“Self and World, An Explanation of Aesthetic Realism” by Eli Siegel as well as many other writings of this author would help any president see reality more accurately, understand the dangers of “contempt” and be better equipped to be against it in him/herself an others. In addition Eli Siegel’s writings can provide the reader an understanding of the very practical use of art as well as an explanation of what makes something beautiful.

There is not a book that I have read and could suggest that upon learning factually that the President of the United States has not read that would not stir in me a profound and nervous trembling. With that, my desire is that the next Title Holder takes into office with themselves the ability to read the will of the people authored by the people of course.

Christa Wolf. Cassandra: A Novel and Four Essays.

THE BOOK FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT!
Day of empire: how hyerpowers rise to global dominance -- and why they fall by Amy Chua (Yale law prof) Doubleday, 2007
A very readable history of those who achieved being a single super power and how they failed. Great read! see UCLA Berkley on the web 'Conversations with History' for an interview with this author.

I highly recommend Kim Michael's The Art of Non-War. Humanity has tried war for thousands of years and can we truly say that it has worked? Hasn't there been enough suffering? Has there ever been a war that was the end of all wars? This book is the roadmap out of the state of consciousness that leads to the war into the consciousness of peace. My hope is that the next president raises his or her consciousness and reads this book and puts it into action.

Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart - so that America can be led back to some basics: honesty, humility, the dangers inherent in patriarchy and how to recognize human dignity in places not our own.

"The Art of Non-War" by Kim Michaels truly illumines those high and noble ideals that will guide humanity to reach its full potential. At the same time, the message is applicable to today's challenges. I highly recommend the book for any leader who wants to influence the global society toward peaceful living.

Dr. David Gruder’s latest book, The New IQ, shows how anyone can achieve lasting success, fulfillment and happiness through learning how to live in what he calls “3D integrity.” Dr. Gruder’s captivating writing style, revealing stories and step-by-step clarity reveal how, by embodying 3D integrity we not only can live our best possible life but how in doing this we become an inspiration to our families our co-workers and our communities.

This book is definitely a must read for our next president and anyone working with him/her in any capacity. Most of the books recommended have supported specific issues (e.g., economy, foreign policy, health care system) needing upgrades in our country. In contrast, The New IQ shows how creating “the change” we all want to embrace in the USA can only happen when our leaders clearly understand and embrace integrity; when they truly grasp how integrity is the foundation that effects every person and every issue, everywhere and every day.

Integrity is the core intention that guides wisdom in moving society forward and changing the world to a more peaceful place for us all. When our president begins to grasp that change comes from living in “3D integrity,” he/she will know integrity is the foundation that will affect everything he/she will do in office. The one book that will best help him/her see is Dr. Gruder’s book on integrity intelligence, The New IQ. In fact, if the president is truly wise, s/he will have gone through an Integrity Makeover him/herself.

All other books recommended on this page pale in comparison to what The New IQ can do to enhance our president’s confidence, effectiveness and popularity. We need our president to be the long awaited leader, with integrity, to better serve our citizens, our communities, our country and our world.
Jamie Johnson, Wellness, 3D Integrity and Personal Effectiveness Coach, Boston, MA

I'm a little late to the party, I know. That's the downside of DVRing the show, Mr. Moyers.

But I'd like our next president to enter the White House with a copy of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Riverside Shakespeare is my favorite all-in-one edition, by the way.)

No, I'm not an English teacher or, I hope, pretentious. But I think our next president will find in Shakespeare the reflections on power that would serve any leader well to heed.

Above all,leaders must never forget their humanity.

King Henry IV (from Part II), speaking of sleep, for example -

Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy repose
To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude,
And in the calmest and most stillest night,
With all appliances and means to boot,
Deny it to a king? Then happy low, lie down!
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

Howard Zinn's "People's History of the United States" is must reading.

I would also recommend:

Paul Krugman's "The Great Unraveling" and "The Conscience of a Liberal", his new book. Reading The Great Unraveling, a collection of his op-ed columns for the New York Times, one cannot fail to be impressed at how accurately Mr. Krugman has predicted the results of current policies. The Conscience of a Liberal provides a compelling argument that our current challenge is to regain the "New Deal" policies that both created and supported the American middle class, and therefore the society of opportunity, decency, and prosperity that is currently in a state of decline. Mr. Krugmans premise that capitalism does not support the middle class and the general welfare without the political will and institutions that mitigate the power of the wealthy is powerfully supported in this work.

Finally, "Our Endangered Values" by former President Jimmy Carter speaks powerfully to those who see America's moral crisis as far more that the divisive issues forwarded by "the religious right".

I am really dismayed that of all books recommended here - we are wanting change - one must have dialogs - everyone out there even for their own lives should read
Speaking Peace: Connecting With Others Through Non-Violent Communication
by Marshall B. Rosenberg
or any of his other books get the DVD even showing live how to do it. This will change your life and that is where change begins for the whole world. And whomever is elected Get Rosenberg on your Cabinet to teach everyone this method.
Enjoy and thanks for reading
peace be with you always

Book recommendations for the next President:
Robert Reich's Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life.
Robert Reich is doing important work on how capitalism has changed (and changed America) since the digital revolution, how "supercapitalism" is affecting public policy and the judicial system (squeezing out the public) and the lives of workers, and what to do about it.
His book, offers clear discription and analysis of what has happened, and a recommendation for fundamental change in how corporations are legally viewed and treated (as bundles of contracts, not as people) in order to make government more democratic and responsive to the public. I may not agree with all of his conclusions, but I agree with his main points that we need to restore our democracy and that policy changes are necessary to make a better world. Changes in personal behavior alone are not enough.

Mark E. Eberhart's Feeding the Fire, The Lost History & Uncertain Future of Mankind's Energy Addiction.
Everhart gives a history of energy and imagination in human society and offers a way to tackle global warming and energy policy.
-- In short, wishing will not make it happen, and just a carbon emissions tax by itself will not make it happen. We have to imagine the outcome we want and take planning steps to get there...like we did with weapons for defense durning the Cold War. With the same kind of imagination, planning, and commitment by the government as we had during the Cold War with our weapons program, and with public commitment and a sense of national purpose, we can achieve our global warming and energy goals.

I think the next President should read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. The Goverment should be like us and not spend more that it makes.That results would make us a very powerful nation!

"The travelers of Dark Night" by "Naseem Hijazi" is a good book especially for the persons who r intrested in the history of spain or one can say how the muslim empire fall after fernidad victoriously enters into Gharnata.

Quite astonished to find two hustlers ("Where does the Money Go?") say Social Security is bust. Very cleverly, they did not actually SAY it but only implied it.

Hey everyone, remember the President's "Personal retirement accounts" proposal a few years back? But it turned out SS had a huge surplus in fact and would still have 40 years out, even indefinitely if we allow modest adjustments along the way. However, the money has been borrowed for current accounts and repaying the SS trust fund proves awkward. But SS is the lender, not the villain! One more scary statement regarding deficit spending "31 out of 35 years" needs to be tempered. Deficit spending for capital improvement or other expectation of growth is a good purpose. It is not deficit spending itself but bad deficit spending over the last 7 years that is bad and is the true ill.

So let's be accurate as to the problem first. After that, if you still want SS or Medicare to take the hit for it, be honest and say this why the benefits will not be there.

Bill, Please don't tell me that you are a left-gatekeeper just like Amy Goodman and all the other goose-stepping corporate media sheeple-goons.

1. OUTSOURSE(Fiction) Privitized military
3.BALANCE of POWER by Richard Patterson (Gun Control) Have someone brief you...too wordy
4. Genesis (BOOK on Tape VERSION) By Bill Moyers; authors' dicourse
5.MAROON within US by Asa Hiliard; Education of our youth
6.Throught the Storm, Beverly Jenkins Good love story

Easy: I'd like our next president to read "The Demon-Haunted World" by Carl Sagan.

The only way people unable to march on Washington is writing letters en masse to networks.

So, how I ask, is this any different from people organizing busloads of peaceful protestors for a march on Washington DC?

The only difference occurs when broadcasters such as Bill Moyers uses the fact of the organized campaign to exclude discourse on the issue being highlighted by said campaign.

If one hasn't the money, the time, the health and stamina to endure rough, even brutal, arrests and harsh detainment, as has happened since Bush took office, this is the only non-violent way to get the attention of our elected officials, who rely to a surprising extent on main stream media, to the exclusion of all else, for their take on public opinion.

Bill Moyers isn't the first to use stonewalling to keep politically incorrect discourse out of the public eye by denigrating those of use who see internet campaigns as a letitimate means for peaceful protest. The Star Tribune editorials manager wrote recently that he won't print letters sent en masse via internet campaigns, as it isn't like an individual letter. No it isn't. It is the only thing the public can really do when the individual letters on these controversial and vital subjects are completely ignored and even ridiculed by main stream media for an unconscionably long time.

Well PBS and Moyers are out, go to alternative media for the Truth, Bill Moyers is fresh out of it.
Alfons v911t

'The Art of Non-War' by Kim Michaels.

A must read is A Free Lunch" by David Cay Johnson and " The Future of Freedom" by Fareed Zakaria

And the Poor Get Children: Sex, Contraception, and Family Planning in the Working Class," by Lee Rainwater is the book I recommend. The next president needs to have read this already and needs to understand how many social problems are caused by overpopulation

"And the Poor Get Children: Sex, Contraception, and Family Planning in the Working Class," by Lee Rainwater is the book I recommend. The next president needs to have read this already and needs to understand how many social problems are caused by overpopulation.

I think the next president needs to have read many books on overpopulation and how it affects so many different social problems. If I can name only one book it is: "And the Poor Get Children: Sex, Contraception, and Family Planning in the Working Class," by Lee Rainwater.

Presidential Reading

A late comment, but it just occurred because someone suggested
"Grapes of Wrath".

Steinbeck's
"America and Americans" is an amazing critique, written over 40
years ago with lots great insight.

Read Margaret Atwood's the Handmaid's Tale about a fundamentalist takeover of the USA. Gets more valid everyday. Brave New World and 1984 make a great trilogy.

The book Thirteen Days or another on the interaction of JFK's advisors during the Cuban Missile Crisis, in which sharply different views were discussed. The next President must surround himself with smart people who will differ with him and each other and discuss frankly differing ways to resolve issues.

Chalmers Johnson, by all means, should be read by our next president, especially The Sorrows of Empire : Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic. All US Americans, and especially our leaders, need to be keenly aware of what an imperialistic nation we have become and of the unintended consequences. Empires are unlikely to endure when their military presence is so intensely resented by the nations they occupy, especially if those nations have been invaded or are being dominated by a plutocratic or oligarchic elite.

Chalmers Johnson, by all means, should be read by our next president, especially The sorrows of Empire : Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic. All US Americans, and especially our leaders, need to be keenly aware of what an imperialistic nation we have become and of the unintended consequences. Empires are unlikely to endure when their military presence is so intensely resented by the nations they occupy, especially if those nations have been invaded or are being dominated by a plutocratic or oligarchic elite.

Chalmers Johnson, by all means, should be read by our next president, especially The sorrows of Empire : Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic. All US Americans, and especially our leaders, need to be keenly aware of what an imperialistic nation we have become and of the unintended consequences. Empires are unlikely to endure when their military presence is so intensely resented by the nations they occupy, especially if those nations have been invaded or are being dominated by a plutocratic or oligarchic elite.

"shock doctrine" by Naomi Klein

"conscience of a liberal" Paul Krugman

"twilight in the Desert" Matthew Simmons

"The Long Emergency" James Kunstler

The next president faces some absolutely impossible problems. Most created by our current administration. If our next President doesn't get it right, we'll end up with another GW Bush, and that would spell the end of the American experiment, if it hasn't already.

"The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution" - Bernard Bailyn. No one in Washington seems to remember that we were and are the beneficiaries of a longer struggle, knowledge of which would help determine answers to many current problems.

The ‘Free Lunch’ by David Cay Johnston is shocking, informative and deeply disturbing. The chapter Home Robbery reveals monopolistic price fixing by four Title companies. One could conclude they along with the banks and Wall Street have headed the US towards a recession. Mr. Johnston reveals fraud at all levels of government and the free enterprise part of our system. Superb reporting. A must read.

Bill, I'd recommend the next president read and keep available John Nichols' "The Genius of Impeachment" in addition to a copy of the US Constitution.

Free Lunch
or
The Grapes of Wrath
or
The Two Income Trap

Atlas Shrugged!? Are you &%$@#(*! kidding me?!

I recommend highly any of David Ray Griffin's 9/11 books, in particular "Debunking 9/11 Debunking", plus Michael Ruppert's well-researched volume "Crossing the Rubicon: The American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil". Also, "By Way of Deception: The Making and Unmaking of a Mossad Agent" .

Hey Bill,
I believe in Hillary. My concern is she is being abused by the media.
This is a VERY important concern...Why does the media ask Barack strategy questions while they ask Hillary details about her policies/plans? This is in no way the same. Does the media believe Barack has no plan?... or is incapable of answering specific detail questions? I am not certain.
How might you facilitate this equality?
I am hopeful you will find a way as I believe you to be an incredibly honest reporter.
Barack's media questions catch momentum (they are general and almost always about strategy), while the ones asked of Hillary are focused on the details of her plan implementations and not at all about strategy. The questions are not only VERY dissimilar, they are misleading. They also give credence ambiguity.
My question to you is...How might you encourage the media to ask (each candidate) similar questions and/or how might you find a way for these questions to be more equitable?
I hope you choose to be mindful of this and I'd appreciate a response.

I'm late to the party, but I do agree most heartily with the person who suggested Andrew Bacevich's "The New American Militarism." It's the one and only book I bought and gave to my new Congressman.

Greetings Mr. Moyers,

I have not read all the books in the list, but I’m not running for president. I’ll recommend Animal Farm and 1984, both by George Orwell. Wouldn’t he be saying: “I told you so”.

I had the chance to communicate with a journalist friend of mine who used to work for the New York Times. He has been writing books and making public appearances all over the country. I sent him a copy of the note I wrote in your blog, and as friends, I asked him to help me ease my concern about this country. Mr. Moyers, I was so depressed when I read his reply, this is what he wrote me: “first of all it is great to hear form you. Secondly, you are right. The country is dying. I certainly try to fight back, but I can't, like most who warn about what is happening, get much hearing above the noise pollution of television and the ridiculous slogans and clichés that infect all public discourse, including education, but I keep trying and will keep trying. This is the best we can do”.

First of all I didn’t write that the country is dying. I said it was bleeding, and yes, bleeding can cause dead, but not if you do something about it. Why am I the only one, who is so sure that this country can make it? Could it be maybe because I have witnessed change? I lived in Bogotá when Antanas Mockus changed that city; it was like experiencing something out of this world. I have the feeling that most people link change to communism. This is, in my opinion, the biggest fear people have when it comes to change. Actually, when positive change occurs, everybody benefit from it.

Why can we come to some conclusions fast? These are my own personal conclusions:

1. Those who govern us should have the highest level of education, and in addition, to be endowed with integrity and poise
2. To only think in the benefit of “few” is the wrong formula
3. Positive change has nothing to do with communism, and it is possible
4. The average human brain is structured for fascism (as Mr. E. L. Dortorow states in his interview with Mr. Moyers back in 1988)
5. A president should never have carte blanche
6. We have our brain to preserve not to destroy
7. You shall not kill in the name of GOD
8. In regimes like the current one, crime escalates in geometrical proportion
9. The time has come to be conscious
10. United States of America will rock as a true leader

I’m sorry if I keep bothering you Mr. Moyers. I write with my heart, and I can only see the good in this country. Of course, I also see the huge elephant in the room, how could I not? Mr. Moyer, I hope you know I have an enormous admiration and respect for you.

AG

Since I could not have a said it better myself, I will just ditto this comment: "The next President should not only read and bring to the White House "Citizen Power" by Mike Gravel, but should encourage the American people to sign into law the "National Initiative" which when enacted into law will make "We the People" lawmakers."

Hi,
In accordance with all the Moyersly fairness, I expected a list of books with actual number of recommendations for each, top down, instead of an editoialized rundown on the actual TV report and on this site.

This sour note is not entirely because the book I recommended, The Israel Lobby, is nowhere to be seen.

I hope the final accurate accounting is yet to come.

Thank you for your due attention.
Best regards to you all.

E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web"
To remember the simplistic interconnectedness of our living world.

Dear Mr. Moyers,
Thank you for your excellent programs.

My first choice is The Battle for God, A History of Fundamentalism, by Karen Armstrong.

As a country, we are experiencing the consequences of over a hundred years of misjudgment, ignorance, and arrogance in our dealings with foreign countries, especially those with natural resources coveted by our corporations and our government. Currently, we are in a time again when corporations and the Administration seem operating more as a unit than as separate parts in our economy.

Unless our new President has in-depth understanding of this terrible history, foreign policy decisions will continue to be deeply flawed, jeopardizing our national security. Karen Armstrong identifies linkage of foreign policies with consequences in the evolution of religious perspectives into those with which we are now confronted. She also traces the evolution of fundamentalism in the U.S. The focus on Jesus did not arrive on these shores with the Puritans. It evolved here in response to fear. Fear is at the root of fundamentalism everywhere, but how it is expressed depends on the culture being stressed.

Religious perspective can strengthen hope and provide energy to do great good in the world. It can also destroy, distort, mislead, and contaminate. The next President must have knowledge of the role U.S. foreign policy has contributed to the terrible challenges we as a nation face in the world and within our boundaries.
D. Stauber

The Art of Non-war by Kim Michaels

I've skimmed through most of the suggestions here, and seen some excellent suggestions as well as some rather foolish ones.

The major underlying cause of most of our world's problems stems from extremely sophisticated systematic economic exploitation. Show me any problem, from environmental pollution, climate change, genocide, poverty, war, and man's brutality to his fellow man, and I can relate it's root causes to economic exploitation that begins with our central banking system and a ruthless cabal of international bankers and financiers whose goal is to monopolize the world's wealth and thereby control the world's people.

Therefore, the single most important book would be one that points to road to workable economic and currency reforms. Milton Friedman was on the right track, but the only comprehensive study I've ever seen on a solution to our economic crisis is in the book, "The Lost Science of Money: The Mythology of Money - The Story of Power" by Steven Zarlenga, head of the American Monetary Institute at www.monetary.org.

Nothing will change our steady course to disaster until we correct the fundamental flaw of creating money out of public debt. Our next president should also see the videos "Money as Debt" and "The Money Masters".

Until these fundamentally unsound and unsustainable banking and currency creation practices are corrected, all other measures, books, treatises, and ethical tomes will amount to no more than a hill of beans. And Ron Paul may recognize the problem, but he doesn't understand that his Rx is worse than the disease.

People, especially our leaders, simply must learn the truth about how our money is created, and by whom, and how that power must be returned to the people's legitimate governments.

Zinn's books, as well as Korten's "When Corporations Rule the World" along with anything by Thom Hartman would also be helpful. Oh yes, and John Perkins, "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" and "The Creature from Jekyll Island" by Griffin would be helpful. "The case against the Fed, by Murray Rothbard sums up the problem, but the Austrian School is way off base about the solution. The Solution is in Zarlenga's book on Money.

An Avid Reader

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q&docid=-515319560256183936

The Trial by Franz Kafka.

The first line goes likes this:

"Someone must have been telling lies about Joseph K., for without having done anything wrong he was arrested one fine morning."

A couple pages later, K. is talking to two strange men who have inexplicably showed up at his home while he slept. K. tries to go out.

"No," said the man at the window.... "You can't go out, you are arrested." "So it seems," said K. "But what for?" he added. "We are not authorized to tell you that. Go to your room and wait there. Proceedings have been instituted against you, and you will be informed of everything in due course."

K. is never informed. But in trying to discover why he has been arrested, he weaves his way through a justice system filled with secrecy, paranoia and cronyism.

In the past I would have laughed at the absurdity of the characters and story. But now, in the shadow of Guantanamo, waterboarding, wiretapping and extraordinary rendition, this book has become frightening.

Eighty years after publication, it is, sadly, a timely cautionary tale.

"Eat the Rich" by P.J. O'Rourke.

to keep economics, politics, and central control in iconoclastic perspective.

Mr. Moyers,

You owe it to your loyal viewers to disclose the book that has an "organized campaign" behind it. Please name the book and provide us with information on how you detected foul play.

Many have suggested that the suspect book is "Debunking 9/11 Debunking." I have not read this book , but I plan to, having read two other books by author David Ray Griffin on the topic of 9/11.

For those of your viewers who are uninitiated with Griffin, he is no Johnny-come-lately. His book "The New Pearl Harbor" should be on everyone's bookshelf, and that is why I had chosen that one for the next president's must-read. The other book that I own by Griffin is "The 9/11 Commission Report, Omissions and Distortions."

Without having read "Debunking 9/11 Debunking,” I'm sure that it also lives up to the high standards of David Ray Griffin.

Do us all a favor and tell us the truth. We can handle it. Griffin's followers already know the truth behind 9/11. We're just waiting for someone in the mainstream media to acknowledge what we already know.

Natural Capitalism by Dawken, Lovins & Lovins.

I just wanted to add "Antigone" by Sophocles. What better warning for the abuse of power by a ruler could there be other than the character of Creon?

Too late? Oh, well I did enjoy reading the posted list. Many are my favorites, including Zinn's History, Grapes of Wrath, A brief History of the Universe, Tom Paines great books, Jonathan Kozol.

Let me add one that was not mentioned: War Against the Weak: The Story of Eugenics... Author: Edwin Black. Until a nation knows where it has been, it can never know where it's going. The next president should keep a copy of this book by his/her side. The story of the "races" is essential to understanding America.

Plan B 3.0, Lester Brown. no supporting argument required, a must read. In fact, any candidate should appoint Brown as part of his cabinet.

More than anything, the next president needs to reconnect with the formative basics. Two books will help. "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine and "On Liberty" by John Stuart Mill. I gave a copy of each to my three children. It also would not hurt for the next president to spend some time seriously studying both Washington's and Eisenhower's Farewell Addresses.

An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments With Truth by Gandhi

The next president could benefit for learning how make change peacefully and without violence.

An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments With Truth by Gandhi

The next president could benefit for learning how make change peacefully and without violence.

When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. -- Sherlock Holmes

To let your emotions and gut feelings, disguised as science, be arguments for a conspiracy is very dangerous and ill-advised. Not only does it erode your credibility and integrity, it also inhibits your ability to make quality decisions.

Fancy talk about physics and chemistry from someone who has provided no scientific evidence to help clear up the many mysteries surrounding 9/11 such as, for example, why the collapse of Building 7 looks exactly like a classic controlled demolition.

www.ae911truth.org (Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth)

As your own eyes witness — WTC Building #7 (a 47 story high-rise not hit by an airplane) exhibits all the characteristics of a classic controlled demolition with explosives:

1. Rapid onset of “collapse”

2. Sounds of explosions at ground floor - a full second prior to collapse (heard by hundreds of firemen and media reporters)

3. Symmetrical “collapse” – through the path of greatest resistance – at nearly free-fall speed — the columns gave no resistance

4. Squibs, or “mistimed” explosions, at the upper 7 floors seen in the network videos

5. “Collapses” into its own footprint – with the steel skeleton broken up for shipment

6. Massive volume of expanding pyroclastic dust clouds

7. Tons of molten Metal found by CDI (Demolition Contractor) in basement (no other possible source than an incendiary cutting charge such as Thermate)

8. Chemical signature of Thermate (high tech incendiary) found in slag, solidified molten metal, and dust samples by Physics professor Steven Jones, PhD.

9. FEMA finds rapid oxidation and intergranular melting on structural steel samples

10. Expert corroboration from the top European Controlled Demolition professional

11. Fore-knowledge of “collapse” by media, NYPD, FDNY

And exhibited none of the characteristics of destruction by fire, i.e.

1. Slow onset with large visible deformations

2. Asymmetrical collapse which follows the path of least resistance (laws of conservation of momentum would cause a falling, to the side most damaged by the fires)

3. Evidence of fire temperatures capable of softening steel

4. High-rise buildings with much larger, hotter, and longer lasting fires have never “collapsed”.

I would like the next President to read LOSING JONATHAN by Robert and Linda Waxler

I wish I could just not say anything, but my conscious won't let me. I've read quite a bit on both sides of the 9/11 Conspiracy and I am thoroughly exhausted. But I want to address the unnerving and confusing comments left by Frank. Sure some don’t want to look at 9/11 because of fear but I think most of us have learned a lesson about speaking out from Bush’s Iraq War. I am unashamed to look at the facts and reality of 9/11 and not believe in a conspiracy. The ‘book that screams that we are ignorant about basic physics’ is littered with inconsistencies about physical facts and grossly underestimates the real forces involved in the collapse of the towers and destruction of the planes and the loss of life. The plain fact is that the vast majority of people is ignorant of basic physics and cannot begin to grasp the enormity of the events on 9/11. I know this because 80% of College Students in my class did not pass the first year physics course, 75% did not pass first year Chemistry, and 30-40% did not even pass college algebra. If that’s the case, how can you expect even a well read and intelligent person to understand all the forces at work that brought down the towers and disintegrated the planes. Being a young student majoring in Physics I am dismayed that someone ignorant of physics tries to use it as a tool to call into question the integrity of our government and fellow citizens.

Surely there are legitimate questions to ask about the attacks and clearly our government has not been as forthcoming and transparent as one would hope but to believe that the White House, the Bush Administration, and/or Congress had a role in planning or executing the attacks on 9/11 is ridiculous.

To let your emotions and gut feelings, disguised as science, be arguments for a conspiracy is very dangerous and ill-advised. Not only does it erode your credibility and integrity, it also inhibits your ability to make quality decisions.

Book suggestion:

The Party's Over
by Richard Heinberg

So far, the concept of Peak Oil is still below the national radar, at least as far as the mainstream media is concerned. It was certainly not mentioned by any of the presidential candidates. Yet the peaking of world oil production which, if it has not already happened, is imminent in the next five to 8 years, is a watershed event that will require a sea change in our collective thinking and action. There are many good books out there on this subject, but Heinberg's is one of the most lucid and comprehensive. Absent an understanding of the ramifications of the end of cheap petroleum, all of the fine rhetoric of the candidates is meaningless. The presidential honeymoon with the American public is going to be very short lived, as the implications and consequences of the disappearance of cheap, available energy begin to manifest. Whoever occupies the Oval Office needs to be aware of what is coming down the pike to make some informed and tough decisions in order to prepare us for and navigate through some very difficult times.

I thoroughly agree with the vast mojority of these suggestions; especially, The Shock Doctrine; the Chalmers "Blowback" trilogy; David C. Korten's When Corporations Rule the World; and Lao Tze's great Tao Te Ching; but I want to add a work of "fiction" that will give the president and the rest of us a glimpse of our likely future scenario: The Road by Cormac McCarthy. This list is a very valuable resource and a very worthwhile accomplishment for which I'd like to thank Mr. Moyers and all the sincere contributors who have created it. Oh, yes, Taleb's The Black Swan should be on here, too. Thank you!

I really do not care what he or she reads, as long as the president has the intelligence to tell the difference between fiction and non fiction.
As long as he tells the truth and does not lie and mislead.
If he or she wants to read a true work of fiction then I would suggest the book your being spammed with by the truth movement, Debunking 9/11 Debunking" by David Ray Griffin.
I would follow that up with the white paper by Ray Mackay,Paper debunking Dr. Griffin, anyone at JERF can point you to it. http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=64
If he or she wants some good non fiction historical works then those are easy to find.
If the president does not have the knowledge already to lead this country then why are we electing them to office.
A book read now will not make much difference, however if they just want a short read just for fun, here is something to consider.

http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=22618

Please read "Free Lunch" by David Cay Johnston

What was the title and author of the book Bill Moyer recommended as his possible must read for a president last Friday on his Journal?

Why does it seem that we have all lost track of the essential foundations of our country and culture. As so often happens, the farther removed on is from the source the easier it becomes to discount that sources meaning and impact. For that reason the President, and indeed all of us, should read and think about a return to Common Sense by Thomas Paine. And if we truly take to heart the ideas and words that make our nation great it is about time for a new revolution. Let the voting begin.

"Man without a Country" by Kurt Vonnegut. Summarizes it in a nanosecond.

I sure would like to read the book suggestions you recieved. However, I simply do not have the time to scroll through the blog. Whats the chance of producing a compiled list without the comentary or duplicates. Perhaps a number after the title could give an indication of popularity.

The book I recommend for the new president is "The Conscience of a Liberal" by Paul Krugman and see the movie "Nickeled and Dimed" (or read this book also)

To those that are frustrated by Bill Moyer's (PBS) refusal to mention David Ray Griffin's book Debunking 9/11 Debunking,

I share the same frustration.

You have a well-respected man like Bill Moyers leave PBS for a while after creating a show called NOW, only to return to create the best show on television (in my opinion). His valuable show posted for all to see at 10:00 pm. A well-respected man refuses to mention a book that screams that we are ignorant about basic physics as we refuse to relook at the collapse of WTC Buildings 1, 2, and 7 on 9/11/01.

It shows how strong deception really is. Just by what people write in this blog, and how they write it, shows that the people are well-read. But, I ask myself what sort of action, or what event will it take before I act to expose this conspiracy theory (a term and only a term) as I sit comfortable with plenty of food.

There’s the analogy where a kid at a party set the music at a certain volume, when the parents aren’t looking, he turns it up a little, no one notices, then he turns it up a little more, and no one notices, and so on . . . .

Seems like we don’t want to turn the volume down, for fear of being unpopular. And we don’t want to look at 9/11 for same fear.

Bill,

Concerning ecology and farmland as well as the exploitation of farmland by agribusiness, I recommend "The Citizenship Papers" by Wendell Berry. He writes like a Tom Paine and I agree as a black woman with most of what this white male Kentucky poet laureate, farmer has to say about we the people.

Thanks for doing this,
Phyllis Griffin

The next president will be answering not only the call of his or her own soul to lead a great nation people, but as the leader of the United States he or she will be answering a higher call from the global community to lead the way to restore the balance of life on the planet.

There are three books that are essential reading:
#1. Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken
#2. Cosmos and Psyche by Richard Tarnas
#3. Awakening the World by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee.

With gratitude,
June

Well, the results are in and it looks like David Ray Griffin's "Debunking 9/11 Debunking" did not make the grade -- even though it was recommended numerous times by several people posting under this blog. I guess the lesson here is simple: If you're lazy and silent about your views of the world, that's a good thing. Because having been passionate about promoting my book of choice through fair, organized and rigorous activism has only served place it in some kind of Bill Moyers rogue’s gallery of blackballed books on truth.

What a remarkably incomprehensive and undemocratic book selection process this has been.

Oh and BTW the so called "cable show" Wieck is spewing about is his own show of which is a full blown far Reich wing disinfo ministry that would have made Joseph Goebbels blush.
Anybody with any sense would never appear on such a show when they know all it would be is a bunch of mouth breathers without a clue yelling at you from all sides simultaneously.

You are either brain dead or a paid disinfo agent.
Just Google Ron Wieck also known as "Pomeroo" and that will tell you all you need to know about this creep.

Sorry Wieck but I just read that so called "white paper" and it was absolute drivel, it debunked nothing whatsoever in fact after reading it anyone with any sense would come away totally convinced that David Ray Griffin and the many others mentioned in his books are 100% correct.

Thanks for the laugh.

ROTFL

Chomsky's entire body of political work is really one long book, so that would be it. If I had to pick one, his most recent Failed States is an excellent pulling together of all of his previous work, and with exceptionally insightful commentary on how the past fits into the present, and what kind of future we're headed towards if we don't start successfully changing our country for the better.

Web of Debt by Ellen Brown

Web of Debt by Ellen Brown

Web of Debt by Ellen Brown

A myrmidon of the mindless 9/11 fantasy movement suggested reading David Ray Griffin's 'Debunking 9/11 Debunking,' a farrago of bogus science, crude errors, and outright falsehoods. Instead of wasting time on nonsense, try reading the devastating whitepaper by NASA engineer Ryan Mackey that caused Griffin to renege on an agreement to discuss his book on cable TV:
http://www.911myths.com/drg_nist_review_2_0.pdf

Supercapitalism by Robert Reich. This book discusses why our democracy is not working so well. It's really a history lesson which we all need to hear.

For a book for a new president to take to the White House, I recommend, "A Theory of Justice" by John Rawls.

I would like to see a president take a book of poetry into the office. A good example would be The New Anthology of American Poetry Volume I: Traditions and Revolutions. Poetry has always sensed, interpreted, and reflected morality in the United States, and it would be refreshing to see a politician acknowledge that the office they hold is little more than a human creation, run by humans, and therefore shouldn't be treated with the reverence of perfection. Successful politicians, much like successful poets, operate outside the forms and constructs left by their predecessors. So many of these candidates hope to get elected on "change," but the canned responses of "The Federalist Papers" or "Wealth of Nations" reek of the stuff that brings with it well deserved all-time-low approval ratings.

Dear Mr. Moyers,

Thanks for the opportunity to contribute suggestions for books that ought to be on the next president's desk. I have read all the previous posts (and I am exhausted) and I agree with those who mention Naomi Klein, David Korten, Paul Krugman, Chalmers Johnson, Thom Hartman & Barbara Ehrenreich; I am a fan of the several books each have written. I'm also happy to see that people are recommending the basics like Harper Lee, John Steinbeck, and Thomas Paine.

However, I have three authors who've gone unmentioned (or nearly so) thus far.

1) Noam Chomsky
I'm appalled that not more people have proffered his work as essential reading. Media Control is a basic and most accessible work for the chief executive on-the-go. More timely would be his latest observations on America's hegemonic obsessions in What We Say Goes, also very accessible in a lively interview format. There are a wealth of offerings available from America's #1 public intellectual, but these two will do as primers to Chomsky's incisive views on US foreign policy and the awesome propaganda force of US media, and how each work to subvert democracy globally and domestically.

2) Ralph Nader
He has been mentioned on this blog, and rightly so. I'd recommend the new president get a copy of The Ralph Nader Reader for an introduction to (among other points) corporate welfare and excellent explanations of governmental & corporate collusion. Don't put Ralph down as a "spoiler" or "egomaniac;" pick him up for the insightful observer that he is and the sensible solutions he offers.

3) Greg Palast.
This independent investigative journalist par excellence has written two brilliant books: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy and Armed Madhouse. They are meticulously researched, boldly written in an earthy, ascerbic style, and nothing short of absolutely revelatory. Joe Stiglitz in a nutshell. Voter Caging for dummies. The power of Petro-dollars. Read these two books for an eye-opening view of how the world really works and the part America plays in pulling the strings.

I do not make these reading suggestions lightly; I have respect for the office of the president and pray fervently that the next person who occupies it has a love for books and knowledge that rivals Jefferson's. Much depends on it.

Tom Kenny
http://www.tomkennyjapan.com

Mr. Moyers,

I didn't read this until after your show aired. But, I'll say the next President should read CHILDHOOD'S END by Sir Arthur C. Clarke.

Thank you.

Both "The Scapegoat Generation" by Mike Males, and "When God was a Woman" by Merlin Stone

Mr. Moyers,
The book I'd recommend the next president take to the White House is The Four Agreements by M. Ruiz.

This thin but very powerful Toltec wisdom book helps clear the fog of the mind and of the soul.
Mitakuye Oyasin(we are all related)

"The New IQ : How Integrity Intelligence serves You, Your Relationships and Our World"

by Dr. David Gruder

As a web developer, I am always interested in finding the most elegant solution to any problem. Often, an elegant solution achieves multiple goals by addressing the root of any issue.

Most of the major problems and issues facing the world today seem to have their root in the lack of integrity or honor of our people and our leaders.

By focusing more on whats perceived to be popular (thank you pollsters) and less on what is right, our leaders sacrifice the future for their political present.

Dr. Gruder's book "The New IQ addresses this concept and provides immense justification for focusing on personal integrity as THE means to most any goal.

I would love to see a president who was as committed to their own personal development as their example would inspire and lead millions!

Another vote for Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. No book has done more to reframe my thinking and examine my behavior as a consumer in, and ultimately a citizen of, an interconnected world.

Right On, Grady Lee Howard
(see Moyers' Reading)
Debunking 9/11
Debunking- DRG
Plan B 3.0- Brown
Debunking 9/11 Debunking-DRG
Plan B 3.0-Brown
Debunking 9/11 Debunking-DRG
Plan B 3.0- Brown
Debunking 9/11 Debunking-DRG
Plan B 3.0-Brown
Debunking 9/11 Debunking-DRG
Plan B 3.0- Brown
Debunking 9/11
Debunking-DRG
Plan B 3.0- Brown
(adfinitem)

Global Responsibility: In Search of a New World Ethic by Hans Kung. This is an introduction to his trilogy on the prophetic religions Judism, Christanity and Islam and his thesis "No world peace without religious peace".

Barbara Jordon's Testimony before congress

http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/uscir/062895.html

For those who see no threat in dividing finite natural resources over an ever increasing population, I recommend: "The Coming Economic Collapse" by Leeb and Strathy.

As a predictor of America's future, I suggest "Mexifornia -- A State of Becoming" by Victor Davis Hanson.

Hanson carefully relates from his own experiences in California and his perspective as a professor of classics what we can expect as the U.S. becomes Mexico Norte. He importantly decries the lack of civics education and understanding of Western civilization.

I would like to suggest "How Many People Can the Earth Support? by eminent demographer Joel Cohen. His statement: " personally am very concerned by the vast inequitable and largely avoidable burdens of hunger, disease, violence, ignorance and poverty borne by too many billions of people. But I will not try to persuade you that the world will end in the next ten years unless everybody changes to a diet of soybeans and contraceptive pills, or that a universal diet of soybeans and contraceptive pills would eliminate hunger, disease, violence, ignorance and poverty…. But I will try to persuade you that the world cannot easily and comfortably accommodate an unlimited number of people at any desirable level of material, mental and civic well-being."

The last part of this can easily be extrapolated to the U.S. with the same conclusion. The question then becomes how far down that road do we want to go in the interests of population-driven economic growth? Is anyone taking the long view on this or are we all myopic like our politicians who care only about the next election and the power to go with it?

"Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" by Jared Diamond.

It engenders the goal of planetary sustainability for now and for generations to come.

Well I was going to give you a piece of my mind Mr. Moyers for fabricating such a blatant lie in order to CYA for not mentioning a book that was easily in the top 3 if not #1 on what real people, patriotic citizens wanted you to mention. But the eloquent response by "Cathie Bell" in your "Reading Recommendation" section is absolutely dead on and was exactly what I wanted to write so I will just say "Ditto" to her well spoken post.

We are allegedly an "organized campaign" Bill?

Now why exactly would you have the unmitigated gall to come out and call everyone that mentioned that book an organized campaign?
Did all the people that mentioned "The Shock Doctrine" get accused of such a thing? NO! Now that I think about it what about all the people that listed "The Art of Non-War" that had to clearly be in the top 5 at least.
I know nothing about that book never read it...(OK wait a minute here, I just now googled this book and guess what I found? Kim Michaels herself on a website called "Ask the real Jesus" is actually coming out an asking readers to promote her book on your show and that she even sent you a book.)
her post says this:
""I didn't expect such a large response, but I am grateful for your comments and will use them to promote the book. I have sent a review copy to Bill Moyers in case he wants to see why so many people recommended the book.

Thank you,

Kim""

Well that changes things a little bit, apparently THIS must have been the book that you mentioned as being the "Organized campaign" which clearly this was without any doubt with the author herself in charge of it.

So what this means is that even though "Debunking 9/11 Debunking" was without any doubt in the top 2 you decided to not even mention this FACT at all? You, just like all of the mainstream media are scared to death aren't you Bill?

You must realize by now that at least 40+% of the population have either read or at least know about and fully agree with this author (Debunking 9/11 Debunking) and many other books by David Ray Griffin, "The New Pearl Harbor" etc.
You must realize also that even though the brain dead chattel & Sheeple here in the USA are fast becoming aware of this deception, the rest of the planet are way ahead of us because most of their Media are not LYING to them, or like you just did here completely ignore them in hopes that we will all go away because 9/11 Truth is growing every single year and you can not stop it by ignoring us Bill.

We represent at least an absolute minimum of 40+% of the US population and no doubt a good 60+% of the rest of the world.

So what are you going to do when we reach critical mass here Bill? When those of us that KNOW that 9/11 was an inside job are the vast majority of at least 60+% whatcha going to do then Bill? How will you explain yourself?

The truth is coming Bill so get used to it, this is NOT going away and we will NOT stop until these Treasonous war criminals are in prison and I might add that includes the "Propaganda Ministers" that spread the lies and cover up the facts!

So "The Art of Non-War" was the organized campaign obviously. But Debunking 9/11 Debunking you just completely ignore as if all of us do not exist? That is very telling Mr. Moyers, very telling indeed so is the fact that you are a member of both "CFR & Bilderberg" I guess we all see where your allegiance lies don't we?

I will never watch your show again and I might add since you just PO'd about 60-70% of your viewership I suspect ratings are going to drop big time.