On October 1, 1910, an explosion rocked the offices of the Los Angeles Times, killing 21 and injuring many more. At the time, a fierce nationwide dispute raged between trade unionists and employers, spearheaded in LA by the vehemently anti-union Times publisher Harrison Gray Otis. Could unionists have been behind the explosion? Or was Otis merely trying to pin it on them and collect insurance? After a six-month investigation that criss-crossed the country, famed detective William J. Burns arrested a pair of brothers, who were represented in court by equally famed attorney Clarence Darrow. This tale of the dynamiting and subsequent investigation is "completely riveting," says Booklist.

After an injury cut short his career as an RAF pilot--and before becoming famous as a writer of children's books--Roald Dahl used his dashing manner and considerable charm to infiltrate the upper reaches of Washington and New York society, gather information for England, and quietly influence American support for World War II. Under the direction of spymaster William Stephenson, Dahl's colleagues included David Ogilvy (soon to be an advertising legend) and future spy novelist Ian Fleming. The Irregulars depicts not only Dahl's adventurous professional and social lives, but provides profiles of his contemporaries and an engaging look at a fascinating era.

Starting in 1994 with the death of Richard Nixon, Bob Schieffer, host of CBS's Face the Nation, would close his broadcasts with commentary on a broad array of topics from politics to tales of human decency. The essays collected here are the best of those closing commentaries, and Schieffer has added additional material that updates the original essays and showcases his evolving opinions. Varying in tone from lightly humorous to openly critical, these essays are also insightful and engaging--just the ticket if you're looking for more from Schieffer or want to learn something from a veteran newsman.

Norwegian journalist Asne Seierstad has been to Chechnya twice--first to cover the 1994 Russian assault on Chechnya, and again ten years later to cover the supposed peace. By that time, nursing homes and orphanages had been destroyed by governmental decree, putting tens of thousands of children and the elderly out on the street. Seierstad interviews many in the course of bringing the Chechen conflict to light--among them are the Angel of Grozny, a woman named Hadijat who makes it her mission to care for scores of orphans, along with some of her shattered charges. You won't soon forget this "sympathetic, brave work from a deeply engaged war correspondent" (Kirkus Reviews).

In her latest book, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright offers a persuasive, wide-ranging set of recommendations to the prospective winner of the 2008 presidential election. Focusing primarily on foreign policy, her advice covers selecting a first-rate foreign policy team, avoiding the pitfalls that have plagued other presidents, and ensuring that carefully made decisions are successfully implemented. She also discusses using the full range of available tools in persuading other countries to support U.S. objectives--and, pragmatically, she recommends setting aside time to exercise. Perhaps presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain will add this Memo to their reading lists?

Long before U.S. President George W. Bush was elected with less than a majority of the popular vote, there was the election of 1912, in which Woodrow Wilson "accidentally" took office despite losing the popular vote. Political historian James Chace traces the events of that dramatic presidential election and discusses how the campaigns of four determined rivals (Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Eugene V. Debs) resulted in an unexpected newcomer taking office. Chace also explains how the election had lasting effects on the Republican Party and current-day politics. Political history junkies and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of today's political climate should check out this book.

If you thought that the 2000 U.S. election between George W. Bush and Al Gore was controversial, think again. Fierce enough to be called "America's Second Revolution," the 1800 presidential competition between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams resulted in a tie between Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr. It took 36 ballots in the House of Representatives before the presidency was finally awarded to Jefferson; a few years later the loophole in the Constitution that had allowed this state of affairs was closed. Fans of early American history and of political science will be intrigued by this captivating campaign history.

If you've ever been frustrated by the flaws in the current U.S. voting system--or wondered what the alternatives are--you'll want to pick up this "engaging study of the science of voting" (Publishers Weekly). In addition to assessing the fundamental flaws in the American electoral system (primarily that it's prone to "spoiler" candidates and vote-splitting), author William Poundstone explores several other voting methods. From the options (Condorcet voting, instant-runoff voting), he settles on one--range voting, in which voters assign candidates ranks--as the best option for fair elections. To learn why, pick up Gaming the Vote.

Without hiding his own opinion (that the wrong man was inaugurated), author Jeffrey Toobin takes readers through a step-by-step account of the 2000 presidential election, shedding light on the complex issues that were involved in the post-election battle for the presidency. From the legal complications to the implications of the 36-day struggle to determine who would lead the country, Toobin provides a "pointed analysis" (The New York Times). For more on this topic, try Howard Gillman's The Votes that Counted.