My wife's sister is, admittedly, not in tune with the times. She's aware of world events, but doesn't really understand the how's and why's. This is a very distressing situation, as she works in the graphics department of a major metropolitan newspaper. (I won't name which one, but it isn't NYT or WaPo. It's a big one however, and it recently won the Pulitzer.)
To her credit however, she realizes her predicament and wants to rectify it.
This was her request in her Christmas list:
I’m trying (TRYING) to get a handle on current events, I’m more than a little tired of knowing that yes, there’s some wars going on in the middle east, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, you know, some desert-like spots, and other than that I know NOTHING. This goes double for Apartheid, Northern Ireland, Central America, etc etc ad nauseum. So any book that anyone can suggest would be wonderful. It doesn’t have to be completely entertaining, I’m willing to slog my way through it, but something that doesn’t assume I know a heck of a lot would be wonderful.
Step one would be, of course, to start reading the newspaper she works for!
What I need from the good Kossack Nation is some suggestions for her that provide some background and explanation for her. I was thinking of George Lakoff's "Thinking Points" or "Don't Think of an Elephant", but beyond that I'm not sure where to do. She's not very political (yet), but I think that will change with time. (Certainly did with her sister (my wife) once she started listening to NPR in the mornings with me!) However, I'd say, like the rest of the family, she's be left-leaning.
Any suggestions at all will be appreciated.