If you've a grain of interest in what's been happening since the 1980s

You should read this book "What's the Matter with Kansas?"

This book details how the right wing "wingnuts" took over the Republican Party, how they're voting and behaving against their own interests, and how much of the last twenty-five years has been nothing but rolling back any regulation on industry, finance and the wealthy - and nothing but that. And, that it took the massive infusion of angry blue-collar and poor people to accomplish this.

It's a great book. Read it. If you believe that the church and state should be kept separate, if you believe that our Constitutional rights were a good thing, if you believe that your boss does not have your best interests at heart - you need to read it.