislature by Alan Rosenthal: “All of his books are
terrific. Alan, the head of the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers for many years, was THE expert on
state legislatures. It was because of his work at the request of Maryland’s legislative leadership
in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s that our General Assembly has the committee structure and
outstanding nonpartisan central staff that serves us so well.” –Nancy Kopp. Also recommended
by Warren Deschenaux and Sandy Rosenberg.
I’ll Never Forget It: Memoirs of a Political Accident from East Baltimore by Marvin Mandel
–Vicki Gruber
The Maryland Board of Public Works: A History by Alan Wilner: “In many ways, Maryland’s
government is structured like the traditional three branches at the federal level and in other states.
And people are people and relationships are relationships wherever you go. But Maryland has
some nuances including its Executive-driven budget and, notably, a virtual ‘third and a half’
branch of government in the powerful Board of Public Works. Wilner’s book is about the history
of the BPW in various permutations up to 1983. Although it predates the BPW’s current politics,
this is still an invaluable resource to understand what the Washington Post called a ‘mini-
legislature.’” –Marc Korman
Maryland Politics and Government: Democratic Dominance by John T. Willis and Herb Smith:
“This is a deep dive into Maryland’s political history and legislative entanglements. It’s co-
written by former Secretary of State and University of Baltimore professor, John T. Willis.” –
Cory McCray
The Maryland State Constitution by Dan Friedman: “This is more of a reference book than many
others on the list but it is important for those working in and around the Maryland General
Assembly to understand all the nuances of Maryland state constitutional law. There is no better
guide than Dan Friedman, currently a Court of Special Appeals Judge but previously the
Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Maryland General Assembly.” –Marc Korman
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My Life and Times by Verda F. Welcome as told to James M. Abraham: “Verda Welcome
served as the first African American women in the Maryland Senate and chronicles her
experience earning the position and succeeding in the role. This book details Senator Welcomes’
journey in the legislature and the streets of Baltimore City.” –Cory McCray
My Unexpected Journey: The Autobiography of Harry Roe Hughes by Harry Hughes and John
W. Frece –Vicki Gruber
Under the Dome: The Maryland General Assembly in the 20th Century: “The Maryland General
Assembly prides itself on its history, including having the oldest in use state house. But the
legislature as we know it today was largely informed by the 20th century where the basic 90 day,
small volume of committee, [slowly] increased diversity, and other traits began to emerge. Under
the Dome tells that story of change.” –Marc Korman
William Donald Schaeffer: A Political Biography by C. Fraser Smith: “This is the story of the
rise of Governor William Donald Schaefer. Fraser Smith chronicles his journey from southwest
Baltimore to City Councilman, Mayor, and finally state Comptroller, and the puzzles he pieces
together along the way.” –Cory McCray. Also recommended by Sean Malone.
Young Thurgood: The Making of a Supreme Court Justice by Larry Gibson: “My father grew up
in the same neighborhood and was a little boy when his first cousin went in to a law practice
with the eventual Supreme Court justice. Professor Gibson’s book gives me a window in to what
my father’s life may have been like as a child but also demonstrates how Black neighborhoods at
the time gave so much life to future generations.” –Alex Hughes
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Regional Understanding
Black Power in the Suburbs: The Myth or Reality of African American Suburban Political
Incorporation by Valerie C. Johnson: “If you want to understand the roots of today's political
Prince George's County, this book is a great start.” –Erek Barron
Chesapeake by James Michener: “One other novel that springs to mind is James Michener’s
classic. In it he covers 400 years of history around that big and beautiful bay. There’s a fair
amount of the story of Virginia as well of course but as you know better than I those two really
go together and is part of the story of Maryland.” –Admiral Stavridis. Also recommended by
Maggie McIntosh and Michael Sanderson
Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of the Vanishing Tangier Island by Earl Swift:
“Although this is about Tangier Island in Virginia, the perspectives are similar to many
Maryland Bay communities such as Smith Island, which are likewise threaten by rising waters
brought on by climate change.” –Sandy Brantley
The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton by Lucille Clifton: “Although she was born in New
York, Clifton lived and taught in St. Mary’s and in Columbia, Maryland. She was the Poet
Laureate of Maryland from 1979 to 1985. Her poems are understated in style—lacking
capitalization and punctuation) but jarring and powerful in voice and meaning. Consider ‘Won’t
You Celebrate With Me’: ‘Come celebrate/with me that everyday/something has tried to kill
me/and has failed.” And these lines from “September Song” written after 9/11: “some of us
know we have never felt safe/all of us Americans weeping/as some of us have wept before.”
Many of her poems also have a touch of humor, such as “homage to my hips.”” –Sandy Brantley
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance: “It's difficult to find a good book about a region of our State that
isn't, well, boring unless you're from there—and I say this with great respect to the authors or
many fine works that have been written about the rich heritage of our ‘America in miniature.’
Therefore, I recommend a fascinating book that is being released as a Ron Howard directed
NETFLIX movie in November. This book is set in Appalachia and it tells a story that resonates
with some parts of our State as it attempts to explain how Donald Trump won over traditional
Democratic voters in rural parts of America. The issues covered in this book are relevant to
anyone who really wants to understand rural life and see a glimpse of the struggles of modern
rural America. Although Maryland’s rural life does not typically have the abject
poverty portrayed in this book, it does give you a peek into rural life and how frustration has
caused a shift in political loyalties even here in Maryland. The issues and frustrations of rural
folks end up rooted in the same core challenges that face our urban pockets of poverty. Worth
reading to see if you draw the same conclusions that I did—you can’t just assume these are just
ignorant people and that there’s no hope in helping them.” –John Bohanan
Not In My Neighborhood by Antero Polito: “A study of how redlining and zoning impacted and
reinforced racism in the City. I grew up not in Baltimore, but in Chicago, but it certainly rings
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The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore –Vicki Gruber
They Call Me Little Willie: The Life Story of William L. Adams by Mark Cheshire: “This is the
story of an early Black venture capitalist from Baltimore City whom influenced business and
politics in ways unimaginable at the time.” –Cory McCray
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Other Picks
General Leadership:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey: “This is a classic, written more than
30 years ago; its principles, however, are still relevant and very useful.” –Sandy Brantley
Blink, The Tipping Point, and David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell: “The author lives in our
same world but his power of observation is amazing. The recent George Floyd situation is
perfectly laid out in ‘The Tipping Point’ and his other books have just as amazing insights. I
might also recommend his article in the Atlantic on why he opposes recreational marijuana. A
more useful for politicians is his latest book, ‘Talking to Stranger’” –Andy Serafini. The Tipping
Point also recommended by Maggie McIntosh
Disciplines of a Godly Man by Kent Hughes: “My wife taught the authors son who was also a
classmate of the flight 93 hero Todd Beamer. If we believe that women and men are different
and that we all should strive to be better people, this is a book that may challenge any man.”
–Andy Serafini
Eisenhower: Soldier and President by Stephen Ambrose: “Perhaps the 20th century's most
substantial and substantially overlooked leader.” –Jason Buckel
Hamilton by Ron Chernow: “The basis for the famous play … an incredibly interesting depiction
of our country’s history and its founding and is truly a great read.” –Mike Miller. Also
recommended by Andy Serafini
Inside the Five Sided Box by Ash Carter –Lisa Harris Jones
The Lawyer As Leader by Artika Tyner: “Although written concerning lawyers and social
justice, her principles are broadly applicable to all of those who are entrusted with advocacy
responsibility.” –Stu Simms
Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy by Peter Canellos: “Politicians are flawed humans
– like everyone else – but they are expected to be perfect and outsized. This is a great book as it
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shows the human flaws of the Kennedy son no one expected to make it; how he worked together
with people he didn’t always agree with—to have a powerful influence on the Congress.” –Alex
Hughes
Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America by Stacey Abrams –Salima
Marriott
Radical Inclusion: What the Post 9/11 World Should Have Taught Us About Leadership by
Martin Dempsey and Ori Brafman –Michael Sanderson
Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franken: “As a political junkie and someone who has been
a long-time fan of Franken’s books, I truly enjoyed this book in which Franken describes his
journey from political satirist to U.S. Senator. Additionally, as a government staffer, I
appreciated the credit Franken gave to members of his own staff.” –Sandy Brantley
Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown: “Popular book that tells a great story of how a team of
underdogs took the gold medal in Crew at the 1936 Berlin games under the watchful eye of
Hitler, with a Jewish kid as the American team's coxswain. A fun read, but one that underscores
the importance of teamwork and 'rowing together'. Some good history in it, but mostly a great
story about the importance of bonding and teamwork and lessons applicable to getting things
done in a democracy, especially when policymakers today seem to want to go it alone too often.”
–John Bohanan
Citizen Soldiers, D-Day, and Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose: “Obviously, Band of
Brothers that was made into an HBO miniseries is the most popular. These books give you the
best sense of what it was like to be a regular soldier in WWII. Ambrose taught history at John
Hopkins for a while and former Senator Don Munson took classes from him.” –Andy Serafini
Drawing the Line: Legislative Ethics in the States by Alan Rosenthal –Vicki Gruber
Enemy Aliens by David Cole: “One of the first (and maybe the best) analysis of the
constitutional downside of the war on terrorism which is part of the underpinning of the war on
immigration.” –Stu Simms
John Adams and The Pioneers by David McCullough: “The foremost historical writer.” –Andy
Serafini
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The Nightingale’s Song by Robert Timberg: “A little dated now—it deals with the Iran-Contra
scandal during the Reagan Presidency. It focuses on five Naval Academy grads, including John
McCain and Oliver North. Besides the Naval Academy connection, it also includes Chuck
Larsen, who was the running mate for Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in her failed gubernatorial
bid. A good read about how blind loyalty, even for one's country, can turn well trained leaders
into rogue operators.” –John Bohanan
Public Policy:
The City That Became Safe: New York's Lessons for Urban Crime and Its Control by Franklin
Zimring. –Lisa Harris Jones
Crime is Not the Problem: Lethal Violence in America by Franklin Zimring and Gordon
Hawkins -Lisa Harris Jones
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas” “It is a tough read at times, but important and necessary,
and so relevant to the reckoning that White Americans are finally truly having with racism.” –
Rachel Hise
Smarter Government by Martin O’Malley: “A new book which I have just begun is a very
promising exploration of application of appropriate electronic tools to analysis and solution of
public policy issues.” –Nancy Kopp
The Smartest Kids In The World and How They Got That Way by Amanda Ripley –Vicki
Gruber
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman: “cultural competency in health
care” –Maggie McIntosh
Too Big To Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin: “The single best book I have read on the collapse of
Wall Street during 2008 (so good, in fact, I gave a copy to President Miller for his coffee table
stacks). The facts behind how decisions were made, as well as the transition from Bush to
Obama, are some times jaw-dropping – and sad – in the way these same mistakes are reflected
today.” – Alex Hughes
Running Mates by John Feinstein: “It’s actually not a particularly good book as I recall, but it
takes place in and around the halls of the Annapolis State house and social/political scene, for
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that it’s noteworthy and bound to be the lightest entry on the list by far. ‘Junior’ has gone on to
become a fairly big deal in the sports writing field, but this is his first novel, I think, hatched
from his time as a beat writer on state politics.” –Michael Sanderson
Regional Understanding:
The Georgetown Ladies Social Club by C. David Heymann: “Fun read with historical context.
Five women pressing the levers of power from behind the scenes for decades in Washington,
D.C.” –Alex Hughes
Bonus
We had a few recommendations that did not necessarily fit in our categories or were not books
that we also wanted to share.
Anti-Racist Neighboring: Where Will You Live? How Will You Neighbor? An Open Letter to
Young White Adults With Options Who Want Justice by Michael Sarbanes. (Medium article) In
this article, Sarbanes calls for white people who seek to dismantle systemic racism to commit to
what he calls “anti-racist neighboring.” The article shares his hope that 2020 will turn out to be a
true beginning to addressing systemic racism and outlines in detail how this can be done in
housing. What gives Sarbanes creditability in my view is that I have known Michael for more
than 20 years and can attest that he truly “walks the walk,” as the saying goes.” –Sandy Brantley
Bag Man: The Wild Crimes, Audacious Cover-up, and Spectacular Downfall of a Brazen Crook
in the White House by Rachel Maddow and Michael Yarvitz: “(To be released November 17,
2020.) You might be wondering how I can recommend a book I have not read yet. It is because
of my utmost confidence the book will be as terrific as ‘Bag Man’” the award-winning podcast.
Although the story involves Spiro Agnew’s downfall as Vice President of the United States,
many of the crimes committed date back to Agnew’s time as Baltimore County Executive and
then Maryland Governor. The investigation was led by U.S. Attorneys for the District of
Maryland, and much of the research for the podcast and book was conducted in the University of
Maryland Archives as well as in Frostburg State University’s Ort Library. Listen to the podcast,
then read the book when it comes out!”
Can Man Live Without God, Jesus Among Other Gods, and Why by Ravi Zacharias: “He
recently passed away and within weeks 2 million people had watched the video of his memorial
service. Raised in India, he attempted suicide as a teen and later spoke at the United Nations and
college campuses around the world. He frequently spoke at the Naval Academy as well. He was
the foremost Christian ‘Apologist.’ This comes from the Greek work ‘apologia’ which means to
give a defense for one’s beliefs. His book ‘Why’ answers the question that many people ask,
‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’ Also, one of his partners who has three doctorates
from Oxford”–Andy Serafini
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The House I Live In by Eugene Jareki: “OK, I am bending the rules (again)—this is a
documentary, not a book. I saw this film in 2012 at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the
Grand Jury Award. The documentary traces the roots of the ‘War on Drugs,’ and shows in
personal detail for those profiled in the film its negative impact. Policymakers today are still
grabbling with the impacts of prior policy choices and the ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric continues to
be trotted out as a solution to drug addiction.” –Sandy Brantley
How One State Enhanced Diversity on the Bench by Andrea M. Leahy (The Judge’s Journal,
ABA): “This article describes former Maryland Governor Glendening’s efforts to increase
diversity among the State’s judges. (Disclosure: I worked for Governor Glendening) After being
told that the reason judicial nominating commissions sent so few diverse candidates to him for
appointment was lack of qualified candidates, Governor Glendening examined the nominating
process. He discovered, in his words, ‘the gate keepers did not know what was on the other side
of the gate.’ Once he broadened the make-up of the nominating commissions, he noted, “all of
the sudden—like a miracle—there were qualified, inclusive nominees everywhere.” –Sandy
Brantley
Legislative Chaos: An Exploratory Study by Vincent Di Lorenozo (Yale Law Journal) -Erek
Barron
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