Jane Mayer Books

Why is America living in an age of profound and widening economic inequality? Why have even modest attempts to address climate change been defeated again and again? Why do hedge-fund billionaires pay a far lower tax rate than middle-class workers? In a riveting and indelible feat of reporting, Jane Mayer illuminates the history of an elite cadre of plutocrats--headed by the Kochs, the Scaifes, the Olins, and the Bradleys--who have bankrolled a systematic plan to fundamentally alter the American political system. Mayer traces a byzantine trail of billions of dollars spent by the network, revealing a staggering conglomeration of think tanks, academic institutions, media groups, courthouses, and government allies that have fallen under their sphere of influence. Drawing from hundreds of exclusive interviews, as well as extensive scrutiny of public records, private papers, and court proceedings, Mayer provides vivid portraits of the secretive figures behind the new American oligarchy and a searing look at the carefully concealed agendas steering the nation. Dark Money is an essential book for anyone who cares about the future of American democracy

Focusing on the U.S. government's controversial actions in the fight against terrorism, the narrative reveals how decisions made post-September 11 undermined both the Constitution and the effectiveness of counterterrorism efforts. Jane Mayer meticulously details the roles of influential figures like Vice President Dick Cheney and adviser David Addington, who sought to expand presidential authority at the expense of civil liberties. The book provides a compelling examination of the intersection of power, policy, and the American legal framework, enhanced by a new afterward.

The Explosive Tale of the Unraveling of an American PresidentFor six years, Ronald Reagan seemed invincible. But behind the glowing image of success was an administration courting disaster. In this spellbinding book, two top Washington reporters trace the origins of the Iran-Contra affair and the unraveling of the Reagan presidency, taking us deep inside a white house that cared more for stagecraft than statecraft and that mistook a landslide reelection for an unlimited mandate.Here is the startling illumination of power and personality, an explosive tale of a president’s unmaking—and a landmark book about the current state of the American presidency.