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History and Current Events November 2019
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| The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution by Eric FonerWhat it's about: how the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th constitutional amendments (also known as the Reconstruction amendments) impacted an America still reeling from the aftermath of the Civil War.
Don't miss: an incisive and resonant look into how the Reconstruction amendments are interpreted and debated in contemporary political discourse, particularly in relation to voter rights.
Book buzz: Library Journal calls Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Eric Foner's latest "a must-read for anyone interested in U.S. history." |
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| Betrayal in Berlin: The True Story of the Cold War's Most Audacious Espionage Operation by Steve VogelWhat it's about: "Operation Gold," the ambitious yet ultimately doomed endeavor between the CIA and MI5 to construct a tunnel into East Berlin to tap into Soviet communication lines.
What happened: Thanks to the efforts of double agent George Blake, Soviet authorities had been aware of the tunnel's existence since its inception in 1951, but to protect Blake, waited until 1956 to "discover" it.
Read it for: a pulse-pounding and dramatic storyline reminiscent of a John le Carré novel. |
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Going over Home : A Search for Rural Justice in an Unsettled Land by Jr. Thompson, Charles"This book isn't just the story of one person's lifelong fight for justice for family farmers and rural communities. Going Over Home is a call that inspires the reader to stand shoulder to shoulder with family farmers in their daily struggle. It puts into words why all of us at Farm Aid believe in family farmers and rural America, and why their survival matters to all of us--no matter where we live." Willie Nelson, president, Farm Aid
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Notre-dame : A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals by Ken Follett"The wonderful cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the greatest achievements of European civilization, was on fire. The sight dazed and disturbed us profoundly. I was on the edge of tears. Something priceless was dying in front of our eyes. The feeling was bewildering, as if the earth was shaking." --Ken Follett In this short, spellbinding book, international bestselling author Ken Follett describes the emotions that gripped him when he learned about the fire that threatened to destroy one of the greatest cathedrals in the world--the Notre-Dame de Paris. Follett then tells the story of the cathedral, from its construction to the role it has played across time and history, and he reveals the influence that the Notre-Dame had upon cathedrals around the world.
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The first complete account of the secret battle of Skyline Ridge, 1972, when a ragtag Laos-Thai army supported by the CIA threw back a vast NVA army. "Parker has created an incredibly powerful account of a little-known chapter in the Vietnam War saga. Expertly written with a touch of the personal to remind readers the author was a participant in these dramatic events, this is an excellent choice for readers interested in the wider Vietnam conflict, Cold War paramilitary history, and the CIA's role in it all." (Booklist)
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"Rosen artfully blends fascinating tales of the rise of the National Football League with the bloody demise of the mob."-- Bill Geist, author of Lake of the Ozarks
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| Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History by Kurt AndersenWhat it is: a provocative, no-holds-barred exploration of how superstition, self-delusion, charlatanism, and conspiracy theories have always been richly embedded in the fabric of American life and culture.
Topics include: the Salem witch trials; Dr. Oz; P.T. Barnum; 1960s counterculture; Satanic Panic; Donald Trump.
Want a taste? "We have passed through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole. America has mutated into Fantasyland." |
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The way I heard it : True Tales for the Curious Mind With a Short Attention Span by Mike RoweThe Way I Heard It presents thirty-five mysteries "for the curious mind with a short attention span." Every one is a trueish tale about someone you know, filled with facts that you don't. Movie stars, presidents, bloody do-gooders, and villains--they're all here, waiting to shake your hand, hoping you'll remember them. Delivered with Mike's signature blend of charm, wit, and ingenuity, their stories are part of a larger mosaic--a memoir full of surprising revelations, sharp observations, and intimate, behind-the-scenes moments drawn from Mike's own remarkable life and career.
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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). available in Next Search Catalog from fellow Next library |
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Help me! : one woman's quest to find out if self-help really can change your life by Marianne PowerWhat it's about: One woman's quest to put self-help advice to the test. Every month for a year the author reads a new self-help book and follows its advice.
Read it for: Power's self-deprecatingly chronicle of confrontations with many of life’s biggest challenges — from conquering phobias, to dealing with romantic rejection, to tackling debt, and overcoming anxiety, all with mixed results. Reviewers say: "Making art, really funny art, out of the gap between how young women are and how they think they ought to be is still possible 20 years on from Bridget Jones." (The Guardian)
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Leavenworth Public Library
417 Spruce Street
Leavenworth, KS 66048
913-682-5666
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