Showing results by publisher "Phoenix Books" in Politics & Government

The Last Empire is a collection of provocative, witty, and eloquent essays by Gore Vidal about all things USA. In more than two dozen essays, Vidal brings his keen intellect, experience, and razor-edged wit to bear on an astonishing range of subjects, offering incisive observations about terrorism, civil liberties, the CIA, Al Gore, and the Clintons—interwoven with a rich tapestry of personal anecdote, critical insight, and historical detail.

Following an unprecedented, relentless four-year investigation, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr delivered 36 boxes of evidence against then-President Bill Clinton to the House of Representatives on September 9, 1998. Dubbed “The Starr Report,” the documents alleged—in lurid detail—that Clinton lied under oath in a sworn deposition about his affair with an intern. This became the prime piece of evidence in the subsequent impeachment hearings.

In Stupid Black Men, he takes on the mindset of those people who always capture the most media attention—as well as masses of public money—people who say that racism is the root of all problems and who end up hurting precisely those they claim to be helping.

When Lorenzo de Medici seized control of the Florentine Republic in 1512, he fired the Secretary to the Second Chancery of the Signoria, Niccolo Machiavelli, which set in motion a fundamental change in the way we think about politics. Suddenly finding himself without a job after 14 years of patriotic service, Machiavelli set a precedent for many a politician to come—by becoming a pundit and commentator through one of the only means available to him at the time: writing a book.

From its first appearance in the late 1970s to the remarkable treatment methods that are now keeping millions alive, AIDS has been a headlining topic for decades. Master storyteller Dominique Lapierre—renowned for his best sellers Is Paris Burning? and The City of Joy—has created his most extraordinary epic of human endeavor. In this dramatic, inspiring, and tender work, the author recounts the worldwide efforts to identify, control, and eventually eliminate the AIDS virus.

Ronald Reagan carried a conservative vision of America to the White House, where his administration gave it life. Peggy Noonan followed Reagan to Washington as his speechwriter— and gave his vision voice. As speech writer for George Bush during his Presidential campaign, Noonan dispelled her candidate's "wimpy" image and replaced it with one of quiet strength by coining such eloquent phrases as "a thousand points of light" and "a kinder, gentler nation."

Born with the proverbial silver spoon in her mouth, the Honorable Diana Frances Spencer attained wealth, power, and title with her marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales. But her ultimate triumph owed nothing to those circumstances and everything to her inner qualities: to an innate ability to understand and connect with ordinary people, especially the desperately sick, the rejected, the "unloved."

Twenty-five years after the existence of Nixon's secret White House recordings became known, the tapes were released. These tapes dominated the final two years of Nixon's presidency and almost single-handedly forced his resignation. In Abuse of Power, the listener is invited into the Oval Office with Nixon and the White House staff as they try to distance themselves from the firestorm of allegations being leveled at them. Packed with revelations, these recordings offer a spellbinding portrait of raw power and a Shakespearean depiction of a king and his court.

In brave and unforgettable terms, Al Gore, the passionate and lifelong defender of the environment, describes how human actions and decisions can endanger or safeguard the vulnerable ecosystem that sustains us.

Political provocateur Bill Maher tells it like it is in a useful and hilarious guide for the many Americans who want to do more here at home to help the war effort, but are at a loss as to what. Thirty-three dynamic posters and several classics from our government's archive—accompanied by text from one of our leading pundits and cutting-edge comedians—make this the perfect book for this time in our nation's history, the zeitgeist of post-9/11 America. This is the book that will help Americans make the connections between what we do and how it can help our troops and ourselves.

As host of Larry King Live, which was one of the most popular daily forums for political news and commentary, Larry King asked probing questions of major world leaders, politicians, pundits, spin doctors, and reporters. Drawing upon insights gained during those interviews, King takes an in-depth look at how the United States arrived at a pivotal point in its history. Bi-partisan politics, bimbo eruptions, grandstanding in Congress, backstabbing tactics, and more are covered in this fascinating and revealing memoir.

Henry Kissinger is one of the most controversial Secretaries of State in U.S. history—serving under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, never-before-seen transcripts of Kissinger's conversations, including top-secret talks with Beijing and Moscow, provide an unvarnished record of his brand of high-stakes diplomacy during the Nixon years. These transcripts provide an unparalleled view of historical events that shaped the world and rocked the way diplomacy is conducted in the United States.

For the Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu, war was synchronic with life. Tzu viewed the world as a network of combat zones where the stakes were high, struggle was the primary mode of being, no one was to be trusted, and survival depended on nothing less than unconditional victory. This 2,500-year-old work of wisdom continues to guide and inspire people of all cultures, teaching the principles of strategy required in everything from sports and business to affairs of the heart. Augmented by commentary and anecdotes, this audio edition maintains the pure, near-poetic tone of the original work.

John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States, and the youngest man elected to the office. He was assassinated at the age of 46 in 1963. Arthur Ashe was an African American professional tennis player who won more than forty singles titles. He died in 1993 at the age of 49 of AIDS-related pneumonia. But imagine if the lives of JFK and Ashe had not been cut short? In this pair of speculative biographies, two writers suppose what might have been if JFK had lived long enough to serve out his presidency and what Arthur Ashe may have done to enhance his already notable legacy.

By “assembling” some of the most fascinating figures in world history, Meeting of Minds provided a groundbreaking opportunity for audiences to be exposed to ideas by way of a medium not normally known for its intellectual vigor. From activists and artists to international leaders—both famous and infamous—these conversations are unfailingly witty, thought-provoking, and genuinely entertaining. The panelists featured in this volume are President Theodore Roosevelt, Queen Cleopatra, theologian Thomas Aquinas, and American revolutionary Thomas Paine.

By “assembling” some of the most fascinating figures in world history, Meeting of Minds provided a groundbreaking opportunity for audiences to be exposed to ideas by way of a medium not normally known for its intellectual vigor. Portrayed by actors, panelists engaged in discussions conducted like any other talk show but featured prominent influencers from bygone generations—not just philosophers and politicians, but poets, playwrights, and presidents. From activists and artists to international leaders, these conversations are witty, thought-provoking, and entertaining.

By “assembling” some of the most fascinating figures in world history, Meeting of Minds provided a groundbreaking opportunity for audiences to be exposed to ideas by way of a medium not normally known for its intellectual vigor. An innovative series, it remains one of the most delightful ways of gaining historical perspective ever devised. The panelists featured in this volume are English naturalist Charles Darwin, American poet Emily Dickinson, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, and feared conqueror Attila the Hun.

By “assembling” some of the most fascinating figures in world history, Meeting of Minds provided a groundbreaking opportunity for audiences to be exposed to ideas by way of a medium not normally known for its intellectual vigor. The innovative series remains one of the most delightful ways of gaining historical perspective ever devised. The panelists featured in this volume are theologian St. Augustine of Hippo, Byzantine Empress Theodora, American President Thomas Jefferson, and British philosopher Lord Bertrand Russell.

By “assembling” some of the most fascinating figures in world history, Meeting of Minds provided a groundbreaking opportunity for audiences to be exposed to ideas by way of a medium not normally known for its intellectual vigor. Portrayed by actors, panelists engaged in discussions that were conducted like any other talk show but featured prominent influencers from bygone generations. The panelists featured in this volume are German theologian Martin Luther, French philosopher and writer Voltaire, Greek philosopher Plato, and social reformer and nurse Florence Nightingale.

Considered by some to be an island of sanity surrounded by a sea of insanity that is our society, the Supreme Court has increasingly come under scrutiny for some dubious decisions. In this compelling work, Famed Los Angeles prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi puts the Supreme Court on trial for its handling of Paula Jones v. Bill Clinton. The author argues that the right of a president to be free of a private lawsuit while in office outweighs a plaintiff's interest in having his or her case brought expediently to trial—regardless of a case's supposed merit.