I know I’m not the first person to say it, but The Wire is the best television series ever made. And while this may be a bold claim, it would be difficult to name another program that evokes more thought and emotion in viewers. The series demands a lot from the audience: the plot is complicated and unfolds slowly; the characters are multi-layered and flawed; and the morals remain ambiguous. For these reasons, and many others, The Wire has become one of the most celebrated, analyzed, and talked about programs of all time. In the recently published book The Wire: Race, Class, and Genre, Liam Kennedy and Stephen Shapiro offer a collection of some of the best essays that have been written on this television phenomenon. This book is a must-read for fans of The Wire who, like me, never tire of discussing the series and the complex cultural analyses and themes it presents.  The Wire: Race, Class, and Genre is available at the Loop Campus Library, Call Number: 791.456552 W798.  

The political campaigns during the 2012 elections were some of the most contentious in American history. And while that seems to be said after every election, it is clear that the country remains divided on several issues. The newly elected and reelected officials certainly have their work cut out for them as they seek to address the many problems facing the nation. Luckily, they are not alone. Stephen Colbert, in his infinite wisdom, has published a new book that he promises will “singlehandedly pull this country back from the brink.” Even if the book fails to succeed in this ambitious undertaking, it is certainly an enjoyable and fitting post-election read. America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't is available as part of the “Unwind the Mind” popular reading collection at both the John T. Richardson and Loop library, Call Number: 818.607 C684a2012.

In the past few years there has been a surge in political and social movements around the globe fueled in part by the proliferation of Information and Communications Technologies. Decades-long dictatorships have been overthrown and censorship policies challenged as more and more people demand greater rights and liberties. Social Media has served as an invaluable tool in many of these movements, providing a simple and inexpensive means to communicate, organize, and exchange ideas. However, these technologies are also being used by more authoritarian regimes to control the Internet and prevent protests from developing. In the recently published Liberation Technology: Social Media and the Struggle for Democracy, Larry Diamond and Marx Plattner present a collection of thought-provoking essays on social media and their complicated role in contemporary political and social movements. Liberation Technology is available at the John T. Richardson Library, Call Number: 303.4833 L6954.