Lonesome Dove is a classic Western novel that follows the journey of two former Texas Rangers, Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F. Call, as they embark on a cattle drive from Texas to Montana. The novel is renowned for its vivid descriptions of the American West, its exploration of themes such as friendship, loyalty, and the decline of the Old West, and its well-developed characters. It is the third book in the Lonesome Dove series and is widely regarded as McMurtry's magnum opus.
Just Mercy is a personal narrative by Bryan Stevenson that delves into his decades-long work with the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit law office dedicated to defending marginalized Americans. The book centers around the case of Walter McMillan, a black man falsely accused and sentenced to death for the murder of a white woman in Alabama. Stevenson recounts the systemic injustices, racial biases, and legal battles involved in McMillan's case, as well as other cases of clients he has represented. The book highlights the flaws in the U.S. criminal justice system, particularly its treatment of people of color and the poor, and advocates for compassion and mercy in the pursuit of true justice.
In *The Small and the Mighty*, Sharon McMahon highlights the stories of ordinary Americans who, through their courage and resilience, shaped the course of American history. The book features a diverse cast of characters, including a woman riding a white horse down Pennsylvania Avenue, a young boy detained at a Japanese incarceration camp, and a formerly enslaved woman on a mission to reunite with her daughter. McMahon’s thorough research and engaging storytelling bring these untold histories to light, emphasizing that anyone, regardless of background, can make a significant impact on the nation’s future.
The Bell Jar is a thinly veiled autobiography that follows Esther Greenwood, a talented and ambitious college student, as she experiences a mental breakdown. The novel begins with Esther's unfulfilling summer internship as a guest editor for a women's magazine in New York City, where she grapples with identity and societal norms. Upon returning home, Esther's mental health deteriorates, leading to several suicide attempts and eventual hospitalization. The novel explores her treatment, including electroconvulsive therapy, and her gradual recovery under the care of a progressive psychiatrist. It also critiques the limited roles available to women in the 1950s and the brutal psychiatric treatments of the time[2][3][5].
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“America's Government Teacher” has smart tips for staying calm in turbulent times.
After years of serving as a high school government and law teacher, Sharon McMahon took her passion for education to Instagram, where more than a million people (who affectionately call themselves “Governerds”) rely on her for non-partisan, fact-based information.
Sharon is also the host of the award-winning podcast, Here’s Where It Gets Interesting, where, each week, she provides entertaining yet factual accounts of America’s most fascinating moments and people. In addition, she is the author of The Preamble, a Substack newsletter about politics and history.
In this episode we talk about:
- How to avoid being ‘confidently wrong’
- How we often get confused between our opinions and our identity—which makes it very hard to change our opinions
- The importance of having a diverse media diet
- Tips for consuming the news without driving yourself nuts
- How to have compassion for people who we completely disagree with
- How history can be a balm for hopelessness—an antidote for when we’re tempted to conclude that things have never been worse
- How everyday people have way more power than we think
- And why hope is a choice.
Related Episodes:
Eight Things I’m Doing To Stay Sane During Election Season | Dan Harris
#405. How You Help End Polarization and Inequality – and Get Happier, Too | Robert Putnam & Shaylyn Romney Garrett
3 Buddhist Strategies for When the News is Overwhelming | Kaira Jewel Lingo
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