Five top books on Congress in crisis

One title on the Barnes & Noble Review's list of five top books on Congress in crisis:

Act of Congress: How America's Essential Institution Works, and How It Doesn't
by Robert G. Kaiser

As evidenced by recent events, Congress isn't always a well-oiled machine -- in fact, it sometimes functions like a rusted iron plow. In Act of Congress, Washington Post reporter Robert G. Kaiser delivers a scathing criticism -- and occasional commendation -- of the backbone of our democracy following the fiscal crisis of 2008. Profiling the key House and Senate players who spearheaded the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill, Kaiser reveals the shortcomings of lobbying and bipartisanship in the passing of legislature and encourages the reform of a fundamental -- yet archaic -- entity, unchanged for over 200 years.

Read about the other entries on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue