"Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."

"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Malcolm X and Alex Haley

• A seminal work detailing Malcolm X's journey and evolution as a civil rights leader.

"Why We Can’t Wait" by Martin Luther King Jr.

• An essential account of the struggle for racial justice in the 1960s.

"Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years, 1954–1965" by Juan Williams

• A companion to the acclaimed documentary series.

"Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954–1963" by Taylor Branch

• The first in Branch's trilogy chronicling the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and the broader movement.

"Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story" by Martin Luther King Jr.

• King’s own account of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

"Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama—The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution" by Diane McWhorter

• A Pulitzer Prize-winning exploration of the events in Birmingham.

"The Strange Career of Jim Crow" by C. Vann Woodward

• An influential study on the history of segregation.

"At the Dark End of the Street" by Danielle L. McGuire

"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander

• A groundbreaking analysis of systemic racism in the criminal justice system.

"Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson

• An examination of America’s racial hierarchy and its societal impacts.

 "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss

•  Unless someone cares about a situation, nothing will improve. 

 "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

• The novel explores themes of control, conformity, and the consequences of a highly regulated, consumer-driven world. 

"The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith

• A foundational text in economics that critiques monopolistic practices and advocates for competition.

"The Theory of the Leisure Class" by Thorstein Veblen

• Explores the behaviors of wealthy elites and critiques corporate-driven consumerism.

"The Robber Barons" by Matthew Josephson

• A seminal work chronicling the rise of monopolists like Rockefeller and Carnegie during the Gilded Age.

"The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power" by Joel Bakan

• A critical analysis of the modern corporation as an institution with unchecked power.

"Capital" by Karl Marx

• Examines how capitalism and monopolistic practices exploit workers and distort economies.

"Too Big to Fail" by Andrew Ross Sorkin

• An inside look at the collapse of major financial institutions and the rise of "too big to fail" corporations.

"The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism" by Naomi Klein

• Critiques how corporations exploit crises for profit and power.

"Monopolized: Life in the Age of Corporate Power" by David Dayen

• Examines how monopolies dominate various sectors and harm consumers and small businesses.

"The Triumph of Injustice: How the Rich Dodge Taxes and How to Make Them Pay" by Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman

• Explains how corporate practices and tax policies exacerbate inequality.

"Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy" by Matt Stoller

• Chronicles the historical battle against monopolistic power in the U.S.

"Principles of a Politcal Economy" by John Stuart Mills

• Bridges economics and moral philosophy, advocating for a balance between efficiency and fairness in economic systems. 

 "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

• A foundational text advocating for the overthrow of capitalist systems and the establishment of a classless society.

"Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau

• A philosophical essay promoting resistance to unjust laws and governments.

"The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

• Examines the mechanics of power, including how it is maintained and overthrown.

"On Revolution" by Hannah Arendt

• Analyzes the nature of political revolutions and their historical impact.

"The Social Contract" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Explores the principles of legitimate political authority and the right to revolt against tyranny.

"The Anatomy of Revolution" by Crane Brinton

• A comparative analysis of major revolutions, including the French, Russian, and American revolutions.

"A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn

• A bottom-up account of American history, focusing on resistance and rebellion.

"Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements" by James DeFronzo

• A comprehensive study of revolutionary movements worldwide.

"Blueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or Simply Change the World"  by Srdja Popovic and Matthew Miller

• A practical and engaging guide on nonviolent resistance, written by one of the leaders of the Serbian revolution that toppled Slobodan Milošević.

"Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals" by Saul D. Alinsky

• A classic guide to grassroots organizing and building power for social change, focusing on practical strategies and tactics.

"This Is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt Is Shaping the Twenty-First Century" by Mark Engler and Paul Engler

• Explores the principles and strategies behind successful nonviolent movements, offering insights into their organization and execution.

"Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox for Revolution" by Andrew Boyd and Dave Oswald Mitchell (Editors)

• A collection of tools, tactics, and case studies for activists aiming to create impactful social movements.

"From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation" by Gene Sharp

• A foundational text on nonviolent resistance, providing a step-by-step guide to overthrowing authoritarian regimes.

"Direct Action: Protest and the Reinvention of American Radicalism" by L.A. Kauffman

• An in-depth exploration of the history and tactics of direct action movements in the United States, offering practical insights for activists.

"Weapons of the Weak: Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance" by James C. Scott

• While not a manual per se, this book examines subtle and indirect forms of resistance, offering lessons on how oppressed groups can undermine powerful systems.

 "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville

• A classic analysis of American democracy and its strengths and weaknesses.

"On Democracy" by Robert A. Dahl

• An accessible introduction to the principles and functioning of democratic systems.

"The People, No: A Brief History of Anti-Populism" by Thomas Frank

• Explores the tension between populism and democracy in American history.

"How Democracies Die" by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

• Examines how democracies erode, using historical and contemporary examples.

"Oligarchy" by Jeffrey A. Winters

• Argues that oligarchy, the rule of the wealthy few, persists in every political system, including democracies.

"The Power Elite" by C. Wright Mills

• Analyzes the concentration of power among a small group of political, military, and corporate leaders in the U.S.

"Winner-Take-All Politics: How Washington Made the Rich Richer—and Turned Its Back on the Middle Class" by Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson

• Explores how policy decisions have entrenched economic inequality and oligarchic tendencies in the U.S.

"Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right" by Jane Mayer

• Chronicles the influence of wealthy elites on American politics.

"On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" by Timothy Snyder

• A concise guide to recognizing and resisting authoritarianism.

"Fascism: A Warning" by Madeleine Albright

• Draws on history and Albright’s experiences to warn about the resurgence of fascist tendencies.

"How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them" by Jason Stanley

• Examines the rhetoric and tactics that define fascist ideologies.

"They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933–45" by Milton Mayer

• A chilling account of how ordinary people accepted and supported fascism in Nazi Germany.

"Can Democracy Survive Global Capitalism?" by Robert Kuttner

• Discusses the threats globalization and unchecked capitalism pose to democratic systems.

* "Delay, Deny, Defend" by Jay M. Feinman

• A critical examination of the practices of the insurance industry. The book exposes how insurance companies prioritize profit over customer service, often employing tactics that disadvantage policyholders. 

* "Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting on the Road to Recovery" by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin 

• An investigative exposé of the back pain industry, revealing how ineffective treatments and profit-driven practices often fail patients. Drawing on extensive research and personal experience, Ramin provides insights into the causes of chronic back pain and alternative approaches to recovery. 

"An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back" by Elisabeth Rosenthal

• A critical examination of the U.S. healthcare system, explaining how profit-driven motives dominate and harm patient care.

The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care" by T.R. Reid

• Compares healthcare systems worldwide to explore what the U.S. can learn to improve its system.

"Overcharged: Why Americans Pay Too Much for Health Care" by Charles Silver and David A. Hyman

• Analyzes why healthcare costs are so high in the U.S. and offers suggestions for reducing inefficiencies.

"Sick: The Untold Story of America’s Health Care Crisis—and the People Who Pay the Price" by Jonathan Cohn

• Highlights the personal impact of the broken healthcare system on ordinary Americans.

"Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans" by Wendell Potter

• A former health insurance executive exposes how insurance companies prioritize profits over patients.

"The Great American Health Care Scam: How Kickbacks, Collusion, and Propaganda Have Exploded Health Care Costs in the United States" by David Belk

• Explores how hidden costs and deceptive practices drive up healthcare expenses for Americans.

"The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care—and How to Fix It" by Marty Makary

• A surgeon examines wasteful spending and corruption in the healthcare system, offering actionable solutions.

"Catastrophic Care: How American Health Care Killed My Father—and How We Can Fix It" by David Goldhill

• A personal and systemic critique of the U.S. healthcare system.

"America’s Bitter Pill: Money, Politics, Backroom Deals, and the Fight to Fix Our Broken Healthcare System" by Steven Brill

• Chronicles the creation of the Affordable Care Act and the challenges of reforming healthcare.

"Reinventing American Health Care" by Ezekiel J. Emanuel

• An insider’s view of the healthcare system, exploring the Affordable Care Act and its implications.

"How We Do Harm: A Doctor Breaks Ranks About Being Sick in America" by Otis Webb Brawley and Paul Goldberg

• A candid look at how profit motives compromise the quality of care in th

 "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

• Examines the relationships and philosophies of key Founding Fathers, including Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, and Adams.

"John Adams" by David McCullough

• A Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of John Adams, exploring his role in advocating independence and his political philosophy.

"Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow

• Chronicles Hamilton's life, ideas, and vision for a strong federal government.

"Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power" by Jon Meacham

• An exploration of Jefferson’s political and personal philosophies, including his thoughts on liberty and governance.

"Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow

• A comprehensive biography of George Washington, focusing on his leadership and political ideals.

"The Federalist Papers" by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

• A foundational text defending the Constitution and explaining the principles of federalism and limited government.

"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine

• A revolutionary pamphlet arguing for independence from Britain and laying out the principles of democratic governance.

"The Rights of Man" by Thomas Paine

• Advocates for individual rights and criticizes monarchic and tyrannical systems of government.

"The Anti-Federalist Papers" (various authors)

• A compilation of writings by those opposed to the Constitution, emphasizing the risks of centralized power and advocating for individual and states' rights.

"The Radicalism of the American Revolution" by Gordon S. Wood

• Explores how the American Revolution transformed traditional views on governance and individual rights.

"James Madison: A Life Reconsidered" by Lynne Cheney

• Delves into Madison's role in drafting the Constitution and his views on tyranny and liberty.

"American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson" by Joseph J. Ellis

• A deep dive into Jefferson’s complex beliefs about freedom, governance, and human rights.

"Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" by Walter Isaacson

• Examines Franklin’s contributions to the ideas of self-governance and individual rights.

"Cato’s Letters: Essays on Liberty, Civil and Religious" by John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon

• Influential writings that shaped the Founders’ beliefs about natural rights and resistance to tyranny.

"The Idea of America: Reflections on the Birth of the United States" by Gordon S. Wood

• Explores the ideological origins of America’s founding principles.

"The Birth of the Republic, 1763–89" by Edmund S. Morgan

• Chronicles the ideological evolution of the Founding Fathers and their fight against tyranny.

"American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence" by Pauline Maier

• Explores the drafting of the Declaration and its enduring principles of rights and resistance.

"Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789–1815" by Gordon S. Wood

• Discusses the Founders' efforts to balance liberty with governance in the new republic.

"A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution" by Carol Berkin

• Explores the Constitutional Convention and the Founders’ debates about rights and power.

"Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution" by Richard Beeman

• Provides a detailed narrative of the Founders’ discussions and compromises in drafting the Constitution.

Below are some online independent book stores that will not fund billionaire greed. You can also look for your local small business bookstores. Libraries are a great option, they're free and they now offer eBooks and other materials. If you don't like reading there are audio books, documentaries, or just reading shorter excerpts and summaries.