217. Mohammed bin Salman – Saudi Arabia (2017-)

The Presidents Club by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy offers a fascinating look into the relationships and collaborations between former U.S. presidents. The book explores how these men, despite their political differences, have supported and challenged each other in times of crisis and transition. It highlights surprising alliances and rivalries, revealing the complex dynamics within this exclusive fraternity.

This book is a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the dictatorships of Hitler and Stalin. It is not a dual biography but rather a statistical and empirical examination of the two regimes. Richard Overy explores how these dictatorships functioned, the ways in which Hitler and Stalin rose to power, and the mechanisms by which they dominated their people. The book delves into the ideological constructs, the apparatus of terror, totalitarian morality, and the command economy of both regimes. Overy also examines why millions of Germans and Russians supported these regimes and the values they represented, despite their destructive and lethal nature.

The Prime Minister, the fifth novel in Anthony Trollope's Palliser series, delves into the intricacies of British politics and societal norms of the Victorian era. The story centers around Plantagenet Palliser, the Duke of Omnium, who reluctantly accepts the role of Prime Minister in a coalition government. The novel highlights his struggles with the demands of high office and his inflexible nature. A significant subplot involves Ferdinand Lopez, a financially troubled and morally dubious speculator who marries Emily Wharton against her father's wishes. Lopez's ambitions and financial misadventures lead to a tragic conclusion, while Emily eventually finds happiness with Arthur Fletcher. The novel also explores themes of political expediency, marital relationships, and the societal constraints faced by women during that period.