Jeanne Marie Laskas Knihy

Every evening for eight years, President Obama received a binder with ten letters from ordinary American citizens, representing the unfiltered voice of the nation. He was the first president to save constituent mail, and this narrative explores how these letters influenced both his policies and the dedicated staff who opened the countless messages arriving in the White House mailroom. Based on a popular New York Times article, the author interviews the letter writers and the White House team, revealing a powerful and intimate portrait of America during Obama's presidency. Among the voices are Kelli, who celebrated her grandfathers' legal marriage after 35 years; Bill, a Republican whose views on immigration changed after meeting a young boy fleeing gang violence; Heba, a Syrian refugee haunted by her past; Marjorie, who confronted her own racial biases during the George Zimmerman trial; and Vicki, whose family was divided by political differences. They wrote to Obama out of gratitude, desperation, anger, and a desire for connection. This collection of voices creates a beautiful harmony, presenting a diary of a nation. The work offers an intimate look at one man's relationship with the American people and the intersection of politics and empathy in the White House.

In 2002, forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu picked up a scalpel in a Pittsburgh morgue and made a discovery that would rattle America. The body on the slab in front of him belonged to a fifty-year-old named Mike Webster, aka "Iron Mike," a Hall of Fame center for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After retiring in 1990, Webster had suffered a dizzyingly steep decline. The search for answers put Omalu in the crosshairs of one of the most powerful corporations in America: the National Football League. Iron Mike's mental deterioration was caused by blows to the head that could affect everyone playing the game -- the one truth the NFL wanted to ignore