Newsmax Rising Bestsellers – Week of June 3, 2024

Freedom and human rights — and how they can be lost even in America – are the focus of several selection in this week’s Newsmax Rising Bestsellers. The first describes what life was like on the run in Ukraine after the Russian invasion early 2022, and the second seeks to define those rights and liberties that are essential in a free society. The third illustrates how leftist Democrats have used democracy to infringe upon our most fundamental rights while another takes us behind the scenes of one of the most iconic films from 40 years ago. The fiction suggestion comes from one of America’s most prolific novelists.

“The #1 Lawyer,” by James Patterson & Nancy Allen (Little, Brown and Company)

Move over, John Grisham, you now officially have competition in the legal thriller genre. This is a new entry co-written by master of suspense James Patterson about Stafford Lee Penney, a hotshot Biloxi, Mississippi, criminal defense lawyer with a perfect record — he’s never lost a case. But now that his estranged wife has been found murdered, and suspicion automatically falls on him. “From start to finish, I was completely absorbed in this story,” wrote Mandy White, reviewing for GoodReads. “A legal thriller set in Biloxi, say no more!! I do hope this is the start of a new series as these characters, especially Stafford Lee, got into my heart.” [Fiction]

“Life on the Run: One Family’s Search for Peace in War-torn Ukraine,” by Sergey Maidukov (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers)

When Russian tanks rumbled across the border and invaded his country on February 24, 2022, Ukrainian writer Sergey Maidukov joined millions of others to make the dangerous trek into Poland, accompanied by his wife, his daughter and granddaughter.

Described by Kirkus Reviews as a “moving look at a deeply riven Russian-Ukrainian family and how they rejected Russian aggression,” this is a gripping first-hand account of their journey in pursuit of that most fundamental of human rights — the right to live.”

“Armed with an English dictionary, Mr. Maidukov documents his story in English to ensure that his memoir is not diluted by translation,” said Allison in her GoodReads review. “He has achieved native level fluency in written English in this well-written memoir, which is not an easy task for an individual who is nearly 70 years old.” [Nonfiction]

“Rights, Violations, and the Contract of Free Will,” by Artemis Pruitt (Modern American Philosophical Press)

It’s been said that “when the government fears the people, there is liberty; and when the people fears the government, there is tyranny.” So where are we? This issue came up recently when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, debated California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat. They each claimed to be the true “freedom state,” although they are governed in radically different ways. That, in turn, illustrates how much these basic elements of a free society have been misconstrued. This book attempts to define the true nature of freedom, free will, and our natural (also described as “God-given”) rights as human beings — those innate inalienable rights that a legitimate government may not take away, and the people may not even give away. [Nonfiction]

“The Total State: How Liberal Democracies Become Tyrannies,” by Auron MacIntyre (Regnery)

The author illustrates how liberals and Democrats have used the very principles of democracy to create the new American authoritarianism. Nothing illustrates this better than government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It resulted in lockdowns, closures of so-called “nonessential” businesses, censorship of anything that contradicted public health authorities. Former President Ronald Reagan saw this possibility more than 60 years ago: “One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine. It’s very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project.” And here we are. “This book provides a wealth of well-documented information regarding the racism that is ingrained throughout the current power structure of America,” said Wayne, reviewing for Amazon. “He brilliantly illustrates how racism has a detrimental effect on our entire society at large. The author shares many specific instances where it has placed individuals at a terrible disadvantage, simply because of their skin color.” [Nonfiction]

“The World Is Yours: The Story of Scarface,” by Glenn Kenny (Hanover Square Press)

This is a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most brutal and riveting films of 1983 — “Scarface,” directed by Brian De Palma and starring Al Pacino as frenzied Miami crime boss Tony Montana. Before eliminating an enemy or rival, he would note his submachine gun and shout, “Say hello to my little friend.” Longtime New York Times and RogerEbert.com film critic and Criterion Collection contributor Glenn Kenny includes “brand-new interviews and untold stories of the film’s production” to “[take] us on an unparalleled journey through the making of American depictions of crime,” according to the publisher. “This comprehensive, energetically written book covers the film’s casting, writing, filming, cultural impact, legacy, and controversies,” wrote Bookmarks Reviews. “A wildly enjoyable ride … Kenny patiently outlines every moviemaking piece and shows how it fits in the bloody, brilliant Scarface puzzle.” [Nonfiction]