1. Planets that have been conqured or surrendard oftern start out as angry. You "will" need to build urban pacification centers on "EACH" world you take, or if you have temperal technology, build Temporal Vacation and Emitter sites on one world for the whole sector. These work the best.
Another option, if the planets are rioting, move a fleet of about 12 ships to the rioting planet. Within a few turns, the planet will grow happier. Then you will be able to scrap, if needed, any buildings you want, and build the urban pacification center or temperal sites.
This option is the least favorate, but it does work. You abandon the planet. Wait a while, 20 turns, and move people back onto it.
This option is the sick and wrong one, but I do love using it. You up load the population, (no matter what, the planet will always have 1m pop if you do this) onto a transport and either space them, or hold them for about 20 turns.
2. Right now, there is no strategy guide for the game. I am sure that many of us use specific strategies to play the game buy, and those are often discussed here, but no book.
3. Ministers are stupid, but they do have there uses. I use ministers to auto build, and in some case INTEL and research. I also use them for Exploration, and if I am really tired, even other options. Mostly I do not use them except for auto build, and I think I am better off that way.
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"We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats! They invade our space and we fall back -- they assimilate entire worlds and we fall back! Not again! The line must be drawn here -- this far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" -- Patric Stewart as Captain Picard
UCP/TCO Ship Yards