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History and Current EventsFebruary 2016
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"Even thinking about freedom could be dangerous." ~ from Betty DeRamus' Freedom by Any Means
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| Eisenhower's Armies: The American-British Alliance During World War II by Niall BarrDuring World War II, the alliance between U.S. and British military forces ultimately brought an end to the fighting in Europe. However, coordinating leaders with different styles was frequently challenging. In Eisenhower's Armies, historian Niall Barr examines the relationships among the allies, from the national leaders and top-level staff to the enlisted men. Vividly recounting the antagonism and jealousies among individuals, Barr also shows how political disagreements influenced decisions about where to focus significant military efforts. This "riveting, knowledgeable" (Library Journal) account offers broad appeal to students of leadership as well as to World War II history buffs. |
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| Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire by Roger CrowleyIn Conquerors, acclaimed author Roger Crowley paints a vivid portrait of 15th-century Portugal's bid to dominate the globe. Though Portugal in that period was an obscure and impoverished country, it boasted excellent maritime skills and was willing to use brutal violence to build an empire during the Age of Exploration. Enduring unspeakable shipboard conditions and led by ruthless men (such as Vasco da Gama), the Portuguese built forts, assembled large, well-armed fleets, and conquered half the world. (The other half was assigned to Spain by mutual agreement.) History aficionados, especially those interested in that era, will find this richly detailed chronicle enthralling. |
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| The War on Alcohol: Prohibition and the Rise of the American State by Lisa McGirrWhile Prohibition is usually seen as a fleeting era of glamorous speakeasies and machine gun-toting gangsters, historian Lisa McGirr argues that it produced significant long-term effects on American social structures. The War on Alcohol provides historical context for the anti-alcohol movement but emphasizes innovations in law enforcement methods, a shift to incarceration of criminals instead of rehabilitation, and the rise of the religious right wing, as well as a major realignment of political parties leading to the New Deal. This engaging account offers a thought-provoking study for both general readers and scholars. |
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| The Rift: A New Africa Breaks Free by Alex PerryIn The Rift, experienced foreign correspondent Alex Perry draws on a decade of interviews with ordinary Africans, government leaders, warlords, drug smugglers, and entrepreneurs. Beginning with his investigation into a 2011 famine in Somalia, he analyzes the external causes of Africa's problems, concluding that Islamists, foreign aid workers, and dictators are primarily to blame. He also highlights hopeful examples of African projects that are succeeding without foreign intervention. For other thought-provoking discussions of African development issues, try Dambisa Moyo's Dead Aid, which critiques foreign assistance, or Dayo Olopade's The Bright Continent, which emphasizes Africa's potential for success. |
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| Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World by Aja RadenViewing the history of human desire for the rare and beautiful through eight stories about jewels, Aja Raden, a scientist, historian, and jeweler, offers fascinating tales of wars begun and crowns lost, as well as accounts of scientific advances. She places these historic events in the context of greed and envy; gem chemistry and geology; and the relationship between social expectations and intrinsic value. Using humor and vividly recounted anecdotes, Stoned offers a captivating narrative of how shiny objects have influenced history. |
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Focus on: African American History
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| Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans... by Douglas A. BlackmonAt the end of the Civil War, former slaves looked forward not only to freedom but to economic independence as landowners and entrepreneurs. Former slaveholders, by contrast, were terrified of losing their property and their power. In Slavery by Another Name, journalist Douglas Blackmon vividly recounts the struggles of specific individuals and families and shows how white supremacists recreated the institution of slavery through the penal codes. This riveting account, which relates the stories of African Americans who were heavily fined and sentenced to hard labor for vaguely defined offenses, supplies a grim and important facet of U.S. history. |
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| Freedom by Any Means: True Stories of Cunning and Courage on the... by Betty DeRamusThe slave trade brutally separated families by selling wives, husbands, and children away from each other. Desperate to maintain their relationships, African Americans used myriad strategies to stay together -- not only running away or buying their freedom, but also resorting to lawsuits and risky schemes to outwit slavecatchers. The detailed accounts in Freedom by Any Means bring to life many of the people who struggled for freedom and family stability. Against the rich background of conflicts over slavery and abolition, author Betty DeRamus dramatizes a little-told aspect of African-American history. |
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| It Is Well with My Soul: The Extraordinary Life of a 106-Year-Old Woman by Ella Mae Cheeks Johnson with Patricia MulcahyThe daughter of former slaves, Ella Mae Cheeks Johnson was born in 1904 and lived to attend Barak Obama's first inauguration as President. Her remarkable life included earning a degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University, surviving the Great Depression, living through Jim Crow segregation, and inspiring people through her compassion and good works. This uplifting autobiography portrays a century of African-American history through the lens of Johnson's insights and accomplishments. |
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| Tomlinson Hill: The Remarkable Story of Two Families Who Share the Tomlinson Name... by Chris TomlinsonIn Tomlinson Hill, Associated Press foreign correspondent Chris Tomlinson reports on the history of the Tomlinsons of Texas -- who include white descendants of slaveholders and African Americans descended from slaves. From before the Civil War to the early 21st century, black and white Tomlinsons lived on land that began as a large plantation called Tomlinson Hill. Tomlinson engagingly weaves the families' stories together, including his own life and that of NFL player LaDainian Tomlinson, a descendant of slaves. He also explores the history of slavery and racism in America, into which the Tomlinson families offer a "riveting glimpse" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| Freedom Summer: The Savage Season that Made Mississippi Burn and Made America... by Bruce WatsonIn Freedom Summer, author Bruce Watson evokes the burning tensions of Mississippi in the summer of 1964, when the violent murders of three civil rights workers (one black, two white) underscored how far local white politicians would go to prevent blacks from voting. The film Mississippi Burning brought the murders to the big screen, but even those who know the story will find Watson's narrative a page-turner. He delivers searing insight into the political back-story and brings to light more than 50 firsthand personal accounts, many never before revealed. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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