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History and Current Events November 2019
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| The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. GraffWhat it is: a heartwrenching collection of first-person accounts from survivors, first responders, and witnesses of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Is it for you? Intimate and apolitical, this vivid, hour-by-hour chronicle of one of America's most tragic days is unflinching in its depictions of loss.
Further reading: Mitchell Zuckoff's richly detailed history Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11. |
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Mister Rogers' Neighborhood : a visual history
by Melissa Wagner
What it's about: Complemented by exclusive photographs and rare ephemera, a behind-the-scenes, anecdotal tour of the iconic preschool show’s storied history draws on original celebrity interviews to trace its inner workings and enduring legacy. Movie tie-in.
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Places and Names : On War, Revolution and Returning
by Elliot Ackerman
What it's about: The decorated Marine and author of the National Book Award finalist, Dark at the Crossing, draws on five tours of duty to assess the nature of combat and the human cost of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.
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No Turning Back: Life, Loss, and Hope in Wartime Syria
by Rania Abouzeid
What it is: a sobering account of the ongoing Syrian Civil War, which has claimed an estimated 500,000 lives since 2011.
What sets it apart: Branded a spy by the Syrian government and banned from entering the country, journalist Rania Abouzeid spent several years clandestinely entering Syria to conduct her reportage.
Book buzz: No Turning Back was a 2018 Booklist Editors' Choice and New York Times Notable Book selection.
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| Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah VowellWhat it's about: Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette's 1824 return to American soil, where he was received with great fanfare by more than 80,000 onlookers.
Don't miss: Author Sarah Vowell's unconventional research methods included attending a Lafayette-themed puppet show.
Reviewers say: This snarky romp is "especially recommended to those who are convinced that history is dry" (Library Journal). |
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The politically incorrect guide to American history
by Thomas E. Woods
What it's about: An American history professor sets the record straight on American history with an irreverant and hard-hitting look at the nation's most important people and events, concluding that the American Revolution was fought by conservatives and the First Amendment accepted state-sponsored churches.
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America (the book) : a citizen's guide to democracy inaction
by Jon Stewart
What it's about: The host of the award-winning humorous news program offers tongue-in-cheek insight into American democracy with coverage of such topics as the republican qualities of ancient Rome, the antics of our nation's founders, and the ludicrous nature of today's media.
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The politically incorrect guide to the Civil War
by H. W. Crocker
What it's about: Suggests that that the Confederate States of America had a strong constitutional case, and that modern ideas of this region and time period rely heavily on stereotypes and misinformation.
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Inventing a Nation [CD]: Washington, Adams, Jefferson
by Gore Vidal
What the reviews have said: Much of Vidal's contempt for contemporary America may originate in his admiration of how the Founding Fathers handled human nature. At least the founders, Vidal seems to say in this sinuous essay, were not hypocrites disclaiming interest in power; rather, they made an honest attempt in the original Constitution to restrain what they saw as politicians' inevitable appetites for ambition and avarice. Long fascinated with the behind-the-scenes aspects of politics in the 1780s and 1790s, Vidal muses on Alexander Hamilton's machinations against John Adams and analyzes similar political sleights of hand by Jefferson, Aaron Burr, John Marshall, and James Madison. Along with these characteristically brilliant and acerbic reflections on power and personality, Vidal offers a generally positive portrayal of Washington, taking time to note how the Father of His Country looked with his wooden teeth. This entertaining and enlightening reappraisal of the founders is a must for buffs of American civilization and its discontents. --Gilbert Taylor Copyright 2003 Booklist
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Royal Babylon : the alarming history of European royalty
by Karl Shaw
What it's about: Chronicles the history of Europe's royal houses and their royal scandals, discussing insane, psychopathic, sex-obsessed, drunken, and otherwise debauched rulers including Kaiser Wilhelm II, Peter the Great, and Louis XV.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Central Mississippi Regional Library System
100 Tamberline Street
Brandon, Mississippi 39042
601-825-0100
http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us
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