The bigger the government the more deleterious it can be is the subject of two of the selections in this week's Newsmax Rising Bestsellers. The first decries the growth of America's administrative state, and the second illustrates how that monster corrupted America's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. A third pick is a welcome biography of one of America's most beloved 20th century presidents, and the final nonfiction choice describes the disastrous response to Maui's Lahaina fires and why they happened. And for fiction, there are the latest adventures of an old literary friend, brought to life again by a new author.

"Clive Cussler Desolation Code (The NUMA Files)," by Graham Brown (G.P. Putnam's Sons)

After Clive Cussler's death, Graham Brown has kept the adventures of Kurt Austin and his NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency) files alive and kept readers on the edge of their seats. This one takes Austin and his crew to the Indian Ocean to investigate stranded aquatic mammals. They then stumble upon a deeper mystery. Their research thus far is stolen, which results in a high-speed chase. What is there about the floundered whales that others want hidden? Add to that a cryptic message transmitted through the NUMA satellite network and there is a real mystery brewing. "'Desolation Code' has cloned humans, a psychopathic billionaire, the psychopathic computer he has created, and computers becoming sentient," wrote "J" in his GoodReads review. "As always, the story is a fun read, full of action. was drawn into the story from the very beginning and found it hard to put down. Graham Brown does an excellent job of continuing the NUMA Files series." [Fiction]"American Leviathan: The Birth of the Administrative State and Progressive Authoritarianism," by Ned Ryun (Encounter Books)