Good reads: Inside a campaign playbook, Whitney Houston

Each week, we let you know what we've been reading. Check out our picks:

Chris Dall: You have to check out NPR's series on fracking.

Alex DiPalma: The New York Times recently published a campaign playbook by high-profile Republican strategists. It outlines a plan that calls for running commercials linking President Obama to controversial comments made by his former spiritual adviser, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. It's amazing (and kind of scary) to read the actual document and get an inside look at how Super PACs operate.

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Meggan Ellingboe (our resident jock): Last night, friends and I "raced" a mile and then cheered on the USA 1 Mile Road Championships in Minneapolis. I immediately thought of Louie Zamperini, whose story is the subject of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Before his war days, Zamperini was a talented one-mile racer (going to break a four-minute mile) and competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. I've been reading Unbroken for book club this week and look forward to finishing it this weekend. So far, it's incredible!

(Louis Zamperini presents an award at the 2011 Golden Goggles at JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on November 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images for USA Swimming)


Emily Kaiser: Started reading the Vanity Fair posthumous profile of Whitney Houston this morning. And check out this 21-year-old who started a super-PAC and spent some serious cash on a House race in Kentucky.


(Jennifer Hudson performs in memory of the late Whitney Houston at the Staples Center during the 54th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, February 12, 2012. AFP PHOTO Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)


Kryssy Pease: In the wake of our Faith and Public Life week and the look at atheism, I found this article on issues surrounding black identity and atheism really interesting.

Maddy Mahon: Great reporting about a group of Marines who develop breast cancer, and the link between the disease and chemicals on a North Caroline military base.

Tom Weber: Only now catching up on a few recent episodes of PBS's Frontline I've been meaning to watch. I haven't been disappointed. Here's a fantastic and useful primer on the phone hacking scandal within Rupert Murdoch's media empire and - a must-watch four episodes that document the economic collapse of 2008, and Wall Street now.

-- Stephanie Curtis, social media editor