Marc Ambinder

The 3 best books for political junkies coming out this fall

Forget summer. The best books for political junkies usually arrive with the turning of the leaves. Here are three of the juiciest and most interesting titles that soon will be available for your purchase.

Next week, the peripatetic Lawrence Wright will publish Thirteen Days in September: Carter, Begin, and Sadat at Camp David, a sure-to-be riveting, moment-by-moment history of a time when peace was both the means to an end and an end in itself, and when political leaders could be brave and forgo politics, grudges, religious attachments, and even the strong lure of national myth-making.

Matt Bai — now at Yahoo, formerly of The New York Times Magazine — will come out with a history of Gary Hart's rise and fall, which will also track the transformation of the political media at that time from observer to gawker (or even Gawker). He charts the rise of political "character" as something that the media began to prioritize over issues, policies, or resumes. All The Truth Is Out: The Fall of Gary Hart and the Rise of Tabloid Politics.

In November, President George W. Bush's portrait of his father, 41, is sure to be an instant bestseller.

Here are some other non-fiction books that I'm eager to read:

World Order by Henry Kissinger.

Nicholas D. Kristoff and Sheryl Wudunn's book about global transformation, a path towards prosperity, and an end to oppression.

Fred Schruers's biography of Billy Joel; it lost its "auto" prefix when Joel decided not to continue with the project.

A book on writing by Steven Pinker, one of science's most graceful authors.

The autobiography of legendary football coach Bill Parcells.

Walter Isaacson's book on innovators and innovation.

Recommended

Ukraine hints it destroyed Russian missile shipment in Crimea
China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin
Awkward

Ukraine hints it destroyed Russian missile shipment in Crimea

Global happiness has been 'remarkably resilient' over the past three years
cathedral in Finland.
it wasn't all bad

Global happiness has been 'remarkably resilient' over the past three years

Is France 'on the edge of civil unrest'?
Protests against Macron's pension overhaul
Today's big question

Is France 'on the edge of civil unrest'?

The extreme weather events of 2023
An illustration of a tornado and wind-swept palm trees
In depth

The extreme weather events of 2023

Most Popular

The truth about alcohol
Alcohol being poured into a rocks glass.
Briefing

The truth about alcohol

Russia's spring Ukraine offensive may be winding down amid heavy losses
Ukrainian tank fires near Bakhmut
Attrition

Russia's spring Ukraine offensive may be winding down amid heavy losses

North Korea claims 800,000 people volunteered to fight against the U.S.
North Korean soldiers march in a parade in 2018.
A Frightening Figure

North Korea claims 800,000 people volunteered to fight against the U.S.