Why We’re Liberals: A Political Handbook for Post-Bush America by Eric Alterman

Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate by Arlen Specter

Why Women Should Rule the World: A Memoir by Dee Dee Myers Also mentioned: Donorschoose.org

Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet by Jeffrey D. Sachs Also: the transcript of Obama’s speech, if you’re interested, is here.

Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power

The Great Warming: Climate Change and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations by Brian Fagan

Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Venkatesh Colbert: “Did you, at any point, pop a cap in anybody’s ass?” Venkatesh: “Uh, I’m from Irvine, California and I only popped soda caps.”

Reality Show: Inside the Last Great Television News War by Howard Kurtz

The Terrorist Watch: Inside the Desperate Race to Stop the Next Attack by Ronald Kessler

His Panic: Why Americans Fear Hispanics in the U.S. by Geraldo Rivera