Unequal Justice. Hartmann, Thom.  Rodale Press. New York : 2002 (ISBN 1-57954-627-7) 

Not a political polemic, but very recommended is "Unequal Justice" by Thom Hartmann: In understanding how global economics is manipulated by multinational corporations, this book provides a well-cited history of the development of the "corporate" entity based within American jurisprudence.

It has been in the transition from "flagship" coporations (which is to say corporations anchored in a specific nation) to multi-national corporations (where interlocking boards of directors manipulating largely disconnected populations of investors) that the global framework of "end-state capitalism" has become most pronounced. Since international conventions on corporate behavior (or more accurately, misbehavior) are largely developed from western,  American models this book provides solid insight into how, when and in what ways corporations evade social economic responsibility in pursuit of their "bottom line." 

 A good and necessary read!

"The Lost Local "

Cadillac Desert is an excellent recommendation! This well-cited work serves well as an essential  backdrop for all of Edward Abbey's timeless works: The Brave Cowboy, Desert Solitaire and the ever-enduring Monkey Wrench Gang. While Abbey wrote ostensibly fiction, it is often overlooked that the sources of inspiration are well rooted in real issues that are as potent today as they ever were! 

"The Lost Local "

My first book was given to me by a Wobbly in 1937, before I could talk. That illustrated children's book about the conquest/colonisation of Africa disappeared after I asked Communists "What is a Trotskyist". Trots were only mentioned once on the last page. It certainly contributed to my political education, I wish I knew its title or Author. Can anyone name them?

The next significant book was "Men and Mountains" by M. Ilin, a Soviet children's book on Ecology that the Soviet Government should have read.

Then there was 3 volumes of Makarenko "The Road to Life" which disappered in about 1950 and was replaced by an expurgated single volume. the original was an education in coping with the aftermath of Revolution. Possibly republished by Hawaii Uni.

There is a pretty good explanation of the terms used in psychology in "The Analysis of behavior" by B. F. Skinner which is a teaching machine for self educators. (Downloadable recently) Know the jargon and you know the subject. Lots of people hate Skinner. His novel "Walden Two" raises some interesting ideas about Commune living. He was much hated by Communards in the UK some thirty years ago. I cannot recall one of their Communes that still exist with their original high principles. Do not know about Twin Oaks, I was impressed by the writings of Kat Kinkaid from Twin Oaks and by Michelle of the Teachers.

Somewhere "The Culture of Cities" by Lewis Mumford fits in, describing the development process to build the City, progressing to Metropolis, on to Megalopolis, and finally collapsing into Necropolis.

One does not need a book when there is a Turner and Fitter in Neath Abbey able to deliver a lecture while working a lathe in 1960 about "The Advantages of a Varied Knowledge" . That lecture was first delivered in Neath Mechanics Institute in about 1846 by A. R. Wallace.

The story of Isidore Berkov's childhood,- no supper unless he could steal an apple off a street barrow stall, was perhaps as educational as the Plebs' League "An Outline of Economics" (first published 1923) that he gave me to read when I was about eleven. He said he never joined the Communist Party, but I can prove that he had three volumes of Marx's "Capital".

I puzzled why Communists had given me Winnie the Pooh stories, until I learned that the Author A. A. Milne had participated in the foundation meeting of the National Council for Civil Liberties.

There is an educational book about a UK Hunger March leading up to that foundation meeting. Two 'Americans' joined the March and taught Marchers how to cause a rich sympathiser to have his own idea of founding a British equivalent to the US Civil Liberties Union. Two Authors, but names again forgotten together with the title. Possibly published post WW2.