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History and Current Events July 2017
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| He Calls Me by Lightning: The Life of Caliph Washington and the Forgotten Saga... by S. Jonathan BassIn 1957 Alabama, a traffic stop ended with an African American veteran's being accused of killing a white policeman. Caliph Washington was convicted in several trials, but each conviction was overturned. Later, Governor George Wallace stayed his execution numerous times. Vividly depicting Washington's life, the questionable convictions, and the Jim Crow atmosphere surrounding the case, He Calls Me by Lighting offers an eye-opening critique of the racial disparities in American criminal justice. |
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October: The Story of the Russian Revolution
by China Miéville
The renowned fantasy and science fiction writer China Mieville has long been inspired by the ideals of the Russian Revolution and here, on the centenary of the revolution, he provides his own distinctive take on its history. In February 1917, in the midst of bloody war, Russia was still an autocratic monarchy: nine months later, it became the first socialist state in world history. How did this unimaginable transformation take place? How was a ravaged and backward country, swept up in a desperately unpopular war, rocked by not one but two revolutions? This is the story of the extraordinary months between those upheavals, in February and October, of the forces and individuals who made 1917 so epochal a year, of their intrigues, negotiations, conflicts and catastrophes. as well as a political event of profound and ongoing consequence, Mieville reveals the Russian Revolution as a breathtaking story.
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The Best Land Under Heaven: The Donner Party in the Age of Manifest Destiny
by Michael Wallis
An account of the 1846 Donner-Reed Party expedition parses fact from fiction to reveal the true events surrounding the tragedy, profiling the adventurous, business-savvy and adventurous characters who shaped the group and how various interpersonal factors led to their harrowing experiences. By the best-selling author of Route 66.
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The Russian Revolution: A New History
by Sean McMeekin
Discusses how the Russian Revolution changed the course of world history in the early part of the 20th century, describing how the Bolsheviks came into power, ending Romanov rule and killing over 20 million Russians in the process.
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Young Radicals: In the War for American Ideals
by Jeremy McCarter
The co-author of Hamilton: The Revolution explores the lives and achievements of five American radicals who fought for political, social and cultural reform, including social critic Randolph Bourne, poet-propagandist Max Eastman, liberal icon Walter Lippmann, suffragist Alice Paul and revolutionary John Reed.
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Passchendaele: The Lost Victory of World War I
by Nick Lloyd
Describes the World War I battle in the Flemish village of Passchendaele, during which 500,000 men were killed or wounded due to the British commanders’ continued clinging to failed tactics.
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Our Latest Longest Sar: Losing Hearts and Minds in Afghanistan
by Aaron B. O'Connell
Edited by historian and Marine lieutenant colonel Aaron B. O’Connell, the essays collected here represent nine different perspectives on the war—all from veterans of the conflict, both American and Afghan. Together, they paint a picture of a war in which problems of culture and an unbridgeable rural-urban divide derailed nearly every field of endeavor. The authors also draw troubling parallels to the Vietnam War, arguing that deep-running ideological currents in American life explain why the US government has repeatedly used armed nation-building to try to transform failing states into modern, liberal democracies. In Afghanistan, as in Vietnam, this created a dramatic mismatch of means and ends that neither money, technology, nor the force of arms could overcome.
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Kennedy and King: The President, the Pastor, and the Battle Over Civil Rights
by Steven Levingston
A revelatory account of the contentious relationship between the 35th President and Martin Luther King, Jr. throughout the tumultuous early years of the Civil Rights movement shares insights into their profound influence on one another and the important decisions that were inspired by their rivalry.
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| Scars of Independence: America's Violent Birth by Holger HoockAccording to historian Holger Hoock, the American Revolution wasn't only a conflict over principles, but also a violent civil war whose legacy historians have only recently recognized. In Scars of Independence, he carefully assesses how this violence affected everyone: Patriot and Loyalist civilians, military personnel on all sides, Native Americans, and free and enslaved blacks. Hoock's balanced and accessible historical analysis includes explicit descriptions of atrocities, which may be disturbing to some readers. Library Journal calls the book "as fascinating as it is enlightening." |
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| Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey KlugerIn Apollo 8, acclaimed science writer Jeffrey Kluger provides a you-were-there reading experience as he recounts the preparations that culminated in the first manned flight to the moon. Drawing on his interviews with crew members Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders, as well as the NASA Oral History Project and other records, Kluger enriches the personal and technical details of the mission with facets of the Cold War-era politics that spurred the race to the moon. Space flight aficionados won't want to miss Kluger's "laudable storytelling" (Publishers Weekly). |
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Women in the World of Frederick Douglass
by Leigh Fought
In his extensive writings, Frederick Douglass revealed little about his private life. His famous autobiographies present him overcoming unimaginable trials to gain his freedom and establish his identity-all in service to his public role as an abolitionist. But in both the public and domestic spheres, Douglass relied on a complicated array of relationships with women: white and black, slave-mistresses and family, political collaborators and intellectual companions, wives and daughters. By examining the circle of women around Frederick Douglass, this work brings these figures into sharper focus and reveals a fuller and more complex image of the self-proclaimed "woman's rights man."
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In Search of the Lost Chord: 1967 and the Hippie Idea
by Danny Goldberg
Taking readers back in time to 1967, the year he graduated from high school—and drawing on interviews with Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Ram Dass and many others—the author brings to life the seminal moments in the psychedelic, spiritual, rock-and-roll and political-protest cultures of this time.
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Return to Glory: The Story of Ford's Revival and Victory at the Toughest Race in the World
by Matthew Debord
Journalist Matthew DeBord has been covering the auto industry for years, and in Return to Glory he tells the recent story of Ford. A decade ago, CEO Alan Mulally took over the iconic company and, thanks to a financial gamble and his “One Ford” plan, helped it weather the financial crisis and a stock price that plunged to $1 a share, without a government bailout. It was enough for the company to dream of repeating racing history. DeBord revisits the story of the 1960s, details the creation of the new GT, and follows the team through the racing season, from an inauspicious debut at Daytona where the cars kept breaking down, to glimmers of hope at Sebring and the team’s first victory at Laguna Seca in Monterey.
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| The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard RothsteinIn this thoroughly researched analysis, housing policy expert Richard Rothstein traces the development of America's restrictive residential codes back to the early 20th century. He shows that modern segregation is built on overlapping local, state, and federal laws -- not just on prejudice-based social customs. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive review of law and policy or an accessible discussion of the history, you'll find The Color of Law both informative and sobering. |
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| Anatomy of Terror: From the Death of Bin Laden to the Rise of the Islamic State by Ali SoufanIdentifying the primary goals of different terrorist leaders, antiterrorism expert Ali Soufan explains how radical Islamists think. Drawing on both unclassified reports and his own knowledge from working in the FBI, he reveals that al-Qaida cells have continued to grow and organize, so that they again represent a significant threat. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews notes that Anatomy of Terror offers a lucid account of this "dizzying scenario of violence." |
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| The Art of the Con: The Most Notorious Fakes, Frauds, and Forgeries in the Art World by Anthony M. AmoreConfidence scams, forgeries, and theft plague the world of art, costing museums and legitimate private owners millions of dollars. In The Art of the Con, security expert Anthony Amore (head of security at Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum) explores instances of art fraud and theft, details specific methods, and examines the mindset of certain victims. Fans of both art history and true crime accounts will be enthralled and may want to follow up with Robert Wittman's Priceless or Ulrich Boser's The Gardner Heist. |
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| Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong by Raymond BonnerIn Anatomy of Injustice, Pultizer Prize-winning journalist Raymond Bonner chronicles the murder conviction and appeals of an African American handyman in Greenwood, SC. After Edward Lee Elmore was convicted of killing an elderly widow, death penalty appeals specialists tried to show that the investigation was negligent and Elmore's trial representation was ineffective (among other things). However, 22 years passed before his execution was finally blocked. Bonner's powerful narration will engross those interested in the death penalty as well as true crime buffs. |
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| Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can... by Marc GoodmanIn this accessible discussion, cybersecurity expert Marc Goodman details the current vulnerability of convenient devices (such as baby monitors, GPS, and online calendars) and describes the near-future potential for cybercriminals or governments to paralyze our lives. Though Future Crimes includes reassuring information on minimizing Internet risks, this is a sobering report for anyone who uses Internet-connected devices. |
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| Long Mile Home: Boston Under Attack, the City's Courageous Recovery, and the Epic... by Scott Helman and Jenna RussellNear the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon, two improvised bombs exploded, killing three people and injuring hundreds. In this gripping account, Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe reporters Scott Hellman and Jenna Russell depict the responses of those most closely involved -- marathon officials, first responders, hospital workers, the injured, and the families of those killed. They portray the hunt for the bombers and its conclusion, and they also bring to life the resilient Boston community in the subsequent weeks and months. |
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| Little Demon in the City of Light: A True Story of Murder in Belle Époque Paris by Steven LevingstonDuring the late 19th century, people wondered whether hypnotic subjects could be induced to do something contrary to their moral beliefs. In Little Demon in the City of Light, author Steven Levingston relates the case of Gabrielle Bompard, who seduced and killed a wealthy Parisian, claiming at her trial that she was innocent because she had been hypnotized. This compelling account will mesmerize 19th-century Paris enthusiasts, historical true crime aficionados, and anyone interested in early forensic science. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative (813) 273-3652 www.hcplc.org
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