WASHINGTON -- The Yuletide used to be a lot scarier. In some Germanic regions, while Saint Nicholas delivered gifts for nice boys and girls, the demonic Krampus whipped the naughty. It was a time to recall spooky tales; that’s why Andy Williams croons about “scary ghost stories” in “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

Of course, this season is still plenty scary for many folks in politics. There’s a lame-duck session to survive, a new administration to prepare for, and the pressure to find your friends, family and hiring managers the perfect gift to make you look smart.

Well, have no fear, dear reader! Heard on the Hill is here with our annual reading list/holiday gift guide, curated by verified Beltway insiders with impressive titles like “senator.”

As always, we asked hundreds of the most important and best-read people in Washington for their book recommendations, and as always, only a fraction of them replied — the others must have been too busy reading.

Here, in no particular order and lightly edited, are the replies. Oh, and if you’re hoping to save a little this year and find a used book to give, you can check out our guides from last year, 2022, or 2021.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.

“Firebrands: The Untold Story of Four Women Who Made and Unmade Prohibition” by Gioia Diliberto (University of Chicago Press, 2024). “A fascinating read that tells the story of four women living through the Prohibition era.”

Kenneth Baer, CEO, Crosscut Strategies

“John Lewis: A Life” by David Greenberg (Simon & Schuster, 2024). “Greenberg fills in the amazing story of how Lewis made his way from rural Alabama to the center of the civil rights movement and then to iconic status on Capitol Hill. He shows how this modern-day saint was also a very shrewd politician, winning tough elections and cutting deals to move his agenda.”

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

“Churchill’s Citadel: Chartwell and the Gatherings Before the Storm” by Katherine Carter (Yale University Press, 2024). “How Churchill’s country estate became a base of operations for an out-of-office, out-of-power, often-derided political figure to fight and win the most important debate of his time.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.

“The Radicalism of the American Revolution” by Gordon S. Wood (first published in 1991). “Wood was awarded the George F. Will Award for the Advancement of Liberty and the Free Society earlier this year. He gave a speech saying, ‘Congress must become more creative in its solutions,’ and that was the impetus for reading the book.”

Kevin R. Kosar, senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute

“The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party” by Michael Tackett (Simon & Schuster, 2024). “Like him or hate him, Sen. Mitch McConnell is a historic figure who remade the Supreme Court and federal judiciary. That a kid born to modest means and stricken with polio could rise to the pinnacle of power is a remarkable American story.”

Harley Adsit and Sarah Geary, hosts of the “Crime in Congress” podcast

“American Caliph: The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege of Washington, DC” by Shahan Mufti (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2022). “This book is a must-read for anyone interested in crime, politics, and Washington, D.C.’s history. We were engrossed in the sordid details of the 1973 Hanafi Massacre, which directly led to the 1977 Hanafi Siege that paralyzed Washington.”

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind.

“World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the 21st Century” by Dmitri Alperovitch with Garrett M. Graff (PublicAffairs, 2024). “Alperovitch and Graff argue that a second Cold War, pitting America against China, is underway. While there is debate about the terminology, it is certain the current power competition between the two nations presents complex challenges to policymakers. The authors provide both a useful history of U.S.- China relations and an analysis of the relative strengths and weaknesses of each nation. Most helpfully, ‘World on the Brink’ suggests a suite of thoughtful policy proposals that will help America outcompete China.”

Alex Conant, partner, Firehouse Strategies

“World on the Brink” gets another vote. “A really in-depth history of China’s ascent, Russia’s motivations for invading Ukraine, and why Xi [Jinping] considers Taiwan a red line.”

Daniel Schuman, executive director, American Governance Institute

“The Last Plantation: Racism and Resistance in the Halls of Congress” by James R. Jones (Princeton University Press, 2024). “It’s about the history of Congress as an inclusive/exclusive institution for staffers depending on their backgrounds.” (Ed. note: You can read our interview with Jones here.)

J.D. Rackey, senior policy analyst, Bipartisan Policy Center

“Why Congress” by Philip A. Wallach (Oxford University Press, 2023). “A common refrain in Washington and across the U.S. is that our politics are so inherently divided that conflict and gridlock are unavoidable. Wallach illustrates the indispensable role Congress has in resolving deep-seated partisan conflict peacefully and democratically. Through clear and often poetic prose, he provides an artful retelling of American history that places Congress at its center — a welcome departure from frequent president-centric accounts. It is a must-read for anyone concerned about the health of our democracy and looking for a pathway forward.”

Matthew Green, professor of politics at The Catholic University of America

“The Deep Sky” by Yume Kitasei (Flatiron Books, 2023). “Kitasei’s debut novel is about a group of women astronauts whose mission to colonize a distant planet is jeopardized by a deadly act of sabotage. It’s a clever, well-written sci-fi/mystery/thriller, and the main character — an astronaut who is racing against the clock to identify the saboteur — is intriguing and sympathetic.”

Paul Strauss, Washington, D.C., shadow senator

“What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to the West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service” by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack (Dutton, 2024). “As the current news cycle makes many increasingly nostalgic for the fictional Jed Bartlet administration, this book takes us back in time to a vision of government service that we can still try to aspire to, with a behind-the-scenes look at not only how the show was made, but why it continues to have meaning for so many.”

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