Mencius, The Mencius: Dr. Anthony Fauci’s face palm behind a president railing against the ‘Deep State Department’ illustrates an age-old problem: what to do about leaders who ignore better-informed advisers? This is a problem Mencius struggled with his whole career. The great Confucian philosopher instructed violent provincial warlords about the essential goodness in human nature, and he advised them how to govern according to that basic insight. The Mencius is a beautiful, moving defense of his life’s work, as well as an intimate portrayal of one man’s efforts to counsel intransigent leaders. [recommended by Douglas Al-Maini, St Francis Xavier University]