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History and Current Events May 2018
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The rise and fall of the dinosaurs : a new history of a lost world
by Stephen Brusatte
The "resident paleontologist" for BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs presents a narrative scientific history of the dinosaur eras that examines their origins, habitats, extinction and living legacy, chronicling nearly 200 million years of their evolution from small shadow dwellers through the emergences of prehistoric ancestors that became more than 10,000 modern bird species. 75,000 first printing
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| Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First... by Robert KursonWhat it is: an exhilarating account of the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon and the three astronauts who risked their lives to complete the mission, portrayed with dramatic storytelling flourish.
Want a taste? "Looking back down toward his spacecraft, Borman gave thanks to the scalded machine, an exquisite piece of design and daring."
Did you know? December 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 mission. |
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Armed in America: A History of Gun Rights from Colonial Militias to Concealed Carry
by Patrick J. Charles
What it is: a sweeping survey of gun ownership -- and gun control -- in the United States from colonial times to the present day. Author Patrick Charles avoids taking a position on either side of the controversy, and provides a “fascinating and thoroughly researched history” (Publishers Weekly).
Why you should read it: Guns, gun violence, and the NRA are always hot-button political issues. This objective, in-depth analysis will bolster your knowledge on these topics.
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| We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights by Adam WinklerWhat it's about: In this evocative and evenhanded legal history, Adam Winkler chronicles the relationship between corporations and the government, from the emergence of businesses in colonial America to the U.S. Supreme Court's controversial Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling.
About the author: Winkler is a constitutional law professor and legal commentator.
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History in Graphic Novels
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| Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Fetter-VormWhat it's about: The Manhattan Project, completed in 1946, produced the first atomic bomb. Power struggles and ethics debates marred the relationships of the major players involved, and none could imagine the extent of the bomb's devastation.
Why you should read it: Stark and straightforward black and white illustrations unflinchingly convey the harrowing implications of the Manhattan Project.
For fans of: Jim Ottaviani's Fallout, the first graphic novel on the subject.
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| Economix: How Our Economy Works (and Doesn't Work) in Words and Pictures by Michael Goodwin; illustrated by Dan E. Burr What it's about: four centuries of economic history and theory, presented in thorough yet accessible chunks roughly the size of comic book panels.
What sets it apart: quirky, caricature-like art that helps the reader visualize dense concepts.
Further reading: Yoram Bauman and Grady Klein's two-volume Cartoon Introduction to Economics. |
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| The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation by Jonathan Hennessey; illustrated by Aaron McConnellWhat it is: an earnest and entertaining history of the Constitution's development and implementation, including an illuminating discussion of each article and amendment.
Art alert: Surreal, inventive illustrations imagine the three branches of government as people with landmarks for heads (for instance, the legislative branch has a Capitol Building head).
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| March. Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell What it's about: Congressman John Lewis's early life and origins in the civil rights movement, during which he served as one of the first Freedom Riders and helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
Art imitates life: Lewis relied on a popular comic book of the time, Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story, to inform his efforts in the Nashville Student Movement.
Book buzz: The third book in this powerful three-volume memoir series won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. |
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| Mary Astor's Purple Diary: The Great American Sex Scandal of 1936 by Edward SorelStarring: actress Mary Astor, who became a tabloid sensation following her highly publicized affairs and subsequent trial for custody of her daughter.
Don't miss: Cartoonist Edward Sorel explores his longtime fascination with Astor by imagining an interview between the two.
Read it for: excerpts from the diary in question (in which Astor graded her extramarital affairs).
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Contact your librarian for more great books! |
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