| Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America's Most Notorious Pirates by Eric Jay DolinWhat it is: a dramatic, demythologizing history of colonial America's "Golden Age" of piracy.
Who it's for: Eric Jay Dolin's lively, well-researched narrative will appeal to both swashbuckling enthusiasts and general readers, though some may be put off by the book's graphic anecdotes of violence. Don't miss: Dolin's enthusiasm for pop culture's famous pirates. |
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| American Dialogue: The Founding Fathers and Us by Joseph J. EllisWhat would the Founding Fathers think? In this nuanced examination of the "ongoing conversation between past and present," Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Joseph J. Ellis (Founding Brothers) reveals how the often contradictory wisdom of America's Founding Fathers remains relevant in contemporary political discourse.
Further reading: For another incisive study by a Pulitzer Prize winner, try Doris Kearns Goodwin's Leadership in Turbulent Times. |
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| American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures by America Ferrera (editor) What it is: a powerful collection of 32 first-person essays written by immigrants or children of immigrants, including Al Madrigal, Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, Michelle Kwan, and Roxane Gay.
Want a taste? "We live as citizens of a country that does not always claim us or even see us, and yet we continue to build, to create, and to compel it toward its own promise." |
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| The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben MacintyreWho it's about: disillusioned KGB operative-turned double agent Oleg Gordievsky, whose work on behalf of MI6 helped end the Cold War.
What's inside: propulsive descriptions of Gordievsky's nail-biting schemes; lists of codenames and aliases used during his spycraft.
For fans of: John le Carré (who calls The Spy and the Traitor "the best true spy story I have ever read"). |
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| The Library Book by Susan OrleanWhat's the story? In April 1986, a devastating fire engulfed the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, destroying over one million books and leading to the building's seven-year closure. Was it an accident...or arson?
Check it out: This "love letter to libraries everywhere" (Library Journal) offers an immersive blend of true crime, journalistic reportage, history, and biography, culminating in a sweeping tribute to the library as an enduring cultural institution. |
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| The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 by Christopher ClarkWhat it is: a richly detailed and meticulously researched chronicle of the events that precipitated World War I.
Who it's for: World War I buffs who enjoy expansive yet accessible histories.
About the author: Christopher Clark is a history professor at Cambridge University who was knighted in 2015 for his services to Anglo-German relations. |
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| The Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Romance that Changed the World by Greg King and Sue WoolmansWhat it's about: the scandalous and ill-fated romance between vilified Habsburg heir Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie Chotek, whose status as a lady-in-waiting prior to their marriage made her "unfit" for court life. Was their assassination a setup by rankled royal officials?
What sets it apart: With a focus more on romance than politics, this juicy history features ample descriptions of royal family life and plenty of court intrigue. |
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| The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate MooreWhat it's about: As World War I escalated, American women tasked with painting watch dials (many used by soldiers) were exposed to the gruesome effects of radiation poisoning.
Why it matters: The surviving workers eventually took their employers to court; the outcome improved labor laws and led to a greater scientific understanding of radiation's harmful effects.
Reviewers say: "written with clarity and a sympathetic voice that brings these figures and their struggles to life" (Library Journal). |
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The Guns of August
by Barbara Wertheim Tuchman
A definitive Pulitzer Prize-winning recreation of the powderkeg that was Europe during the crucial first thirty days of World War I traces the actions of statesmen and patriots alike in Berlin, London, St. Petersburg, and Paris. Reprint.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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