This is GPS, the Global Public Square. Welcome to all of you in the United States and around the world. I'm Farid Zakaria.

Today on the program, I believe we're at an inflection point in this country.

Making sense of this moment in history. Inflation, volatile gas prices, a global virus that has plagued the world for almost two years.

If you want to build America up, not burn her to the ground, then welcome my fellow patriots.

Then add in America's cavernous political divide.

Issuing a depiction of murdering a member of Congress is wrong.

The January 6 riot, which still echoes loudly.

How to put this all into context. Well, we have joining us.

The Pulitzer Prize winning historians, Dara Skurn's Goodwin and John Meacham.

And if you don't have trust in government, government is us. It's who we are.

Also, on this Christmas weekend, I will tell you about another biblical Exodus.

This time by Christians, who have been leaving the Middle East in droves.

And you've likely heard Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

And others, right up to number nine.

But you've never heard the tenth, because he never finished it.

Well, thanks to the magic of artificial intelligence and its human handlers.

You now can, on GPS. Stay tuned to hear what it sounds like.

But first, here's my take.

As the year draws to a close, I've asked myself what books that I've read have had a real impact on me.

There's nothing like reading a good book to engage deeply with the topic.

So here are three that impressed me greatly this year.

The narrow corridor, states, societies, and the fate of liberty by Darren Asimoglu and James Robinson.

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