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New 700 - 900s/Travel Non-Fiction Books 700 Art, Design, Sports, and Recreation 800 Literature and Poetry 900 Geography, Travel, and History
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Newest items are displayed first. Click on a title for more information or to place a hold. |
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The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America
by Eric Moskowitz
In 1909, America was home to 253 automakers, a landscape of visionaries, schemers, and would-be barons of the new century. But when playboy millionaire M. Robert Guggenheim announced an audacious Ocean to Ocean contest from New York City to the Seattle World's Fair, only three companies were brassy enough to show up at the starting line: Acme, Ford, and Shawmut. Oddsmakers favored the Acme and Itala, a pricy import also joining the race, while dismissing the pint-sized Ford -- a homely little number called the Model T-- and the long-shot Shawmut, struggling to survive after a factory fire. In fact, many didn't believe any of the cars would reach Seattle at all, as they would need to forge a 4,106-mile course of mountain ranges, mud bogs, washed-out wagon bridges, and harrowing canyon trails, long before the era of asphalt highways, seatbelts, and service stations. But Henry Ford was intent on proving that the Model T could go the distance and beat out the muscular luxury cars---and he didn't plan to leave it to chance. Indeed, a little over three weeks after the race began, a Ford crossed the line hours ahead of the Shawmut. Except that victory was a fraud. The Hardest, Longest Race is a colorful tale of ambition and subterfuge, but it is also a love letter to America at the turn of the Twentieth Century. As a seeming people's champion--a car for the masses--traverses the vast nation, Moskowitz brings to vivid life the diverse populace and landscape that it would soon transform.
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Empire of Ashes: Truman, Hirohito, and the Descent Into Total War
by James M. Scott
Empire of Ashes explores the final brutal months of the war in the Pacific, featuring the voices of never-before-heard victims of the atomic bombs. Through interviews with survivors and accounts gleaned from Japanese sources, New York Times best-selling author James M. Scott combines the attacks’ heart-wrenching details with their causes and consequences, from debates within the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, Oakridge, and Hanford to the fallout that would alter decades of life in Japan. Scott also delves into the political maneuvering in Washington and Tokyo between two seemingly unlikely leaders―President Harry S. Truman and Emperor Hirohito―that led to unprecedented violence and, eventually, surrender.
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Three Rivers: The Extraordinary Waterways That Created Europe
by Robert Winder
Three of Europe’s greatest rivers share the same geological cradle: one fertile patch of Alpine ice in the jagged heights of central Switzerland. Coursing down through the peaks, the Rhine, the Rhone, and the Po gave birth to three different European cultures—German, French, and Italian—as they flowed across the continent. From this shared geological cradle, these waterways have shaped the landscape, influenced the pattern of towns and cities, laid the foundation for economies and created an intricate network of transport, trade, and agriculture. From the Romanesque buttresses and vines of Provence to the Wagnerian music of the Rhine and the artistic miracles of Lombardy, the heart of Western Europe—its languages, religion, philosophy, science, politics, and art—has been nourished by these waters. Setting off in the dramatic mountain landscape where this story begins, acclaimed historian Robert Winder traces the rivers’ journeys from their increasingly fragile glacial sources, revealing in shimmering detail their impact on Europe’s rich history as they flow toward the sea.
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Exit Stalin: The Soviet Union as a Civilization, 1953-1991
by Mark B. Smith
To those of us in the West, the Soviet Union is synonymous with Stalinism. The common view of the USSR is of a brutal regime that squelched dissent and oversaw a drab, terrified society. Yet as Cambridge historian Mark B. Smith demonstrates in Exit Stalin, after the death of the murderous Joseph Stalin in 1953, the Soviet Union was at a crossroads. Would it break from the dictator’s reign or continue his campaign of violence and fear? The answer was both. The USSR remained harsh and authoritarian, yet it also earnestly sought to fulfill the Russian Revolution’s promise of an egalitarian, progressive future. Smith shows how vacation resorts, Pioneer camps, and new opportunities for private life coexisted with corruption scandals, KGB surveillance, and censorship. Re-creating the everyday rhythms of the country, he takes us into the Soviet Union’s culture, including TV shows and films that were little-known in the West. Ordinary citizens navigated the contradictions of existence under Khrushchev and his successors, building lives within a system they often accepted, believed in, or could not imagine abandoning. The result was the emergence of a distinctive and functioning civilization, a far cry from the vicious dictatorship of the West’s imagination.
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They Stole a City: Wilmington's White Supremacist Coup and the Families Who Live with Its Legacy
by Lauren Collins
After the Civil War, Reconstruction ushered in an era of political equality and economic opportunity for Black people, and it lasted longer in Wilmington than almost anywhere else. In 1898, Wilmington was a bastion of Black success: Black cultural life flourished, while a thriving Black middle class brimmed with lawyers, educators, and elected officials. The city became a symbol of Black hope—only for all of it to come to a violent end on November 10, 1898. In this epic, multigenerational narrative, Lauren Collins traces the fates of four Wilmington families: the Howes, the Halseys, the Moores, and the Bellamy/MacRaes, all of whom were present on the day when a mob of white supremacists launched a murderous coup to “take the city.” After issuing a “White Declaration of Independence,” white men gunned down scores of Black men, chasing their families into hiding. Then they marched to city hall, where they overthrew the democratically elected, multiracial local government at gunpoint in what is thought to be the only successful coup d’état on American soil. No one knows exactly how many Black citizens they murdered—surely dozens, likely hundreds—while driving thousands of survivors and their white allies out of town. Folklore among both Black and white Wilmingtonians holds that the Cape Fear River ran red. While the effects of this episode of racial terrorism would ricochet through the next century of our nation’s history, no one was ever prosecuted or punished, and many of the details have been largely—and deliberately—forgotten.
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Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump
by Maggie Haberman
A riveting, intimate, and revelatory account of the most radical and consequential presidency of our time. From the two reporters who have covered him more closely than perhaps anyone else over the past decade comes this definitive portrait of Donald Trump in the White House. Regime Change covers the first year of Trump's second presidency--a term liberated from every constraint that defined his first. The generals who once told him no are gone, and the lawyers who remain have learned to pick their battles. His administration has flouted court orders and he has claimed powers that Congress once checked. What remains is a President willing to take enormous risks that have upended global markets and toppled heads of state; an imperial President operating almost entirely on instinct alone. Based on hundreds of interviews and unprecedented reporting from deep within the administration's most closely guarded rooms, Regime Change takes the reader inside the Situation Room and into the secret Oval Office deliberations that have launched a new war in the Middle East and seen Trump seal the border, surge National Guard troops into cities, and send immigration agents into deadly clashes with protestors.
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Monster of a Land: On the Road in Search of Modern America
by Lauren Hough
Lauren Hough has always been haunted by the road trips she never got to take: no money, no vacation days, no car capable of making the trip. So, upon finally finding herself in a situation where such a trip might be possible--being a writer may not always pay better than being a bartender or a cable guy, but at least the schedule's flexible--she leaps at the chance, refurbishing a ramshackle 2001 Dodge van and setting off from Austin, Texas with her Husky mix Woody by her side. Her influences feel obvious--but a lot has changed about the United States since the 1962 trip John Steinbeck chronicles in Travels with Charley. And Lauren Hough isn't John Steinbeck--unless the Noble Prize-winning author of The Grapes of Wrath had a secret past as a six-foot-tall lesbian and Air Force vet. But even better as a social lubricant than beer, a dog is the ultimate conversation starter. With Woody as wingman, Lauren chats--at gas stations and restaurants and auto shops and bars--with an incredible cross-section of Americans from all walks of life and every possible political perspective. And as she circumnavigates the country, she documents, with all-too-rare empathy, what it means to be poor, to be marginalized, and to be seen as Other in America. Part travelogue, part social commentary, and 100% Lauren Hough, Monster of a Land unites her poignant vulnerability, her hilarious narrative voice, and her razor-sharp insights into a journey that will show us how far we've come as a country, and how far we still have to go.
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Stolen Revolution: Betrayal and Hope in Modern Iran
by Yeganeh Torbati
In 1979, a revolution in Iran swept aside a monarchy, fueled by the Iranian people's dreams of social justice and political freedom. But in the years that followed, the movement's leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, and his acolytes instead built a system that served their narrow faction and worsened beyond imagination the brutality and corruption that had existed under the previous government. In Stolen Revolution, award-winning journalists Yeganeh Torbati and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin tell the entwined stories of six Iranians who, together, have lived the arc of modern Iranian history in all its bitter twists and enduring hopes. All have paid an enormous price for resisting the government's strangling rule. Today, Iran is caught between crisis and hope. In this vivid and unforgettable narrative, Stolen Revolution centers ordinary Iranians and their destiny, and conveys a gutting view of life in a modern authoritarian state.
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Lonely Planet Indonesia
by Anthony Ham
Dive headfirst into Indonesia and discover everything you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime. Indonesia rewards curiosity - find world-class wildlife experiences alongside near-deserted beaches, and ancient cliffside temples overlooking epic diving hotspots. Our on-the-ground experts have spotted orangutans in Gunung Leuser National Park, relaxed on the pink sand of Pantai Merah, and trekked through the jungle to the smoking summit of Gunung Sibayak. Just think of us as your friend on the inside. If it's in this guide, it's worth your time.
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Fodor's Pacific Northwest: With Portland, Seattle, Vancouver & the Best Road Trips
by Fodor's Travel Guides
Whether you want to visit a stunning national park, go wine-tasting in Oregon's Willamette Valley, or experience the culture of Seattle, Portland, or Vancouver, the local Fodor's travel experts in the Pacific Northwest are here to help. Fodor's Pacific Northwest guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition travel guide has been fully-redesigned with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos.
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Rick Steves Iceland
by Rick Steves
From vast glaciers to steaming volcanic lakes, experience the land of the midnight sun with Rick Steves. Inside Rick Steves Iceland you'll find: comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Iceland; Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites; top sights and hidden gems, from the stunning northern lights to dramatic hikes and cozy bookstores; and how to connect with culture. Soak in secluded hot springs, sample smoked fish, and chat with locals in welcoming rural towns. Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight. Find the best places to eat, sleep, and relax. Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Iceland.
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Moon New Mexico: Outdoor Adventures, Road Trips, Local Culture
by Steven Horak
Santa Fe local Steven Horak reveals the very best of his home state, from hiking sandstone canyons to chowing down on Southwestern cuisine. Fall under the spell of the Land of Enchantment with Moon New Mexico. Inside you'll find: Strategic, flexible itineraries, whether you want to take an epic two-week road trip around the state or spend a week immersed in Wild West history. Can't-miss experiences and unique activities: Wander through a ghost town graveyard, count the bullet holes in the ceilings of preserved 19th-century saloons, or visit the birthplace of the atomic bomb. Soar through clear blue skies in a colorful hot air balloon, find inspiration in Santa Fe's vibrant art scene, or have an out-of-this-world experience at the International UFO Museum & Research Center in Roswell.
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Lonely Planet Singapore
by Ria de Jong
Dive headfirst into Singapore and discover everything you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime. Singapore rewards curiosity - find out-of-this-world architecture a stone's throw from lush jungle, and smoky temples alongside bustling street markets. Our on-the-ground experts have tackled the trans-island Rail Corridor, indulged in sunset satay at East Coast Lagoon Food Village, and marvelled at the golden-domed Sultan Mosque. Just think of us as your friend on the inside. If it's in this guide, it's worth your time Build a trip to remember with Lonely Planet's Singapore travel guide. Our classic guidebook format contains the most comprehensive level of information for planning your trip.
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Lonely Planet Thailand
by David Eimer
Dive headfirst into Thailand and discover everything you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime. Thailand rewards curiosity - find paradisiacal beaches that give way to ancient temples, and lush tropical jungle rubbing shoulders with bustling night markets. Our on-the- ground experts have rafted through the canyons at Op Luang National Park, freedived off the north coast of Ko Pha-Ngan, and watched the sun go down at Hat Freedom. Just think of us as your friend on the inside. If it's in this guide, it's worth your time. Build a trip to remember with Lonely Planet's Thailand travel guide. Our classic guidebook format contains the most comprehensive level of information for planning your trip.
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Lonely Planet China: 2025 - 2026
by Simon Richmond
Discover China's most popular experiences and best kept secrets from visiting the tea plantations in Hangzhou, to riding the world's highest altitude train like across the Tibetan plateau to Lhasa, and exploring the secretive world of 24 emperors and their thousands of servants in the Forbidden City.
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Lonely Planet Croatia
by Anja Mutic
Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime in this latest edition of our guide to Croatia. Discover Croatia's most popular experiences and best kept secrets from sipping high-quality vintage wines from the foothills of Motovun, to roaming Dubrovnik's dazzlingly beautiful old town, and exploring the hidden coves and glowing caves of Vis Island. Build a trip to remember with Lonely Planet's Croatia travel guide: Our classic guidebook format contains the most comprehensive level of information for planning multi-week trips.
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Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia
by Rick Steves
Stroll along Dubrovnik's ancient walls, hike the idyllic Julian Alps, and set sail on the glimmering Adriatic: with Rick Steves, Croatia and Slovenia are yours to explore!
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Lonely Planet Central Europe
by Mark Baker
Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime in this latest edition of our guide to Central Europe. Discover Central Europe's most popular experiences and best kept secrets from hiking through vineyards, to visiting beautiful turreted castles, and exploring charming small towns. Build a trip to remember with Lonely Planet's Central Europe travel guide. Our classic guidebook format contains the most comprehensive level of information for planning multi-week trips. It covers: Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
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Fodor's Essential Greece
by Fodor's Travel Guides
Whether you want to explore the Acropolis of Athens, watch the sunset in Santorini, or party in Mykonos, the local Fodor's travel experts in Greece are here to help! Fodor's Essential Greece is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition has been fully-redesigned with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos.
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Fodor's Essential Iceland
by Fodor's Travel Guides
Whether you want to soak in the Blue Lagoon, party in Reykjavik, or see the Northern Lights, the local Fodor's travel experts in Iceland are here to help! Fodor's Essential Iceland guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition has an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos.
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Lithuania
by Sally Chambers
Lithuania is a year-round destination with four distinct seasons: feel spring’s vitality when wandering amid wildflower-rich meadows; soak up summer vibes at the seaside; forage through autumnal forests; or crunch through crisp snow in old town streets. To get the best out of your stay, track down your interests locally. Rural heritage provides a strong identity and community here. If you visit a national park, attend an immersive crafts workshop, hike through the forests or visit wooden villages with their church-nesting storks. Foodies should not simply eat in the best restaurant in Vilnius, but attend a cookery class or lunch in a village tavern where not only is food how grandma cooks it, but you will probably meet grandma. Deepen your understanding of this fascinating country by visiting Plokstine’s secret Soviet missile base (which now houses a Cold War museum) or the Hill of Crosses pilgrimage site (a national symbol of Lithuania’s resistance against foreign occupation). Stay in spa resorts in Druskininkai, Birstonas or Palanga, where Soviet sanatoriums have been replaced by indulgent wellness centres. Canoe around Trakai Castle then book a traditional ‘Kibinai’ cookery workshop with the Karaite ethnic community.
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Fodor's Montreal & Quebec City
by Fodor's Travel Guides
Whether you want to party at Jazz Fest, explore La Citadelle, or stroll the promenade in front of the Chateau Frontenac, the local Fodor's travel experts in Montreal & Quebec City are here to help! Fodor's Montreal & Quebec City guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition has been fully-redesigned with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos.
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Fodor's Essential South Africa: With the Best Safari Destinations and Wine Regions
by Fodor's Travel Guides
Whether you want to explore the Winelands, visit Kruger National Park, or climb Table Mountain, the local Fodor's travel experts in South Africa are here to help! Fodor's Essential South Africa guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition has been fully redesigned with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos.
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USA by Rail: Plus Canada's Main Routes
by John Pitt
The grandeur of North America’s scenery – from its never-ending prairies, the Mojave Desert’s Joshua trees and the Rocky Mountains’ saw-toothed peaks to the pounding surf of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans – is one of our greatest attractions, and there is no better way to enjoy it than by train. Pampered by helpful attendants, you can travel from coast to coast, explore the Rocky Mountains and ride alongside two oceans. You can cross rivers, lakes and deserts, often seeing places that cannot otherwise be visited. You can choose your companions, read a book, let your thoughts unfurl, take a snooze, and enjoy most of the comforts of home. Through 30 chapters, 35 maps and 40 colour photos, Bradt’s USA by Rail showcases 26 long-distance train journeys across the United States plus 12 in Canada, including iconic routes like the California Zephyr or Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. These are complemented by sightseeing highlights for 38 major cities among 500 featured destinations.
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