The Politics of the Hunger Games

First of all this is what I would call a 'scholarly' type of book. In my opinion there are two types of such books. One is the type that deals with various issues that something such as this book cover in relation to a particular topic. It has serious information but it is still written in a manner that the material remains somewhat heavy but still readable and understandable.

The second type is a 'scholarly' book that is so puffed-up with huge words and almost impossible-to-understand material that it is obvious it's written for a very small, very select group of readers. I got such a book not long ago about Alice in Wonderland and actually had to quit. I can only describe the writing style as look-how-smart-I-am pompous approach. It gave 'boring' an entirely new level of meaning.

This book, fortunately, is not that way.

So, some of the material the book discusses (and this is only an indication of the material; there's lots of it):

Political overview of Panem.
Comparing Panem to ancient Rome.
How President Snow is like Herod from the Bible.
'Our moral identities are formed in how we treat others.'
How the threat of violent punishment is always present in the Districts.
The power that Snow that Coin have.
How a failure to act is a political decision.
How small steps can be taken.
The Peacekeepers and the use of force.
How the arena games are 'a shared cultural experience.'
Moral bankruptcy of the Capitol.
Blaming poverty on people being 'lazy with a different genetic makeup.'
Blaming being poor on the poor.
Security vs. freedom and how this is reflected in our daily lives.
Comparing Pilate to the Capitol's actions.
Mistakes, situational errors and the morals of the rebellion.
President Coin and the residents of the Capitol.
How Effie changes over time.
The involvement and effects of mass media.
Public violence.
Casting blame on a victim.
Capitol notes.
Bibliography.
Index.

If you want to get into a serious (and still understandable) examination of Panem then this is a good book to do that with.

Main Index